SPM News

An investigation is underway after an explosion at a feed mill in northwest, Iowa yesterday afternoon. No one got hurt at Deluxe Feeds in Sheldon, however the facility was damaged. The facility owned by Kent Feeds produces feed that is shipped to producers in Iowa and three other states. It was undergoing a $37-million-dollar expansion. Authorities say at least two bicyclists participating in RAGBRAI have been injured in a crash. Police in Indianola say a 22-year-old woman and a 57-year-old man

072319 504 The former head of the Iowa department of human services Jerry Foxhoven says he has been discussing his resignation with authorities, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Iowa State Auditor, says the Cedar Rapids Gazette. Governor Kim Reynolds asked Foxhoven to resign last month and failed to give a public explanation. Reynolds has said there were many factors involved in the resignation. In an email to The Gazette, Foxhoven said that, while he has not

072319 432 A coalition of environmental groups is calling on presidential candidates to prioritize drinking water in their policy plans. From lead pipes in schools, nitrate in rural areas and the rising cost of water bills, Americans across the country are struggling to access safe and affordable drinking water. Laura Rubin heads the Healing Our Water-Great Lakes Coalition. She says water should be top of mind for presidential hopefuls. “There is not a single issue in this election that is more

072319 404 The ousted Iowa Department of Human Services Director Jerry Foxhoven says he has discussed his resignation with authorities, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Iowa State Auditor, according to the Cedar Rapids Gazette. Foxhoven says Gov. Kim Reynolds asked him to resign publicly without explaining why last month. In an email to The Gazette late yesterday, Foxhoven said that, while he has not shared details of his departure publicly, he has been

A northwest Iowa woman originally charged with killing her husband has pleaded not guilty to making a false report to authorities. Thirty-five-year-old Becky Hebert, of rural Akron was originally charged with second-degree murder shooting death of 40-year-old Jeremy Hebert in October of 2017. The charged was dismissed just weeks later. Deputies reported that she said numerous times that she'd shot her husband, statements that they later concluded were lies. A northwest Iowa police chief has been

072219 532 Democratic lawmakers in the Iowa House and Senate are calling for an investigation of why Republican Governor Kim Reynolds asked a former state agency director to resign. Former Iowa Department of Human Services Director Jerry Foxhoven told a reporter for Pitchfork — an online magazine — that he got a troubling request from the governor’s staff. Foxhoven said the governor’s staff asked me to do something that he thought was illegal and that he wouldn’t do it, and the staff then said

072219 504 Democratic leaders in the Iowa Legislature are calling for hearings on Gov. Kim Reynolds' refusal to discuss why she demanded the resignation of former Iowa Department of Human Services Director Jerry Foxhoven. Senate and House Government Oversight Committee Democrats today called for hearings on Foxhoven's sudden departure last month and want him to appear to explain what happened. Sen. Tony Bisignano says a 2017 state law requires the reason for demanding a state employee's

072219 432 Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds is being asked to explain her reasons for asking the head of the state department of human services to resign recently. Reynolds refuses to discuss her reasons for asking former DHS Director Jerry Foxhoven to resign. Democratic Sen. Tony Bisignano pays a 2017 state law requires the state to explain the reason for demanding a state employee's resignation. Foxhoven, who managed the state's largest agency that oversees the $5 billion Medicaid program, declined

072219 404 Democratic leaders in the Iowa Legislature called today for government oversight hearings on the reasons for the resignation of former Iowa DHS Director Jerry Foxhoven. Gov. Kim Reynolds refuses to discuss her reasons for asking him to resign. Sen. Tony Bisignano said a 2017 state law requires the reason for demanding a state employee's resignation to be made public. Reynolds has declined to explain why Foxhoven was asked to resign last month. Foxhoven, who managed the state's largest

Some Nebraska and Iowa businesses are still struggling to recover from flooding that damaged their properties or otherwise kept customers away from their doors. The Federal Emergency Management Agency estimated that in Nebraska alone, more than 1,000 businesses were affected by March’s severe weather. Flooding continued into May and June in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa, especially along the Missouri River. In northeast Nebraska's Knox County, for example, officials have been handing out