A bird flu summit is slated for tomorrow in Des Moines with Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, Governor Branstad, and businessmen and farmers connected to the poultry industries. One of the topics sure to come up is use of the bird flu vaccine that has been tested 100 percent effective in chickens. USDA’s Dr. David Swayne…… MORE
The Americans with Disabilities Act gets a salute today at the Hoover Building near the Statehouse, as supporters celebrate the 25th anniversary of the measure. Today’s event starts at noon, with a walk to the State Supreme Court Building. A coalition of groups from Iowa, Illinois, North Dakota and South Dakota are speaking out against…… MORE
Iowa’s attorney general is joining 44 others in asking major phone companies to offer call-blocking technology for intrusive robocalls. The AGs say a new FCC rule clarification lets telecommunication service providers offer customers the ability to block unwanted calls.… MORE
Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina is making her way to the metro with a stop in Marshalltown earlier today. Fiorina was asked by an audience member what she thinks of fellow contender Donald Trump running for president. Fiorina will be in Ames tonight…and then have several stops in the metro tomorrow. Other candidates in town this…… MORE
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
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
Governor Branstad is getting sued by Iowa’s largest public employees union and 20 lawmakers for shutting down two mental health facilities. The American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees filed a lawsuit earlier today against the governor…demanding he reopen Clarinda and Mt. Pleasant mental hospitals. The facilities closed last week. Republican Scott Walker is…… MORE
Polk County health officials are warning folks not to plan on doing a lot of outside activity today in central Iowa. Temperatures are expected to hit their highest levels so far this summer, with the mercury reaching 97 degrees by 5 this afternoon. The heat index could hit 110. Iowa could get more than 40…… MORE
Microsoft is taking on the state in court today, trying to get a district court judge to overturn a Department of Administrative Services decision to give a software contract to a competing firm. The tech giant is expected to argue that state officials won’t be able to comply with open records laws or keep data…… MORE
An Iowa egg farm is being sued by a food supplier for breach of contract because it didn’t deliver the promised eggs after being struck by the bird flu. Hawkeye Pride’s parent company lost more than 5-and-a-half million egg-laying hens. The suing company – Michael Foods Egg Products – is a subsidiary of Post. The…… MORE
