Week in Iowa: Recap of news from across the state

Republicans nix first set of redistricting maps: The first set of proposed new political maps was rejected during a key moment in Iowa’s decennial redistricting process. Iowa Senate Republicans all voted to reject the first set of proposed maps that would redraw statehouse and congressional boundaries for the next 10 years, citing concerns with some districts’ shape and populations. All Senate Democrats voted to approve the maps. The state’s Legislative Services Agency said it will deliver a second proposal to legislators by Oct. 21. Legislators must wait seven days before voting on it.

COVID funding: A high school weight room getting a renovation in an Iowa district is one example of schools across the country using federal pandemic relief funds on athletic facilities. Schools argue the projects support students’ physical and mental health, one of the objectives allowed by the federal government.

Assault legislation: Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, a survivor of domestic violence and sexual assault, proposed federal legislation calling for the deportation of people seeking to enter the U.S. who have been convicted of violent sexual crimes.

Complaints dismissed: The Iowa House Ethics Committee deadlocked, thus failing to take action on complaints by Rep. Todd Prichard, D-Charles City, alleging representatives of Heritage Action violated House rules by failing to register as lobbyists.

They said …

“Are we tired? Yes, both physically and mentally.”

— Jeremy Otto, with Cerro Gordo Public Health, on the state of public health workers a year and a half into the COVID-19 pandemic

“Across the state, it really is kind of a mixed bag. It’s all weather-dependent.”

— Iowa agriculture secretary Mike Naig on crop conditions at harvest time across Iowa

Odds and ends

Mask law: Gov. Kim Reynolds told a radio audience she plans to appeal a federal judge’s order that restrains the state from enforcing a state law that bars school districts from enacting mask mandates.

Caucuses scheduled: Iowa Democrats and Republicans announced their 2022 midterm caucuses are scheduled for Feb. 7, followed by county, district and state conventions.

Records lawsuit: A conservative public interest law firm filed a lawsuit against Democratic state auditor Rob Sand, alleging Sand’s office is illegally withholding the release of some records sought by the firm in an open records request.

The water cooler

Pence appearance: Former Vice President Mike Pence will be in Iowa City on Nov. 1 to speak at the Young America’s Foundation’s campus lecture series. Pence will speak at 7 p.m. in the Iowa Memorial Union Main Lounge.

New legislator: Republican Michael Bousselot of Ankeny was sworn in as a member of the Iowa House to serve out the term of Rep. John Landon, an Ankeny Republican who died in June.

Rural grants: Four competitive funds now are available for rural communities with populations under 20,000, Gov. Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Economic Development Authority announced.

More in the news

Reynolds heads to border: Gov. Kim Reynolds was among a group of GOP governors who released a 10-point plan at a news conference in Mission, Texas, that they said the Democratic Biden administration could enact immediately to address immigration issues at the U.S.-Mexico border. Reynolds said Wednesday she came away with new insight into troubling immigration and security issues after touring the area. Democrats accused Reynolds of traveling more than 1,200 miles to participate in a “lame political stunt” that amounted to a taxpayer-funded Republican field trip.

Strike avoided: Deere & Co. and International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America have reached a tentative agreement on a new six-year contract that would avoid a strike. A vote was scheduled for Sunday.

Settlement approved: Members of the State Appeal Board approved an $18,000 payment to settle a claim of alleged negligence brought against the University of Iowa by Jasmine Spinello, who sustained multiple injuries after her foot slipped on loose concrete and gravel material outside a UI building in January 2018.

Facebook criticism: U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley said if the Facebook policies and practices described during congressional testimony by Iowa City native Frances Haugen are true, the social media company’s actions are “immoral and unethical.”