Reynolds Blocks Attorney General Miller From Filing Lawsuit Against Trump Administration
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has blocked Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller from joining 21 states and six large cities in a lawsuit challenging a Trump administration policy easing restrictions on coal-fired power plants.
Miller says he sought approval from the governor in June but Reynolds, a Republican and Donald Trump supporter, declined.
Miller, a Democrat, reached an agreement with Reynolds in May requiring him to get her consent before joining such lawsuits. In exchange, Reynolds vetoed a bill lawmakers passed that weakened the attorney general’s powers.
Trump has replaced an Obama administration plan that required states to cut emissions from fossil fuel-burning power plants with a rule relaxing the state restrictions.
The federal lawsuit claims the Trump rule violates the federal Clean Air Act.
Congressman Steve King Shares Controversial Comments At Conservative Organization
URBANDALE, Iowa (AP) – U.S. Rep. Steve King is defending his call for a ban on all abortions by questioning whether “there would be any population of the world left” if not for births due to rape and incest.
Speaking Wednesday before a conservative group in the Des Moines suburb of Urbandale, the Iowa congressman reviewed legislation he has sought that would outlaw abortions without exceptions for rape and incest.
King said, “What if we went back through all the family trees and just pulled out anyone who was a product of rape or incest? Would there be any population of the world left if we did that? Considering all the wars and all the rapes and pillages that happened throughout all these different nations, I know that I can’t say that I was not a part of a product of
that.”
The Des Moines Register reports that the Republican added, “It’s not the baby’s fault for the sin of the father, or of the mother.”
A King spokesman didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
HyVee Investigating Security Breach
(Des Moines) — Hy-Vee is investigating a “security incident” that may have affected some customers’ payment information.
Hy-Vee detected “unauthorized activity” in payments made at Hy-Vee fuel pumps, drive-through coffee shops and Hy-Vee operated restaurants — the Hy-Vee Market Grill, Market Grill Express and Wahlburgers. Hy-Vee officials say the payment systems used for Hy-Vee grocery stores, drug stores and
online sales are separate and are not involved in the potential security breach. Hy-Vee has notified federal officials. A company statement says the investigation is in its early stages and Hy-Vee will release more details when it determines “the specific timeframes and locations that may have been involved.”
Des Moines Lawyer Appointed To Head Civil Rights Commission
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – A Des Moines lawyer working for Iowa Workforce Development as an administrative law judge has been named the new director of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission.
Gov. Kim Reynolds said Tuesday she appointed Elizabeth Johnson of Altoona to head the commission responsible for enforcing state civil rights laws designed to prohibit discrimination in employment, public accommodations and education.
Johnson was a civil rights specialist at the commission before she
took her current job.
She begins Aug. 26 as commission executive director, a job subject to Iowa Senate confirmation.
The commission’s interim director Linda Grathwohl left on July 25
without giving a reason other than planning to return to a position at Iowa Legal Aid.
The previous permanent commission executive Kristin Johnson had the job for 3 1/2 years. She resigned Jan. 2 as Reynolds began her first full term as governor.
