More than 100 people came out to hear New Jersey Governor and potential Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie speak last night in West Des Moines. Christie said he isn’t impressed by President Obama’s work with the American economy. Christie also discussed the importance of reforming America’s education system. He’s in Cedar Rapids today for a town hall meeting before heading back to his home state.
Christie wasn’t the only big-name politician speaking with Iowans yesterday. Democratic presidential candidate Martin O’Malle made a stop in Marshalltown yesterday afternoon to speak with grassroots supporters. O’Malley took questions on America’s struggling education system, and says his track record in Maryland proves he can put education back together.
Iowa’s population is growing much slower than the national average, even in Des Moines, according to the latest ISU report on the state’s population growth. Small towns near large markets saw more of an increase in population, like Waukee, but most Iowa towns are either shrinking or holding steady. Des Moines suburbs, on the other hand, remain the fastest growing cities in the state.
Former Hawkeye and NFL quarterback Chuck Long is coming back to the Big Ten Networks this fall. Long will serve as CEO of the Iowa Sports Foundation…which runs the Iowa games. Long has served as an analyst and host for the Big Ten Network for three years.
Governor Branstad still hasn’t signed the budget state lawmakers finalized last week…making some education leaders across the state worried about their own budgets. The legislature reached a compromise on state education funding…including a 1.25 percent increase and $55.7 million in one-time funding for the upcoming school year. But Branstad still has the power to veto any line budget item, such as aspects of the education budget, until the end of the month.
The Des Moines Public Works Department wants residents to fill out a survey on the emerald ash borer. The survey asks people to count the number of ash trees on their property so Public Works can see potential tree canopy losses over the next 5 years due to the emerald ash borer.
Though reps from the Department of Veterans Affairs say the Des Moines VA hospital did NOT deny mental health services to Richard Miles back in February, Senator Joni Ernst said she has a different view of the report. Ernst said she’s still looking over the report and believe that Miles was not given the proper care he deserved. Miles was found dead at a Des Moines park, and Ernst personally requested an investigation into the Des Moines VA hospital.
The Raccoon River and Des Moines River are on the rise after yesterday’s heavy rains. The National Weather Service has issued flood warnings for both rivers, citing the Des Moines River could rise to 25 feet, a foot over the flood level, Sunday.
Parents interested in homeschooling their children will have a chance to learn about the programs in Iowa at the annual Homeschool Iowa Conference today. The conference kicked off last night and runs all throughout today at the Des Moines Airport Holiday Inn. More than a thousand people are expected to attend.
Exit Realty Capital City wants to turn downtown’s Hotel Kirkwood into condos, some say signaling step in the right direction for the local condo market. Exit Realty has a contract to buy the 12 story building on Walnut Street…and turn the 54 apartments into condos as renters’ leases expire.
