SPM News

Mark Lowe, Director of the Iowa Department of Transportation Edit | Remove 121319 504 The director of the Iowa Department of Transportation is resigning at the request of the governor. A statement from Governor Kim Reynolds’ office says she, quote, “has decided to seek a change in leadership as she continues to build her administration.” The Iowa Finance Authority has helped 3,337 Iowans purchase a home in 2019, and that is the most in the agencies’ history. Homebuyers can apply for IFA’s

Saturday, December 14, 2019 marks the 70 th anniversary of one of Sioux City’s most tragic industrial accidents. Siouxland Public Media’s Sheila Brummer explores the explosion of the Swift and Company Meatpacking Plant with the story of one survivor and a modern day historian who takes us back in time. You can explore the archives of the Swift Plant explosion at the Sioux City Public Museum’s Research Center. Public hours are Wednesday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m. Or, you can also make an

121319 404 A new state program will mail free opioid reversal drug kits to anyone in the state. The drug involved is naloxone -- also known as Narcan. Kevin Gabbert is the Opioids Initiatives Director at the state Department of Public Health, which has partnered with the University of Iowa to offer the program. He says a two-dose kit can cost as much as 150 dollars. One hundred and thirty-seven Iowans died of an opioid overdose last year. Anyone interested in getting a free kit can go to

121319 304 The director of the Iowa Department of Transportation is resigning at the request of the governor. A statement from Governor Kim Reynolds’ office says she, quote, “has decided to seek a change in leadership as she continues to build her administration.” Reynolds appointed Mark Lowe to the top transportation job in 2017 when she became governor. Lowe worked for the D-O-T for nearly a decade before that. Lowe’s resignation letter doesn’t provide any details about why the governor asked

One of the Republicans facing Congressman Steve King in a primary election next year says “it’s time for a change”. “Kind of the feeling on the ground is when I talk to people they think it’s time for Congressman King to go and these are dyed-in-the-wool Republicans saying that too.” That’s Bret Richards, the former mayor of Irwin, business owner, veteran and adjunct professor at Creighton University. Richards says if King makes it out of the primary, he doesn’t think he will beat the Democrat

Authorities say a Nebraska man has been arrested in a cold-case killing of a Salt Lake City woman in her apartment. The South Sioux City Police Department said 55-year-old Bryan Reed awaits extradition to face Utah charges of murder and aggravated burglary in the Aug. 18, 1982 killing of 72-year-old Wilhelmina Reid. Police said investigators first interviewed Reed in December 2018 and at that time served a search warrant for his DNA. According to police, the DNA results and fingerprints linked

Legendary U.S. Congressman Berkley Bedell died over the weekend. The Spirit Lake native served 12 years in DC. We hear about Bedell’s life and work from a former state lawmaker and Sioux City attorney Al Sturgeon. He worked with Bedell more than 40 years ago. It looks like Woodbury County voters will be asked to weigh in on a possible new law enforcement center in March of 202o, and we talk with Woodbury County Sheriff Dave Drew about the issues involved. We talk with the retiring Storm Lake

The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors are looking at putting the proposal for a new jail on the ballot as early as March. The Woodbury County Sheriff recently told Siouxland Public Media News the referendum for the 49 million dollars facility could go to a vote as early as late spring or early summer. Listen for more from the sheriff straight ahead at noon on The Exchange with Mary Hartnett. It’s the end of an era for Storm Lake, Iowa. Their longtime public safety director and police chief

121019 504 Most Iowa politicians, commodity groups and Iowa’s business community today are celebrating news of a deal that will lead to U.S. House ratification of the US Mexico Canada Trade Deal. The deal is expected to ratified by the end of the year. Canada and Mexico are Iowa’s two largest trade markets. But the timing of the announcement drew criticism from some leaders. 4 th District Republican Congressman Steve King, of Kiron, said today House Democrats “didn’t want to face criticism” so

121019 404 Iowa politicians, commodity groups and Iowa’s business community are celebrating news of a deal that will lead to U.S. House ratification of a new trade agreement to replace NAFTA. Canada and Mexico are Iowa’s two largest trade markets. Congressman Steve King, 4t district Republican from Kiron, said today House Democrats “didn’t want to face criticism” so they announced a deal on the USMCA on the same morning they revealed articles of impeachment.” King accused House Democrats of