Anderson To Resign From State Senate
(Sioux City) — State Senator Bill Anderson, a Republican, plans to resign from the state senate to take a job in Cherokee County.Forty-year-old Bill Anderson of Pierson was an aide to Senator Chuck Grassley for eight years and he’s currently a policy adviser on Congressman Steve King’s staff. Anderson has been a state senator since January of 2011. Anderson says he
will resign from the senate to become the executive director of the Cherokee Area Economic Development Corporation.
Anderson says the offer was something he could not walk away from. Anderson says he has spoken to Governor Reynolds’ staff about the move. Anderson says he wants to fulfill some obligations that he had committed too for October, but believes
he will formally submit his resignation in early November.
Anderson says he has been approached by a few individuals who have an interest in pursuing the state senator position, once Anderson formally retires.
Anderson’s senate district covers Plymouth and Woodbury Counties. The governor will set the date for a special election to fill Anderson’s seat in the state senate, once Anderson submits his resignation letter. The latest voter registration data indicates there are more than twice as many Republicans as Democrats in the district.
National Farm Safety Week Is This Week
(Le Mars) — This week is National Farm Safety Week. It is designed to call attention to the dangers of farming, especially during harvest season. Iowa State University Extension Agricultural Engineer and Safety Specialist Chuck Schwab says agriculture ranks as one of the most dangerous and deadliest
occupations.
Schwab says the most common accidents involving agriculture include: tractor roll-overs, ATV roll-overs, roadway collisions with farm equipment, grain suffocation, electrocution, and machine entanglement. Another listing, are injuries sustained from animals. He says one reason for agriculture to be listed so high
with injuries and deaths is because so many people from a wide age demographic are involved with agriculture.
The Iowa State University Safety Specialist says the same is true with the younger generation.
Schwab says the best thing a farmer can do is to make good decisions, and to take a break from the action and have a moment of rest.
Agencies Disputing Over Worker’s Compensation Rulings
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa governor’s office and the organization that sets workers’ compensation rates are disputing over whether a new law influenced a recent rate reduction in premiums for employers.
The National Council on Compensation Insurance announced an 8.7 average premium reduction for Iowa employers that will begin January 2018.
The Des Moines Register reports Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a news release Aug. 28 that says the decrease is a “direct result” of reforms that took effect in July. The legislation cuts benefits for injured workers, makes it more difficult for injured workers to claim lump sum payments and limits attorney legal fees.
The compensation insurance council says the reduction was based on data from premium years 2014-15 and a decrease in claims.
—
