Government & Politics

Iowa senator celebrates 63 years in office, tells why he seeks re-election

Some statements in the 2022 Condition of the State address drew cheers, while others might have angered listeners. The Gazette Fact Checker checked 10 claims for accuracy.

Iowans placed more than $2 billion in wagers on sporting events in 2021, according to recently published state figures. That number envelopes the $575 million that was bet on sports in 2020.

Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen tells legislators “the court system is 100 percent fully operational, but we are continuing some practices adopted on an emergency basis” to keep proceedings moving “without jeopardizing health or conflicting with their work schedules.”

A four-year transition to a flat state income tax rate of 4 percent, shorting the time Iowans could claim jobless benefits and a new plan for devoting public K-12 for private school tuition are among the proposals introduced Tuesday night by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds in her charge to state legislators.

The merged department should be able to help people seamlessly receive the maximum services in the most efficient way to give families the tools to be independent, she tells legislators.

One of the proposed pipelines would run through Linn County

A utility-grade solar installation west of Coggon will proceed to the second of three consideration after the Linn County Board of Supervisors disregarded an advisory panel’s recommendation that they deny it.