Week in Iowa: Recap of news from across the state

Reynolds wants four more years: Republican Kim Reynolds announced Wednesday she’s running in November’s election for another four-year term as Iowa’s governor.

Reynolds, 62, has been Iowa’s governor since 2017, initially filling the unexpired term of Gov. Terry Branstad after he became U.S. ambassador to China. She ran for election in 2018, winning against Democratic businessman Fred Hubbell.

Republicans feel confident Iowa voters will choose her again in this fall’s midterm elections.

“I’ve been working in Iowa politics for 38 years, going back to Reagan’s 1984 campaign. In all that time, I’ve never seen anything like the energy and momentum for a Republican candidate announcing a re-election bid. It feels less like a campaign and more like a movement,” said David Kochel, a veteran of Iowa Republican campaigns.

Six teens arrested in Des Moines fatal shooting: Police arrested six teenagers accused of shooting into a group of students outside East High School in Des Moines, killing a 15-year-old boy and seriously wounding two teenage girls.

The suspects are each charged with first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder in the Monday afternoon shooting on the school grounds near Des Moines’ downtown and about a half-mile from the Capitol.

Police said gunshots fired outside the school came from several shooters in multiple vehicles.

State budget surplus: Iowa’s state budget is even healthier than fiscal experts previously estimated — for the moment.

But over the next two budget years — once newly approved state income tax cuts go into effect — Iowa’s state revenues are projected to decline, according to new projections made Thursday by the state’s revenue estimating panel.

If that holds true, it would be the first time state revenue has declined in consecutive budget years since the 2009 and 2010 budget years, according to state records.

Joens gets All-Big 12 honors: Iowa State basketball star Ashley Joens — ISU’s all-time leading scorer — became the third Cyclone to attain unanimous first-team All-Big 12 honors Monday per the league’s coaches.

Odds and ends

Keeping hands busy: Sandy Wagner of Forest City sews beads to a fidget mat that she's creating for use by those with dementia and Alzheimer's.

As people, particularly those with neurodegenerative diseases, age, it’s crucial to keep their minds stimulated, she said.

Wagner tries to individualize each mat for men and women, which determines the fabric colors and textures and the fidget materials she uses.

“It can kind of go with them to their bedroom, to an activity room, to just (sitting) on their chair while they’re waiting for a meal,” she said.

The water cooler

Iowa’s best: The news site Stacker ranked the Decorah and Linn-Mar school districts as among the top 10 school districts in Iowa.

The site uses varied criteria — ACT/SAT scores, state proficiency tests, teacher salaries, money spent per student and access to extracurricular activities — to determine its rankings.

It ranked the Decorah district No. 6 and the Marion-based Linn-Mar district as No. 9.

The top three districts, in Stacker’s opinion, were Pleasant Valley in Bettendorf, Gilbert and Waukee.

They said …

“The cost of ethanol is much less expensive as biodiesel than just straight-up petroleum products. … That will make an immediate impact to the cost of fuel across the United States.”

— Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst on the Home Front Energy Independence Act she and Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley introduce that would replace banned Russian oil with American renewable fuels currently available.

“The answer is Iowa biofuels, not OPEC oil.”

— Sen. Chuck Grassley on the bill he introduced with Ernst.

More in the news

Iowa supports Ukraine: State lawmakers in the Iowa House on Tuesday approved a resolution that recognizes Ukraine’s sovereignty and expresses support for the people of Ukraine in their quest for freedom and self-governance.

Russia, under the order of President Vladimir Putin, began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24.

Gazette Des Moines Bureau