ELECTION-RELATED BILLS PASS IOWA HOUSE
The Iowa House has passed a bill that would give the secretary of state authority to hire a vendor to check for non-citizens on Iowa voter registration lists. The bill, which passed on a party-line vote, does a number of other things. It would ban ranked choice voting AND make it harder for a political party to gain “major party status” alongside Democrats and Republicans. The bill also would prohibit so-called “spoiler” candidates who lose in the primary election in June, then run in the General Election as an independent candidate or the nominee of another party. The House approved another election-related bill that would set new guidelines for election recounts.
EMERGENCY KIT IMPORTANT PART OF SEVERE WEATHER PREPARATIONS
A statewide tornado drill was held at 10 a-m today as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week. National Weather Service meteorologist Peter Rogers says this is an excellent opportunity to review your safety procedures and ensure you’re prepared. Rogers says we often talk about having an emergency kit on hand in the winter, but it’s also important in spring and summer as well.
Rogers says it’s also important to coordinate with family members so you know each other’s whereabouts if a storm hits.
Rogers says plan now and you can avoid a lot of confusion and concern if severe weather does hit your home or neighborhood.
BILL WOULD ENSURE IOWANS HAVE A RIGHT TO GARDEN
A “Freedom to Garden Act” has passed the Iowa Senate unanimously. The bill would forbid state and local governments from regulating vegetable gardens on property the gardener owns or rents. Senator Cherielynn Westrich of Ottumwa says in some other states, heavy handed regulators have used local zoning ordinances to ban home vegetable gardens or limit what home gardeners can plant. The bill says Iowans have a right to grow, raise, harvest, produce and consume food they grow in their own garden — and home gardeners would have a right to sell what they grow. The bill now goes to the House for consideration.
WELLS ENTERPRISES PRESENTS 200-THOUSAND DOLLAR DONATION TO FLOYD VALLEY HEALTHCARE
At a Tuesday news conference, Wells Enterprises Vice President of Corporate Communications & Institutional Affairs Adam Baumgartner presented a donation of 200-thousand dollars to Floyd Valley Healthcare CEO Dustin Wright.
Adam Baumgartner presented the gift at the Floyd Valley Maternal Health Unit, for which the donation is to be applied.
Floyd Valley Healthcare CEO Dustin Wright says the maternal Health Unit has become a valuable addition to the facility.
NEWLY-FORMED HAWARDEN FOUNDATION RESPONDS TO FLOOD
A Hawarden, Iowa non-profit has been formed by community members to collect and distribute funds in an effort to aid in flood recovery and community needs.
Board member Cy McMahon says the Hawarden United Foundation’s first goal is to rebuild the community following the 2024 flood:
In the immediate aftermath of the flooding, residents received help regarding food and a place to stay, but the rebuilding effort is a long term process. McMahon says many residents still need assistance:
He says the foundation has been working alongside World Renew to assist homeowners rebuilding efforts:
McMahon says anyone with home repair skills can still volunteer to help in the rebuilding effort, and donations are appreciated too:
Hawarden United Foundation can also be found on Facebook.
GRASSLEY SUPPORTS DISMANTLING FEDERAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
President Trump last week signed an executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa says a complete elimination of the department will be difficult to execute.
Some of the Department’s authority and expenditures will be transferred to other federal agencies.
Long-standing federal education programs won’t be affected by the change.
Senator Grassley’s comments came in an interview with KLEM News on Monday.
BOND SET FOR MAN IN SARAH ROOT CASE
Bond has been set at 100 million dollars for the Honduran man charged in the death of Sarah Root of Council Bluffs in a 2016 traffic accident in Omaha. Eswin Mejia (ESS-win muh-HEE-uh) fled the country after the accident and was returned to the U-S last week. Douglas County Nebraska County Attorney Don Kleine (Kline) says it’s one of the highest bonds he’s ever seen. He says they wanted a high bond because Mejia fled the last time he posted bond. Police say Mejia’s car rear-ended the 21-year-old Root’s car as he was drunk and racing in South Omaha. Root had just graduated from college that day. Mejia’s next court appearance is set for April 29th.
COMMITTEE COULD HELP SCHOOLS FIND NEW ATHLETIC CONFERENCES
A bill to establish a new committee to help navigate the re-alignment of high school athletic conferences is headed to the governor after passing the Senate today (Tuesday). Senator Sandy Salmon of Janesville says state education officials believe they lack the authority under current law to help Waverly-Shell Rock and Decorah find new conferences. The bill directs the Iowa High School Athletic Union and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union to establish a conference realignment committee. Nine superintendents and nine athletic directors would serve on the panel, evaluate a school’s request to join a new conference and issue a decision. Schools could appeal that decision to the director of the Iowa Department of Education.
