Expect to shell out more for your gas this weekend…and maybe a dime more the week after that. State analysts say an explosion at a BP refinery in Indiana has pushed up the price at the pump in Iowa by 15 cents overnight. They expect next month, however, that prices will start falling and continue…… MORE
Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders are all expected to make appearances this weekend at the state fair. Trump will arrive by helicopter just outside the grounds and will field questions from reporters. He’ll also be visiting the butter cow. Clinton, in the meantime, just snagged the endorsement of former Senator Tom Harkin.… MORE
The Iowa State Fair opens today. The ten-day event got its kickoff last night with a parade starting at the state capitol. The event showcases the state’s best in agriculture, food and entertainment. Iowa is trying to close the workforce skills gap among prospective employees with the “Future Ready Iowa” initiative. Governor Branstad met with…… MORE
The head of the Iowa Department of Human Services says he has no plans to shut down the remaining two state mental health facilities. But he’s not sure the state needs more than the 700 available beds in public and private care. Chuck Palmer gave his condolences to the families of a third displaced Clarinda…… MORE
The first of a series of meetings for the “Future Ready Iowa” initiative kicked off at the capitol Wednesday afternoon with a roundtable discussion between Governor Branstad, Lieutenant Governor Reynolds, and eight Iowa students about what the state can do to better align education and workforce initiatives to close the skills gap among prospective young…… MORE
A Boone County farmer has been ordered by a county judge to let a survey crew from Dakota Access Pipeline onto his property. The survey is for the Bakken oil pipeline, should it be approved by the state utilities board. The pipeline would cut across the state, and Laverne Johnson has made it clear, he…… MORE
Most Des Moines area schools will be starting in less than two weeks…and a new study suggests their teachers ease up on the homework when they return to class. The American Journal of Family Therapy says students in early elementary school are getting sometimes nearly three times as much homework as recommended by education leaders.… MORE
Sherman Associates will pay the difference if an 8-and-a-half million dollar federal loan for the city doesn’t cover all of the development costs for the Gray’s Landing urban neighborhood. The city, in turn, will let the developer collect all of the proceeds from land sales in the area. Sherman will eventually be repaid by the…… MORE
The percentage of Iowans without health insurance has dipped to five percent in the first half of the year, according to the latest Gallup poll. That’s almost half of what it was two years ago. Only four states have lower rates. More good news for Iowa workers…you could be in for a pay raise, according…… MORE
Two southern Republican presidential candidates worked crowds in northern Iowa over the weekend, appearing in the caucus state just two days after speaking on the national debate stage last week. Bobby Jindal and Rick Perry talked to voters in Iowa Falls and Waterloo about their positions on foreign policy, Planned Parenthood, Common Core, and moving…… MORE
