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Government Policy and Law

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Elections director Williams retires

State Elections Director Dawn Williams plans to retire after 30 year in elections work in Iowa, effective at the end of today. Secretary of State Paul Paul gave Williams the National Association of Secretaries of …

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Grassley now three heartbeats from presidency

Cedar Rapids Gazette: Sen. Chuck Grassley was sworn in Thursday as the U.S. Senate’s new president pro tempore, a position that puts the Iowa Republican third in the line of presidential succession, behind the vice president …

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Trombino is named Reynolds’ COO

McClure Co. President Paul Trombino, who once led the Iowa Department of Transportation, will join the staff of Gov. Kim Reynolds as chief operations officer Jan. 7. Trombino has degrees in civil engineering and economics. In …

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Polk cities take another step toward sales tax vote

City councils in Des Moines, Pleasant Hill, West Des Moines and Windsor Heights approved resolutions Wednesday that would ask voters to approve adding 1 cent to the 6-cents-per-$1 state sales tax, with portions of the …

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Federal government shutdown hasn’t affected Iowa much, study says

Despite the partial government shutdown entering its 13th day today, Iowa is apparently muddling through relatively unscathed compared to other states across the union. In a ranking of states most affected by shutdown activities, WalletHub ranked Iowa …

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Uber, Netflix part of ‘new economy’ services now collecting Iowa sales tax

Iowans might notice a slight uptick in costs for rideshares or video-streaming subscriptions as the state’s sales tax on internet purchases begins this month, reports the Des Moines Register. After the Iowa Legislature rewrote the state …

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Hockensmith, McCoy to lead supervisors

The Polk County Board of Supervisors today elected Tom Hockensmith as chairman, and newly elected Matt McCoy as vice chairman. McCoy ousted longtime Supervisor John Mauro in the November election. Angela Connolly, who was chairwoman …

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Linn County rings in year with fewer supervisors

The wrath of Linn County voters who voted in 2016 to eliminate two $100,000-plus supervisor positions will come into play this year for the first time, the Cedar Rapids Gazette reported. An election in November sent …

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STEM Council reports nearly $3 million in funding over last fiscal year

Nearly $3 million was invested in Iowa STEM Council projects in 2017-2018, the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council announced at the end of December. Support over the year included a $200,000 Department of Labor ApprenticeshipUSA grant …

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Iowa Finance Authority misspent $550,000, new audit shows

Des Moines Register: An Iowa agency beleaguered with allegations of sexual harassment and financial improprieties misspent at least $549,399, a state audit released today shows. Gov. Kim Reynolds fired the Iowa Finance Authority’s director, Dave Jamison, …