Microsoft is taking on the state in court today, trying to get a district court judge to overturn a Department of Administrative Services decision to give a software contract to a competing firm. The tech giant is expected to argue that state officials won’t be able to comply with open records laws or keep data secure with the other company’s deal.
A federal judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit brought against the Iowa State Patrol by two California gamblers whose 100-thousand dollar bankroll was seized in a warrantless car search. The suit claims there was no probable cause for the arrest or seizure. Iowa’s civil forfeiture system has led to the seizure or more than 40-million dollars since 2010.
Opponents to the Dakota Access Oil Pipeline have turned in more than 26-hundreds written statements asking the state utilities board to turn down the cross-state project. The board meets this fall to decide whether to approve the pipeline, which would cross 18 counties.
The head of Monsanto told Midwest soybean growers yesterday its proposed merger with Syngenta AG will not reduce competition. He said they’re interested in Syngenta’s crop protection business, and will likely sell off Syngenta’s seed business.
More Iowa businesses, homeowners and utilities are going solar, according to advocates. They say state tax incentives boosted in the last legislative session and a decline in costs are making solar a more attractive power source. Jobs in the solar industry have more than quadrupled in the past couple of years in Iowa.
Iowa’s transportation director says the state needs to figure out which roads it wants to save. Paul Trombino told an Urban Land Institute crowd roads need to be assessed from an economic standpoint, with the streets to be maintained determined by what is being transported on them.
You’ll be able to drive a little further on Martin Luther King Parkway in Des Moines, starting today. The section from Southeast 15th to Southeast 9th Street is now open. The project will eventually connect to downtown Highway 65.
Iowa’s solicitor general told the state appeal board under Iowa Code, the state has to pay Walsh Construction’s last 100-thousand dollars in retainage payments for work on the new Fort Madison Prison. The due date is today. The prison still hasn’t opened because of safety issues.
Another round of presidential candidates are in the state this weekend. Rick Perry will be in Knoxville, Oskaloosa, and Newhall…and Bobby Jindal will be in Cedar Rapids, Coralville and Davenport.
Keeping borders secure was one of the points made last night by GOP presidential candidate George Pataki during a Des Moines visit. Pataki says he’s upset with fellow contender Donald Trump’s negative comments on Mexican immigrants. Yesterday was Pataki’s first visit to Iowa since announcing he’s running for president.
Family-friendly is the key to this weekend’s Summerfest in Ankeny. The city’s Tina Potthoff says the theme is “Making Magic.” The parade starts at 9AM Saturday morning, and the fireworks are Sunday night.
