James Q. Lynch

Warmer than average conditions continued across Iowa with a statewide average of 65.2 degrees, 11.7 degrees above normal. The statewide weekly average precipitation was 0.26 inch while the normal is 0.66 inch.

$400,000 from state will be used to pave approximately 3 miles of the trail east of Highway 13 from Waldo’s Rock Park to Oxley Road. The trail was constructed a few years ago with a limestone surface in anticipation of hard surfacing it when funding was secured.

Panel looks to help communities find and develop the diversity and equity resources needed to greet refugees and immigrants, and create welcoming and inclusive environments for new populations.

This and more in our roundup of legislative and Capitol news items of interest for Friday.

September, the first full month of football, which included the annual Cy-Hawk game and two Iowa universities in college football’s Top 10, was bound to produce record wagering, according to sports gaming analysts.

U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, argues plan doesn’t include enough for “hard infrastructure” and is tied to larger spending bill.

“Today we are in the midst of a gathering storm against democracy,” Krause said, charging Republicans are setting the stage for a slow-motion legal coup in 2022 and 2024.

“This is just simply immoral and unethical that they will set up an environment that hurts kids,” the Iowa Republican said.

The key takeaway from their meeting with local election officials was the checks and balances in election operations, including the 40-step process of checking each voting machine before it goes into a polling place and in counting ballots.

Support from “right-wing dark money group” criticized by potential Democratic opponent

Iowa Democrats and Republicans don’t agree on much, but they agree both parties will have their 2022 midterm caucuses Feb. …

Peggy Rodriguez Stover, a Democrat, says Iowa should look at alternatives to what she calls the failed privatization of the Medicaid program.

Former vice president’s visit will be part of a college campus speaking tour by Pence, who is considered a potential 2024 GOP presidential candidate

There could be some political danger in opposing the package, Grassley said, “but I'm not going to judge whether they should vote for it or not. That's up to them.”

Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, has been pushing a package of criminal justice reform measures that could reduce the sentencing difference, now 18 to 1, “but I don’t think one to one can pass.”