Week in Iowa

In the news

IOWA ABORTION CASE: The Iowa Supreme Court on Tuesday denied Gov. Kim Reynolds’ request to rehear a case that was decided in June over a 24-hour waiting period for an abortion.

The court said the case must be argued in district court first.

The justices in their June decision said the state constitution does not provide a fundamental right to an abortion, but the court still upheld the “undue burden” standard that existed under federal law before Roe v. Wade was overturned one week later.

Reynolds is asking the court to loosen that standard and give the state more power to restrict abortions. The lower court’s decision will likely ultimately be appealed to the Iowa Supreme Court.

'FIELD OF DREAMS' SHOW: The upcoming “Field of Dreams” TV series will keep $6 million in Iowa taxpayer funding, despite news that NBC’s Peacock streaming service will no longer be hosting the series.

The state awarded the money through its Destination Iowa program, which aims to bring tourists and new residents to Iowa.

The series is an adaptation of the 1989 movie set in Dyersville in Eastern Iowa. It's led by Michael Schur, whose TV credits include “The Office,” “Parks and Recreation” and “The Good Place.”

REPUBLICAN GAIN: Republicans and Democrats both gained voters before the June 7 primary election, but Republicans had a clear advantage, adding 25,000 voters to their rolls while Democrats added 5,000.

Compared to last July, there are 20,000 more registered Republicans in the state and 15,000 fewer registered Democrats.

AIRPORT BUCKS: The Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids will get a $20 million boost in federal funding coming from the 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law.

With the funding announced Thursday, the airport will have received $49 million in federal funds this year. The money will aid the airport in transitioning to a geothermal ventilation system and help pay for more jet bridges, concourse space and food and amenity options.

They said …

“This is not the same Chuck Grassley who was first elected to public office 63 years ago, and Iowans are sick and tired of the political posturing and hyperpartisanship.” — Mike Franken, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, after his campaign released a poll that found him within 5 points of Grassley

“This will be the largest effort for a midterm election for Republicans in Iowa history.” — Iowa GOP Chair Jeff Kaufmann on the party’s plans for the 2022 election.

Odds and ends

SMALL DERECHO: While it was far milder than August 2020’s storm, a derecho swept through parts of northwest and central Iowa on Tuesday.

Winds as high as 68 mph were recorded in Mason City, compared to the 140 mph winds that hit sections of Cedar Rapids on Aug. 20, 2020.

A derecho is defined as a widespread, long-lived, straight-line windstorm that brings a band of rapidly moving rain showers or thunderstorms. Although derecho season peaks in the hot and humid summers, derechos can also form under cooler conditions — like one that hit Iowa on Dec. 15, 2021.

DEM ENDORSED BY REPUBLICANS: Kevin Kinney, a Democrat from Oxford running for re-election in Iowa Senate District 46, was endorsed by Michael Moore, a Republican who ran against Kinney in 2014. Kinney was previously endorsed by Republican Jarad Klein.

Water cooler

UI FIELD HOCKEY FACILITY: University of Iowa Athletics is seeking design proposals for a new field hockey building to be built near the team’s Grant Field.

The proposal calls for a 5,000- to 8,000-square-foot building that will include a locker room, press-box and office next to the field, which is located off Prairie Meadow Drive between the UI soccer complex and UI Athletics Hall of Fame.

Any construction would have to await funding.

FOURTH FALLOUT: Seven people died in five car crashes across the state over the long Fourth of July weekend, according to the Iowa State Patrol.

Three people died in Dubuque County when a car driven by William Wodrich IV, 18, of Dubuque, crashed and rolled, killing him and his two 17-year-old passengers, Kennedy Elskamp and Chloe Madison, both of Dubuque.

More in the news

HELP FOR STUDENTS: Ahead of a Monday vote on the contract for police in schools during the 2022-23 school year, the Cedar Rapids school board said it wants to define the role of school resource officers and explore shifting resources toward mental health and other support services for students.

The board in a Wednesday work session said it wants to convene community stakeholders to address the root causes of violence and other behavioral issues in schools, instead of viewing the role of police in isolation.

Cedar Rapids police and school officials agree with permanently assigning five police officers to Kennedy, Jefferson, Washington and Metro high schools and to Polk Alternative. But middle schools have been a point of contention.

CHILD KILLED: Damaria Sanders, a 3-year-old Coralville boy, died Sunday of a gunshot wound.

Authorities are investigating. Coralville police Sgt. John Williams died of “an acute medical emergency” while responding to the shooting. He had been with the department for 28 years.

Johnson County Supervisor Royceann Porter, who knows Damaria’s family, started a GoFundMe page to help with the child’s funeral expenses.

NEW HIAWATHA FIRE STATION: The city of Hiawatha will build a second fire station in 2023.

The $6.5 million station will be built at 1550 Stamy Road on the north side of the city and will be funded with local-option sales taxes.

DEJEAR VISITS CAMP: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deidre DeJear on Wednesday visited Camp Courageous in Monticello, a respite care facility for children with special needs and their families.

While there, she advocated for more respite care and health care access in the state.

Gazette Des Moines Bureau