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Government Policy and Law

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Could a Polk minimum wage hike trigger city opt-outs?

Des Moines Register: Metro municipal leaders in the Des Moines area say that if the minimum wage is raised, it should be by the state, but they will wait to see what dollar figure Polk County …

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Cedar Rapids mayor calls for state minimum wage standards

Cedar Rapids Gazette: Cedar Rapids Mayor Ron Corbett, a member of a Linn County minimum wage study group, called on Gov. Terry Branstad and the Legislature to develop statewide standards for a minimum wage before a …

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Prairie Meadows owes $60 million in taxes, according to IRS report

The Internal Revenue Service says Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino owes $60 million in taxes it has avoided paying as a nonprofit social welfare organization; Prairie Meadows says it doesn’t owe a penny, The Des Moines …

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VIDEO: May provides boost to General Fund revenue

The month of May provided a good boost to year-to-date net General Fund revenue, but net revenue growth this fiscal year is about seven-tenths of a percentage point below expectations, said Jeff Robinson, a senior…
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Polk County’s tax sale set for June 27

Polk County will be selling the delinquent property tax bills on 2,832 properties on June 27 at the Airport Holiday Inn’s Iowa Room. In the annual, fast-paced auction, bidders can buy (and pay) the delinquent …

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Waukee taking applications for open City Council seat

The Waukee City Council has decided to forgo a special election and turn instead to an application and appointment process to fill a seat recently vacated by Shane Blanchard, who resigned after serving more than …

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Water quality: Corbett eyes tax, Northey backs GOP plan

Two Iowa leaders — both eyeing 2018 campaigns for governor — took different stances at a Cedar Rapids forum on how to solve the state’s water quality problems, Cedar Rapids Gazette columnist Todd Dorman reported. Cedar Rapids …

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Luchtel named to government transparency role

  Keith Luchtel

Gov. Terry Branstad today announced that Keith Luchtel will serve as a special adviser for government transparency in the Branstad-Reynolds administration. Luchtel replaces Bill Monroe, who retired this month and who had …

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Johnston’s Terra Park project receives $50,000 from Prairie Meadows

The city of Johnston will receive $50,000 from Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino for an open-air amphitheater at the city’s $4.4 million Terra Park project. In addition to the amphitheater, the park will include an …

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A Closer Look: Joshua Barr

Joshua Barr is talking about a time the strategy of touting Des Moines’ many accolades backfired. 

After hearing how wonderful the city is during his interview here in 2015, Barr turned down an offer to …

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