From the KCRG-TV9 Newsroom:
A pipeline proposal survived this week’s second funnel deadline at the Iowa statehouse. The original bill would have restricted carbon capture pipeline projects. Senate Republicans amended the bill to lessen its impact by saying eminent domain should be avoided by allowing a project to find voluntary easements outside of the original project corridor. It would also require the Iowa Utilities Commission to grant or deny eminent domain for a project within one year of the request.
Iowa U.S. Senator Charles Grassley has introduced a bill to rein in the Administration’s power to impose tariffs. He says “for too long, Congress has delegated its clear authority to regulate interstate and foreign commerce to the executive branch.” His bill, the Trade Review Act of 2025, would require all new tariffs to expire after 60 days unless Congress explicitly approves them. The bill also gives Congress the ability to end tariffs at any time by passing a resolution of disapproval. Politico reports a similar bill has been introduced in the House.
Iowa City is moving to protect bus drivers in response to a national increase in violence against transit workers. A study from the Urban Institute shows violence against transit workers tripled from 2008 to 2022. The new doors that separate drivers from passengers will be added to 23 buses, and cost about a quarter of a million dollars. Newer buses already have those doors installed.
Iowa WARN says 160 people are losing their jobs in Dubuque. ASM Global has been the vendor for the Five Flags Center in Dubuque since 2004. This is the third mass layoff WARN announced in three days. This announcement, plus cuts at Sodexo in Decorah and Whirlpool in Amana, total 940 workers. The layoffs take effect June 30.
RAGBRAI will take a northerly route…really northerly. For the first time, the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa will run through a little of Minnesota. The route kicks off July 19 in Orange City and ends July 26 in Guttenberg. On Day 2, the route travels 15 miles in southern Minnesota. In eastern Iowa, the RAGBRAI route has stopovers in Iowa Falls, Cedar Falls, and Oelwein, before ending in Guttenberg.
