The University of Iowa’s new president will be former IBM exec Bruce Harreld. He says his business background will be useful to the university during a time of change in higher education, specifically in the state budget.
The board of regents bypassed three candidates with traditional academic experience to give Harreld the thumbs up.
Some parents of Waukee High School students are keeping their kids home, after a pair of bomb threats this week and no arrests. Police and other state agencies are investigating the threats. The person behind them is likely to face harassment and terrorism charges, which will possibly mean five years in prison.
Urbandale High School students are taking to social media to convince a presidential candidate to come to their Homecoming. They tweeted a picture to Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump, asking them to come to Homecoming festivities in two weeks.
Iowa will be swimming in Democratic candidates this weekend. Bernie Sanders, Martin O’Malley and Hillary Clinton will all be stumping through the state over the holiday.
A record number of drivers are expected to hit the road this weekend…and if you’re among them, better plan on behaving yourself behind the wheel. Both state and local law enforcement are increasing patrols, looking for speeders and drunk drivers.
The state’s pulling in more tax dollars. State tax receipts were up last month by 5-point-8 percent. The revenue estimate projects receipts to be up by 5-point-6 percent for the year. Most of last month’s increase was from growth in personal and corporate income tax receipts.
Iowa State University is getting another 8-and-a-half million dollars from the National Science Foundation for its biorenewable chemicals research center. The center has spun off six start-up companies over the past three years, with more in the wings. They’ve also opened up new technologies for the production of biorenewable chemicals.
MidAmerican Energy and Alliant Energy are helping customers plant trees around the state. MidAmerican is offering high-quality trees for less than half their going rate at four events statewide, including one October 7th in Waukee and another October 10th in Des Moines. The trees will help people save energy dollars by shading them from heat in summer and blocking winter winds.
Solar energy is growing in popularity in Iowa. Power cooperatives in the state say solar is becoming a popular choice with agriculture, commercial and residential customers. Pricing and better incentives are part of the draw, officials say.
