Governor Reynolds Signs Harvest Proclamation
(Des Moines, IA) — Fall arrives next week and harvest season in Iowa is close behind. Governor Kim Reynolds signed a proclamation today (Friday) lifting weight limits for vehicles hauling corn, soybeans, hay, straw, silage and stover to be overweight without a permit. The order runs through October 17th.
Inmate Dies of COVID Complications at UI Hospitals and Clinics
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa Department of Corrections is confirming the 22nd death of an inmate due to COVID-19 complications. The D-O-C says 57-year-old Ray Gene Triplett died Wednesday at U-I Hospitals and Clinics. Officials say Triplett was transported from the Iowa State Penitentiary due to declining health. He was serving a life sentence for first-degree sex abuse in Scott County. Six people in Iowa prisons currently have COVID along with 20 corrections staff workers.
Hinson Likely to Vote Against Infrastructure Plan, Raising Federal Debt Ceiling
(Des Moines, IA) — Freshman Congresswoman Ashley Hinson says she will likely oppose the bipartisan infrastructure package that cleared the U-S Senate and vote against raising the federal debt ceiling. The Republican from Marion says unfortunately what we’re seeing in this country is our credit card is maxed out, our bill is due. The White House is warning that if Congress fails to raise the federal debt limit by October, some federal operations would shut down, Social Security payments would be delayed and financial markets would plunge. Hinson is among the Republicans who say it’s the obligation of Democrats who have majorities in the House and Senate to deal with the financial fall-out. She said, “they seem to be rolling full steam ahead with three-point-five trillion dollars in spending.” Democrats say the debt limit must be raised to pay for previously approved spending, much of it during the Trump Administration, not future spending.
Iowa 4th U-S District Congressman Feenstra Wraps Up 39 County Tour
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1st Master of Midwifery Program in State Approved For University of Iowa
(Urbandale, IA) — The Board of Regents is approving a master of midwifery program for the University of Iowa. U-I Associate provost Amanda Thein told the board the development of the M-M program is part of the Iowa Maternal Health Innovation Program. She says it’s a five-year program of the Iowa Department of Public Health to improve obstetric care in the state, and is supported by lawmakers. Thein says there’s an unmet need for more maternity care providers in the state of Iowa — especially in rural areas. She says this will be the first of its kind in the state and will attract applicants from Iowa as well as Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Thein says there will be plenty of jobs for graduates of the program.
Railroad Crossing Scheduled To Close On Monday
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County Secondary Roads Department has announced that Burlington Northern-Sante Fe Railroad will be working on the County Road C-38 rail crossing beginning on Monday morning at 7:00 a.m. and therefore the road will be closed. Work is anticipated to be completed yet that day and the road will re-open the crossing later that afternoon or evening. Traffic will be detoured from C-38 and Highway 75 intersection going south to Merrill, then west through Merrill to county road K-42 to C-38 again.