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Iowa Capital Dispatch
D.C. Dispatch: Biofuels, baby formula and noncitizens voting
Iowa lawmakers voiced concerns this week about noncitizens voting in federal elections as well as delays to the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision on new biofuel standards. Members of Iowa’s delegation also introduced new bills aimed at eliminating potential political biases in the Office of Inspector General and increasing the production of baby formula. Here’s what […] The post D.C. Dispatch: Biofuels, baby formula and noncitizens voting appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Cedar Rapids investors hope third time’s the charm with new casino proposal
An Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission vote on Feb. 6, 2025, will decide whether a proposed $250 million Cedar Rapids casino is approved or becomes the third in the line of failed casino proposals. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, which approves casino licenses, laid out the timeline for the casino application as well as […] The post Cedar Rapids investors hope third time’s the charm with new casino proposal appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Feds announce new funding to expand meat processing
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently pledged about $110 million to smaller and independent meat processors — including five in Iowa — to expand their capacities in an effort to increase competition in the industry and to give farmers more options. The federal grants announced on Thursday range in value from about $123,000 for a […] The post Feds announce new funding to expand meat processing appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Governor announces disaster recovery housing programs
The state will launch multiple programs to assist communities devastated by severe weather in the past three months, including efforts to temporarily house people and construct new permanent properties, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Thursday. Reynolds held a news conference Thursday, flanked by state agency and department heads involved in providing emergency and recovery services for […] The post Governor announces disaster recovery housing programs appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Nurse fights abuse ruling, says Mucinex overdose sparked satanic hallucinations
A nurse who says he overdosed on Mucinex and thought his wife was the devil is taking the state to court over his placement on Iowa’s child abuse registry. Ryan Tagge is seeking judicial review of an April 22 decision by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to place him on the state’s […] The post Nurse fights abuse ruling, says Mucinex overdose sparked satanic hallucinations appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
GOP plan to reverse final Title IX rule passes U.S. House, but Biden says he’d veto
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House on Thursday passed a measure to reverse an Education Department rule seeking to extend federal discrimination protections for LGBTQ students, though President Joe Biden has vowed to veto the legislation should it land on his desk. House passage of the resolution on a party-line vote, 210-205, is part of a barrage of […] The post GOP plan to reverse final Title IX rule passes U.S. House, but Biden says he’d veto appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Iowa State University receives federal grant for power distribution grid work
As electricity usage in homes increases due to modernization and weather changes, Iowa State University researchers are working to keep the lights on and the power grid working smoothly with a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. The project, led by Grumman associate professor of electrical and computer engineering Zhaoyu Wang, will […] The post Iowa State University receives federal grant for power distribution grid work appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Bird files court brief defending Arkansas ban on school indoctrination
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird has filed a brief in federal court on behalf of 14 states defending an Arkansas law that prevents “indoctrination in K-12 schools.” A federal district court ruled the state could not prevent two teachers from discussing the ideas of critical race theory – a primarily collegiate academic theory that asserts […] The post Bird files court brief defending Arkansas ban on school indoctrination appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Iowa nursing home cited for insufficient staffing after resident’s death
One resident of a Johnston nursing home died and another was hospitalized recently amid allegations by employees that the home has insufficient staff to meet residents’ needs. State inspectors visited Johnston’s Bishop Drumm Retirement Center in June and on Tuesday issued a report of their findings, citing the home for insufficient nursing staff and failure […] The post Iowa nursing home cited for insufficient staffing after resident’s death appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Audubon fined for excessive wastewater pollution
A western Iowa town has agreed to pay an $8,000 fine for repeatedly expelling too much ammonia nitrogen in its wastewater that flows to the East Nishnabotna River, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Audubon violated its ammonia limits in nearly every month of 2021 and 2022 and in several months of 2023, […] The post Audubon fined for excessive wastewater pollution appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Woodbury County wants to provide tax relief for families of fallen heroes
