Iowa

National Democratic group boosts 7 ‘spotlight’ candidates in Iowa House and Senate races

Published

1 week ago

June 18, 2024

National Democratic group boosts 7 ‘spotlight’ candidates in Iowa House and Senate races

A national Democratic group is boosting seven candidates for the Iowa House and Senate as the party aims to flip Republican-held seats this November and begin to climb out of the minority.

The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, an arm of the national Democratic Party dedicated to electing Democrats to statehouses around the country, named the seven Iowa “spotlight” candidates Tuesday. They are:

Rep. Josh Turek, D-Council Bluffs, who is running for a second term in House District 20.
Heather Sievers, who is challenging Rep. Bill Gustoff, R-Des Moines, in House District 40.
Tiara Mays-Sims, who is challenging Rep. Eddie Andrews, R-Johnston, in House District 43.
Aime Wichtendahl, who is running for House District 80, an open seat in Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha and Robins.
Matt Blake, who is challenging Sen. Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale, in Senate District 22.
Sen. Eric Giddens, D-Cedar Falls, who is running for reelection in Senate District 38.
Nannette Griffin, who is challenging Sen. Jeff Reichman, R-Montrose, in Senate District 50.

The news comes one day after the DLCC announced a plan to spend $10 million nationwide as part of its “Summer of the States” campaign. It’s not clear how much money the group could spend in Iowa.

Democrats are in the minority in the Iowa House, holding 36 seats to Republicans’ 64. And Republicans enjoy a supermajority in the Iowa Senate, with 34 seats to Democrats’ 16.

More: Iowa Democrats urge focus on education, abortion as they seek wins in November elections

House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, is the top Democrat in the Iowa House and a member of the DLCC board.

She said the national party’s decision to highlight candidates in Iowa “shows that what we’ve been saying for a while is true, which is that Iowa is a purple state.”

She pointed to the fact that Iowa’s 1st and 3rd congressional districts, which are held by Republican U.S. Reps. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn, are on national Democrats’ list of top congressional seats to flip this year.

“It just goes to show you that the message that we’ve been giving for a long time, which is don’t give up on Iowa, has broken through,” she said. “And that some national folks are looking at Iowa and saying, ‘OK, this place can come back to purple. This place can come back into balance. Let’s get engaged and see what we can do.’”

Konfrst said it will take time for Democrats to win back majorities in the Iowa House and Senate, but argued the national party can see “we’re doing really good work to rebuild.”

“The DLCC knows that we’re not going to flip the Iowa House this year or the Senate,” she said. “But they also know that you don’t get there unless you start investing now. And so that’s why it really means a lot that they’re here and they’ve picked some great candidates.”

In a news release the DLCC said Republican majorities in the Iowa House and Senate “has posed grave threats to Iowans’ fundamental freedoms.”

The group highlighted Iowa Republican policies to restrict abortion, including a bill that passed the Iowa House to raise penalties for ending someone’s pregnancy without their consent.

Democrats and Senate Republicans said the legislation could endanger access to in vitro fertilization because it would have defined an “unborn person” as beginning at fertilization. The bill did not become law.

More: IVF fears scuttle Iowa bill raising penalty for ending pregnancy without consent

“Iowa Republicans made national headlines this year for their egregious threats to reproductive rights, and Democrats have the candidates this year to fight back and win targeted races,” DLCC President Heather Williams said in a statement. “The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee is proud to announce our Spotlight candidates in Iowa, whose fierce support of fundamental freedoms and democracy will be instrumental for combatting the GOP agenda.”

Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.

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Iowa

Saints win against Iowa Cubs in first game of season’s second half

Published

4 hours ago

June 26, 2024

Press Room

Saints win against Iowa Cubs in first game of season’s second half

The Saints beat the Iowa Cubs 6-5 on the road Tuesday in Des Moines.

The Saints answered the Cubs’ two-run third inning with three runs in the 4th. When Iowa added three in the fifth, the Saints added another three in the 6th, ending the game’s scoring early.

