AABP EP Awards 728x90

Government Policy and Law

DSC 6869

Fired Polk HR chief files suit alleging wrongdoing by supervisors, other county officials

Des Moines Register: Polk County’s former human resources chief has filed a scathing lawsuit alleging libel, extortion and wrongful termination — as well as violations of Iowa’s open meetings and records laws — against the county, …

DSC 6869

Iowa’s state surplus tops $1.2B, could lead to tax cuts

Cedar Rapids Gazette: The state ended fiscal 2021 with a general-fund surplus of nearly $1.24 billion, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Monday — much more than earlier forecast and money she has indicated could lead to further …

DSC 6869

Gast tapped as Iowa’s court administrator

Robert Gast, currently deputy court administrator in Nebraska’s Fourth District, has been named state court administrator for the Iowa Judicial Branch. The state court administrator is responsible for the day-to-day management of Iowa’s state court …

DSC 6869

COVID-19 relief funds approved for six Iowa trail projects

The Iowa Transportation Commission has approved $5 million in COVID-19 Relief Recreational Trails Program funding for six projects statewide. The funding is from the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, and partially offsets …

DSC 6869

Axne failed to disclose up to $645,000 in stock trades, government watchdog says

Des Moines Register: U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne failed to properly disclose between about $43,000 and $645,000 in stock trades, a nonpartisan government oversight group said Wednesday. The Campaign Legal Center accused Axne, Iowa’s lone Democrat in …

DSC 6869

Grassley to seek reelection for eighth term in U.S. Senate

Cedar Rapids Gazette: Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, Iowa’s longest-serving U.S. senator, announced today he will seek reelection to an eighth term. Grassley, 88, a Butler County family farmer from New Hartford, made the announcement at 4 …

DSC 6869

State receives $500,000 grant for farmer mental health programs

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has been awarded $500,000 to expand farmer mental health programs in the state. Funding for the grant comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of …

DSC 6869

Iowa medical director and epidemiologist leaving Iowa Department of Public Health

Cedar Rapids Gazette: In an abrupt development with little explanation, officials with the Iowa Department of Public Health announced today that Dr. Caitlin Pedati, the state’s medical director and epidemiologist, plans to leave the agency effective …

DSC 6869

Johnston’s Sanders honored by Iowa group

Jim Sanders, Johnston’s city administrator for the past 24 years, was recently awarded City Manager of the Year by the Iowa League of Cities. The annual award honors city administrators whose work represents the best …

DSC 6869

Members of Farm to Table Task Force announced

The names of those who will serve on a task force to identify strategies to help farmers gain access to markets and sell their products were announced today. The Farm to Table Task Force was …