From the KCRG-TV9 Newsroom:
The Iowa House has passed a massive government reorganization bill proposed by Governor Kim Reynolds. It passed 58 to 39, and would reduce the number of state agencies from 37 to 16. The Governor says it will make government smaller, more efficient, and more effective. She also says it will save taxpayer dollars. Opponents argue it puts more power into the hands of the Governor. The bill now heads to the governor’s desk for her signature.
The first major rail merger in a generation has been approved…and you may see an impact on the rails through eastern Iowa. The National Surface Transportation Board approved Canadian Pacific’s purchase of Kansas City Southern Railway. It’s a move that’s expected to bring more rail traffic through communities including Dubuque. Some downtown business leaders are concerned about both noise and the potential for crashes that involve hazardous materials.
Vice President Kamala Harris will be in Des Moines today for the first time since taking office. She’ll be visiting with local leaders about reproductive rights. Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade last summer, Harris has been holding meetings across the country in support of abortion rights. This week, she’s spoken against attacks on medication abortion, warning that banning certain medications could have unintended consequences.
Work started yesterday on a major project in Dubuque that will last through the summer. It’s the second phase of the Northwest Arterial project, from Highway 20 to John F. Kennedy Road. Drivers will see shifting traffic during construction that will go through mid-August.
A series of more than 50 statewide town hall meetings kicked off last night in Cedar Rapids as the state considers major upgrades in broadband service in Iowa. The Department of Management, Office of the Chief Information Officer, listened to Iowans at a Kirkwood Community College meeting last night. Town hall meetings are scheduled for Dubuque and Iowa City next week.