Woodbury County supervisors are seeking state approval of a new law that would provide tax relief to the families of fallen first responders and officers. The tax-relief proposal would eliminate property taxes for the surviving family members of police officers and first responders killed in the line of duty. Woodbury County Supervisors Jeremy Taylor and […] The post Woodbury County wants to provide tax relief for families of fallen heroes appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Board reinstates Iowa doctor’s license after conviction for assaulting patient
The Iowa Board of Medicine has agreed to reinstate the license of a physician criminally charged with sexually abusing a patient. In December 2018, Dr. Venkateswara Karuparthy, a pain management physician from Bettendorf, was criminally charged with sexual abuse in Rock Island County, Illinois. Prosecutors alleged that in August 2018 he fondled a female colleague […] The post Board reinstates Iowa doctor’s license after conviction for assaulting patient appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
The ‘D’ stands for ‘dumb’ in Drake battle with DMACC
Two Des Moines institutions of higher learning are working hard to make the letter “D” stand for “dumb.” Drake University, my two-time alma mater, is suing Des Moines Area Community College over the use of the letter “D” as a brand. DMACC rebranded itself last year and started using a block-letter “D” in royal blue, […] The post The ‘D’ stands for ‘dumb’ in Drake battle with DMACC appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
When ‘universal’ pre-K really isn’t: Barriers to participating abound
When Tanya Gillespie-Lambert goes to an event in a local park in Camden, New Jersey, she takes a handful of brochures about free preschool with her. She has no hesitation about approaching strangers — moms with kids especially — to plug the service in the local public school district, where she’s director of community and […] The post When ‘universal’ pre-K really isn’t: Barriers to participating abound appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Biden commends NATO strength, pledges more aid for Ukraine against Russia
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said NATO “is more powerful than ever” in remarks Tuesday to honor the 75th anniversary of the alliance and reaffirm allied support for Ukraine one day after Russian missile strikes on a children’s hospital killed dozens in Kyiv. Biden spoke at the annual North American Treaty Organization’s summit happening this week in […] The post Biden commends NATO strength, pledges more aid for Ukraine against Russia appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
United by their objections to Trump, congressional Dems largely close ranks behind Biden
WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats appeared to quell some inner tumult over supporting President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign, after highly anticipated internal meetings Tuesday showed the president retained considerable support from the Congressional Black Caucus and other lawmakers in public statements. Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill, Democrats from both chambers largely declined to detail their […] The post United by their objections to Trump, congressional Dems largely close ranks behind Biden appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
DNR issues fine for massive chicken confinement fire
State regulators have taken action against three men they say share responsibility for illegal fires that torched 10 large chicken confinement buildings last year near Villisca in southwest Iowa. One of the men, Tyson Means of Villisca, has agreed to pay a $10,000 fine, according to a recent Iowa Department of Natural Resources order. Two […] The post DNR issues fine for massive chicken confinement fire appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Gaming regulators to discuss timeline of proposed Linn County casino
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission will discuss the application timeline of a new casino in Cedar Rapids in a Friday morning meeting. The Linn County Gaming Association and its casino operator partner Peninsula Pacific Entertainment submitted an application shortly after Iowa’s two-year moratorium on new gaming licenses ended at the beginning of July. The […] The post Gaming regulators to discuss timeline of proposed Linn County casino appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Drake University sues DMACC over community college’s new logo
Two central Iowa schools are pitted against each other in a legal battle over trademarks. Des Moines’ Drake University, while citing an opinion from a costumed “Santa Claus,” is suing Des Moines Area Community College in federal court over the latter’s recent rebranding effort. DMACC’s marketing features a single-character logo of the letter ‘D’ in […] The post Drake University sues DMACC over community college’s new logo appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Federal regulator: Pharmacy middlemen appear to be raising prices, hurting patients
The federal trade watchdog on Tuesday released an interim report saying that sprawling health care conglomerates are driving out competition in the pharmacy sector and appear to be increasing prices in the process. The interim report comes after the Federal Trade Commission in 2022 announced that it was undertaking a sweeping investigation of pharmacy middlemen […] The post Federal regulator: Pharmacy middlemen appear to be raising prices, hurting patients 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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