Posted April 11, 2013in Featured Story, Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES — A highly- touted and much-anticipated Iowa agency aimed at improving government transparency is in jeopardy just three months before it’s set to open its doors because of concerns over funding. The Iowa Public Information Board, created at the urging of Republican Gov. Terry Branstad, has been meeting
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Posted April 08, 2013in Featured Story, Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES – Iowa officials have declined a Watchdog.org request to review even a fraction of the state’s $100 million in welfare transactions, claiming there are no records because current law doesn’t require state oversight. “There is nothing in either federal or Iowa law for the time period in question
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Posted April 08, 2013in Featured Story, Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES – It’s been more than two months since Iowa Department of Human Services officials were asked to disclose detailed information about where welfare dollars are spent and the information has yet to be released. State officials stalled without noting a reason for the delay in providing a response
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Posted April 04, 2013in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES – Iowa officials continue to stall in handing over detailed reports of where public welfare money is being spent months after being asked to disclose the information. Officials with the Iowa Department of Human Services have yet to respond to a March 15 letter from Alonzo Wickers IV,
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Posted April 04, 2013in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES – Full-time virtual schools in Iowa operated by for-profit companies have struggled to provide special education services, ensure staff are properly licensed and make good on their promises to state officials, according to records from the Iowa Department of Education. Additionally, little documentation exists regarding student performance and the
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Posted March 26, 2013in Featured Story, Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES — Iowa spent more than half-million taxpayer dollars last fiscal year to pay mileage for out-of-town attorneys who represent the poor, even though local attorneys were available and willing to do the work, state figures show. The state spent some $30.5 million last fiscal year to hire contract
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Posted March 25, 2013in Featured Story, Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES – Gov. Terry Branstad’s attorney claims that no emails from the governor over the past nine months contain key words that could pertain to the controversial deal to lure an Egyptian company by providing more than half a billion dollars in tax incentives. Iowa Watchdog requested access to
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Posted March 15, 2013in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES – Officials with the Iowa Department of Human Services are not protected by state or federal laws in their refusal to release details regarding where welfare money is being spent, according to at least one media law attorney. Iowa Watchdog recently requested two months’ worth of transactions made
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Posted March 14, 2013in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES – State senators in Iowa sidestepped questions this week regarding their annual compensation and stalled the release of information offering a more detailed view of their expenses. Iowa Watchdog requested a breakdown of lawmaker compensation, including their salary, per diem, constituency costs, lodging and meal receipts and mileage. Officials with the
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Posted March 14, 2013in Featured Story, Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES — When the Des Moines School Board began its search for a new superintendent in May, district spokesman Phil Roeder advised the board to present a united front to the public and to applicants. Only the board president should speak to the media, and bold and robust board
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