News
Pipeline company prevails over two county ordinances
A federal judge on Monday permanently barred two Iowa counties from enforcing their ordinances that restrict the placement of carbon dioxide pipelines. Shelby and Story counties adopted restrictions after two companies proposed to build pipeline systems to transport captured carbon dioxide from ethanol plants and other facilities. The ordinances set minimum distances to locate the […]
Border talks stuck as Senate nears vote on package for Israel, Ukraine aid
WASHINGTON — The success of the U.S. Senate in passing a $106 billion global security supplemental aid package hinges on a bipartisan agreement about U.S. border security, but any deal was at an impasse Tuesday. “There will not be a national security bill unless and until there is serious and significant changes in security at […]
U.S. House Oversight leader demands probe into ‘political interference’ in FBI HQ move
WASHINGTON — The chair of the House Oversight Committee is calling on a government watchdog to investigate any “political interference” in the site selection process for the new FBI headquarters. In addition, as House Republicans step up their interest in the growing dispute between Maryland and Virginia over where the headquarters should be moved from […]
Tuberville relents on months-long blockade of most military nominees, blaming Democrats
WASHINGTON — After blocking hundreds of U.S. military promotions for most of 2023 in protest of a Pentagon abortion policy, Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama said Tuesday he will lift his holds on all of them except for a handful of four-star general nominees. The senator, who sits on the Senate Committee on Armed Forces, […]
Iowa AG Brenna Bird calls for news outlets to cut ties with alleged Hamas-affiliated freelancers
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird led a coalition of 13 other Republican state attorneys general calling for media organizations to cut ties with Gaza-based journalists with alleged ties to Hamas. The Republican state attorney general sent a letter Monday to top officials at the New York Times, Associated Press, CNN and Reuters, claiming the news […]
Iowa man sues after passing sobriety tests and being arrested for OWI
The city of Winterset is being sued for arresting a man on an intoxicated driving charge after he passed field sobriety tests, two blood-alcohol tests and a drug screen. Ryan P. Elgin, 42, of Adair County is suing the City of Winterset and Winterset Police Officer Logan Camp for false arrest, unreasonable seizure and common […]
Pennsylvania senator pushes review of U.S. investments in China but hits roadblock in House
WASHINGTON — A bipartisan measure that would require screening of U.S. private investments in high-tech enterprises in China, Iran, North Korea and Russia may not be included in Congress’ annual defense policy legislation. The Senate approved the so-called “outbound investment” amendment, 91-6, to its version of the National Defense Authorization Act in July, with proponents arguing it was needed […]
Bridge collapse leads to river contamination
A private bridge in southwest Iowa collapsed when a tractor loaded with fertilizer attempted to cross it, spilling an unknown amount of fertilizer and about 100 gallons of diesel fuel into the Tarkio River, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The incident was reported about 9:20 a.m. Friday and happened about 1-1/2 miles […]
Ozempic maker sued by Iowa woman over alleged side effects
An Iowa woman is suing the makers of the popular drug Ozempic, claiming the company has downplayed potential side effects while spending millions on food and travel for prescribing doctors. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of 53-year-old Melissa Huffman in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, alleges Novo Nordisk and its affiliates […]
White House urged to hold off on FBI HQ move to Maryland while review continues
WASHINGTON — Virginia lawmakers are asking the Biden administration to “pause” work on a new headquarters for the Federal Bureau of Investigation until a government watchdog can complete a review into how a Maryland site was selected. The letter from 11 members of Virginia’s congressional delegation to Shalanda Young, director of the Office of Management […]
New life for old coal: Mine lands and power plants are hot renewable development spots
PETERSBURG, Ind. — AES Indiana’s Petersburg Generating Station, which towers over the White River here in southwest Indiana, has been burning coal to generate electricity since the late 1960s. That era, though, will come to an end soon. Two of the power plant’s four coal-burning units have already retired and the last is planned to […]
Iowa manufacturer headed to court over environmental cleanup
A southern Iowa military supplier that has been accused of endangering U.S. troops and contaminating Union County groundwater is now locked in a legal battle over the cost of cleaning up the manufacturing site. The site in question is the Wellman Dynamics manufacturing plant in Creston. For decades, Wellman Dynamics has done business as an […]