Week in Iowa, July 21, 2024: Recap of news from across the state

Iowa Dems back Harris after Biden exit: Iowa's delegates to the Democratic National Convention said they were unanimously backing Vice President Kamala Harris for the nomination after President Joe Biden announced he would drop out of the race. Iowa Democrats applauded Biden after his announcement, saying he led an accomplished first term and the decision puts Democrats in a better position for the general election.

Harris quickly marshaled support of state delegations and top Democrats and became the clear favorite to clinch the nomination early last week. The party expects to hold a virtual roll call to formally nominate its candidate before Aug. 7, ahead of the national convention that begins Aug. 19.

School choice contract costs rose after approval: The state Department of Education approved an amended contract that will double the cost to the state for a company to administer a program that allows students to use public money to pay for private school tuition. State Auditor Rob Sand said the amendment was not properly approved. The department said the adjusted cost still was the lowest bid for the service.

Abortion 'heartbeat' ban takes effect Monday: A law banning abortion once cardiac activity can be detected in a fetus or embryo will take effect Monday, after a district court judge dissolved an injunction on the law that has been in place for more than a year. The law was passed by Republican lawmakers in a special session in 2023, and signed into law by Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds.

The law makes abortions illegal as early as six weeks into a pregnancy, often before a woman knows she is pregnant. There are exceptions for rape, incest and medical emergencies. Health care professionals have warned the exceptions are impractical and vague.

Universities project revenue boost: Iowa's public universities are expecting an operating budget of $1.72 billion this fiscal year, thanks to increased state appropriations, higher enrollment and recent tuition hikes. The revenue is up from $1.66 billion last year. Universities have increasingly relied on tuition to fund operations as state funding has dried up over the last few decades.

Deere lays off Iowa staff: More than 100 salaried Deere workers in Waterloo and Dubuque were laid off Wednesday as part of widespread company layoffs. The ag equipment manufacturer has laid off hundreds of workers in recent months, prompted by falling demand and rising production costs.

They said ...

"There is nothing more sacred and no cause more worthy than protecting innocent unborn lives. As the fetal heartbeat law finally takes effect, our work will continue to strengthen a culture of life in Iowa. I remain deeply committed to supporting women in planning for motherhood, promoting the importance of fatherhood, elevating adoption, and protecting in vitro fertilization (IVF)." -- Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on abortion ban taking effect

“Politicians and judges have no place interfering in someone else’s decisions about when to start a family. Everyone deserves the right to make their own health care decisions, especially when it comes to reproductive care and abortion." -- Iowa House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst on abortion ban taking effect

Odds and ends

Pipeline opposition: Several groups opposed to the construction of a carbon pipeline in Iowa asked state regulators to reconsider their approval of the project and the use of eminent domain to complete it. If regulators deny the motions, opponents plan to challenge the decision in court, anticipating the dispute may reach the U.S. Supreme Court.

Court proceedings on hold: A judge Wednesday ordered a Marion man charged with bludgeoning four people to death with a metal pipe to undergo a competency evaluation at the state’s forensic psychiatric hospital and temporarily suspended proceedings in his quadruple murder trial. Luke Wade Truesdell, 34, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder in the June 5 slayings.

Water cooler

Davenport shooting: Police arrested a 16-year-old in connection with a shooting at NorthPark Mall in Davenport. The teen and another person were shot in what police described as an exchange of gunfire in the mall Monday. Both people had non-life-threatening injuries

Crane Creek fish kill: The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating what caused 40,000 fish to be killed in a 20-mile stretch of Crane Creek in northeast Iowa. The DNR said early tests do not point to manure runoff, and they are looking at drainage tiles and talking to landowners along the creek.