by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 31, 2023 Many major bills survived the second “funnel” deadline this week at the Iowa Capitol, but Republicans in the Iowa House and Senate hit points of contention on issues like education and liability limits. Republicans came together to pass priority legislation like private school scholarships, a ban […]
DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is encouraging Iowans who receive a ‘No Activity’ notice from his office in the mail to respond to it quickly. Registered voters who did not participate in the 2022 general election have been made inactive and will receive a notice in the mail to confirm their […]
DES MOINES – April is Financial Literacy Month, and State Treasurer Roby Smith is encouraging all Iowans to strengthen their financial literacy skills. “No matter how old or young one may be, there’s always something to learn to enhance our financial well-being. I am excited to provide resources to assist in growing understanding about budgeting, […]
by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 29, 2023 Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed into law a measure intended to help keep some hospitals open in rural Iowa. House File 75 creates a state licensure process allowing some hospitals to get a “Rural Emergency Hospital” (REH) designation. The designation comes from a federal program, in […]
DES MOINES, IOWA – Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 2.9 percent in February from 3.0 percent in January. Meanwhile, the U.S. unemployment rate increased from 3.4 percent to 3.6 percent in February. The number of unemployed Iowans decreased to 50,100 in February from 51,200 in January. The total number of working Iowans increased […]
by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 22, 2023 Iowans receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits would have to go through an asset test to continue receiving benefits under a bill passed by the Iowa Senate Wednesday. Senate File 494 would require Iowa families on SNAP to match federal asset test guidelines, meaning recipients […]
by Jared Strong, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 22, 2023 Legislation that would restrict carbon dioxide pipeline companies’ ability to use eminent domain was overwhelmingly approved by the Iowa House on Wednesday. “I believe that the issue before us today — and the vote that we will take on this issue — is indeed historic,” said […]
The initial portion is the statement from the Oskaloosa Schools Superintendent Mike Fisher in regards to Tuesday’s ‘Swatting’ call. Dear Oskaloosa Families and Staff, Today, our High School was the subject of an anonymous “swatting call”. The threat was determined not to be credible. Out of an abundance of caution, we still utilized all of […]
AMES, Iowa — It’s peak calving season for many producers across the Midwest which may mean long exhausting and occasionally frustrating hours of trying to save every calf. Iowa State University extension beef specialist Patrick Wall said a simple technique might help some newborns that struggle to nurse or appear to have little will to […]
by Jared Strong, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 16, 2023 Legislation that might limit the acquisition of new public lands — and was approved by the Iowa Senate on Tuesday — did not advance from a House subcommittee on Thursday amid significant public opposition. Senate File 516 was tabled by an environmental protection subcommittee because only […]
