Anderson And Soderberg Talk About Bills That Survived Funnel Deadline
(Des Moines) — Today is the state legislature’s self-imposed funnel deadline. If bills have not yet passed through the committee level, they are essentially dead. Republican State Senator Bill Anderson of Pierson reviews the pending legislation that did make it through the funnel deadline. He says the Senate will still be working on a broadband internet bill.
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Anderson says the bills he introduced did not survive the funnel deadline, as was the case with many of the Republican minority sponsored legislation.
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Earlier in the week, Senate Democrats held a news conference regarding the expansion of medical marijuana to include eight different chronic diseases. Anderson says although the bill remains alive in the Senate, he doubts if the House Republicans will want to again address the medical marijuana issue during this session.
Like the Senate, the House has also moved ahead legislation dealing with the broadband internet. Le Mars State Representative Chuck Soderberg explains.
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Soderberg says this past week was a “fury of activity” in the House chambers, and as an example he says the House Judiciary committee passed 17 bills on Wednesday evening. Soderberg tells of some of the legislation that did make it through the funnel deadline.
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One area of interest to school districts is the funding for education. The House and the Senate are split as to how much money should be appropriated to the school districts. Soderberg serves on the conference committee and says even though the two sides have been meeting, they remain miles apart in reaching a final decision.
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The Le Mars state representative explains the differences between the Senate spending level for education and what the House has passed.
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Pizza With A Purpose Benefit
(Le Mars) — “Pizza With A Purpose” is a benefit scheduled for Sunday afternoon at the All Saints Parish, St. Joseph Catholic Church in Le Mars. The benefit is for both Kylie Hayworth and Turner Manley. Hayworth is suffering from a rare form of brain cancer and Manley suffers from several ailments including Addison’s disease, and Ulcerative Colitis resulting in the removal of his entire colon. Hayworth is currently on a trip to Italy {through the “Make A Wish” campaign}. While visiting Rome, and the Vatican, she had the rare opportunity to meet with Pope Francis.
Court Upholds Wage Discrimination Lawsuit
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Three women who worked for Muscatine-based office furniture manufacturer Allsteel may proceed with a lawsuit claiming wage discrimination but any potential damages are limited to a two-year period due to an Iowa Supreme Court opinion.
The court says Iowa’s 2009 Equal Pay Act is not retroactive so Erin Dindinger, Lisa Loring and Elizabeth Freund cannot seek damages prior to 2009. Some claims in their lawsuit go as far back as 2000.
The opinion filed Friday also says workers may file wage discrimination cases under the older Iowa Civil Rights Act but that limits damages to 300 days.
The women’s lawsuit will proceed in federal court in Des Moines.
A spokesman for Allsteel, a division of HNI Corp., says the claims are without merit and the company plans a vigorous defense.
Court Rules Chinese Tire Maker Can Be Sued For Iowa Explosion
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – The Iowa Supreme Court says a Chinese company that made a tire that exploded and caused permanent injuries to an Iowa teenager can be sued in the state.
Justices ruled Friday that courts in Iowa have jurisdiction over Doublestar Dongfent Tyre Company because it shipped thousands of tires into the state.
The ruling reinstates a civil lawsuit brought by Dylan Book, who was severely injured in 2009 when a tire exploded at his father’s auto repair shop in Adel.
Then 17, Book was trying to mount a tire on an older rim when he overinflated it, causing an explosion. He was left blinded in one eye and lost part of his jaw, most of his sense of taste and smell, and the partial use of his left arm and hand.
Mechanic Dies From Auto Shop Fire
MAQUOKETA, Iowa (AP) – A Maquoketa (muh-KOH’-kih-tuh) man has died after being severely burned in a fire at his auto shop.
Authorities say 75-year-old James “Jim” Bealer died Sunday at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.
Maquoketa Police Chief Brad Koranda says officers responded to a caller on Feb. 26 who said a man’s clothing had caught fire. Koranda says Bealer had been using a blowtorch at his shop.
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday in Maquoketa at Carson Celebration of Life Center.
Dating Site Scam
BURLINGTON, Iowa (AP) – A southeast Iowa woman has been accused of scramming more than $17,000 from a South Carolina woman in a dating website ruse.
46-year-old Doris Warth, of New London, is charged with felony theft. Jail records say she remained in custody on Friday. Her attorney didn’t immediately return an Associated Press call seeking comments on her case.
Court documents say Warth told investigators that she’d used a military-oriented dating website in the scheme. The South Carolina woman was led to believe she was engaged to a serviceman in Afghanistan. Warth posed as the wife of a soldier who was friends with the other make-believe serviceman.
The documents say the woman sent the money to help her supposed fiance out of a legal jam.
