Jill Weigel wins by just three votes in a three-way race for an at-large seat on the Hiawatha City Council, according to unofficial special election results. She fills the vacancy created by Steve Dodson’s election as mayor.
Voters in the Benton Community, Linn-Mar and Marion Independent school districts voted Tuesday to create or extend funds that pay for capital improvements in the districts.
Slightly over 60 percent of Democrats who requested the mail-in caucus cards had returned them by Tuesday. But the count will continue to Friday.
Supporters of the bill, which calls for a constitutional amendment, include tax policy groups, the Iowa Association of Business and Industry and Iowa Bankers Association. Critics include the progressive advocacy group Common Good Iowa and the Iowa Catholic Conference.
Also, the Iowa House passed bills dealing with radon mitigation and taxing drug paraphernalia
Marion Mayor Nick AbouAssaly’s State of the City address Tuesday, he touted Marion as a rapidly growing city that has elevated the quality of life and earned residents’ trust at a time when trust in government is declining.
Democrats vehemently opposed the bill, arguing it would make it harder for certain Iowans to cast a ballot. Republicans said the bill aims to maintain the highest level of election integrity in Iowa.
There's a lot less fanfare for Democrats in Iowa picking their presidential nominee this year, and it's not only because Democratic incumbent Joe Biden is in the White House.
The White House Council of Economic Advisers produced an analysis indicating that the Biden administration’s efforts overall will eliminate $20 billion in annual junk fees. The analysis found that consumers pay about $90 billion a year in junk fees, including for concerts, apartment rentals and auto dealers.
UpLift Iowa, a project involving four Central Iowa local governments and a number of businesses and nonprofits, is the only existing guaranteed income program in the state. The pilot program provides 110 residents with monthly payments of $500 that can be spent without restrictions.
Also in the Capitol Notebook: The Iowa House approved legislation that would increase penalties for fentanyl-related deaths.
“First, we won in Court. Now, we’re going to win at the ballot box,” Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird said on social media.
Get a daily update of what's happening in the Iowa Legislature
Daily Newsletters