Capitol Briefs 11-10-09

Capitol Briefs

New H1N1 deaths reported

State public health officials reported the deaths of two more Iowans from the H1N1 virus, bringing the total to 21.

Both were adults and had risk factors that increased the chance of complications from the virus. The latest deaths were in Floyd and Johnson counties.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Health say the most common risk factors that occurred in Iowans who have died were pulmonary/respiratory conditions, immune-compromised conditions such as cancer, neuromuscular conditions, diabetes or renal disease and obesity.

About half of the fatalities were people who were obese or morbidly obese. Although officials say obesity alone is not a risk factor, those who are obese often have underlying conditions that could put them at higher risk of complications.

Biden speech will be streamed live

The Iowa Democratic Party's annual Jefferson Jackson Dinner featuring Vice President Joe Biden will be streamed live on their Web site.

The program and streaming at www.iowademocrats.org/live are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

The dinner is being held at Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Other speakers include U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, Gov. Chet Culver, Lt. Gov. Patty Judge and congressmen Bruce Braley and Leonard Boswell.

Money to study green jobs

The state of Iowa will receive $1.1 million in federal dollars to study Iowa's labor supply and demand within the “green” economy.

“These funds will help us identify new and innovative ways to grow this important industry and create more green-collar jobs of the future,” Gov. Chet Culver said in a statement.

The U.S. Department of Labor selected Iowa's project to receive money. A partnership between work force agencies in Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming also received $3.8 million to research the green economy impact and enhance the labor exchange processes among the states.