Tuesday’s games began the second half of the season, with the Saints standing fifth in the Triple-A International league.

They meet Iowa for game two of the series on Wednesday at 12:08 p.m.

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Iowa

Iowa DOT shuts down stretches of I-680, I-29 ahead of anticipated flooding

Published

12 hours ago

June 26, 2024

Press Room

Iowa DOT shuts down stretches of I-680, I-29 ahead of anticipated flooding

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IOWA. (WOWT) – After more than a day of anticipation, officials with the Iowa Department of Transportation confirmed to 6 on Your Side late Tuesday Night that it would be shutting down portions of Interstates 680 and 29 effective at midnight Wednesday.

The closures are due to to rising water on the Missouri River.

The affected stretch of I-29 is from the 25th Street interchange on the north edge of Council Bluffs to the I-29/I-880 interchange.

The I-680 stretch is from the Nebraska border to the I-29/I-680 interchange near Crescent.

A detour was set to be posted near Loveland to take traffic from the I-29/I-880 interchange east to the I-80/I-880 interchange, then southwest on I-80 into Council Bluffs.

Monday night, Iowa DOT’s Austin Yates told 6 News that there was anticipation that the interstate would reopen sometime during the weekend.

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Iowa

New testing required for dairy cattle participating in Iowa fairs

Published

19 hours ago

June 25, 2024

Press Room

New testing required for dairy cattle participating in Iowa fairs

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – On Tuesday, the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture announced new testing requirements for dairy cattle participating in Iowa fairs and exhibitions.

Secretary Mike Naig announced the new requirements as a way to minimize the potential spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). HPAI (also known as Bird Flu) has hit numerous dairy cattle in the state. The Secretary says the state should expect to see new positive cases announced as the increased testing takes place.

“The Department is issuing a statewide order effective July 1 that will require additional tests for HPAI prior to dairy cattle participating at our state’s many fairs and exhibitions,” said Secretary Naig. “We want to strike a balance between allowing our 4-H, FFA, and dairy exhibitors the opportunity to show their animals, while also requiring additional testing to protect our livestock and minimize the potential spread of the virus,” said Secretary Naig.

To date, the state has reported 11 positive cases of HPAI within dairy herds in Iowa. 9 of those cases have been detected in Sioux County. Iowa has had three poultry cases thus far in 2024, including one case in a commercial chicken layer in Sioux County and two cases in commercial turkey flocks.

“Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza isn’t just a poultry issue or a dairy issue, it’s an issue for all of agriculture. Our approach is reflective of our significant livestock industry, and I want to thank our farmers who have stepped up to help contribute to the broader understanding, visibility and knowledge of this virus,” said Secretary Naig. “We should expect additional challenges ahead and as the situation continues to evolve, we will also continue to evaluate our response. We continue to support our farmers through the joint state and federal response team who are navigating this evolving and unpredictable situation.”

Suspected signs of HPAI in poultry include:

Sudden increase in bird deaths without any clinical signs
Lethargy and/or lack of energy and appetite
Decrease in egg production
Soft, thin-shelled and/or misshapen eggs
Swelling of the head, eyelids, comb, wattles, and hocks
Purple/blue discoloration of the wattles, comb, and legs
Difficulty breathing
Coughing, sneezing, and/or nasal discharge (runny nose)
Stumbling and/or falling down
Diarrhea

Suspected signs of HPAI in dairy cows include:

Decrease in food consumption with a simultaneous decrease in rumination
Clear nasal discharge
Drop in milk production
Tacky or loose feces
Lethargy
Dehydration
Fever
Thicker, concentrated, colostrum-like milk

Officials say that it is safe to enjoy poultry products. Consumers should utilize the proper handling and cooking of eggs and poultry products, including cooking to an internal temperature of 165˚F.

There is no concern about the safety of pasteurized milk or dairy products. Pasteurization has continually proven to successfully inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk.

If dairy producers suspect cases of HPAI, they should contact their herd veterinarian immediately. Possible cases must also be reported to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship at (515) 281-5305.

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