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IA Regulators Require Release of MidAmerican Wind Energy Studies Environmental groups are pleased with an Iowa Utilities Board ruling that requires MidAmerican Energy to make planning studies public for its Iowa Wind PRIME project. The massive green energy project is expected to add more than 2,000 megawatts of wind energy and 50 megawatts of solar energy to the power grid. But some groups say the public should be able to see the background studies, including what MidAmerican might do with its coal plants. ...(Read More)

Critical Number of Rural IA Nursing Homes Close Health-care professionals say low pay and a worker shortage have led a dramatic number of nursing homes in rural Iowa to close their doors. They hope increased government funding and more focus on rural health care this year will help. Looking at a graph that shows the number of nursing-home employees between January 2019 and January 2020, the bright red line goes almost straight down. ...(Read More)

Iowa Lawmakers Push for Drivers' Hands-Free Cellphone Use Iowa lawmakers are considering a bill which would dramatically reduce the use of cellphones in vehicles. Right now, it is illegal in Iowa to send or read text messages while driving, but drivers can use a cellphone for navigation, which often takes more attention than texting. Senate Bill 60 would tighten the rules further, prohibiting drivers from operating a phone if it takes more than a single touch to activate or deactivate it. ...(Read More)

Farm Group Asks FTC to Investigate Egg 'Price Collusion' A national farmers' advocacy group is asking the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the possibility of price collusion between major egg producers. Eggs now average more than $4 a dozen nationally. Iowa reflects the trend, where a dozen eggs cost more than two-and-a-half times what they did a year ago. ...(Read More)

IA Lawmakers Propose Severe Restrictions for Food Assistance A Republican-backed bill in the Iowa Legislature seeks to put strict new limits on which foods people could buy at the grocery store using public-assistance benefits. House Bill 3 would limit people to items on the state's WIC list, supplemental nutrition for Women, Infants and Children. The bill would restrict the purchase of such items as grains, baked, refried or chili beans, and fresh and frozen meats. ...(Read More)

Poll: Voters Reject Tuition Vouchers, Voice Public School Support A new poll commissioned by the American Federation of Teachers finds most voters strongly oppose private school vouchers, which allow families to home-school their kids or seek private education using state funds. Gov. Kim Reynolds proposed a voucher program in her State of the State address. ...(Read More)

Asking IA Lawmakers to Prioritize Water Quality, Renewable Energy The Center for Rural Affairs wants the Iowa Legislature to prioritize water quality and renewable energy in the new session. One priority is more funding for the 27 Watershed Management Authorities in Iowa. Kate Hansen, senior policy associate at the Center for Rural Affairs, said funding for the people who staff the authorities is critical, because they are working with locals who know the area best, and have insight into ways to protect Iowa's water. ...(Read More)

Farm Mechanics Win 'Right to Repair' Tractor maker Deere and Company has reached a deal with the American Farm Bureau Federation to allow independent mechanics to work on John Deere brand farm equipment. Until now, if a mechanic not certified by Deere touched the high-dollar gear, it could void the company warranty, much like cellphone companies which void your warranty if you or an "unauthorized party" fixes your phone. Some farm equipment can cost a million dollars or more. ...(Read More)

Iowa Governor Makes "School Choice" a Top Priority Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds has proposed a measure that would allow Iowa parents to send their kids to private schools and make state money available to pay for it. Other states have passed similar measures, but not without controversy, in what is often seen as a "showdown" - public versus private education. ...(Read More)

Fewer Cases Filed Against Industrial Polluters By EPA The Environmental Protection Agency's enforcement of federal pollution rules has plummeted. Last year, the agency referred 88 cases to the Justice Department for civil prosecutions, the second-lowest number in more than two decades, according to an analysis by the Environmental Integrity Project. In Iowa, factory farm emissions are up 20% in the same time frame. ...(Read More)

