SPM News

051319 532 Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller has joined forty-three other attorneys general in a lawsuit that alleges twenty of the country’s largest generic drug makers have conspired to artificially inflate and manipulate drug prices. Miller says the suit argues that company executives worked together informally to increase prices up to one thousand percent for more than 100 different types of drugs. 0513miller2: 12 Just a huge range of drugs affecting people who have diabetes, cancer, epilepsy

051319 432 Chinese officials today announced tariffs on $60 billion in U.S. goods in retaliation for the U.S. decision to hike duties on Chinese goods. The US and China have struggled to sign a trade deal and end a widening trade war. Iowa’s 4 th district congressman Steve King says he is disappointed that the US and China couldn’t reach a deal. King says supports President Trump’s efforts to equalized trade with China, but he is concerned about the effects on farmers. King2: 14 “Now we’re into

051319 404 China announced today that it will raise tariffs on $60 billion in U.S. goods in retaliation for the U.S. decision to hike duties on Chinese goods. President Donald Trump raised duties on $200 billion in Chinese products to 25% from 10%. The world’s two largest economies have struggled to sign a trade deal. Iowa’s 4 th district congressman Steve King says he is disappointed that the US and China couldn’t reach a deal and understands the distress of farmers. King says that’s why he is

051019 504 The U.S. House (passed a disaster aid bill) today. Iowa Congressman Abby Finkenauer, a Democrat from Dubuque served as the presiding officer over proceedings this morning. Finkenauer fired back at a tweet by President Trump last night. It called on House Republicans to not vote for a quote “BAD DEMOCRAT Disaster Supplemental Bill that hurts our States, Farmers, and Border Security.” Finkenauer says “The House is getting it done today for Iowa where the President and US Senate played

051019 432 Gov. Kim Reynolds has named a corporate attorney who has contributed money to her campaign to a state commission that nominates candidates for positions on the Iowa Supreme Court and the Iowa Court of Appeals. Reynolds on Friday named Dan Huitink (HOY-tink) to the state judicial nominating commission. Huitink is a lawyer for Vermeer Corp. in Pella and is a former assistant U.S. attorney. Democrats have criticized the change, saying Republicans want to stack the courts in their favor

051019 404 The U.S. House passed a bill today that would provide billions of dollars for rebuilding and recovery for Americans impacted by natural disasters. Iowa Congresswoman, Cindy Axne, a Democrat from West Des Moines, spoke on the House floor during the debate. She says Iowans are doing what they can to recover. Iowa has reopened a flooded stretch of the Iowa Highway 2 approach to a Missouri River bridge that links southwest Iowa to southeast Nebraska. The Iowa Transportation Department

A new report says a nearly $200 million decline in Nebraska's agricultural exports in 2017 was driven by President Donald Trump's threats to impose tariffs on U.S. trading partners. The Nebraska Farm Bureau report attributes the drop to decreases in soybean and corn exports, while beef and pork exports both increased in 2017. The findings come as Trump imposed his latest tariff hike on Chinese goods Friday. A bill to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes in Nebraska has advanced out of a

“Back to Ickey Nickel Trivia, I am your host Big Daddy. Thank you so much for coming out tonight.” Usually, on Wednesday nights at the Ickey Nickel, the focus is on 20 questions over a beer or two. “Which musical film has the opening lyrics ‘I have chills they’re multiplying’?” “I think we won this round.” But, on a recent visit, the owner of the establishment wants the answer to a more challenging topic. “The value went from $480,000 to $700,000 and something.” I am floored they can even say

050919 532 The Iowa Department of Transportation will conduct a public information meeting on May 21 to talk about proposed improvements to the Gordon Drive viaduct in Sioux City. The viaduct was completed in 1937 and expanded to four lanes in 1966. The improvement project stretches from Fairmount Street to Virginia Street. The meeting is set for 5 p.m.-7 p.m. in the Sioux City Convention Center, The Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement non-profit group is holding a meeting in Sioux City

050919 504 FEMA has approved 12 million dollars in payments to people recovering from Iowa floods, and more than 1,800 people have registered with the agency for help. Those are the latest numbers reported today (Thursday) to the governor’s flood recovery board. The FEMA money includes home rebuilding grants and rental assistance. Governor Kim Reynolds says those numbers will climb once the Davenport area is added to the federal disaster declaration. 0509reynolds: 10 “You know, we want to make