SPM News

The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled that former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad did not illegally discriminate or retaliate against a gay state official — overturning a landmark $1.5 million jury verdict. The court on Wednesday found a lack of evidence to show Branstad, a former U.S. ambassador to China, discriminated against then-Iowa Workers’ Compensation Commissioner Chris Godfrey because of his sexual orientation. Godfrey, a native of Sioux City, was widely known as openly gay, but justices say there

Gun deaths have been surging in Iowa as a law is set to go into effect that will allow people to more easily buy handguns and carry them in public without training or a permit. The Iowa Department of Public Health said Tuesday that a record 353 people died from gunshot wounds in Iowa in 2020, a 23% increase from the previous high in 2019. This year saw 85 firearm homicides, an 80% increase. Suicides still made up three of every four gun deaths in the state. A leading gun violence researcher said

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem says she will join a growing list of Republican governors sending law enforcement officers to the U.S. border with Mexico. Noem’s announcement that she will send up to 50 South Dakota National Guard troops to Texas comes as the GOP ramps up a political fight with President Joe Biden over border security. The issue has drawn in a host of prominent GOP figures. Former President Donald Trump was expected to travel to the border this week. The latest fight was initiated

Governor Pete Ricketts has ended the COVID-19 State of Emergency in Nebraska. The State of Emergency started on March 13 th of last year. A majority of orders will expire at the end of the month. During a news conference Monday morning Ricketts says currently only 27 are hospitalized in the state and it is time to return to normal after the COVID-19 Pandemic. Ricketts says Test Nebraska will end on July 31 st with the final day for free testing available for July 18 th . He urged people to get

The Supreme Court says an expanded number of small refineries can seek an exemption from certain renewable fuel requirements. The high court ruled 6-3 that a small refinery that had previously received a hardship exemption from complying with Clean Air Act requirements may obtain an “extension” of that exemption. That’s even if the refinery let a previous exemption lapse. The Biden administration argued that to get an extension, a refinery had to have maintained a continuous exemption since 2011

304 News 062421 Today Governor Kim Reynolds announced that Iowa State Patrol officers would be deployed to the U.S. Southern Border to aid law enforcement and border security efforts. The governor is responding to a request from Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Arizona Governor Doug Ducey under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. Reynolds said the rise in drugs, human trafficking, and violent crime has become unsustainable. Survivors of clergy abuse within the Catholic Church in Iowa are

A 20-year-old Sioux City man admitted that he shot the shot that killed a woman at a New Year's Eve party. Christopher Morales pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree murder and three counts of reckless use of a firearm. Morales was originally charged with first-degree murder for the death of 18-year-old Mia Kritis. She was killed and three other people were injured when Morales and others fired into the house where the party was being held. Morales' 18-year-old brother is charged with first

On Tuesday, June 15 th, a gathering took place at the Sioux City Public Museum with dozens of concerned community members after the heightened awareness following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis last year. The Sioux City Human Rights Commission, joined forces with the Sioux City Police Department and Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office for the event called “Strengthening and Improving Community Relationships.” The purpose, highlighting de-escalation techniques in stressful situations,

A man’s body was found in the Missouri River near Onawa, Iowa. The Monona County Sheriff’s office said a fisherman found the body was found near the Ivy Island Wildlife Management Area Sunday afternoon. The sheriff’s office said it appeared that the man had been in the river for some time. Officials are working to identify the man and an autopsy is planned. Wind energy is a major economic force in northwest Iowa, and the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors is holding the first of three public

If you’re looking for other things to do this summer, check out the book 100 Things to Do in Sioux City and Siouxland Before You Die . Author Lindsay Hindman shares a few ideas with Siouxland Public Media's Sheila Brummer. Hindman is also the the founder of Siouxlandfamilies.com .