Posted August 11, 2014in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES, Iowa — They say college is nothing like the real world. The state university system’s Board of Regents is proving that lack of realism isn’t confined to undergraduates. The board is paying over $200,000 in undocumented expenses to a consulting firm it hired to help it save money.
Read More →DES MOINES, Iowa — U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley knew he was on safe ground when he made a campaign stop at La Querica in Norwalk, where he promoted his plan to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour. The company, which produces “unique dry cured meats of the finest
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Posted August 06, 2014in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES, Iowa — People can now buy a bowling shirt in Iowa without paying sales tax. But if you want to buy tax-free bowling shoes to go with that shirt, you’re out of luck. Taxes still apply. That’s just part of the confusion built into Iowa’s annual sales tax holiday “on
Read More →DES MOINES, Iowa — There’s good news and bad news in the new state budget. First, the new state budget spends $171 million more than it takes in during the coming year. Weirdly, that’s the good news. “This is a sustainable budget. This is a budget making good progress,” State
Read More →DES MOINES, Iowa — The Sioux City Police Department’s attempt to squeeze every dollar out of the city’s speed cameras may cause it to lose access to important information on a national law enforcement database. The controversial mobile speed cameras on Interstate 29 inspired a new law in neighboring South
Read More →DES MOINES, Iowa — An irked Gov. Terry Branstad and U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, are still waiting to learn the whereabouts of 139 immigrant children placed without notice by federal immigration officials somewhere in the state. On Tuesday, top state officials learned of the number of minors from reporters
Read More →DES MOINES, Iowa — Betty Ellis doesn’t know why 100 dead people were registered to vote in Wright County. That’s a problem. Ellis is the county auditor and in charge of elections there. Wright County’s number of registered dead came to light last week when Secretary of State Matt Schultz
Read More →AMES, Iowa — The door to the small room at the back of Kyle Thompson’s basement is locked. A sign on the door warns visitors what’s inside — snakes, more than 40 of them. Stepping inside, the eye is automatically drawn to three massive Burmese pythons in long enclosures with
Read More →ST. PAUL, Minn. — His resume posted on the Iowa Public Employment Relations Board website stands out: “Conducted hundreds of grievance hearings and mediation sessions.” So does his daily fee: $1,200 per day, plus “actual costs for meals, lodging and miscellaneous; IRS rate for mileage.” But what most distinguishes Josh
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Posted July 11, 2014in Iowa Watchdog
DES MOINES, Iowa — Pastor Robert Garcia has half a church. The rear half of Iglesia Emanuel Independiete in Muscatine is now owned by Oak Helm Partners, a real estate investment group from Davenport, and no one is quite sure why they want part of a church. Garcia isn’t quite sure
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