Le Mars May Receive Dusting Of Snow This Weekend
(Le Mars) — Wednesday may be the last nice day for some time, as the weather forecast is predicting some snow to occur by Friday. Todd Heitkamp is a meteorologist with the National Weather Services at Sioux Falls. He offers a preview of what we can expect for this coming weekend. It looks as though we may see a major change with our weather is the coming days.
Heitkamp says we may want to bundle up on Friday, since our daytime high temperature may only reach the 30’s.
As for our predicted snowfall, Heitkamp believes Le Mars may only receive a dusting. However, he says if you intend on traveling to the north, you should be aware of some significant snowfall.
For those that believe it is too early for snow, think again. Last year’s first snowfall was about this same time of year, as Le Mars had a dusting of snow on October 14th. The weather meteorologist says it is not uncommon to have snow in October.
(Above photos from October, 2018 first snow at Le Mars)
For the next month, Heitkamp says we could see above average precipitation and above average temperatures.
Grassley Says Iowans Not Talking About Impeachment Proceedings
(Washington) — U-S Senator Chuck Grassley says our nation’s capital is the only place where impeachment of the President is being discussed. Grassley, a Republican, says he doesn’t hear that message when he visits Iowa.
Grassley says Washington D.C. doesn’t live in the real world. He says their only concern is politics.
Grassley spoke to reporters during his weekly news conference held this morning. When asked if the impeachment proceedings will delay action in the House regarding the pending U-S Mexico and Canada trade agreement, Grassley says he believes the important trade agreement will be acted upon in the
near future.
Grassley says time is running out, and he hopes the Democratic controlled House doesn’t forget about passing the trade agreement.
The Iowa Senator also commented about his grandson, Pat Grassley, being selected as the Speaker of the House for the Iowa legislature.
Reynolds Aide Helping With Zoning Ordinance Dispute
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A top aide to Gov. Kim Reynolds is working as an expert witness in a private property lawsuit, backing a family that is seeking millions of dollars from neighbors in a zoning dispute.
The outside work by Department of Administrative Services Director Jim Kurtenbach is unusual for an agency leader. His testimony supporting a family seeking to develop an Ames campground over the objections of neighbors could give the appearance that the executive branch is taking sides in a local dispute.
Adding to the potential for a conflict is a misstatement about his
state job on Kurtenbach’s resume, which was filed in court last week.
Kurtenbach wrote that his department is the “primary entity charged in the Code of Iowa with representing the State in legal matters,” which isn’t true. The attorney general’s office represents the state in legal matters.
Kurtenbach didn’t respond to messages seeking comment. A Reynolds spokesman said Kurtenbach had disclosed his work on the case before his appointment in June.
Cedar Rapids To Construct Flood Gate To Protect Downtown From Future Flooding
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) – Cedar Rapids officials have announced construction of a new flood gate to protect part of downtown from Cedar River flooding.
The Gazette reports that city leaders, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials and members of Iowa’s congressional delegation gathered Tuesday for a groundbreaking ceremony.
The 4-foot thick gate will be 14 feet tall and 67 feet long and will
hide behind a flood wall when not in use. It can be rolled into place within minutes to protect the New Bohemia business district when the river rises.
A contract to complete the $2.4 million gate was signed last week, and construction will likely begin later this year or next spring.
The city has been slowly assembling a $550 million flood control system since devastating floods ravaged Cedar Rapids in 2008.
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Appeals Court Allows Sioux City Human Rights Commission To Sue Landlords Over Companion Pets For Housing Discrimination
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Court of Appeals says the Sioux City Human Rights Commission may sue the owners of rental properties for housing discrimination for rejecting renters with disabilities who asked to keep companion animals in their homes.
In a decision filed Wednesday, a three-judge panel concluded the city and its civil rights commission have standing to sue for violations of the law under the Iowa Civil Rights Act.
The city first sued James W. Boyd Revocable Trust and its trustees James Boyd and Jennifer Boyle in March 2017, claiming they violated the law by denying reasonable accommodation of a disability. The city seeks a court order to stop the practice, civil penalties and punitive damages.
The city says applicants for rentals were told that no animals were allowed in 2014 and again in 2016.
A judge dismissed the lawsuit in March 2018, finding the commission was not an “aggrieved person” eligible to sue under Iowa law.
The appeals court judges applied the federal discrimination law
definition, which allows a local civil rights commission to directly
litigate discrimination concerns.
They sent the case back to district court for trial.
