President Obama is getting another disaster request from Iowa…this one for aid to 19 counties struck by damaging storms a few weeks ago. Dallas, Lee and Warren counties were among those hit hard by winds, tornadoes, heavy rain and hail. Governor Branstad, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, and several other ag leaders are gathering next week…… MORE
USDA is seeking federal funding to stockpile a bird flu vaccine it says is 100 percent effective in protecting chickens. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack told a House Ag panel yesterday they’re now testing the vaccine for turkeys. Vilsack will be with Governor Branstad on Tuesday at a conference in Des Moines that will go over…… MORE
It’s another busy two days in the metro on Friday and Saturday with 7 presidential candidates in town. Chris Christie, John Kasich, Martin O’Malley, Bernie Sanders, Carly Fiorina, and now Hillary Clinton will all host events and town hall meetings through the weekend. Only two of Clinton’s events, however, is open to the public and…… MORE
Looks like Iowa is a step closer to its goal of becoming the healthiest state in the U-S. The latest Kids Count ranker places Iowa 4th overall in terms of the well-being of its children, and number one for physical health. Iowa’s jobless rate has dropped again. The unemployment rate dipped from 3-point-8 percent in…… MORE
Governor Branstad and U-S Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack will kick off next Tuesday a two-day conference on the bird flu. The industry conference at the downtown Marriott is designed to go over the response to the virus and how it can be improved.… MORE
Foreign policy and reducing the size of the federal government are two of the main issues driving Republican presidential candidate Bobby Jindal’s campaign. Jindal wrapped up a four-day swing through Iowa with a town hall meeting in Ames Tuesday night. The Louisiana governor began with praise for U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron. “He gave a…… MORE
The Greater Des Moines Partnership wants to broker a settlement in Des Moines Water Works’ suit against upriver counties over nitrate pollution. The group’s Jay Byers told the Register they want to bring together business, farming, environmental and legislative leaders to come up with long-term water quality solutions. The recent shootings in Chattanooga have prompted…… MORE
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack isn’t ready to call the bird flu over in the Midwest. It’s been more than a month since the last case was reported, but Vilsack says the threat has not passed. The warmer temps tend to kill the virus, but they’re nervous about the fall.… MORE
Senator Chuck Grassley wants answers into the Planned Parenthood controversial video that surfaced last week. Grassley says he’s not jumping to conclusions just yet. Several Republican presidential candidates have come out against the video…calling it “gruesome.” GOP presidential candidate Chris Christie is in central Iowa later this week for the first time since announcing he’s running…… MORE
Eddie Tipton has been found guilty by a jury in the Hot Lotto fraud case. He was accused of rigging a lottery computer so he could by the winning ticket and pass it to a friend to collect more than 16-million dollars for him. The defense plans an appeal. A former Bagley Fire Department volunteer…… MORE
