Senator Joni Ernst wants the president to give direct aid to the Kurds in northern Iraq as they fight off ISIS. Ernst said this is an issue valuable to both sides of the aisle, and would give the president the option to work with the Iraqi government to equip the Kursdish Peshmerga. Ernst’s amendment, however, failed…… MORE
Donald Trump has officially declared his candidacy for president. He’ll be at Sherman Hoyt Place tonight at 6 PM. He touted the economy and jobs in his official announcement today.… MORE
It could be July 3rd before the state budget is put to bed. Governor Branstad made it clear, he’s not rushing into signing the spending plan approved by the legislature. The governor says his deadline is July 6th. Governor Branstad doesn’t think the elimination of the Iowa Straw Poll will hurt the state’s influence on…… MORE
Iowa’s Congressional delegation is pushing the EPA to host a public hearing in Iowa on the proposed Renewable Fuel Standard. The state produced nearly 3-point-8 billion gallons of ethanol and 230 million gallons of biodiesel, and the delegation would like the EPA to take notice.… MORE
The bird flu outbreak in Iowa ranks as the state’s worst animal health emergency, according to Iowa’s Ag Secretary. Bill Northey says it could cost federal and state agencies up to 300-million dollars for the cleanup, on top of the sizable losses for poultry producers.… MORE
Homemakers Furniture is building a new massive warehouse facility near its store in Urbandale. The furniture store says the new 120-thousand-square-foot project is meant to beef up its customer service sector…by allowing customers to get their merchandise quicker. This is the 6th major renovation for Homemakers since it opened its Urbandale store in 1985. More…… MORE
Governor Branstad, much like many state Republican leaders, said he is disappointed the Iowa Straw Poll was canceled last week, but is now determined to turn the party’s focus on the February Caucus. Branstad talked about maintaining Iowa’s first-in-the-nation spot for the presidential election in his weekly press conference earlier Monday. “We’ve had for the…… MORE
After an hour-long board meeting Friday morning, Republican Party of Iowa leaders unanimously voted to kill the Iowa Straw Poll. Chairman Jeff Kaufmann cited three reasons the straw poll won’t take place in August this year. “The vast majority of candidates this year decided they didn’t want to come and compete in the straw poll,”…… MORE
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…… MORE
Interest in the Iowa Straw Poll is waning, and Iowa Republican Party officials will be discussing the fate of the event in a conference call tomorrow. A few presidential contenders such as Mike Huckabee and Jeb Bush have come out and said they’re not attending the August political event, but state GOP officials have fought…… MORE
