The state Department of Justice and Department of Corrections need more money from the legislature’s budget in the upcoming year, at least that was the center of discussion at the first meeting of the Governor’s Working Group on Justice Policy Reform. The group of state leaders met at the capitol on Thursday in what is…… MORE
A commercial delegation from China is in Des Moines today finalizing more than a dozen contract for Iowa products. Overall exports to China for the first half of this year are up more than 63 percent from the same time last year, making China the state’s third-largest export market. Iowa saw an uptick in its…… MORE
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ efforts in Iowa have been paying off in recent weeks, as he has taken the lead (albeit by one point) over long-time front-runner Hillary Clinton. A lot of that support is funneled by a more focused organization in Des Moines at the state campaign’s headquarters. According to the campaign, a…… MORE
Iowa’s governor was among five U-S governors who met with China’s president yesterday in Seattle to discuss ways to work together on clean energy technology. The gathering signed an agreement to cooperate on boosting businesses that create renewable and clean energy. Governor Branstad says a Chinese delegation will be visiting Des Moines tomorrow. Republican state…… MORE
For weeks, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has been dodging the question on whether she opposes or supports the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline, and all it took was one simple question from a Drake University student about it for Clinton to finally come clean. “I oppose it,” Clinton said when she was asked her position…… MORE
The Justice Department awarded more than 19-million dollars in grants to dozens of police departments seeking to start using body cameras, but only one Iowa city was among the recipients. The Dubuque Police department already had 60-thousand dollars in matching funds for the cameras, and received the allocation, while Des Moines was turned down for…… MORE
Repealing and replacing Obamacare is one of the main issues Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum is campaigning on while touring Iowa this week. Known for his more social conservative values, the former Pennsylvania senator has recently come out hard against the Affordable Care Act, and touts a constructive reform plan. He spoke to the Torch’s…… MORE
After leading in Iowa throughout the spring and early summer, Republican presidential candidate Scott Walker has slipped toward the bottom half of the pack of contenders in the latest major polls. So not only is one of his Super PACs pouring millions into TV ads in the caucus state, but the Wisconsin governor himself is…… MORE
As the possibility of a government shutdown over defunding Planned Parenthood looms this week, Polk County GOP Women took their concerns about the issue to a meeting with Heidi Cruz, the wife of Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz. The group of 15 or so women met with Cruz on Monday morning as part of a…… MORE
A Sioux County state senator will submit a bill in the legislature to block the Des Moines Water Works’ pollution suit against three upriver counties. Randy Feestra previously proposed a boycott of Des Moines businesses as a way of fighting the suit. Governor Branstad will head to Seattle this week to meet with the president…… MORE
