DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has chosen a former Trump administration State Department official to serve as her chief of staff. Taryn Frideres, an Iowa native who has worked on Reynolds’ staff as chief operating officer for the past two years, will become the governor’s chief of staff beginning Dec. 1. Frideres previously worked for Sen. Joni Ernst and served under President Donald Trump as deputy to the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and as senior advisor to the deputy secretary of state. Frideres will replace Sara Craig Gongol, who headed Reynolds’ first campaign for governor then transitioned to become the governor’s chief of staff for the last four years, and will now work for the Republican Governors Association.
MOUNT PLEASANT, Iowa (KCRG) – More than 300 employees are losing their current jobs in Mount Pleasant because their workplace is closing. West Liberty Food announced plans to shutter the Mount Pleasant location by the end of spring. This comes after losing the business of a major, unnamed client. The efforts to take care for these employees are being rolled out in multiple parts, just like the closure itself. West Liberty Foods Chief Legal Officer, Dan Waters says the company is offering positions at its other locations. “We’re doing our best to take care of our people in a bad circumstance,” said Waters. “Nobody is actually being terminated. All of the team members at Mount Pleasant have been offered a job at one of our other facilities.” Nearly 95 of the employees have already accepted those positions. As a part of this closure, the company is also offering a ‘relocation package’ for those moving to the West Liberty location, which is about 50 miles away.
SPIRIT LAKE, Iowa (KUOO) – The Dickinson County Attorney has been charged for allegedly showing up at the courthouse drunk. The Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office said 39-year-old Amy Zenor was arrested Nov. 10, after authorities were notified of a person who was believed to be intoxicated that was in the courthouse. Zenor was charged with public intoxication, a simple misdemeanor. A press release said Zenor was released to her own attorney due to “safety concerns of placing her in jail.” Zenor was elected to another term as Dickinson County Attorney in the Tuesday, Nov. 8 election. She was running unopposed.
EPWORTH, Iowa (KCRG) – Western Dubuque High School is set to be under construction in the spring after the District’s School Board unanimously approved a bid to renovate the building. Parts of the renovation include expanding the vocational building as well as updating the school’s kitchen and cafeteria. Total construction costs for the project are estimated to be about $12.2 million. The district plans to use bond sales, funds from its physical plant and equipment levy, and nutrition fund to help cover project costs.