Iowa Takes Aim at Human Trafficking January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month and Iowa is working to address the problem by educating businesses about the potential signs and dangers. Although officials say it is hard to pinpoint exact numbers, the frequency of reported trafficking cases is on the rise. Half of the calls to a human trafficking hotline are reports from minors asking for help. ...(Read More)

Iowa Works to Make Reporting Cyberbullying Easier It can be challenging for parents and caregivers to shield their children from bigotry and hatred online. In Iowa, the numbers are startling, even in the face of a law to prevent bullying. Almost half of Iowa middle- and high school students reported being bullied verbally, physically or through cyberspace, according to research at the University of Iowa, despite a 2007 anti-bullying law. ...(Read More)

More Affordable Housing for Seniors: An AARP Iowa Priority As housing prices continue to rise, AARP Iowa is asking cities and towns to change their rules to allow more livable space on a home site. The group said Accessory Dwelling Units can be a perfect option for seniors. AARP Iowa is encouraging local planners and government officials to evaluate potential changes to state laws and local zoning codes to make it easier to add living space onto a residential lot. ...(Read More)

Report: Drug Overdoses More Deadly in Iowa, Nationwide More Iowa communities are struggling with fatal drug overdoses, according to the latest America's Health Rankings report. State data show Iowa's overdose deaths have risen by more than a third in the last two years. Some 432 people died of drug overdoses in Iowa last year, and since 2019 Iowa's public health department shows those deaths are up by 34%, even higher than the national average. ...(Read More)

NLRB Funding Can't Keep Pace with Unionizing Trend In one of its final moves of 2022, Congress approved a $25 million funding increase for the National Labor Relations Board, an agency which has been chronically short-staffed and underfunded. The board has been struggling to keep up with a demand in the number of workers who want to unionize. This year, it saw a 53% increase in petitions to unionize, and said the agency will need much more funding to keep up. ...(Read More)

Rural Colleges Cut, Consolidate Classes Students choosing a college next semester are faced with new challenges and difficult choices. The current economic climate is forcing many higher-education institutions to cut or consolidate programs. The problem is especially acute at rural universities, already facing stiffer recruitment challenges than larger urban schools, and still having to meet their financial goals. ...(Read More)

Farmers Appeal to IA Senators to Stop Mega Merger An Iowa farm advocacy group wants the state's U.S. senators to oppose a deal to allow one of the world's largest pork processors to buy large parts of a southeast Iowa hog supplier, a deal which would expand so-called "factory farming" in the state. Brazil-based JBS Foods Group has agreed to buy parts of TriOak Foods, one of the nation's largest pork suppliers. ...(Read More)

IA Sierra Club Chapter Sues State, Cattle Producer A state judge will soon hear arguments in a waterway pollution case brought by the Sierra Club's Iowa Chapter. The group is suing the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and a major cattle producer for allegedly allowing manure to run into nearby streams. When Supreme Beef opened in 2017 in Clayton County, it planned to turn its waste into methane and use it as energy through a process known as "anaerobic digestion." When that didn't work out, the company said it had to store waste from more than 11,000 cattle in earthen lagoons. ...(Read More)

Depression High Among IA's LGBTQ Population The Census Bureau has released a report that shows LGBTQ people suffered higher rates of depression, anxiety and other mental hurdles than did the general population during the pandemic - and an Iowa survey has dug a little deeper. The census figures show that 18- to 29-year-olds reported symptoms of anxiety that were almost 18% higher than the general population during the pandemic. A related survey by advocacy group One Iowa shows that 50% of LGBTQ respondents in Iowa report mental-health issues as their number one concern. ...(Read More)

A Call for Greater Accessibility for Iowans with Disabilities Iowans with disabilities said the state could be doing more to make public places more accessible and inclusive. In the new legislative session, the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council also wants lawmakers to make more money available to address dramatic staffing shortages. For the 12.5% of Iowans living with a disability, lack of accessibility is an ongoing issue. ...(Read More)