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Government Policy and Law

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Burmeister to D.M. council: Long-term housing plan needed

Eric Burmeister (left), executive director of the Polk County Housing Trust Fund, at Monday’s Des Moines City Council meeting. Des Moines City Councilman Joe Gatto (right) reacts to comments made by Burmeister about the need …

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Waukee Mayor Peard won’t seek reelection

Waukee Mayor Bill Peard today announced he won’t seek reelection. “At the end of this year, I will step aside as Mayor. After much conversation with my family, we determined it is time to pass …

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Branstad pushed Trump to appease farmers on ethanol

Reuters: At a meeting at the White House on Aug. 19, Terry Branstad, the former Iowa governor and now U.S. ambassador to China, presented President Donald Trump with evidence of rising Farm Belt frustration over his …

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Hudson running for W.D.M. council

Valley HIgh School history teacher Greg Hudson is running for the Ward 2 seat on the West Des Moines City Council being vacated by John Mickelson. Hudson’s wife, Kelsey Underwood, also is a teacher in …

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Iowa part of antitrust investigation of Facebook by state attorneys general

New York Times: Regulators in Iowa, seven other states and the District of Columbia are moving forward with an antitrust investigation into Facebook, New York’s attorney general said today, the latest move by government officials …

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Urbandale to hold primary election Oct. 8

The city of Urbandale will hold a primary election on Oct. 8 because seven candidates have filed nomination papers for three open seats on the City Council. Vying for the open seats are Lawrence McBurney, …

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Reynolds selects Texas human services official to lead Iowa DHS

Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Thursday that she will appoint Kelly Kennedy Garcia, currently deputy executive commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, as director of the Iowa Department of Human Services. Garcia will be relocating from …

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Rural Iowa hospitals at risk of closing under public option, analysis shows

Cedar Rapids Gazette: Iowa’s rural hospitals could experience a loss of more than $476 million under a public health insurance proposal, putting dozens at high risk for closure, according to an analysis. Chicago-based data company Navigant …

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MidAmerican says turbine setback rule would ‘completely wipe out’ wind development

Des Moines Register: MidAmerican Energy says a Madison County proposal that would require that turbines be built 1.5 miles away from the nearest home would “wipe out” wind development in the state, if other counties were …

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Ousted Iowa DHS director files $2 million wrongful discharge claim

Associated Press: The former head of the Iowa Department of Human Services is seeking $2 million for wrongful termination, claiming Gov. Kim Reynolds fired him for questioning whether the department should be paying one of her …