A Sioux County state senator will submit a bill in the legislature to block the Des Moines Water Works’ pollution suit against three upriver counties. Randy Feestra previously proposed a boycott of Des Moines businesses as a way of fighting the suit.

Governor Branstad will head to Seattle this week to meet with the president of China.  Branstad will be one of five governors joining the delegation to discuss collaboration on economic development and clean energy.

The state is doing an administrative review of the Smarter Balanced Test as a replacement for the Iowa Assessments.  The Department of Education will hold a public hearing on the change on November 3^rd, and will accept written comments before then.

IDOT has hired an ISU team to study the effectiveness of cable median barriers as a safety measure on Iowa highways.  By the end of 2015, 330 miles of median will be installed around the state. The study will determine if it makes economic sense to continue the practice.

Eight Republican presidential candidates were in Des Moines over the weekend to speak at the Iowa Faith and Freedom Summit. The summit also included representatives from other campaigns.

Donald Trump took Urbandale High School students up on their invite to their homecoming dance over the weekend.  The students got to ask the GOP presidential candidate questions about his campaign.

More presidential candidates roll through the state this week, starting with Jeb Bush and Rick Santorum today and tomorrow.  Bush will be in the Cedar Rapids area, while Santorum will be in Indianola and Des Moines.  Hillary Clinton will be in Des Moines tomorrow, hosting a community forum at Moulton Elementary school.

Johnston’s city council has okayed a new stretch of road between 54^th and Birchwood that will align with Foxboro Road.  The connector will ease traffic problems in the area, and will provide extra emergency access to Birchwood Crossing.

The highest lotto sales in Iowa are in the state’s poorest areas, according to a new study.  An Iowawatch analysis says seven of the top ten lottery outlets are in sections where the median household income is below the state median.

Someone won a million dollars in Powerball over the weekend.  A million dollar ticket was sold at a Des Moines convenience store for Saturday night’s drawing.