Posted June 06, 2013in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES – Iowa City is on its way to becoming one of the first cities in the nation to at least temporarily ban drones, after residents successfully petitioned the City Council to take action on the issue. Council members unanimously voted Wednesday to ban the use of drones and
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Posted June 06, 2013in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES – Iowa’s two most high-profile races for 2014 are starting to take shape, although the final pool of candidates is far from finalized. Former Democratic Gov. Tom Vilsack, who currently heads the U.S. Department of Agriculture, announced today through staff that he will not run for governor. It’s
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Posted June 05, 2013in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES – Members of Congress from Iowa and their families continue to collect thousands in farm subsidies, raking in more than $73,000 in 2012, according to a newly released report. U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley and U.S. Reps. Tom Latham and Steve King, all Republicans, and their family members benefited from
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Posted June 05, 2013in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES – A pro-life advocate from Iowa testified Tuesday before the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee about what she described as blatant and offensive harassment by the Internal Revenue Service. Susan Martinek, founder of the Coalition for Life of Iowa, told committee members that the IRS asked her
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Posted June 03, 2013in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES – Iowa lawmakers have dubbed the 2013 legislative session a banner year that brought compromise on large issues that have previously failed to yield bipartisan deals and extended sessions well into June. This year Senate Democrats and House Republicans set aside differences to reach deals on hot button
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Posted May 31, 2013in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES — Democrats across Iowa have yet to attract solid candidates to challenge Gov. Terry Branstad, who is expected to announce a run for an unprecedented sixth term. Des Moines, however, is proving to be an exception to that rule. Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie has confirmed with Iowa Watchdog that
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Posted May 31, 2013in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES — An Iowa agency aimed at improving transparency among public entities will have a shoestring budget and about six months to prove its effectiveness, said Bill Monroe, chairman of the newly created Iowa Public Information Board. Lawmakers this session provided the board with $350,000 in funding for its first
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Posted May 31, 2013in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES – Iowa Department of Human Services officials will have broad discretion in how the state complies with a federal law requiring it to prevent welfare money from being used at certain locales. Lawmakers passed a bill this session that gives the department authority to implement the new rules,
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Posted May 30, 2013in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES – At least one teacher in the Davenport School District voiced concerns about low morale and overstressed staff prior to a cheating scandal that broke earlier this year, according to district emails. The anonymous author described, in a three-page letter to Superintendent Arthur Tate, teachers as demoralized, overwhelmed
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Posted May 30, 2013in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES – The principal of a Davenport elementary school embroiled in a cheating scandal hired a lawyer, although district leaders have publicly said they have no suspects, according to district emails. Sara Gott, principal of Madison Elementary School, is being represented by attorneys Cathy Cartee, whose mother Patt Zamora
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