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Iowa Capital Dispatch
Judge finds just cause in termination of former Northeast Iowa Community College president
Northeast Iowa Community College was justified in its termination of former president Herbert Riedel, a judge has ruled. Riedel was previously placed on administrative leave in October after a series of closed sessions, and Vice President of Finance and Administration Dave Dahms is serving as acting president of the institution. Riedel was announced for the […] The post Judge finds just cause in termination of former Northeast Iowa Community College president appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
21 states join Biden administration in bid to modernize nation’s aging grid
Twenty-one states are joining a push by the Biden administration to modernize America’s aging electric grid, which is under pressure from growing demand, a changing power generation mix that includes lots of wind and solar and severe weather. Iowa is not among the participating states. About 60% of its electricity is generated from wind power. […] The post 21 states join Biden administration in bid to modernize nation’s aging grid appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Amid mental health crisis, new compact allows social workers to practice across state lines
Stefani Goerlich, a certified sex therapist and social worker with a private practice in Detroit, sees several dozen clients a month, most of them from underserved and minority backgrounds. She speaks to them about sensitive matters such as gender-affirming care, and building trust takes time. Those hard-won relationships often are upended when clients move away […] The post Amid mental health crisis, new compact allows social workers to practice across state lines appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Summit says power supply, blackouts not a concern for pipeline
The chief operating officer for Summit Carbon Solutions said Tuesday the company would be able to quickly shut down the hazardous liquid pipeline if a power outage were to hit the system. COO James Powell testified from Iowa in a hearing before the North Dakota Public Service Commission that the company would be able to […] The post Summit says power supply, blackouts not a concern for pipeline appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Funds for clean school buses coming to hundreds of districts, White House says
WASHINGTON — As part of its ongoing effort to replace diesel-fueled school buses, the Biden administration on Wednesday said it will provide about 530 school districts across nearly all states with almost $1 billion to help them purchase clean school buses. The initiative, part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean School Bus Program rebate […] The post Funds for clean school buses coming to hundreds of districts, White House says appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
State and national officials ask voters to have confidence in Iowa elections
Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate joined state and federal officials at a news conference Tuesday, telling voters that their ballots will be accurately and fairly counted in the upcoming primary election. Iowans will have the chance to vote in primary races for congressional and state offices next Tuesday, June 4. Early voting began May […] The post State and national officials ask voters to have confidence in Iowa elections appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
State opens more than 60 summer meal sites for kids
School districts and community groups will establish over 60 new meal sites to feed children during the summer, paid for by about $900,000 in grants, the Iowa Department of Education announced. Growing the Summer Meal Program Expansion Grant is an alternative to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer for Children program, […] The post State opens more than 60 summer meal sites for kids appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Severe weather delays crop planting again
Iowa farmers had an average of about two days available for field work last week due to severe weather that spawned damaging winds, nearly 30 tornadoes and triple the typical precipitation, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “Our hearts go out to all the Iowans and communities who have been affected by the recent […] The post Severe weather delays crop planting again appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
The jury now will decide Trump’s fate in hush money trial, after lengthy closing arguments
WASHINGTON — Closing arguments in the first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president concluded Tuesday, leaving the jury to now decide if Donald Trump is guilty of faking reimbursement to his personal lawyer for hush money paid to a porn star just before the 2016 presidential election. Just outside the Lower Manhattan courthouse during […] The post The jury now will decide Trump’s fate in hush money trial, after lengthy closing arguments appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Bird flu strikes flock of 4.2 million chickens in Sioux County
Avian influenza that is very transmissible and lethal for domestic birds has been detected in a flock of 4.2 million egg-laying chickens in Sioux County, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. It is the first confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a commercial or backyard poultry flock this year in […] The post Bird flu strikes flock of 4.2 million chickens in Sioux County appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Corn price connection to carbon capture hard to pin down
The ethanol industry says capturing carbon emissions from ethanol plants and storing it underground is needed to help the industry keep up with the trend toward greener energy. But it’s unclear what the direct benefit to the farmers who supply corn to the ethanol plant might be. David Ripplinger is an associate professor at North […] The post Corn price connection to carbon capture hard to pin down appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
