Category Archives: Homepage

Jury awards 12 million in sexual harassment suit

Jury awards 12 million in sexual harassment suit

An Indianola woman has been awarded nearly 12 million dollars in a sexual harassment case against a toy company for which she used to work. Danielle Renneger says her coworkers at ToyQuest subjected her to graphic sexual comments and other harassment.MORE

Paul’s PAC leader hit with federal charges

Paul’s PAC leader hit with federal charges

Federal charges are being filed against three people who had worked to Ron Paul’s presidential campaign in Iowa. Jesse Benton, John Tate and Dimitrios Kesari are accused of conspiring to buy support from a former Iowa state senator. Benton now heads up a super PAC supporting Paul’s son, Rand’s, candidacy.MORE

Branstad defends education budget decision to crowd of Iowa administrators

Branstad defends education budget decision to crowd of Iowa administrators

  In front of more than 300 school administrators from across the state, Governor Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds fielded questions about the state education budget at the annual School Administrators of Iowa Conference in Des Moines on Wednesday. Branstad first spoke about the importance of Iowa’s educators and administrators in facilitating a strong…MORE

Torch Morning News you can use 8-5:

Torch Morning News you can use 8-5:

More than a quarter of a billion dollars in personal income taxes made it into state coffers last month.  A record number of Iowans in the workforce paid 6-point-4 percent more than Iowans paid last July. Analysts say Iowa’s economy appears poised for a contraction.  The Iowa Leading Indicators Index dipped 4-tenths of a percent…MORE

AIB selling property

AIB selling property

Nearly a fifth of the AIB College of Business campus will be sold prior to the school being taken over by the University of Iowa and the Iowa Board of Regents.  The property includes three apartment buildings.  The proceeds will be used for operational expenses, with any leftover amount going to U-I.MORE

Big pension debt under wrap, says nonprofit analysis

Big pension debt under wrap, says nonprofit analysis

The state is hiding more than one-and-a-half billion dollars in pension debt, according to a non-profit research group.  Truth in Accounting says it got its data from Iowa’s audited Comprehensive financial report from last year, and actuarial reports for the retirement plans. Its report shows Iowa owed 8-billion dollars in total bills, and had 9-billion…MORE

Torch Afternoon News 8-4: Environmental groups honored at capitol, DMACC offers drone class, ISU proposes cremation garden

Torch Afternoon News 8-4: Environmental groups honored at capitol, DMACC offers drone class, ISU proposes cremation garden

Several business owners, university groups, and local initiatives were honored yesterday at the governor’s Iowa Environmental Excellence Award ceremony. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ Chuck Gipp says it’s important to honor those who have worked hard all year to make a positive impact on the environment. Blank Park Zoo was one of the excellence award…MORE

Torch Morning News you can use 8-4:

Torch Morning News you can use 8-4:

Wind energy could help Iowa meet new pollution rules established by the EPA.  Janet McCabe of the agency says the Clean Power Plan requires states to start cutting back on carbon pollution by 32 percent over the next 15 years. They’re also looking to clean energy, such as wind power, to fill the gap…and Iowa leads…MORE

Polk City votes on bond

Polk City votes on bond

Polk City voters decide today in a bond referendum whether to fund an aquatic center, soccer fields and baseball diamonds.  Knapp Properties is ready to donate the land in return for the city’s commitment to extend Vista Lake Road through the area.MORE

Hot work not ruled out in Younkers fire

Hot work not ruled out in Younkers fire

Federal investigators say the cause of last year’s Younker’s fire in downtown Des moines is “undetermined,” but they won’t rule out hot work done on the building by contractors. They say there was too much damage done by collapsing walls and intense heat to pinpoint an exact cause.MORE