Iowa
Opinion: Iowa Republicans are grabbing more power
A detailed-up view reveals intricate particulars on the Iowa Capitol constructing in Des Moines on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019. (Andy Abeyta/The Gazette)
Eight weeks into this 12 months’s legislative session, we see one overarching theme rising underneath the Golden Dome: there’s an influence seize underway.
This course of has been in progress for the previous few years, however is now transferring at warp pace. And it’s all targeted on one purpose: locking in long-term Republican management over Iowa. From my seat within the Senate, I depend six fronts on which Republican are amassing and consolidating management:
Half One: Voting. Arguably, this began with the voting regulation “reforms” within the wake of the 2020 election — an election which noticed report turnout in Iowa, and which went … Republican. They received, and there was no fraud to talk of. Then why did they pursue this? They did it to lock in these positive factors and make it more durable for many who oppose them to vote in subsequent elections. For many who don’t work common hours, younger folks, and a few aged, most of whom are inclined to vote Democratic and are much less doubtless to have the ability to vote on Election Day, the modifications made it tougher to vote. The next 12 months, they doubled down. And it’s working — ask those that tried to vote absentee and whose requests — or ballots — arrived too late.
Half Two: The Judiciary. Over the previous 4 years, Republican laws has shifted the steadiness on Iowa’s non-partisan, merit-based judicial nominating commissions, giving extra energy to the celebration in energy. First, they targeted on the nominating fee for the Supreme Courtroom and Appeals Courtroom. This 12 months, the goal is District Courts, which have extra judges and require completely different experience. In my flooring speech opposing the change, I requested what wanted to be fastened — what was damaged? Nothing, besides that the nominating commissions had been headed by an skilled District Courtroom decide and had been nonpartisan. The brand new regulation — if it passes the Home as effectively — will take away the decide from nominating commissions and hand the governor’s celebration a majority.
Half Three: The Lawyer Basic’s Workplace. Keep in mind when the governor stated she wished “her” AG? The lawyer common is meant to work for all Iowans — she will not be the governor’s private lawyer. Now, laws is within the works that may emphasize the AG’s authority over legal circumstances, anyplace within the state, and no matter whether or not the native prosecutor needs the AG concerned. One other provision would give her sole authority over election-related points. And, the AG can be requesting greater than $900,000 in new funding to rent workers to pursue circumstances in opposition to President Joe Biden’s administration, whereas her predecessor managed simply advantageous with the price range he had.
Half 4: Stifle native management. Residence rule is enshrined within the Iowa Structure, however you’d hardly acknowledge it now. Over the previous six years, the legislature has taken an ax to it, preempting and stifling native management dozens of occasions. They’re doing this for a lot the identical motive as they put a decent rein on voting rights: Native authorities is the place experimentation takes place — together with concepts championed by progressive voters — and the place folks have an actual voice. Rolling again native management additionally rolls again residents’ voices.
Half 5: Public Training. We have now witnessed a number of makes an attempt to restrict what academics and professors are allowed to show, and to vilify academics and librarians. Republicans have sown mistrust, unfold lies and now, whether or not you name them vouchers or Training Financial savings Accounts, they’re shifting public moneys to largely non secular personal colleges, with subsequent to no accountability. These personal establishments owe their monetary windfall to Republican largesse (together with taxpayer contributions from these in 41 counties the place there is no such thing as a personal college).
Half Six: The Governor. That is essentially the most audacious energy seize of all, within the type of an enormous 1,600-page authorities reorganization invoice. Whereas the acknowledged intention of that invoice — to consolidate, discover efficiencies and get monetary savings — sounds good, that’s not what a lot of it does. It will put many extra officers underneath the purview of the governor — serving “on the pleasure of the governor.” Companies that at the moment profit from independence and having consultants on the helm — together with the buyer advocate, community-based corrections, those that cope with staff’ compensation, and extra — will now not be impartial. Nor, if she has her means with the College for the Blind, will Iowans be assured of experience. Serving on the pleasure of the governor signifies that if an appointee expresses an opinion that’s not consistent with the governor’s, they are going to be proven the door. Please inform your legislators to vote “no” on this consolidation invoice.