New solar will help keep power on during scorching summer, report says
With some parts of the country already facing heat waves, the organization in charge of setting reliability standards for the American electric grid is warning that a scorching summer could lead to a shortage of power generation in some regions. The warning comes as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says there’s a 99% chance that 2024 will rank among […] The post New solar will help keep power on during scorching summer, report says appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
As states loosen childhood vaccine requirements, health experts’ worries grow
Louisiana Republican state Rep. Kathy Edmonston believes no one ought to be required to vaccinate their children. So, she wants schools to proactively tell parents that it’s their right under Louisiana law to seek an exemption. “It’s not the vaccine itself, it is the mandate,” Edmonston told Stateline. “The law is the law. And it […] The post As states loosen childhood vaccine requirements, health experts’ worries grow appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Coe College partners with Eastern Iowa Airport, Revv Aviation to open flight school
As demand for pilots grows, Coe College is partnering with the Eastern Iowa Airport and aviation services company Revv Aviation to create a flight school and aviation management program. Pending approval from the Higher Learning Commission, the four-year program will earn students their Federal Aviation Administration pilot certification alongside a business administration degree with a […] The post Coe College partners with Eastern Iowa Airport, Revv Aviation to open flight school appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
LaPorte City man sues police after a series of encounters with officers
A LaPorte City man who has been engaged in a long-running dispute with the police department is now suing the city for malicious prosecution and false arrest. John Grote, a 44-year-old Black Hawk County truck driver, is suing the City of La Porte as well as officers Garrett Husmann and Nicholas Hall and Police Chief […] The post LaPorte City man sues police after a series of encounters with officers appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Golf course community has been discharging too much pollution into creek
A residential area near the Hampton Country Club in north-central Iowa has for years exceeded its ammonia and bacteria limits for wastewater that is discharged into a creek, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The area north of Hampton uses a lagoon to store wastewater from about 63 dwellings. The lagoon relies on […] The post Golf course community has been discharging too much pollution into creek appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Board revokes license of physician accused of assault, having sex with patient
The Iowa Board of Medicine has revoked the license of a physician convicted of assault and accused of having sex with a patient. State records indicate Scott Piper was issued an Iowa medical license in April 2002, after which he practiced family medicine in Cedar Rapids. In March 2023, Piper was criminally charged with sexual […] The post Board revokes license of physician accused of assault, having sex with patient appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
One-third of Grinnell College power to come from solar energy with new solar array
Grinnell College has made a “decisive step” forward in the direction of operating without emissions with the completion of a 9,000-panel solar array. One-third of Grinnell College’s campus is now running on renewable energy with the array, the largest private solar installation in the state, Grinnell College President Anne Harris said. As Grinnell College reaches […] The post One-third of Grinnell College power to come from solar energy with new solar array appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Iowa’s ‘garden of stone’ welcomes a hero
ADEL — It was probably appropriate Larry Walters was laid to rest by his friends on a windy day. All the flags at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery seemed to stand at attention, shoulders to the wind and completely unfurled, in tribute to a guy who stood tall and proud in his service, in and out […] The post Iowa’s ‘garden of stone’ welcomes a hero appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Missouri residents affected by radiation exposure push Congress to extend benefits
WASHINGTON — A fund to compensate Americans sickened by exposure to atomic bomb tests, uranium mining and radioactive waste expires in just under 20 days, and activists and lawmakers are scrambling to keep the fund active and open to additional victims. A bill to reauthorize and expand the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, often shortened to RECA, sailed through […] The post Missouri residents affected by radiation exposure push Congress to extend benefits appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
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Iowa has long enjoyed a reputation for clean government. But what would happen if nobody was watching? The Iowa Capital Dispatch is a hard-hitting, independent news organization dedicated to connecting Iowans to their state government and its impact on their lives. The Capital Dispatch combines state government coverage with relentless investigative journalism, deep dives into the consequences of policy, political insight, and principled commentary. We deeply believe in sharing the stories of people outside the halls of power, connecting the actions of state leaders to their impacts on Iowans. We also believe that without strong community journalism, Iowans risk losing the government integrity and accountability they have long valued. The Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers. The Iowa Capital Dispatch retains editorial independence.
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