SPM News

040319 432 It looks like a controversial fetal homicide bill that defines personhood as starting at conception will not advance in the Iowa legislature this session. This means the proposal won’t remain eligible at the statehouse this year. The bill would further increase criminal penalties for a person who “causes the death of an unborn person” without consent from the mother. Opponents say the proposal could lead to outlawing abortion and could affect birth control and in vitro fertilization.

040219 532 A Senate panel has advanced a constitutional amendment that would restore voting rights to Iowans with felony convictions, but some Republican lawmakers are expressing doubts about its future. The proposal—a priority of Republican Governor Kim Reynolds—overwhelmingly passed the Iowa House last week. It has to get through a Senate committee by the end of this week to remain eligible this year. Republican Senator Dan Dawson of Council Bluffs says he doesn’t know if that will happen

040219 504 A proposed constitutional amendment to automatically restore voting rights to Iowans with felony convictions has an uncertain future in the state Senate key lawmakers are expressing doubts ahead of a deadline for bills to be approved by a second committee. A Senate panel has advanced the proposal, which is a priority of Republican Governor Kim Reynolds. But a key lawmaker says his fellow Senate Republicans are still discussing whether they’ll vote for it in a committee later this week

040219 432 Iowa’s senior U.S. senator is criticizing Democratic lawmakers for voting down a disaster funding bill yesterday. The plan included aid for flooded communities in Iowa and Nebraska, but Senate Democrats say it didn’t offer enough support for hurricane-battered Puerto Rico. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley says the vote puts Democratic presidential hopefuls in a difficult position. President Donald Trump has been opposed to expanding aid for Puerto Rico, where food stamps benefits

040219 404 As negotiations with an Iowa Medicaid insurer breakdown, the state’s senior U.S. Senator says he’s supporting the governor. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley says the privatization of Iowa’s Medicaid system is a state decision. Late Friday, UnitedHealthcare announced it’s leaving Iowa Medicaid. It’s the second company to bail since 2016 when the state stopped running the insurance program for poor and disabled residents. Governor Kim Reynolds says negotiations broke down because the

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers increased releases this week from Gavin’s Point Dam. The Corps is trying to release water before snowpack to the north starts melting. Flood damage in Iowa and Nebraska this spring totaled about three-billion dollars. The Siouxland Salvation Army opened a Disaster Resource Center at their main location near West 14 th and Villa Avenue. The center will help people impacted come and pick up flood-relief items like water, cleaning supplies, food and financial

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will conduct one of its six annual spring public meetings in Sioux City. The meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. April 10 at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, 900 Larsen Park Road. The corps will provide a status of mountain snowpack, plains snowmelt, a forecast for the runoff this year and how operations will meet the authorized purposes for the Missouri River's reservoir system. A Nebraska City meeting will be at 5 p.m. on April 11th at the Fox Center

040119 504 A new report says a March survey of business supply managers is signaling solid economic growth over the next three to six months for nine Midwest and Plains states. The report issued Monday says the Mid-America Business Conditions Index hit its highest level since August, 58.2, compared with 57.9 in February. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says even stronger growth was hampered by international trade disputes and the global economic slowdown.

040119 404 Representatives from FEMA started going door-to-door in Sioux City for residents impacted by flooding. Crews already spent time in Hornick, Iowa. The team is now targeting areas with damage in Sioux City, including northern Indian Hills, Morningside, the lower west side, and Riverside. They also set up an office at the city hall in Moville. But, Kevin Wallace from FEMA says there might be other homes out there with damage. TRT: 10 (could cut the sot shorter for time. “It is imperative

Three-thousand people gathered for a cultural fair in Sioux City on Sunday. The Faces of Siouxland Multicultural Fair served up a melting pot of ideas, food and entertainment at the Sioux City Convention Center. A chance for people of all backgrounds and ages to join together, including 10-year-old Rain and her five-year-old friend Anna. “Everyone and their nationalities and countries come together,” said Rain. “There’s a lot of things to do. There’s a lot of good things,” said Anna. “What