Lots of Republican presidential candidates are flocking to the state this week before headlining at the Family Leadership Summit in Ames this weekend. Lindsey Graham, Rick Santorum, and Marco Rubio all added stops in western and southeastern Iowa tomorrow and Friday to meet with voters. Santorum is currently on a four-day swing through the state.
The Des Moines Water Works lawsuit that cites three northwest Iowa counties over poor water quality is scheduled for federal court in august 2016. Des Moines Water Works claims drainage districts in the counties are moving nitrates from farm fields into the Raccoon River…one of two sources for drinking water for city residents.
Local teens will be able to go through a free driving workshop in Des Moines today and Thursday…thanks to the Ford Driving Skills event. Kyle Green with the Ford Motor Company Fund says most students that come to the workshop have a little experience behind the wheel. Green says teens will learn about hazardous and distracted driving, as well as impaired driving conditions.
Corn growers from across the state are in Washington D.C. this week to talk with lawmakers about the future of ethanol. They’re looking to persuade the EPA that the agency’s proposed rule changes of corn-based ethanol will hurt the industry, especially in Iowa.
In more ag news… The Natural Resources Conservation Service is once again urging Iowa farmers to plant cover crops, after the latest round of heavy rains. Agronomists say the cover crop will help producers with unplanted fields capture applied nutrients, fix nitrogen, cut weeds and prevent erosion.
Iowa power plants have cut back on their carbon pollution by 18 percent over the past five years, according to a new report from the national environmental group Ceres. The group added, however, that more work is needed to reduce Iowa’s reliance on coal.
Democratic presidential candidate Lincoln Chafee is in downtown Des Moines tonight for the first time since announcing he’s running for the White House. Chafee trails Martin O’Malley and Jim Webb in the polls, but will be featured as a speaker at the Iowa Democratic Party’s Hall of Fame Dinner on Friday in Cedar Rapids.
Downtown Des Moines is getting another major apartment project. The 40-million dollar building bordered by Vine and Market and 2nd and 3rd Streets is the first project in Des Moines for Roers Investments. The building will feature 200 apartments, with a courtyard, underground parking, possibly rooftop gardens, dog wash area, swimming pool and bar.
An ISU professor has joined the ranks of the National Academy of Sciences. Catherine Kling was nominated for her work in environmental human sciences. She’s the first woman at Iowa State to be elected to the Academy.
An Iowa correctional district is the center of another state audit that shows it misspent 1 point 2 million dollars. A report from last year found the 6th Judicial District of the Iowa Department of Correctional Services was given more vacation time than allotted to other state employees…and yesterday’s report says a majority of the 1.2 million dollars was for improper payroll costs.
