Several business owners, university groups, and local initiatives were honored yesterday at the governor’s Iowa Environmental Excellence Award ceremony. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ Chuck Gipp says it’s important to honor those who have worked hard all year to make a positive impact on the environment. Blank Park Zoo was one of the excellence award recipients.
More high-speed police chases in the U-S are ending in deaths…but not in Iowa. Police say the number of punch-the-accelerator chases is dropping, as departments choose options other than pursuing a fleeing suspect.
If you want to learn how to build a drone and fly it safely, DMACC is offering help. The Ankeny campus will host a special class later this month to teach people how to fly and build a drone on their own…it’s a non-credit class, so you don’t have to be a student to attend.
Senator Joni Ernst’s bill to defund Planned Parenthood failed to pass the Senate last night. Though her measure didn’t make it through, Ernst says she’s still committed to getting a full investigation into Planned Parenthood after a series of videos was a released, depicting employees discussing the harvesting and selling of fetal tissue.
ISU is proposing to put a cremation garden on campus. University officials say many people already sprinkle ashes at memorable places around ISU, so the school wants to establish a central place for loved ones. The garden would be open to all ISU alumni.
In more university news…ISU is asking the Iowa Board of Regents for more than $70 million for its athletics department budget…an increase from $62 million from last year. The board is set to discuss that budget…as well as increasing tuition for all three of Iowa’s public universities…in tomorrow’s meeting.
FEMA has approved a request for a presidential disaster declaration in 19 Iowa counties smacked by violent weather. The counties will get federal funding to help with rebuilding efforts, such as repairing property, removing debris and other emergency work.
Iowa has to cut more carbon pollution at its power plants…thanks to the new Clean Power Plan the Obama administration and the EPA rolled out yesterday. The plan reduces carbon pollution by 42 percent over the next 15 years for Iowa…and some energy experts in the state say that won’t be hard because Iowa already has renewable energy programs such as wind and solar.
Just two months before the caucus, and the Renaissance Des Moines Savery Hotel downtown will close its doors for construction. Hotel officials say they’ll close up shop for three months to finish up renovations at the historic hotel.
The fate of a new aquatic center, 13 soccer fields, and six new baseball diamonds will be decided by Polk City voters today. Residents will determine whether the city will borrow $8.6 million for the project. In addition to more money from the community, the project would field donations, grants, and in-kind services to pay for it near Polk City’s technology park.
