State Government

Medical officials say without a cap, Iowa will have a difficult time keeping physicians; opponents say it puts a price tag on a wronged person’s well-being

In the seven months before the explosion and fire that injured 15 people and left an environmental mess, Jeff Boeyink -- a partner at Des Moines-based public relations and lobbying firm LS2group and Branstad’s chief of staff from 2010 to 2013 -- wrote to DNR leaders and Marengo officials at least 10 times on behalf of C6-Zero to answer questions, allay concerns and invite officials to tour the site, according to emails obtained by The Gazette.

“For the first time, we’re funding students instead of a system,” the governor said. “We’re rejecting the idea that the answer to improving education is simply throwing more money into the same system.”

A tenure ban is shelved again, but more reviews of faculty may be proposed.

Use these interactive maps to see which three Republican Iowa senators and nine Republican Iowa representatives broke with the majority party to vote against the private education assistance bill.

Nine Republicans in the House and three in the Senate broke with the majority party to oppose the measure, which will cost $345 million annually when fully implemented.

Educators say the legislation would restrict the school infrastructure projects.

The House was considered the final potential stumbling block for the proposal; the bill passed both the House and Senate by early Tuesday.

Both private industry and the public sector struggle with finding people with the expertise to respond to the attacks.

Five bills introduced by Sen. Jeff Taylor, a Sioux Center Republican, would curtail eminent domain opportunities for hazardous liquid pipeline companies, limit their ability to conduct land surveys and negotiate easements for that land and require them to identify their investors.

See how many Iowa private schools are currently in each county, and how many of those private schools include a Grade 12.

The projected $340 million annual program could lead to more private schools, since many current schools are near or at capacity.