CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – A bond vote to make drastic changes to the Cedar Rapids Community School District will not happen in March. School board members said Monday night they need to take more time to hear from the community. School Board President David Tominsky said it now looks like September 2023 is when voters will get the chance to make a decision about the $312 million dollar bond. The district has not asked for a bond vote since 2000. The $312 million dollars under discussion would be the largest school bond in the state’s history. With such a big price tag, people in the community want to be sure the money is being spent wisely. It’s been an on-going conversation, with the historical nature of the facilities and equity for students two main topics. Public comment during Monday night’s meeting was a continuation of the conversation, and another demonstration there are many opinions on the best way forward. Board President Tominsky said the Board would have the chance to learn more information from the buildings and grounds manager in January.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state judge has blocked an effort to ban most abortions in Iowa by upholding a court decision made three years ago. Judge Celene Gogerty found Monday that there was no process for reversing a permanent injunction that blocked the abortion law in 2019. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a statement that she would appeal the decision to the state Supreme Court. Current law bans abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, but Reynolds asked the courts to reverse the 2019 decision. That law prohibited abortions once cardiac activity can be detected, which usually happens around six weeks of pregnancy and is often before many women know they’re pregnant.
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Four new cases of bird flu at Iowa turkey farms in the past few days will push the number of birds slaughtered nationwide this month to limit the spread of the virus up to nearly 700,000. The latest cases announced by the Iowa Department of Agriculture only add to the toll of this year’s ongoing outbreak that has prompted officials to kill more than 53 million birds in 47 states. Several other bird flu cases have been confirmed this month in Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Missouri and Colorado. Officials say the virus doesn’t represent a significant threat to human health, but the outbreak has contributed to rising prices of eggs, chicken and turkey.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The federal government has announced another $325 million for agricultural projects that are intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The latest list of 71 recipients for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Climate-Smart Commodities program primarily involve small and underserved farmers and ranchers. The payments follow $2.8 billion awarded in September to 70 projects, mostly larger-scale efforts backed by universities, businesses and agricultural groups. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the latest round of funding Monday at Tuskegee University, a historically Black college in Alabama, and said it’s vital that small operations benefit from the program.
