The EPA loses a battle on Iowa turf…the U-S Supreme Court threw out the agency’s limits on mercury emissions from coal-fired plants, saying it needed to consider costs when deciding the rules. MidAmerican Energy was one of the companies testifying against the stiffer regs.… MORE
The newest list of America’s Top 100 Colleges is out, and Grinnell College is on it, at number 58. The Forbes Top Colleges list shows schools with a winning formula of high student satisfaction and graduation rates, alumni career success, and low student debt.… MORE
Fleur Drive is now open. The street between Bell and MLK Junior Parkway had been closed since Thursday because of flooding. Des Moines parks and rec is also requesting volunteers to help clean up Grays Lake Park today and tomorrow so the park can reopen. They’ll be giving volunteers tools to pick up sticks and…… MORE
Des Moines’ firefighters’ union has censured its chief for lack of safety protocols and lack of respect for his workers. John TeKippe has been criticized for leaving positions open and for setting up a policy that puts new firefighters on probation for two years, unable to help with medical duties. Iowa’s Board of Regents is…… MORE
Iowa’s roads will get some extra scoping this week, as we head into the Fourth of July holiday weekend. The state’s Department of Public Safety says the 4th weekend is traditionally one of the deadliest on Iowa highways. Most of the fatal crashes have been drunk driving cases.… MORE
Des Moines’ fire chief has been censured by the firefighters’ union for lack of safety protocols and disrespect toward firefighters. John TeKippe has been under fire from firefighters for lack of staff. The union’s president says there are currently more than a dozen positions open across the department that have been left empty for more…… MORE
Republican presidential candidate Bobby Jindal made his first stop in Urbandale as a contender in the race earlier today. Jindal addressed today’s ruling on same sex marriage by the US Supreme Court, saying he was disappointed in the justices and wants to reform the judicial branch. The metro area continues to feel the effects of…… MORE
Lots of flooding around the metro from last night’s storms…several trails and parks are closed today, including Grays Lake and sections of the Des Moines River Trail. No date or time has been set as to when those locations will reopen. Want to know how much rain we actually got yesterday? The National Weather Service reports…… MORE
Governor Branstad delivered poignant testimony at the EPA’s public hearing on proposed Renewable Fuel Standards in Kansas City, Kansas today. Branstad started off his speech, alongside Missouri Governor Nixon and Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey, by remarking that the public hearing should have been in Iowa. The governor then outlined the impact of the EPA’s…… MORE
A U-S Supreme Court ruling upholding the Affordable Care Act means more than 34-thousand Iowans won’t be losing their subsidies. The high court ruled that the IRS can grant tax breaks to those who buy health care coverage through exchanges run in part or in full by the feds Governor Branstad is among 250 people…… MORE
