Week in Iowa, Oct. 6, 2024: Recap of news from across the state

UIHC buying cancer care business: The Board of Regents unanimously approved the University of Iowa Health Care purchase of 43-year-old Des Moines-based “Mission Cancer + Blood” after asking several questions — including if and how the sale might affect the many partnerships Mission has with health care providers statewide, including MercyOne and UnityPoint Health.

The $280 million deal to expand UIHC’s cancer care reach into central and western Iowa is about better serving patients in the midst of a statewide “cancer crisis” and is “not a play to have more and more patients come to us in Iowa City,” UIHC officials told the regents.

Summit Carbon Solutions fined: The Iowa Utilities Commission fined a carbon dioxide pipeline company $10,000 for acquiring land easements too early from another company for expansions of its project. The commission’s Monday order was in response to complaints from the project’s opponents, who argued Summit Carbon Solutions violated state law when it obtained the easements from Navigator CO2, which abandoned its competing project last year.

Mega inflation: The cost of a Mega Millions lottery ticket will soon more than double, but officials said they’re confident players won’t mind paying more after changes that will lead to larger prizes and more frequent winners. Lottery officials announced Monday that it will cost $5 to play Mega Millions beginning in April. That is up from the current $2 per ticket. Along with the high price, officials plan changes leading to improved jackpot odds, more frequent giant prizes and larger payouts

They said ...

“For too long, our judges have been stretched thin. As population and caseloads increase, so must the size of the team we have to hear these cases." -- Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, urging Congress to hire more judges

“Iowa’s harvest progress took a big leap forward this week. After the driest September on record, the warm and dry weather is expected to continue through mid-October.” — Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig

Odds and ends

Seeking more judges: Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird co-led a bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general urging Congress to pass a bill that would add 66 new judges to understaffed federal district courts around the country over the next decade. “For too long, our judges have been stretched thin,” Bird said in a statement Wednesday.

Murderer's vehicles up for auctions: Two vehicles belonging to a man found guilty of killing four Laurel, Neb., residents will be auctioned off to satisfy a debt. Cedar County Sheriff Larry Koranda issued notice of a Nov. 1 sheriff's sale in which Jason Jones' 2005 Ford Mustang and 2007 Hummer H3 will be sold to the highest bidder at public auction. Sale proceeds will go toward paying Jones' $14,290 debt to Hansen Brothers for services provided in February 2022, six months before Jones shot and killed four people and set fire to their homes.

Water cooler

Iowa toss-ups: Nonpartisan election forecaster the Cook Political Report moved Iowa’s 1st and 3rd congressional district races from “Lean Republican” to “Toss Up.” Democrat Christina Bohannan is challenging Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks in a rematch from 2022 in the 1st District. Iowa’s 3rd District race is between freshman Republican incumbent Zach Nunn and Democrat Lanon Baccam.

Lead pipes: Cedar Rapids city officials have identified over 9,000 water service lines — primarily in the city’s oldest neighborhoods — that might or do contain lead. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is requiring public water systems to compile lists of their service lines that might contain lead, a neurotoxin especially dangerous to young children. The lists are due this week.