Iowans are pretty split along party lines when it comes to some key issues, according to the latest Quinnipiac University poll. 70 percent of Republicans say the federal government should not pursue policies to reduce the income gap…but 91 percent of Democrats feel otherwise. 72 percent of Republicans want to send U-S ground troops to fight ISIS, while 63 percent of Democrats say the U-S should stick to gathering intelligence and ground support.
Iowa’s sole Democrat in its Congressional delegation told Iowa Press on Iowa Public TV over the weekend that Obamacare needs fine-tuning, not an overhaul. Representative Dave Loebsack said he supported the recent Supreme Court decision on the ACA.
Iowa didn’t get a holiday from presidential candidates….Bernie Sanders was in Johnston and Martin O’Malley was in Ankeny over the weekend, Ted Cruz is at Barnes and Noble in West Des Moines today, and Marco Rubio is in Windsor Heights tomorrow.
Filing begins today for four seats on Ames’ School Board. Two of the current members plan to run again. The election’s in September.
State, federal and local law enforcement cracked down on boaters who drove motorboats while drinking during the holiday weekend. Ten people were arrested for BWI, while 161 others were issued warnings for unsafe behavior. Expect more patrols throughout the summer.
ISU is setting up tougher training on how research should be done, in the wake of one of its former researchers being convicted of fraud. The university is also providing extra training to help faculty and staff prevent errors in compliance with federal guidelines.
Sentencing starts over the next couple of months for the last of six Des Moines store owners busted for selling deadly synthetic marijuana and laundering the money. The bust was a major operation for the police department, and there’s been a dramatic drop in reports of the drug since.
Metro Waste Authority says yard waste will still have to go into paper bags and plastic bins this fall…but next year it plans to streamline operations. That means central Iowans could throw away grass clippings and leaves along with their trash, in the same container. All the waste would go to the Metro Park East landfill.
The Iowa Shetland Pony Congress is cantering into the Iowa State Fairgrounds this week. More than 2-thousand people and animals will be there now through Sunday.
