Councial Approves Lowering Speed Limit
(LeMars)- The Lemars City Councial approved a motion to lower the speed limit on Highway 75, in Lemars. City administrator Scott Langel says the approval was just the first step.
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Langel says further recomendations were made.
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A TEEP study has also been suggested.
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If the ordinence is passed at the next counciel meeting the speed limit could be lowered quickly.
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Argosy Granted Emergancy Stay
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Supreme Court has potentially given the Argosy riverboat casino in Sioux City more time to stay open.
The high court on Friday granted an emergency stay of a district court order requiring the casino to close July 22. Groups in support of the closure have until Monday to file a resistance.
The Sioux C ity Journal reports the stay will be in effect while the state Supreme Court considers whether to hear Argosy’s appeal of the district court’s order to close. It’s unclear how much more time the stay gives the casino.
Karen Bailey, a spokeswoman for Argosy parent Penn National Gaming Co., says she’s pleased.
In April, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission ordered the riverboat casino to close because it doesn’t meet state gaming license requirements.
New Recreation Trail To Be Built In Councial Bluffs
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) – A conservation official says a recreation trail between Council Bluffs and nearby Neola could be ready by 2017.
Mark Shoemaker, executive director of Pottawattamie County’s conservation board, says design work will begin this year and construction will start next year for a trail between Council Bluffs and Weston.
The Council Bluffs Nonpareil reports that work will expand to Underwood in 2016 and Neola in 2017, which is a stretch of 16 miles.
A $1.1 million grant from the Iowa West Foundation was recently announced for the design and construction of the 10-foot-wide concrete trail that would be parallel to a county road. It will require a match that county officials are already trying to fill.
Iowa Supreme Court Upholds Discrimination Ruling
(Des Moines)-The Iowa Supreme Court upheld a Polk County District Court ruling that determined the State of Iowa did not discriminate against African-Americans in their hiring and promotion practices. Attorney Tom Newkirk had argued in the class action suit that the mostly white managers had an implicit bias against African-Americans. Newkirk says he is not surprised by the Supreme Court ruling, but says the justices did not totally overlook his arguments.
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The Supreme Court acknowledged discrimination may have occurred, but said the arguments didn’t convince the court it was widespread throughout 37 departments in the state. The ruling did indicate the court may be sympathetic to implicit bias cases in the future.
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The case was first brought in 2007. Newkirk doesn’t believe anything has changed in the years the lawsuit has been making its way through the court system.
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He says the Supreme Court ruling suggests the state remains open to more legal action.
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Iowa Solicitor General Jeff Thompson says since the suit was filed, Iowa has worked to make hiring more objective.
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There are 29 named class members in the lawsuit and as many as 6,000 members involving over 20-thousand employment applications going back to 2003.
Former Ag Secretary Critical Of Branstad
(Des Moines)-A woman who served two terms as Iowa’s ag secretary is joining those who’re criticizing Terry Branstad for saying none of the unaccompanied children who’ve entered the country illegally should be sent to Iowa. Patt Judge, a Democrat, also served one term as Iowa’s lieutenant governor.
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Branstad said Monday he has “empathy” for the kids who’ve crossed into the U.S. along the southern border, but bringing them here would send the wrong message about entering the country illegally.
