Week in Iowa, June 5, 2023: Recap of news from across the state

Residents sue, aid requested in building collapse: A woman whose leg was amputated being rescued from a collapsed building in Davenport is suing the building's owner and the city of Davenport, among other defendants, for negligence that led to the deadly collapse.

The woman and her wife are seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages in the lawsuit, which is one of at least three lawsuits that have been filed in the wake of the apartment building's collapse.

Gov. Kim Reynolds also requested federal assistance last week for demolition of the building and debris removal, asking for an emergency declaration from President Joe Biden. Iowa's congressional delegation joined Reynolds in requesting federal resources for the city.

Iowa Senate Democrats elect new leader: Iowa Senate Democrats elected Pam Jochum to lead the caucus Wednesday, ousting previous leader Zach Wahls. Democrats did not give a reason for the untimely leadership change, but several reports indicated some were upset by Wahls' recent decision to fire two longtime staffers.

Iowa lawmaker endorses Vivek Ramaswamy: An Iowa lawmaker pulled his backing from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis last week, instead endorsing Ohio biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy in the Republican primary for president. Sen. Scott Webster, R-Bettendorf, said Ramaswamy delivers an "optimistic vision" for America and will bring the "America First agenda to the next level."

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2024 field largely set: Three new candidates jumped into the 2024 Republican primary fray last week, largely solidifying the field with 12 contenders for the party's nomination for president. Former Vice President Mike Pence kicked off his campaign with an Iowa rally Wednesday, while former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum made their intentions official around the same time.

Each is hoping to break out of the pack in a primary that is largely dominated by former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Iowa will host the first-in-the-nation caucuses in early 2024, and candidates have been visiting the state and blanketing the airwaves with advertising to sway Republican voters.

States settle with anti-addiction drugmaker: Iowa will receive $1 million from a nationwide settlement with the maker of the opioid addiction treatment drug Suboxone. The drugmaker, Indivior Inc., was accused of making modest changes to extend patent protection and keep generic versions off the market. The anti-competitive practices inflated costs for consumers, according to the states that sued.

State, nation promote midwife training: Iowa U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson recently reintroduced the Midwives for MOMS Act, a bill that would increase the number of trained midwives in the U.S. in order to help address maternity care, which is in short supply in Iowa. Also this month, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law a bill that provides a licensing system for professional midwives, making Iowa the 38th state to do so.

They said ...

“The American people deserve to know that on that day President Trump also demanded that I choose between him and our Constitution. Now voters will be faced with the same choice. I chose the Constitution and I always will.” — Former Vice President Mike Pence speaking about the Jan. 6 insurrection

“Senate Democrats look forward to offering a better way forward for the people of Iowa — in 2024 and beyond. We’re going to defend our incumbent senators, grow our caucus, and win a majority that delivers for middle-class Iowans.” — Iowa Sen. Pam Jochum of Dubuque after being elected to lead Senate Democrats

Odds and ends

2024 watch: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will headline U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn's inaugural "Top Nunn: Salute to the Troops" fundraiser July 15. DeSantis and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy also will speak at the Family Leadership Summit in July, a conference hosted by evangelical conservative organization the Family Leader.

TurboTax settlement: Thousands of Iowans will receive payments after U.S. attorneys general settled with TurboTax, accusing the company of deceptively pushing consumers to pay for tax services that should have been free. Certain Iowans who unnecessarily paid for tax services between 2016 and 2018 are eligible for the settlement, and should receive checks in the mail this month.

Water cooler

Scout leader charged: A former Boy Scout leader in northeast Iowa has been charged with inappropriate sexual conduct with at least five minors over the course of a decade. Police say James Hughes, 73, of Cresco, sexually abused the victims while providing physical therapy and administering the physical fitness merit badge.

ISU veterinary building: Iowa State University intends to name its new veterinary medicine academic building after 20th century social reformer and human rights activist Frederic Douglass Patterson, who earned a doctorate of veterinary medicine from Iowa State University in 1923. He later served as president of Tuskegee University for 20 years.