Week in Iowa, Oct. 22, 2023: Recap of news from across the state

Iowa reps cast vote for speaker: Iowa U.S. Reps. Ashley Hinson, Randy Feenstra, Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn all supported Rep. Mike Johnson, R-La., in his successful bid for House speaker to end three weeks with no speaker. Miller-Meeks had voted against the party's previous designee, Jim Jordan, citing concerns about the tactics used by his allies to build support.

Iowa's representatives said Johnson, who was relatively unknown before Tuesday, would lead on conservative priorities like protecting the southern border and passing single-subject appropriations bills. Democrats criticized the delegation for backing Johnson, who they said supported former President Donald Trump's bid to overturn the 2020 election and opposes abortion access and gender equality.

Kosovo president in Iowa: Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani was in Iowa this week for a World Food Prize conference, and she was welcomed at the Iowa State Capitol by Gov. Kim Reynolds. Reynolds praised the relationship between Iowa and the small Balkan nation, who share a sister state partnership.

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Voters to weigh bond questions: Iowa voters in 50 counties will be asked to approve more than $1.7 billion in bonds for their school districts and local governments to borrow money for infrastructures projects. New school construction and renovation is the most common reason schools are planning to issue bonds.

Guard, state patrol return from border: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds joined Iowa National Guard and Department of Public Safety leaders this week to detail their efforts to assist Texas officials at the U.S.-Mexico border this year. 109 National Guard troops and 31 Department of Public Safety officers deployed to the border in August and September. The state spent $2 million in pandemic relief funds on the deployment.

Reynolds blamed President Joe Biden for what she called a crisis at the southern border. State law enforcement officers were involved in dozens of cases including human smuggling, drug trafficking, narcotics and more. At Reynolds' direction, the Iowa Guard had deployed to the border three times since 2020.

Iowa first gentleman receiving treatment: Iowa First Gentleman Kevin Reynolds has begun receiving radiation treatment and an oral immune therapy drug to treat the lung cancer he was diagnosed with last month, Gov. Kim Reynolds said this week. Reynolds became emotional when thanking Iowans who have sent support for her husband.

Bird flu appears in commercial flocks: At least three cases of avian influenza have been reported in commercial turkey flocks in Iowa this month, the first cases of the fall. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation that makes available state resources for Buena Vista County to help manage the disease.

They said ...

"I think it's pretty clear, and if they can't distinguish that, then I don't know, maybe we ought to look at what they should be dealing with. It's just a distraction. And they don't like it, so they're blowing it out of proportion."

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on schools pulling classic novels in response to library restrictions

"(President Biden) has really been a moral compass, not just only here in America, but also to the world, and his leadership and setting the goal for really eliminating Hamas, and this is very important.”

Yinam Cohen, Israel's consul general to the Midwest

Odds and ends

2024 watch: South Carolina U.S. Sen. and presidential candidate Tim Scott said he will double down on his efforts in Iowa, building up staff and time in the state he views as make-or-break for his electoral chances.

Mason City School Board: A candidate for Mason City School Board filed a harassment complaint against another candidate, who mentioned her multiple times in rambling threads on X, formerly Twitter, asking her on a "hot date" at the "Republican wing ding at the surf." The case was deemed unfounded by Mason City police.

Water cooler

Plea reversal: A teenager who was charged in a deadly 2022 shooting at a Des Moines high school has asked to withdraw his guilty plea. Octavio Lopez Sanchez Jr. pleaded guilty in August to second-degree murder and two counts of willful injury, and was scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 7.

Reynolds endorsement: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds again said she has not ruled out making an endorsement in the Republican presidential primary, saying the 2024 election is "too important." Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has been joined at multiple events by Reynolds, said her endorsement would be "a huge get."