DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Legislature has rejected the first set of redistricting maps drawn by a state agency, raising concerns that majority Republicans may opt to insert politics into Iowa’s nonpartisan process. The nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency drew the maps, which proposed revising Iowa’s four congressional districts to include two that lean toward Republicans, one that favors Democrats and one that both parties could win. The Senate rejected the plan Tuesday on a party-line vote, with all 32 Republicans voting no and the 18 Democrats voting yes. The LSA has 35 days to draw a second set of maps, which must be voted on with no amendments. If that is rejected the LSA has another 35 days to draw a third map, which lawmakers could amend.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds will travel to Texas to join nine other Republican governors for a Wednesday tour of the border with Mexico. The cost of the trip will be shared between Iowa taxpayers and a nonprofit Republican governor’s group. Reynolds spokesman Alex Murphy said the trip is an official visit and taxpayers will pay about $500 in lodging for Reynolds and staff accompanying her. The Republican Governors Public Policy Committee will fund the transportation to Texas. Murphy didn’t immediately respond to questions about whether Reynolds is flying and, if so, whether she’s taking a private airplane and who owns the aircraft. Reynolds will join with governors from Texas, Arizona, Montana, Wyoming, Georgia, Nebraska, Ohio and Oklahoma.
DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — A judge sentenced a man to life in prison for strangling a 74-year-old Davenport man to death in 2020. The Quad-City Times reports that Judge Mark Fowler sentenced 20-year-old Charlie Gary, of Davenport, to the life term for the January 2020 death of Robert Long. Gary was convicted in August of first-degree murder as well as burglary, robbery and abuse of corpse. Prosecutors say the killing happened after Gary, who had done odd jobs for Long, asked the older man if he wanted his driveway shoveled. Long declined and Gary forced his way into the house and strangled Long.
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A late-night fire at a West Des Moines hotel destroyed dozens of units and displaced more than 100 people. West Des Moines Fire Marshall Mike Whitsell says firefighters were called to the Valley West Inn, an extended-stay hotel, around 11:15 p.m. Monday. Arriving firefighters found heavy smoke and flames coming from the building. Whitsell says residents were climbing out of windows and dropping their children from the hotel’s windows to escape the fire. Whitsell says two people were taken to hospitals for injuries, while six hotel residents were treated at the scene by medics. The cause of the fire is being investigated.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — After 40 drawings without a big Powerball winner, a single ticket sold in California matched all six numbers and was the lucky winner of the nearly $700 million jackpot prize. The winning numbers drawn Monday night were 12, 22, 54, 66 and 69. The Powerball was 15. The Powerball jackpot climbed to $699.8 million, making it the seventh largest in U.S. lottery history. The California Lottery says the winning ticket was sold at a grocery store in Morro Bay, located along the state’s central coast. The winner will be able to choose between the annuity option paid over 29 years or the cash option of $496 million. Both prize options are subject to taxes.
MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Officials in Marshalltown say a 71-year-old man died in a house fire over the weekend. The Times-Republican reports that firefighters were called for the house fire around 5 a.m. Sunday. Arriving firefighters and police officers found smoke and flames coming from the house and say neighbors reported hearing knocking and screams coming from inside the home. Flames kept anyone from being able to immediately enter. Firefighters knocked down the flames after taking out a window, but by the times crews were able to enter the home, the man was found dead. His name has not been released.
