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Government Policy and Law

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Site plan for Waveland Trolley Loop gains support from boards

      Two Des Moines boards today recommended approval of a site plan for the proposed Waveland Trolley Loop park and interactive streetcar sculpture. The park would be located in the 4900 block of…
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Des Moines collects $34.5 million from local sales tax in 2020-21

The city of Des Moines collected nearly $34.5 million from the local option sales tax during the fiscal year that ended June 30, $3.6 million less than was collected the previous fiscal year, a report …

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Grassley, Klobuchar to introduce antitrust bill targeting Big Tech companies

CNBC: A Senate subcommittee has Big Tech in its crosshairs on the issue of “self-preferencing” of their own products. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., the chair of the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on antitrust, said today that she …

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Iowa bill outlawing COVID-19 vaccine mandates under discussion, Reynolds says

Cedar Rapids Gazette: Gov. Kim Reynolds said Wednesday she’s having “great conversations” with state legislative leaders about the potential for considering a bill during the upcoming special session that would prohibit workplace requirements for workers to …

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Mediacom, W.D.M. settlement negotiations continue, new comment filed on FCC petition

In a joint status update filed Tuesday in Polk County District Court, Mediacom and West Des Moines say the parties have reached a preliminary agreement on a set of “high-level terms” to resolve the lawsuit Mediacom filed …

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DOL proposed rule would expand ESG investment options for retirement funds

The U.S. Labor Department proposed a rule today that would greatly expand the ways in which retirement and pension plans can invest in ESG products, Bloomberg Law reported. The DOL’s Employee Benefits Security Administration’s proposal would reverse …

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Iowa adds $200M from federal COVID-19 relief funds to broadband expansion effort

Iowa has added $200 million to its effort to expand high-speed internet to underserved areas in the state.

Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Monday that the new funding will come from the federal American Rescue Plan…
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Iowa ended pandemic unemployment early. It didn’t improve job rates.

Quad-City Times: The early termination of pandemic unemployment insurance has not improved job rates in Iowa, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and experts. Despite substantial job growth compared to this time last …

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Polk County to hold forums for public input on spending of federal COVID-19 relief funds

Polk County will seek public input on how it should spend federal COVID-19 relief funds, with a series of public forums scheduled for the next several months. The county will receive $95 million as part …

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Iowa workers’ compensation rates to again decrease in 2022

Workers’ compensation insurance rates paid by Iowa employers will decline for a fifth consecutive year in 2022, following a review by the state insurance commissioner. In an order dated Oct. 1, Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen approved …