The Iowa Black and Brown Forum, a minorities-focused presidential forum group, has announced two forum dates for the winter. For the first time in the history of the group, the Republican Party of Iowa will help organize a GOP event, which will be on December 3rd at Drake University. The traditional Democratic event will be on January 11th and the location is yet to be determined. Candidates have not committed to either forum, but co-chair Wayne Ford says he’s hopeful for a large attendance from both parties. The forum will not be a debate-style, as per the DNC and RNC guidelines.
Governor Branstad says state lawmakers knew he was likely to veto $55 million in supplemental school aid when they sent him their finished budget last month. Branstad said he made it very clear from the second day he re-stepped in to office that he would not be an advocate for one-time spending bills. School districts are saying without the extra $55 million, many schools will have to make cuts, expand classes and curtail staffing.
Urbandale officials have finally gotten to the bottom of an underwhelming fireworks show over the weekend: they say the shells intended for a finale were somehow fired off during the first part of the display, cutting the show by 5 minutes. City officials say they’re looking at other options with the outside fireworks company, including the possibility of a free show next year.
ISU is revamping its research protocol in the wake of a former AIDS vaccine researcher convicted on fraud charges. The university is providing extra training for faculty and staff, to help prevent errors in compliance with federal guidelines.
Drake University is rolling out a new grant-funded health program this fall. The program gives financial aid to students who are engaged in public service…as well as put undergrads and graduate students into both rural and underserved urban areas to help improve the health of residents in those communities.
It’s not just Des Moines that’s battling high nitrate levels in drinking water. More than 60 cities across Iowa have the same problem. Nitrate pollution is already affecting Iowa’s largest cities, like the capitol, Cedar Rapids, and Waterloo, but some of the state’s smallest communities, like Elliot and Manchester, have high nitrate levels in their water. And unlike Des Moines, smaller cities don’t have facilities to remove the excess nitrates.
Not too many presidential candidates are in town this week. Ted Cruz will have two book signing events today and tomorrow, two in Des Moines and the other Sioux City. Marco Rubio will also have stops in Windsor Heights and Urbandale tomorrow and Wednesday, while Hillary Clinton has an event in Iowa City tomorrow morning.
The governor and Lieutenant Governor want more Iowa families to spend money on vacations around Iowa attractions. Branstad and Kim Reynolds announced the start of Travel Iowa’s new dozens of discounts and deals on vacation spots throughout the state…starting this month.
There could be more than two dozen candidates for the University of Iowa president position. With a few weeks to go before the end of the month deadline, 11 applications have come in, with 16 more saying they plan to apply, and another 45 who are considering the position. Interviews will start early next month.
Metro Waste Authority says yard waste will still have to go into paper bags and plastic bins this fall, but next year it plans to streamline operations. That means central Iowans could throw away grass clippings and leaves along with their trash, in the same container. All the waste would go to the Metro Park East landfill.
