The greater Des Moines area produced 44 billion dollars’ worth of products last year, according to the U-S Conference of Mayors’ latest report. That’s up 4-tenths of a percent from the previous year. It’s also more than what was produced by the entire state of Vermont. A Lee County fertilizer plant wants to increase the…… MORE
Governor Branstad is asking for a Presidential Disaster Declaration for the bird flu epidemic. Branstad wrote to President Obama that Iowa needs help from FEMA with the effects of the disease on unemployment, the disposal process, and prevention of any further cases. Branstad says over 15-hundred people working in the poultry production sector will lose…… MORE
If you’re a public school teacher in Des Moines, you’ll soon be able to get your Master’s Degree for free from Drake University. The district’s school board approved a contract with the university last night to create a special master’s program for teachers. It’ll cost the district $150,000 the first year, and is funded through…… MORE
A private contractor is being hired by the state to track state workers’ medical leave, at a cost of 32-thousand dollars per month. State human resources staff will no longer be determining whether employees qualify for time off under the Family and Medical Leave Act. Those decisions will be made by the contracted company. An…… MORE
Some Iowa farmers are having trouble spraying their fields for weeds, because of the wet weather we’ve had. USDA says standing water is also a problem, causing some drowned out spots that will need to be replanted. On the other hand, 84 percent of the corn crop has been rated good-to-excellent so far.… MORE
Former Virginia Senator Jim Webb made several appearances in central Iowa the past few days, meeting with various voter groups and potential donors. The likely presidential contender for the Democrats first made a speech at the Urbandale Democrats’ Flag Day celebration on Sunday evening. He talked about his view of American veterans and the military,…… MORE
Senator Joni Ernst wants the president to give direct aid to the Kurds in northern Iraq as they fight off ISIS. Ernst said this is an issue valuable to both sides of the aisle, and would give the president the option to work with the Iraqi government to equip the Kursdish Peshmerga. Ernst’s amendment, however, failed…… MORE
Donald Trump has officially declared his candidacy for president. He’ll be at Sherman Hoyt Place tonight at 6 PM. He touted the economy and jobs in his official announcement today.… MORE
It could be July 3rd before the state budget is put to bed. Governor Branstad made it clear, he’s not rushing into signing the spending plan approved by the legislature. The governor says his deadline is July 6th. Governor Branstad doesn’t think the elimination of the Iowa Straw Poll will hurt the state’s influence on…… MORE
Iowa’s Congressional delegation is pushing the EPA to host a public hearing in Iowa on the proposed Renewable Fuel Standard. The state produced nearly 3-point-8 billion gallons of ethanol and 230 million gallons of biodiesel, and the delegation would like the EPA to take notice.… MORE