This isn’t the one imaginative and prescient for Iowa. In case you take a look at the forward-looking payments Democrats have filed, you see a wholly completely different imaginative and prescient — one that’s inclusive, offers individuals who want it a hand up, values public schooling and academics, will increase Medicaid reimbursement charges, protects staff, and would once more make Iowa a welcoming state. We will have that — however it is going to be made a lot, a lot more durable by this energy seize that’s going down within the blink of a watch.
Democratic state Sen. Janice Weiner represents District 45.
Opinion content material represents the point of view of the creator or The Gazette editorial board. You may be part of the dialog by submitting a letter to the editor or visitor column or by suggesting a subject for an editorial to editorial@thegazette.com
Iowa
Iowa high school football computer rankings (10/10/2024)
Week 6 of the 2024 Iowa high school football season has wrapped up, and High School on SI is continuing its weekly computer rankings for the season.
The Dowling Maroons kept their top five placing in this week’s 5A Iowa computer rankings after a thrilling 41-35 victory over Ankeny Centennial. They face a strong Urbandale team on Friday, to keep their momentum going.
The top of the 5A computer rankings stay the same this week as the Bettendorf Bulldogs take home another win, this time defeating Kennedy 33-14. The Bulldogs look forward to Friday, where they will travel to Davenport Central in hopes to hold their place in the standings.
SBLive’s formula was created using its linear algebra-based ranking algorithm inspired by the Colley Bias-Free Ranking Method. Colley’s Method was created by Wes Colley, Ph.D., an astrophysicist at the University of Alabama at Huntsville. He devised his algorithm to help address the subjectivity and controversy regarding BCS college football selections in the 1990s and early 2000s, using a method that used no subjective variables.
- FAQ: SBLive High School Football Computer Rankings
Here are SBLive’s latest Iowa football computer rankings, as of Oct. 7, 2024:
IOWA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COMPUTER RANKINGS
CLASS 5A | CLASS 4A
CLASS 3A | CLASS 2A
CLASS 1A | CLASS A
CLASS 8 MAN
DOWNLOAD THE SBLIVE APP
To get live updates on your phone — as well as follow your favorite teams and top games — you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App | Download Android App
— Ben Dagg | @sblivesports
Iowa
Grinnell window manufacturer announces plans to lay off 152 workers in November
JELD-WEN, a manufacturer of windows and doors in Grinnell, has announced it will be laying off 152 workers effective Nov. 7.
The announcement was made on Iowa’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) site.
The company, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, was founded in 1960 and has 18,000 employees, with operating facilities in 16 countries in North America and Europe with 2023 sales of $4.3 billion, according to the company’s website.
JELD-WEN did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.
Earlier this year, JELD-WEN announced the closing of its Hawkins, Wisconsin facility, affecting 338 employees, and in Vista, California, resulting in the loss of 110 jobs.
Iowa
Iowa Coach Fires Brutal Quote at Players Leaving Via Transfer
The Iowa Hawkeyes lost two players from their football team this week.
Both running back Leshon Williams and wide receiver Kaleb Brown have announced that they will redshirt for the rest of the season and enter the transfer portal at the end of the year.
Despite the two players opting to leave the program, it hasn’t phased head coach Kirk Ferentz. He isn’t worried about the decisions that they made at all.
When asked about Williams and Brown transferring, Ferentz offered a short and brutal quote.
“Not to be callous, but if a player isn’t playing, you don’t lose much.”
Williams had been dealing with an injury throughout the season thus far. Before the injury, he had shown flashes of being a player that could end up making an impact. Unfortunately, those flashes were never able to come to light on the field.
As for Brown, there were big plans for him coming into the season. But, he was suspended for the first game of the year and was never able to earn his role back.
Clearly, Ferentz is not worried about how his team will respond to the news. Basically, he doesn’t think the losses of them will impact the team at all.
Ferentz isn’t necessarily wrong with what he stated. Neither player had a role that will change how the team has been operating. However, it was the way he said it that was a bit out of line.
Regardless of the role that they players had, handling the situation with a bit more grace would have been a better look.
All of that being said, Iowa is not a program that needs to be graceful necessarily. The Hawkeyes want to win football games and neither Williams or Brown was contributing to that goal so far this year.
Looking ahead to the future, we wish the best to both Williams and Brown. Hopefully, they find success in their future endeavors.
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