041519 1204 The political news website Roll Call has changed its rating of Iowa’s second congressional district from solidly Democratic to a toss-up. After long-time Representative Dave Loebsack announced he’s retiring, the southeast corner of the state may not stay reliably democratic. That’s according to Central College political scientist Andrew Green. 0415green: 16 “It has to be considered a toss-up district. The fact that…as I…the fact that Congressman Loebsack won re-election on the same

041219 532 On a visit to flood-damaged southwest Iowa today (Friday/yesterday), Vice President Mike Pence said Iowa is in need of immediate disaster assistance. A more-than-13-billion-dollar disaster aid package has stalled in the Senate because of Democratic opposition, over hurricane relief money for Puerto Rico. Pence acknowledged the wave of Democrats coming to Iowa for the Caucuses, who voted against disaster assistance. (0412pence 0:15)) There will be plenty of time for politics when 2020

041219 504 Democratic presidential candidate Kirsten Gillibrand will make her fourth 2019 campaign swing through Iowa, and plans to speak in Crawford County among the 10 events. She will campaign this time in Iowa from April 17-19. On that final day, Gillibrand will speak at 1:15 p.m. at Cronk’s Cafe, in Denison. Gillibrand is a U.S. senator from New York, and her first Iowa event of the year in January was held in Sioux City . The other events will be primarily held in the southwest and central

041219 432 Next week, members of the Iowa House will debate HB 773, which would prevent counties and cities from raising property taxes above a certain level each year. The Sioux City Council will consider a resolution opposing the bill at next Monday’s meeting. At a news conference this morning, City manager Bob Padmore that the bill would result in a two-percent increase limit that would have to cover the fire department and police department, which use most of the city’s property tax dollars.

041219 404 The Sioux City Council will consider a resolution at next Monday’s meeting that will oppose House Bill 773, which would establish budget limitations for counties and cities. City manager Bob Padmore said at a news conference this morning, that the measure would limit the city’s property tax growth to two percent annually. “It’s called a soft cap, which means the council could vote to override it, but then it would be subject to a vote from the people if they choose to override that

041119 532 The state of Iowa would launch a review of whether prescription drug industry middlemen are overcharging the state’s Medicaid program under a proposal approved by the Iowa House of Representatives. Democratic Representative John Forbes proposed the audit after doing an initial review that he says indicates this might be a problem in Iowa. Forbes says the state of Ohio found pharmacy benefit managers overcharged its Medicaid program by more than 200-million dollars. Representative Joel

041119 504 A proposal approved by the Iowa House of Representatives would direct a state agency to investigate whether prescription drug industry middlemen are overcharging Iowa’s Medicaid program. Democratic Representative John Forbes, a pharmacist from Urbandale, says an initial review indicates this might be a problem in Iowa. He says Ohio found these pharmacy benefit managers, or P-B-Ms, overcharged their Medicaid program by more than 200-million dollars. 0411forbes1: 15 “There is a need for

041119 432 A spring snowstorm that pummeled Colorado and Wyoming before sweeping into the Plains is now moving into Great Lakes states, where it's already setting records. Winter storm warnings are posted for northern Wisconsin and Michigan, which could see heavy snow, strong winds, sleet, and freezing rain. A Weather service meteorologist says as much as 25 inches of snow has been reported in northeastern South Dakota, and it will continue to snow into Friday. Iowa and Nebraska transportation

041119 404 Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts isn't happy with a tentative proposal that seeks to reduce property taxes by imposing other taxes. Ricketts criticized the measure Thursday in a news conference with Nebraska realtors and home builders, who oppose parts of the bill that could raise documentary stamp taxes on real estate. Ricketts says he opposes any effort to shift a tax burden from one group to another. He previously joined forces with grocers to oppose provisions that would impose a tax

A blizzard has knocked out electricity to tens of thousands of people in the Northern Plains as a powerful storm system sweeps across the central U.S. 14,000 people and businesses are without power in Minnesota and the same number in South Dakota. Another 8,500 are in the dark in Iowa. the main culprit of Thursday's outages is snow and ice accumulating on power lines, combined with strong winds. Blizzard conditions in the region are expected to linger into early Friday. Lindstrom says crews are