From the daily archives:

Monday, February 1, 2010

Senate Democrats, three from GOP endorse reorg plan

by O. Kay Henderson on February 1, 2010

in Business & Economy, Children & Families, Crime & Courts, Economy, Education, Environment & Conservation, Human Interest, Legislature, Military, Politics & Government

The Iowa Senate endorsed a state government reorganization plan tonight. After nearly four hours of debate, all the Democrats in the senate along with just three Republican senators voted for the bill.

Senator Staci Appel, a Democrat from Ackworth, was co-chair of a committee that started crafting the plan this past summer.

“This task was daunting, but a necessary step to ensure that all Iowans benefit from an efficient, streamlined and more responsive state government,” Appel said to close last night’s debate. 

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Tagged as: Chet Culver, Democratic Party, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Transportation, Employment and Labor, Iowa National Guard, Iowa State University, Republican Party, Taxes, University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa

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Delay decision on MHI ’til 2011

by O. Kay Henderson 02/1/10 8:23 PM

The tug of war between supporters of state institutions in Clarinda and in Mount Pleasant played out in the Iowa Senate tonight as legislators debated a state government reorganization bill.  
Last year, legislators told Department of Human Services managers to recommend that one of the four state Mental Health Institutes be closed.  In December, the agency’s director [...]

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Red flags raised about closing MHI in Clarinda

by O. Kay Henderson 02/1/10 5:31 PM

The director of the Iowa Department of Human Services says closing the Mental Health Institute in Clarinda may be more complicated than lawmakers realize. 
The legislature is debating whether to close the Clarinda facility as a part of a government reorganization plan.  D.H.S. director Charlie Krogmeier says it’ll be difficult to find a new home for [...]

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“Draft Branstad” leads to fundraising bill

by O. Kay Henderson 02/1/10 3:51 PM

Last summer’s “Draft Branstad” effort has prompted legislators to draft a bill that would require similar groups to disclose fundraising information. Charlie Smithson, executive director of the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board, says Iowa’s campaign finance laws didn’t cover the activities of the group formed to build public pressure for former Governor Terry Branstad’s [...]

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State sets record for snow on the ground

by Pat Curtis 02/1/10 3:45 PM
Snow piles have been common as the state set a record for snow cover.

Iowa surpassed a state record set in the 1961-62 winter season today. The state has now had 55 consecutive days with at least four inches of snow cover. A little more snow has been falling across the state today, but National Weather Service Meteorologist Rod Donavan says it shouldn’t disrupt any travel plans.
“The good news [...]

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ISU tries to stay fresh in February

by Todd Kimm 02/1/10 3:36 PM

Iowa State coach Greg McDermott says Saturday’s come from behind win over Colorado was a crucial one for his team. The Cyclones trailed 18-4 early on but rallied for a 64-63 victory to improve to 2-4 in the Big 12. McDermott says Colorado is much improved, so the last thing they wanted to do was [...]

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Update: still no sign of missing ISU student after campus search

by Dar Danielson 02/1/10 3:15 PM

Searches of buildings on the Iowa State University campus in Ames today  have failed to turn any evidence of a student who was last seen leaving a friend’s apartment on January 22nd.
Twenty-one-year-old Jon Lacina  of Grinnell was reported missing Saturday by his father.
Iowa State University Police Chief Jerry Stewart says they will search some specific [...]

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