Senator Joni Ernst and fellow Senate Republicans are urging members of both parties to support a bill that would defund Planned Parenthood. Ernst said during a press conference on the bill earlier today that this is not just a one-party issue. The legislation is in response to videos that depict Planned Parenthood leaders discussing the harvesting and selling of fetal tissue.
Senator Chuck Grassley is asking the Justice Department to look into JBS USA’s plan to buy Cargill’s pork unit. Grassley says if the deal is finalized, the four largest pork processors will control more than 70 percent of pork processing in the country, which could impact pork farms.
Dozens of Iowans are expected to rally outside the capitol tomorrow as they deliver a petition to ask Governor Branstad to keep the state’s two remaining mental institutions open. Rep Jo Oldson and the president of the Des Moines National Alliance on Mental Illness will be two of the featured speakers at the event. More than 5,000 people have signed the online petition.
Not as many presidential candidates are in the metro this weekend…Mike Huckabee, Chris Christie, and Lindsey Graham are the only Republicans making stops close to central Iowa tomorrow through Saturday. Rick Santorum, Scott Walker, and Rand Paul are sticking to the eastern and northern parts of the state.
Iowa’s Board of Regents will not only be discussing a possible tuition hike at its next meeting in August…but it will also be mulling over plans for $130 million worth of athletic facility upgrades at University of Iowa. One of those improvements would be a renovation of Kinnick Stadium.
Des Moines’ foreclosure rate is down, to 0.9 percent. That’s a 1.2 percent decline from the same time last year.
Inmates at Fort Madison prison have been on lockdown since an escape on July 5th. They’re confined to their cells, and can’t work their prison industry jobs. The lockdown is expected to last until they move to the new prison later this summer.
Last night’s rain broke quite a few records across central and southern Iowa. Des Moines saw more than 2 inches of rain yesterday…breaking a record set in 1892. Over in Ankeny…the city’s monthly average was more than 7 inches of rain…way above the norm this time of year.
Looks like the Iowa Events Center Hotel is going to be a Hilton. The committee in charge of selecting the hotel operating company also considered Hyatt and Westin. The 330-room facility will be constructed at 5th Ave and Park Street in Des Moines.
Governor Branstad’s chief of staff will be leaving at the end of next week. Matt Hinch announced earlier today that he is leaving for a job in the private sector. Hinch is the second chief of staff for the governor and lieutenant governor since they took office.
