ONE WEEK AGO, THE IOWA LEGISLATURE WAS TAKING ITS FINAL ACTIONS BEFORE A LATE-NIGHT ADJOURNMENT. LAST WEDNESDAY INCLUDED A BILL QUICKLY SIGNED BY GOVERNOR KIM REYNOLDS PROHIBITING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS OR SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM IMPLEMENTING THEIR OWN MASK MANDATES. IOWA HOUSE SPEAKER PAT GRASSLEY WAS A RECENT KXEL LIVE AND LOCAL GUEST AND TALKED ABOUT THE PASSAGE OF THAT ACT. GOVERNOR REYNOLDS SIGNED THE MASK MEASURE MINUTES AFTER IT CLEARED THE LEGISLATURE. ANOTHER BILL PASSED IN THE FINAL HOURS OF THE SESSION TIGHTENED RULES ABOUT WHO COULD DELIVER ABSENTEE BALLOTS TO LOCAL ELECTION OFFICES ON BEHALF OF A VOTER.
THE NATIONAL PORK PRODUCERS COUNCIL IS ASKING FOR A LEGAL ASSIST FROM THE U.S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. THE TRADE GROUP IS PUSHING USDA TO APPEAL A COURT ORDER WHICH WOULD SLOW DOWN LINE SPEEDS AT MEAT PROCESSING PLANTS. RULES ALLOWING FASTER SPEEDS WERE APPROVED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IN 2019, BUT THEN REVERSED BY A MINNESOTA COURT IN MARCH. THE NATIONAL PORK PRODUCERS COUNCIL ARGUES THAT WILL COST FARMERS $80 MILLION IN REDUCED INCOME. MEATPACKING UNIONS CHALLENGED THE FASTER SPEEDS, SAYING THEY PUT WORKERS’ HEALTH AND SAFETY AT RISK.
SETH TUTTLE IS GETTING A PROMOTION. THE FORMER MISSOURI VALLEY CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE YEAR IS NOW A UNI PANTHER MEN’S BASKETBALL ASSISTANT COACH. HE HAS BEEN ON THE PANTHER COACHING STAFF SINCE 2018, SERVING MOST RECENTLY AS THE TEAM’S VIDEO COORDINATOR.
NO ONE WAS HURT, BUT SEVERAL SHOTS WERE FIRED DURING AN INCIDENT ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF WATERLOO ON TUESDAY. THE CONFRONTATION HAPPENED SHORTLY BEFORE NOON IN THE CEDAR KNOLL MOBILE HOME PARK. AUTHORITIES SAY IT BEGAN AS A ROBBERY ATTEMPT IN ONE UNIT. ANOTHER NEARBY RESIDENT BECAME INVOLVED AND EXCHANGED GUNFIRE WITH THE SUSPECTS BEFORE POLICE ARRIVED. NO ONE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY IN THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH OF THE INCIDENT, WHICH REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION.
CEDAR RAPIDS OFFICIALS HAVE INSPECTED 42 THOUSAND TREES IN PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAYS. ALL RECEIVED SOME DEGREE OF DAMAGE LAST AUGUST WHEN A POWERFUL STORM DISRUPTED LIFE THROUGH A WIDE CORRIDOR OF EASTERN AND CENTRAL IOWA. THE CITY HAS BEEN SEEKING TO REMOVE AND REPLACE MANY TREES WHICH CANNOT NOT BE SAVED WITH HELP FROM THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY. DIRECTOR OF PARKS AND RECREATION SCOTT HOCK TALKED TO OUR COVERAGE PARTNERS AT TV-9 AND NOTED THAT SOME TREES INITIALLY MARKED FOR REMOVAL MAY NOT COME DOWN AFTER ALL. THE LAST CEDAR RAPIDS RIGHT-OF-WAY TREES WHICH CAN’T BE SAVED ARE EXPECTED TO COME DOWN BEFORE THE END OF JUNE.
AT ALMOST THE LAST POSSIBLE MOMENT, THE WATERLOO BUCKS HAVE A NEW MANAGER. CASEY HARMS LEFT THE TEAM AFTER TWO SEASONS TO JOIN THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES ORGANIZATION. THAT HAS OPENED THE TOP JOB IN WATERLOO FOR RYAN GAYNOR, WHO IS ALSO THE PITCHING COACH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF. THE BUCKS TAKE THE FIELD FOR THEIR FIRST GAME OF THIS SEASON NEXT MONDAY.
IOWA SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE PAT GRASSLEY OF NEW HARTFORD SAYS REPUBLICANS WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE LOWERING IOWA INCOME TAX RATES. DURING KXEL LIVE AND LOCAL ON TUESDAY, GRASSLEY NOTED THAT CUTTING OVERALL RATES WILL MEAN DISRUPTING SOME TAX CREDITS MANY IOWANS ENJOY. HE ALSO SPOKE ABOUT SPEEDING UP TAX RELIEF PLANS. GRASSLEY SAYS REVAMPING IOWA TAX POLICY WILL IMPROVE THE STATE’S BUSINESS CLIMATE. FIND THE FULL INTERVIEW AT KXEL.COM.
THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA WOULD LIKE APPROVAL OF A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR DEVELOPMENT ARRANGEMENT NEAR THE SCHOOL’S FINKBINE GOLF COURSE. THE UNIVERSITY WOULD COLLECT MORE THAN 5 MILLION DOLLARS OVER THE TERM OF A PROPOSED 30-YEAR LAND LEASE FOR A 110-UNIT APARTMENT BLOCK. THE RESIDENCES WOULD BE INTENDED FOR THOSE 55 AND OLDER. THE IOWA BOARD OF REGENTS IS REVIEWING THE PLAN.
FROM NEW CONSTRUCTION TO HISTORIC BUILDINGS. THE IOWA DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS IS PROVIDING 125 THOUSAND DOLLARS TO MAKE REPAIRS TO THE WINNESHIEK COUNTY COURTHOUSE. THE BUILDING’S DOME HAS BEEN LEAKING, LEADING TO WATER DAMAGE, IMPACTING SOME PARTS OF THE INTERIOR.
THE GROUT MUSEUM DISTRICT IS REOPENING ITS BLUEDORN SCIENCE IMAGINARIUM IN DOWNTOWN WATERLOO. THE FACILITY WILL HAVE NEW TEMPORARY HOURS BEGINNING NEXT THURSDAY. THE IMAGINARIUM’S NORMAL OPERATIONS WERE DISRUPTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
