Week 10 Week 10 marks the point where we settle into the “new normal” for the rest of the session. Our afternoons and evenings are filled with caucus discussions and debates as we work to get everything across the finish line. While things get busy, visits are always welcome. This week, we’ve had many large […]
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks has introduced new legislation designed to lower prescription drug costs and limit the influence of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) in the commercial insurance market. The bill, known as the DRUG Act, has garnered bipartisan support and praise from various patient advocacy and healthcare organizations. The DRUG Act, which […]
by Kathie Obradovich, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 18, 2025 The Iowa Senate voted Tuesday to ban the use of handheld cellphones and other devices behind the wheel, while turning down an effort to extend the ban to drivers of farm implements. A few minutes later, senators also voted to raise the state’s “default” speed limit […]
The Mahaska County Board of Supervisors addressed several items during its March 17, 2025, meeting, held at the Mahaska County Courthouse. The board approved the agenda and minutes from the previous meeting held on March 3. They also approved payroll changes within the sheriff’s department, including the removal of jailer Caleb Connor, effective April 2. […]
The Oskaloosa City Council has approved the issuance of $2,955,000 in General Obligation Capital Loan Notes to fund a series of street and infrastructure improvements, including work on the Southeast Connector Project. The bonds, designated as Series 2025A, will provide financing for the opening, widening, extending, grading, and drainage of streets, sidewalks, trails, highways, avenues, […]
The Oskaloosa City Council met in a regular session on March 17, 2025, addressing a range of topics including infrastructure improvements, board appointments, and financing for upcoming projects. Mayor Dave Krutzfeldt opened the meeting, which began with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance. Nathan Tarkelly, a resident, addressed the council during the community comment […]
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks, M.D. (R-IA) today introduced the Delinking Revenue from Unfair Gouging (DRUG) Act, bipartisan legislation that would implement de-linking policies to rein in Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) in the commercial insurance market. Reps. Nannette Barragan (D-CA), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Brad Schneider (D-IL), Rick Allen (R-GA), and Donald Norcross (D-NJ) […]
by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 17, 2025 Iowa local governments would not be able to have citizen police review boards under legislation passed by the Iowa Senate 37-9 Monday. Senate File 311 prohibits cities with a civil service commission — any city with a population over 8,000 — from adopting or establishing citizens’ […]
DES MOINES, IOWA – Iowa’s Labor Force Participation Rate rose to 67.0 percent in January, up from the 66.4 percent first announced for December, after growth and an annual revision of labor statistics added 31,000 people to the official estimate of Iowa’s workforce. Even after the revision, January’s Labor Force Participation increased slightly from the […]
by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 14, 2025 Peregrine falcons, once nonexistent in Iowa, hatched and raised at least 36 young falcons in 2024 out of the 17 nests monitored in the state. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources relies on Iowa volunteers, and some power plant employees, to monitor the nests to ensure […]
