Plan DSM was on display last night at Bright Grandview Clubhouse for the first of four public meetings. Mayor Frank Cownie says they’ll incorporate the feedback into the final draft sometime in February, and will rewrite codes to comply with it. The next meeting is Tuesday at Polk County River Place.
Building up Iowa’s relationship with China will help the state ag business…that’s according to Governor Branstad. The governor spoke at a Chinese-Iowa business symposium in Des Moines yesterday and said farmers will benefit from new contracts between the countries. China announced yesterday it will buy more than five-billion dollars’ worth of U-S soybeans.
Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie is also thinking positively about the Chinese visit, saying it’s a great way to trade ideas. Cownie points out that the city has a sister city in China.
Presidential candidates will have another place to stump when they come to Iowa…at the Downtown Farmers Market. Kelly Foss says they’re inviting candidates to be part of their Politics, People and Produce Soapbox.
A string of presidential hopefuls will be milling around the state this weekend…Carly Fiorina will be at the Quad Cities New Ideas Forum, Bobby Jindal will be in Burlington and Mount Pleasant, John Kasich will be in Council Bluffs, Ted Cruz will be in Thompson, Bernie Sanders will be at the Latino Festival in Des Moines, and Martin O’Malley will be at the Henry County Democrats Harvest Rally.
A new fungal leaf disease has been spotted in Midwest corn crop. Researchers say the tar spot leaf fungus is new to the U-S, and was previously only seen in Latin America. So far, there have only been sightings in Indiana and Illinois.
A rare supermoon can be spotted Sunday night, as long as Des Moines skies are clear. Scientists say it’s a lunar eclipse coupled with a full moon that appears larger because it’s at the closest point of its orbit with Earth. The last time it happened was in 1982…the next one won’t happen until 2033.
Folks can stretch their legs tomorrow at Jordan Creek Town Center Lake in support of the Lupus Foundation. Melody Guanci says it starts at 10 AM. They’ll also have games and refreshments at the event.
The World Food Prize organization will be honoring a recently retired Ames minister for his work in organizing hunger walks. Reverend Russ Melby will receive the Iowa SHARES Humanitarian Award at the World Food Prize festivities on October 13th.
