Iowa’s Governor Kim Reynolds joined 21 other state governors in opposing how the latest federal, COVID relief bill, passed early Saturday morning, allocates funding. The complaint is that the bill allocates funding based on a state’s “unemployed” population rather than its overall population. Gov. Reynolds says the bill punishes states that took a measured approach to the pandemic and entered the crisis with healthy state budgets and strong economies.
The union representing 4,000 University of Iowa Health Care employees is expected to accept the Board of Regents’ contract offer, despite being disappointed in the salary increase. Last month, the union asked for an increase of 5%, the maximum allowed by law, but the Board countered with 1.3%, the minimum required by law. The union will have a series of meetings starting today and leaders are encouraging members to sign it. The Board of Regents needs to approve the new contract by March 15. The two-year contract will take effect starting July 1.
Waverly-Shell Rock Community School District citizens go to the polls tomorrow to vote on a $31 million bond issue. The proposal would lead to construction of two new elementary buildings in Waverly, renovation of Shell Rock Elementary and allow improvements at the high school. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The measure must be approved by at least 60% of voters who cast ballots in the referendum. The two new schools would replace three older elementaries in the city. Total expense for the projects is estimated at $45 million. Additional funding would come from bonding against the district’s 1% sales tax revenues.
Authorities are investigating a shooting in Des Moines that killed a 52-year-old man. Authorities responded to the report of a shooting just before 11:30 Friday night and found the man with a gunshot injury. Police said he died at a hospital two hours later. This is the capital city’s first homicide of the year.
A bill introduced at the Iowa statehouse would force the University of Northern Iowa, University of Iowa, and Iowa State University to hold in-person graduation ceremonies this year. The bill, introduced last week by Republican Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, would also force the universities to allow each graduate to have two guests attend the ceremony. The bill would only impose these requirements for the current school year. Language in the bill calls it a temporary provision for spring graduation commencement ceremonies. The three universities had to cancel in-person ceremonies last spring and last winter to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Both UNI and the UI have already said this spring’s graduation ceremonies will be held virtually. Iowa State has said it planned to decide by today.
Authorities have identified 20-year-old Lily Macke of Grimes as the woman who died in a fatal collision between a car and a semi Friday morning. Polk County officials say Macke was driving a car southbound on Highway 141 when her vehicle crossed the median and was struck by a northbound semi. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the semi was uninjured. Investigation into the accident continues.
A 21-year-old Illinois man accused of stabbing his ex-girlfriend and leaving her body at an arboretum in Iowa has entered a plea of not guilty. Richard Forsythe of Galena entered the plea in Iowa District Court in Dubuque County. He is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 20-year-old Jennifer Lopez of East Dubuque, Illinois. Her body was found Feb. 1 at the Dubuque Arboretum. Police say she was stabbed 15 times. Forsythe’s next court hearing is set for April 12.
Police are searching for suspects after discovering a 14-year-old boy shot to death in a Davenport yard last week. Someone found the body of Jamon Winfrey on the ground Thursday afternoon and called police. Investigators believe the shooting happened a day earlier, when police were called to the area for a report of shots fired. Police believe that three vehicles were chasing after one another Wednesday afternoon, with shots being fired from at least one of the vehicles. At the time, investigators found only shell casings in the area, but no damage or injuries. Now, police believe Winfrey was shot in the incident.
