Week in Iowa: Recap of news from across the state

Transgender sports ban: Gov. Kim Reynolds on Tuesday indicated she would likely sign into law a ban on transgender girls competing in girls’ athletics in Iowa should state lawmakers send such a proposal to her. “I said it’s a fairness issue last year, and if it landed on my desk, depending on where (the bill is) at, I would probably sign it,” Reynolds said. “I believe it is a serious issue.” Advocates for LGBTQ individuals argue examples of transgender girls dominating high school and college athletics are rare — none have been reported in Iowa — and that policies banning such competition discriminate against transgender children.

Scores of dead birds a mystery: Large numbers of geese and pelicans have been found dead along the Mississippi River in Eastern Iowa, and wildlife biologists aren’t sure what’s killing them. The carcasses of more than 20 Canada geese were recently discovered at Nahant Marsh along the river in Davenport, and more were found along the city’s South Concord Street, the Quad-City Times reported. Also, about two dozen dead American white pelicans were found several months ago in the river around Bettendorf upstream from Davenport.

Legal settlement: Iowa officials agreed Tuesday to pay a group of attorneys nearly $5 million in a case that showed staff wrongly kept boys at a state-run school in isolation chambers and restraints. The Iowa Appeals Board approved the payment to attorneys for former students of the Iowa Boys State Training School in Eldora, which houses boys who have committed crimes.

They said ...

“At a time when grocery costs are skyrocketing and we know that (food stamp) recipients are already having their benefits reduced, I just want to move forward with ultimate caution because, in the end, I don’t want kids to be impacted adversely.”

— Rep. Kristin Sunde, D-West Des Moines, on a public assistance eligibility bill

Odds and ends

Road rage: An Oelwein woman was arrested for allegedly trying to kill someone during a road rage incident and a fight in Independence. Independence police arrested Heather Lynn Beck, 36, on charges of attempted murder and second-degree criminal mischief. Witnesses said Beck had intentionally rammed another vehicle numerous times over a distance of six or seven blocks, police said.

Meth plea: A Sioux City man has pleaded guilty to selling methamphetamine out of a Morningside restaurant. William Thompson, 62, entered his plea Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Sioux City to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. A sentencing date has yet to be set. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Thompson and others who worked at the Madonna Rose Café sold ap- about 10 pounds of meth from 2019 through June 8.

Water cooler

Hospital gift: The foundation of the late Des Moines businessman and philanthropist, Richard Jacobson, announced a $70 million gift to the University of Iowa for a new hospital to be built across from Kinnick Stadium. The donation is the largest in the university’s 175-year history. The Richard O. Jacobson Foundation announced the gift Tuesday to go toward the new University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics patient care tower.

Lost locket: Mason City School District’s facilities supervisor Todd Hufi is still looking for the owner of a locket he found in a classroom at Madison Elementary, just before the building’s demolition in 2015. He found the locket behind a heater in an upper-floor classroom. The locket, in near-perfect condition, contains a yellowing photo of a young girl. Hufi has casually been looking for the rightful owner of the photo charm, but so far, no luck.

More in the news

Public assistance: Legislation to make sure Iowans receiving public assistance are “truly eligible” was approved by the House Human Resources Committee on Tuesday over Democratic concerns the cost of the bill would be more than the savings. If enacted, applicants would have to complete an authentication process to confirm their identity through the use of a questionnaire consisting of financial and personal questions.