As the Fourth of July approaches, many Oskaloosa residents are gearing up for celebrations that often include fireworks. However, understanding what is and isn’t legal within the city limits is crucial to ensuring a safe and law-abiding holiday. In a recent conversation with Oskaloosa Police Chief Ben Boeke, several important points about the city’s fireworks […]
by Brooklyn Draisey, Iowa Capital Dispatch June 21, 2024 Always make sure you have an escape route. Stay on paved roads when you can. Don’t get too close. Iowa State University students and instructors chasing storms this spring knew those rules well, remembering their own experiences and having lessons on storm chasing drilled in over […]
by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch June 23, 2024 Gov. Kim Reynolds said Sunday she has submitted a request for an expedited presidential major disaster declaration as northwestern Iowa communities continue to face floods and storm damages. The governor requested aid for 22 counties through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Public Assistance Program. She also […]
A Successful Weekend for BBQ Enthusiasts and First Responders The “BBQ 4 Badges” event, held this past weekend, marked one of its most successful editions yet, thanks to favorable weather, a record number of participating teams, and strong community support. The event, which spans two days, has grown in both size and impact over the […]
by Jacob Fischler, Iowa Capital Dispatch June 20, 2024 TikTok and its parent company argued Thursday in a federal court in the District of Columbia that the recently enacted law forcing a nationwide ban or sale of the popular platform violates the First Amendment. TikTok Inc., which operates the video-sharing service in the United States, […]
DES MOINES, IOWA – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 2.8 percent in May, unchanged from April and the same as one year ago. The state’s labor force participation rate fell to 66.7 percent, down slightly from 66.8 percent last month. Meanwhile, the U.S. unemployment rate increased to 4.0 percent in May. “After strong job […]
by Jennifer Shutt, Iowa Capital Dispatch June 19, 2024 WASHINGTON — Scientists debated the origins of COVID-19 this week, trading barbs over whether the bulk of evidence available points to a natural spillover event from a wild animal or a virus designed in a lab and then let loose through an inadvertent leak. The hearing […]
by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch June 18, 2024 Attorney General Brenna Bird has announced the creation of a cold case unit within the state office dedicated to investigating unsolved murders in Iowa. At a news conference at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, Bird said the new unit, to be officially launched July […]
by Jacob Fischler, Iowa Capital Dispatch June 17, 2024 Weeks after the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration proposed loosening a federal prohibition on marijuana, the next phases of policy fights over the drug’s status are starting to take shape. Public comments, which the DEA is accepting on the proposal until mid-July, will likely include an analysis […]
by Jack O’Connor, Iowa Capital Dispatch June 17, 2024 Iowa scored relatively well in education rankings among the states, but with declining test scores and on-time high school graduation rates decreasing, the state has fallen from its highs of previous years, according to a new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Sixty-seven percent of […]
