Governor Reynolds Speaks Against Separating Immigrant Children From Illegal Alien Parents
MITCHELLVILLE, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says the federal government should stop separating children from their parents when they enter the country illegally.
Reynolds said on Tuesday that “it’s just horrific” that children are
used as “pawns” in an immigration policy dispute. The Republican governor called on Congress to come up with a solution this week that stops the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Reynolds says the U.S. should provide “stability” to families instead of separating them from their children.
Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, a Democrat, also announced Tuesday that he has joined 20 other Democratic attorneys general in calling for the policy to stop. In a letter, the state attorneys general say the policy runs “contrary to American values.”
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Farmers See Commodity Prices Drop Due To Threat Of Tariffs
(Le Mars) — Farmers have noticed the price for their agricultural goods have dropped recently all because of the threat of a trade war. With all the talk of tariffs, and a possible trade war, many times one of the first casualties are against farm goods. Farmers across the nation have been watching the commodity markets plummet. Iowa State University Grain Marketing Specialist, Chad Hart says the markets have seen some volatility, and he expects the markets to continue to fall.
Within the last few years, China has been a big buyer of U-S soybeans, accounting for purchasing nearly one-third of all soybeans grown in the United States.
Hart says he hopes farmers were able to take advantage of the markets when there was a small price rally earlier this spring. He says he’s suggesting for farmers to stay with their original marketing plan.
The Iowa State University Extension Grain Marketing Specialist says the downward trend is also occurring with the livestock markets, especially with hogs and pork.
Hart says, luckily, the hog markets have had some time to figure out where some alternative markets are, and farmers have seen some recovery, especially in the near-term contracts. But, he says the price for hogs is still down far below where they were prior to when the tariff and trade war rhetoric had began. Hart fears there may be additional tariffs levied on the pork industry, especially since negotiations so far, have not resulted in any real progress. Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst has turned against the president saying the tariffs are nothing more than a tax on Midwest farmers.
Ernst Speaks Out Against Trump’s Tariffs
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Sen. Joni Ernst has harsh words for President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Chinese goods.
The Republican senator from Iowa, in a significant parting of ways with Trump, says the tariffs “are nothing more than a tax on Iowa farm families.”
In a statement released Tuesday Ernst said the “escalating trade war is putting the livelihoods of our rural communities in the cross-hairs.”
She says she supports Trump’s effort to equalize a trade imbalance but the United States should focus on access to new markets and completing new trade deals rather than imposing dangerous tariffs.
Trump says he’ll impose tariffs on an additional $200 billion in goods from China in addition to tariffs announced earlier, which Ernst says puts U.S. producers at risk of permanently losing valuable market access.
Harlan City Administrator Accused Of Stealing From City
HARLAN, Iowa (AP) – A former city administrator in western Iowa has been charged with stealing from the city.
Shelby County Court records say 67-year-old Terry Cox is charged with felony theft, felonious misconduct in office and misdemeanor records tampering. His lawyer, Mark Weinhardt, says Cox will plead not guilty.
Cox’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 5.
He was city administrator for Harlan until he resigned in 2016 after questions were raised about his expenses. A state audit requested by the city identified nearly $145,000 in improper and unsupported disbursements from July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2016.
Cox’s attorney says the audit report is flawed.
ICCI Asking Environmental Protection Agency To Withdraw Iowa DNR’s Authority On Water Pollution Management
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Environmental activists are asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to withdraw the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ authority to manage a program designed to limit water pollution.
About 30 members of the group Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement held a state Capitol rally Tuesday. They distributed a letter to the EPA alleging the DNR hasn’t done enough to regulate large hog farms, which can pollute water. The group is asking federal officials to manage water pollution regulations.
The DNR accepted a five-year work plan with the EPA in 2013 to bring its oversight of a pollutant discharge program into compliance with federal regulations. A department spokesman says the DNR is “sufficiently following” the plan.
The EPA will decide on any further action following a final DNR report in August.
Iowa Finance Authority Seeking New Facilities
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A state housing agency that’s been reviewing its decision to lease new office space is moving ahead with the relocation plans.
The Iowa Finance Authority says its board of directors agreed Tuesday to reaffirm the move after receiving a new external review of expected costs. The agency says the review shows the move would be the most cost-effective option in year 10 when compared to choices like staying in the current location.
The board plans to spend $17 million to lease the new space in Des Moines.
The Iowa Executive Council approved the move earlier this year but it received new attention after the agency’s former director, Dave Jamison, was fired in late March over allegations of sexual harassment. It was later discovered the five-member council wasn’t told renovating the existing space could save money.
The board says it has completed due diligence. The agency plans to be in the new office space by the end of 2018.
Des Moines To Ticket Speeders Caught On Camera
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Des Moines plans to resume ticketing Monday of speeding violators caught by an automated speed radar camera on a heavily traveled portion of Interstate 235.
Citations haven’t been issued since April 26 last year, upon an order from the Polk County District Court. Des Moines, Cedar Rapids and Muscatine appealed the court ruling. Those cities had sought the judicial review after the Iowa Transportation Department ordered some speed cameras turned off, saying the cameras didn’t make interstates safer.
This past April 27, however, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that the department didn’t have authority over speed cameras, clearing the way for cities to employ them.
The Des Moines Police Department said in a news release Tuesday that “a significant increase in speeding violations was noticed” after the ticketing halted.
