Week in Iowa, May 26, 2024: Recap of news from across the state

Primary election on Tuesday: Iowa's primary election for seats in Congress, the Legislature and local offices will be held Tuesday. Voters will choose from candidates in party contests to determine who will appear on the ballot in November.

Early voting began last month, and voters can still vote early in person on Monday. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said this past week that state officials have taken measures to ensure votes are counted accurately and fairly. Several agencies and officials will monitor for cybersecurity and other threats on Election Day, he said.

61 new summer meal sites: A state grant program will fund 61 new free summer meal sites for Iowa children in low-income families. The $900,000 grant program was created by Gov. Kim Reynolds after she declined $29 million in federal funding to remain in a federal program that provided $40 per month to low-income families for food during the summer months.

Probation for Capitol vandalism: A Mississippi man who damaged a Baphomet statue at the Iowa Capitol last year will receive probation after pleading guilty to an aggravated misdemeanor. Michael Cassidy, who has run for office in Mississippi, admitted to destroying the statue without a right to do so. He will receive two years of probation and an $855 fine.

First bird flu case of year: A commercial laying chicken flock in Sioux County was the site of the state’s first identified case of bird flu this year, officials said last week. The flock of more than 4 million chickens will have to be killed to prevent further spread.

The disease affects both commercial bird flocks and certain cattle. The spread of bird flu to cattle has added to worries about the disease. A Michigan dairy farm worker was infected in May, becoming the second human case of the current outbreak. Officials say the threat to the public remains low, and consuming poultry, beef and dairy is safe.

Disaster declaration for Greenfield: President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration for four Iowa counties affected by severe weather and tornadoes in May. The declaration opens up federal disaster assistance for residents in Adair, Polk, Story and Montgomery counties. The U.S. Department of Agriculture made assistance available for farmers who suffered losses from severe weather in April and May.

Disaster recovery site launched: The Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management has launched a disaster recovery website to help affected Iowans find needed resources and information. Affected Iowans can visit disasterrecovery.iowa.gov to apply for state and federal assistance programs and see other resources.

They said ...

“If you decide to vote in the 2024 primary, know that your vote will be counted accurately and securely. You can rest assured that all of us here today are taking all the necessary steps to protect your vote and to protect the integrity of Iowa's elections.” -- Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate on election security

“During times of crisis, it's important for communities to come together, support one another, and have access to much-needed resources. The launch of this disaster recovery website is another step to providing assistance and resources to those affected by the recent severe weather in Iowa.” -- Iowa Department of Homeland Security Director John Benson

Odds and ends

Drought eases: Excessive rainfall in recent weeks has improved Iowa's drought conditions to their least severe in two years, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Previous "severe" drought in northeast Iowa was reduced to "moderate," and there were no areas of the state in "severe" drought.

Davenport meeting: A judge will review recordings and minutes of a private meeting held by the Davenport City Council last fall to decide if the state auditor should have access to them. The city has resisted State Auditor Rob Sand's efforts to obtain information about its private decision to approve a $1.6 million settlement with the former city administrator.

Water cooler

Jail plans: A preliminary proposal for a new Johnson County Jail and sheriff’s office, presented to the county’s Board of Supervisors on Wednesday, includes space for 140 inmates — more than double the current jail’s capacity — at an estimated cost of $80 million.

Ethics board audit: State Auditor Rob Sand has faulted the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board for making no attempts to collect penalties imposed on politicians who break the state's campaign laws. The report said that while the board issued an initial notice to violators when imposing penalties, it provided no follow-up or attempts to enforce the fines.