A coalition of groups is celebrating the 15th anniversary of the state law that banned smoking in most public places and urging lawmakers to do more. Threase Harms of the Iowa Tobacco Prevention Alliance says the Iowa Smokefree Act has helped thousands of Iowans quit smoking. "More than one in … [Read more...]
GOP senator says it’s ‘politically uncomfortable’ to raise concerns about carbon pipelines
A state senator who's proposed five different bills in response to proposed carbon pipelines says the current regulatory process is unfair to landowners. Senator Jeff Taylor says the bill most likely to pass would require that developers get voluntary access to 90% of the land along the pipeline … [Read more...]
Branstad is now president of World Food Prize
Former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad is the new leader of the Des Moines based foundation that awards the annual World Food Prize. "I don't intend to do this for a long time," Branstad says, "but I intend to do it, say, at least for a year." In October of each year the foundation presents the … [Read more...]
State has paid more than $3 million defending Gov. Branstad in Godfrey case
The State of Iowa spent nearly $3.2 million over a decade in defense of former Governor Terry Branstad's attempt to replace the state's Workers Compensation Commissioner. This month, state's Executive Council approved the final payment of $371,000 to the Des Moines law firm that represented … [Read more...]
Branstad launches national ‘AmFree’ Chamber of Commerce
Former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad is launching a new national organization positioned to compete with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In 2020, Republican leaders criticized the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for endorsing some Democratic congressional candidates. In a news release, Branstad said … [Read more...]
Amendment would clarify Iowa’s line of gubernatorial succession
Five years after Kim Reynolds took over as governor, the Iowa legislature is proposing an amendment to the Iowa Constitution to clarify the line of succession at the top of state government. In 2017, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller issued an opinion saying his reading of the constitution … [Read more...]
Republican Bird to challenge incumbent Iowa A.G. Tom Miller
The Republican who challenged Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller in 2010 aims to run against the Democratic incumbent again. Brenna Bird told The Cedar Rapids Gazette she's running for attorney general this year. Bird is a former chief of staff for Congressman Steve King. She also served as legal … [Read more...]
Branstad says being called ‘old friend’ by China’s president ‘a good thing’
Former Governor Terry Branstad says as President Trump's ambassador to China, he routinely accepted criticism of the United States from Community Party officials in a formal setting. Branstad says the process has a name in diplomatic circles. It's called a demarche "A demarche is getting chewed … [Read more...]
Ex-Governor Branstad to be ambassador-in-residence at Drake University
Former Iowa Governor Terry Branstad will be "ambassador-in-residence" at Drake University, meeting with students and planning to host a yearly conference about U.S. and China relations. Branstad, who was President Donald Trump's Ambassador to China, graduated from Drake's law school 50 years … [Read more...]
Floyd of Rosedale sculpture dedicated ahead of battle for trophy
When the Iowa and Minnesota football teams meet tomorrow, the victors will take home the bronze Floyd of Rosedale Trophy. A larger-than-life iron sculpture of Floyd the Pig was dedicated in Fort Dodge this week. City council member Dave Flattery says that hog was raised on the Rosedale family … [Read more...]