Week in Iowa, May 29, 2023: Recap of news from across the state

Building collapses after years of complaints: A six-story apartment building in Davenport collapsed last weekend, leaving dozens without homes and three still missing as of Thursday evening. City officials announced plans to tear the building down shortly after the collapse, but residents urged them to keep looking for residents who were unaccounted for.

Documents released by the city showed the building was frequently cited for structural deficiencies and residents frequently complained of no heating and crumbling structures. A contractor this year refused to work on the property because he feared for his safety when the building's owner wanted to cut costs on repairs.

Woman amputated in rescue from rubble: A Davenport woman who was trapped beneath the wreckage in the building collapse had her left leg amputated above the knee by first responders. After being trapped for seven hours, Quanishia White-Berry was rescued from the rubble and remains hospitalized. Her wife, Lexus, stayed by her side in the hospital and began to prepare for her recovery.

5,000 apply for private school assistance: Applications for education savings accounts under Iowa's new private school assistance law opened last week, allowing any public school student and some private school students to receive public dollars to attend private school. More than 5,000 families signed up for the program within the first day, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced.

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'Sometimes you need drama,' Trump says: Former President Donald Trump campaigned around the Des Moines area this past week, speaking to small groups of Republicans and conducting interviews with conservative media outlets. The former president commented on Republicans who are looking for candidates who represent his policy without the "drama," by saying the drama he brings is key to winning elections.

Trump spoke at the Westside Conservative Club and met with volunteers in Grimes before meeting with faith leaders. In the evening, he participated in a Fox News town hall with Sean Hannity.

DeSantis campaigns in Iowa: In his first visit to Iowa as a declared presidential candidate, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis repeatedly framed Iowa and Florida as partners in a Republican battle to “restore sanity.”

“Iowa has really set a great standard,” DeSantis told a crowd of about 500 people gathered Wednesday at Hawkeye Downs Speedway & Expo Center in Cedar Rapids.

He also held a rally Tuesday night at a suburban Des Moines church.

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Pipeline regulators hear from Iowans: The federal agency that regulates carbon dioxide pipelines held a meeting in Des Moines last week. They heard from Iowans who are concerned about the safety of the systems, which are being proposed by three companies in Iowa. Federal regulators and safety advocates spoke about how the regulation process works and what is being done around pipeline safety.

UI names interim athletics director: The University of Iowa named Beth Goetz the interim director of athletics following Gary Barta's retirement. Goetz was deputy director of athletics and chief operating officer.

They said …

“I said, ‘If we don’t do it this way exactly, I’m not putting my guys in there. Somebody is going to die,’ ” — Ryan Shaffer, contractor who was asked to work on Davenport building before collapse

Without the drama, we wouldn’t get elected. And without the drama, I wouldn’t make it as successful.” — Former President Donald Trump.

Odds and ends

2024 watch: Former Vice President Mike Pence will announce his candidacy for president in a Des Moines town hall this coming week. The former vice president has been exploring a run for months and has made frequent appearances in Iowa. He plans to campaign in all 99 counties.

Public assistance: Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill limiting who can receive federal food and health care assistance. The law creates new asset tests for public assistance programs and creates new verification requirements. Supporters said it would save taxpayer dollars, while opponents said it would kick thousands of needy Iowans off the program.

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Troops to border: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced she was sending National Guard troops and state law enforcement to the Texas border to aid in immigration enforcement. The 100 National Guard members and 30 Iowa Department of Public Safety officers will deploy for separate 30-day stints in August and September.

Caucus law: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law requiring in-person participation in Iowa caucuses under certain conditions and allowing the state parties to set rules for participating in the caucuses Thursday, days before Iowa Democrats plan to consider their delegate selection plan for 2024.