From the KCRG-TV9 Newsroom:
Data from previous presidential elections show more people are voting early when compared to other regular election years. Six days into this early election cycle, more than 112,000 Iowans have cast their ballots. But looking at this time during the 2016 election, only 53,000 ballots had been returned. In Linn County, Auditor Joel Miller says over 14,000 absentee ballots have been mailed out and over 8,000 people have voted early in person. Miller points out that Iowa voters had 40 days of early voting in 2016, but it’s now half of that–20 days—yet the number of “early voters” is significantly larger.
Iowa’s Secretary of State says a recent audit found more than 2,000 people self-reported they are not U.S. citizens and then voted or registered to vote. Secretary Paul Pate also says 87 people self-reported they aren’t citizens after voting. Pate says the cases are being referred to County Auditors so poll workers can challenge the ballots.
For the second year in a row, an eastern Iowa business is partnering with members of University of Iowa’s marching band to sign a Name, Image and Likeness, or NIL, deal. These deals are usually for student-athletes to capitalize on their brands and platforms, but student musicians are also cashing in. All 19 of the band’s mellophone section will partner with The Brick Kitchen in Independence. As part of the deal, the musicians will appear in the store’s social media and advertising and also post about the store on their own platforms.
A Johnson County Conservation staff member says they recently discovered an endangered species of bee in their yard. Now scientists are getting the chance to learn more about the species that’s been on the decline since the late 1990’s. Johnson County Conservation says they’re rusty patched bumblebees. They were once found in 28 states across the country, but now they’re only in about 7 states. The species was listed as federally endangered in 2017. This is the first nest found in Iowa since the species was listed as federally endangered.
