James Q. Lynch

During debate of a $652 million appropriation for several departments covered by the justice systems appropriation, Democrats offered an amendment to address working conditions in Iowa prisons, where a correctional officer and nurse were murdered by inmates March 23, 2021.

Bill to permit warrantless search of abandoned garbage goes to governor

Bill would allow retailers to opt out of redeeming carbonated and alcoholic beverage containers, but they would pay a half-cent handling fee for five years. Distributors would pay an additional penny handling fee to redemption centers for each bottle or can returned.

Progress on $750 million flood protection system is “great story to tell back in Washington,” Rep. Hinson says after tour, but she also sees a funding gap as materials prices rise.

Iowa U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst and nine other senators visited with military leaders, refugees and humanitarian groups "to demonstrate America's unwavering support for the freedom-loving people of Ukraine, and affirm the strength of the world's most powerful alliance.“

This week was the second key deadline of the 2022 session of the Iowa Legislature.

First District Rep. Ashley Hinson and 3rd District Rep. Cindy Axne are asking the National Weather Service to explain a communications system malfunction that led to delay in critical alerts to the public March 5 when storms caused seven deaths in Iowa. Some warnings didn’t reach the public until nine minutes after they were issued.

Legislation moved forward Thursday that would prevent school personnel accused of misconduct, including sexual abuse, from resigning to avoid investigations and discipline -- despite the sponsor’s concession it wasn’t ready for prime time.

Concerns about the possible use of eminent domain have increased over the past year as three companies have proposed building underground pipelines across Iowa. At informational meetings around the state since November, many landowners have raised concerns about eminent domain, safety of the pipelines and whether the companies should get tax credits for projects that may make money for the owners but not help Iowans or the environment.

They opposed Senate File 2263, which would end the requirement the Senate confirm a governor’s appointments to about two dozen state boards and commissions. Currently, those appointments must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the 50-member Iowa Senate.

According to the National Council on Aging, about one in 10 Americans aged 60 or older have suffered from at least one form of elder abuse. In Iowa, the Department of Human Services saw a 37 percent increase in dependent abuse reports from the first half of 2020 to the second half of 2021, with 5,800 cases.

Iowa’s annual winter home heating moratorium will end April 1. The Iowa Utilities Board encourages energy assistance customers currently protected from service disconnection to contact their utility company to discuss payment options.

Among the bills that need at least some movement to survive this week’s funnel deadline are Republicans’ attempts to address what they consider transparency in public school curriculum.

Some have called expanding the bottle bill to include water and energy drinks, and double the deposit to a dime to increase the penny-per-can handling fee for redemption centers to 2 cents. Even that may not be enough to support redemption centers, especially in rural Iowa, according to Iowa State University economics professor Dermot Hayes, who has been analyzing the bottle bill for about 10 years.

In Iowa, the average gas price Thursday was $3.924, but topped $4 in many rural areas according to AAA. However, Iowa lawmakers say they’ve heard little talk of suspending state motor fuel taxes -- 30 cents a gallon state tax on gas and ethanol, and 32.5 on diesel fuel.