Reynolds Names Department of Revenue’s Paulsen Interim Budget Director
(Des Moines, IA) — Governor Kim Reynolds is naming the state’s top tax official to serve as her interim budget director. Kraig Paulsen is a former Republican legislator who served four years as speaker of the Iowa House. He’s been director of the Iowa Department of Revenue for the past two and a half years. Governor Reynolds has asked Paulsen to stay in that role and to serve as interim director of the Iowa Department of Management, starting this Friday. In February, Michael Bousselot was appointed director of the agency, which oversees the state budget, but he did not win senate confirmation for the job this spring and resigned in mid-August to run for the legislature. Bousselot won a special election last week to represent a House district in Ankeny. Paulsen said in a statement as interim budget director he’ll work to ensure transparency through the state budgeting process and accountability with state finances.
Celebration of Life For Student Killed in Westwood Homecoming Parade
(Sloan, IA) — A celebration of life is planned for the 12-year-old western Iowa boy who died in an accident during the Westwood homecoming parade. Kage McDonald was riding on the back of a float last Friday when he fell off and later died in the hospital. The service for McDonald is Saturday in the Westwood Community High School East gym. A memorial for Kage is set up outside the high school. He was a junior high student.
Pedestrian Struck By Car in Clive Dies in Hospital
(Clive, IA) — Police in Clive say the pedestrian struck by a vehicle last week did not survive. Officers say 27-year-old Kelsey Hardy of Des Moines was walking September 19th when she was hit by a car. Hardy was hospitalized in serious condition and police said Tuesday that she died of her injuries. Investigators say it was a tragic accident and the woman driving the car that hit Hardy will not face charges.
DNR Investigates Wastewater Discharged in Little Beaver Creek
(Grimes, IA) — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is advising people in Grimes to keep their children and pets away from Little Beaver Creek. Officials responded to complaints about odor and discolored water in the stream Tuesday. D-N-R staff traced the milky gray water to discharges from the Grimes wastewater treatment plant. They say poor quality in the creek extends downstream from the plant to east of Highway 141. Investigators did not see any living or dead fish. Conservation officers say the plant eventually plans to connect to the Des Moines Waste Reclamation Authority where the wastewater can be adequately treated.
