Pay raises on table for Iowa judges and officials
A draft salary package would raise pay for top statewide officials and judges starting next July, with a 3 percent boost for rank and file state employees. The plan, still under discussion, would increase salaries across the judiciary from Supreme Court justices to magistrates and adjust other top state officers’ pay bands.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Rod Boshart
Gazette
Des Moines
Iowa
Senate
Mike Gronstal
Council Bluffs
Gronstal
Chet Culver
Court of Appeals
Eral Assembly
State and Agriculture
Iowa Supreme Court
Supreme Court
Senate Approves River Enhancement Funds in Iowa
The Senate backed extending the Community Attractions and Tourism program for three years and creating a river and lake development initiative. The plan allocates 12 million dollars annually for CAT through 2013, with a 2 to 8 million dollar start for a river enhancement effort using one time stimulus funds. Cedar Rapids eyes 30 million state support for a downtown riverfront package including river walk and amphitheater as part of a potential 400 million investment.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Rod Boshart
Gazette
Des Moines
Senate
Cedar Rapids
Vision Iowa Board
Iowa
Values Fund
Bob Dvorsky
D-Coralville
Matt McCoy
Cedar River
Rod
Boshart
Gazcomm
Capitol Digest outlines Iowa legislative action of interest
Senate rejected House changes to a health care reform bill and set a conference committee to resolve differences on House File 2539. It notes election-law changes extending school board terms to four years, biennial elections from Sept 2009, and HF 2620 limiting annual special election dates. The House and Senate also approved a $7.4 million increase to the Justice Systems budget, with funded items across corrections, food, health facility, and trooper costs.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
House
Lisa Heddens
Ames
Mark Smith
Marshalltown
Ako Abdul-Samad
Des Moines
Linda Upmeyer
Garner
Dave Heaton
Mount Pleasant
Senate
Jack Hatch
Joe Bolkcom
Iowa City
Amanda Ragan
Mason City
Jim Seymour
Woodbine
David Johnson
Ochevedan
Chet Culver
Iowa
Michael Mauro
More Justice
Justice Systems
Anamosa State Penitentiary
Cedar Rapids
Concealed weapons showdown looms in Iowa legislature
Des Moines report on Rep. Clel Bandler’s plan to amend the appropriations bill with House File 2613 to replace May issue with shall issue concealed carry permits. The measure seeks background checks training and testing with 40 sponsors, while critics warn of sheriff authority loss and risk of gun violence. Local sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek cautions that arming more residents could worsen safety.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
James Q. Lynch
Gazette Des Moines
Clel Bandler
Greenfield
House
House Public Safety Committee
Iowa
Bandler
NRA
Dence
Johnson County
Lonny Pulkrabek
Baudler
Pulkrabek
Gift card ban resurfaces in budget bill
Iowa lawmakers revive a gift card ban proposal amid a broad 2009 budget draft. Retailers fear escheat rules and penalties for inadvertent code violations, while supporters call it a major consumer protection if sent to Governor Culver.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Roger Stewart
Preston
Henter
Iowa
Joe Bolkcom
Iowa City
Chet Culver
Acting bear that killed trainer at Big Bear center
A grizzly named Rocky attacked trainer Stephan Miller during a session at Predators in Action in Big Bear Lake California. Pepper spray stopped the bear and no other injuries were reported. Agencies probe incident with Fish and Game and OSHA involved.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Associated Press
Dave Phelps
Rocky
Predators In Action
Jones files for divorce from Al Reynolds after lavish wedding
Star Jones filed for divorce in New York Supreme Court on March 26 seeking dissolution of her marriage to banker Al Reynolds. Records are sealed. A spokesperson for SHADOW PR confirmed the move. Jones told Entertainment Tonight she had earlier filed in court.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Associated Press
Star Jones
al Reynolds
New York Supreme Court
Manhattan
Entertainment Tonight
Shadow PR
Jones
Ebert Misses Ebertfest After Hip Injury
Roger Ebert, 65, will skip the 10th annual Ebertfest in Champaign due to a hip fracture and recovery from recent cancer surgeries. He writes on the Chicago Sun Times site that doctors advise staying in hospital in Chicago to recover before any travel. Ebert has reviewed films for the Sun Times for over four decades.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Associated Press
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun- Times
Chicago
Champaign
Ill
Ebert
Sun-Times
Iowa House approves bill to increase transparency in student debt
The Iowa House backed HF 2690 96 0 to shed light on college aid and borrowing while not increasing funds for aid. The measure requires open meetings for Iowa Student Loan records annual reviews of the student loan market and codes of conduct for financial aid offices. It aims to help students and families access clearer information and curb improper lender influence.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
de Gazertie Des Moines
Iowa House
Iowa
Vicki Lensing
City
House
Tom Courtney
Burlington
Senate
Lensing
Financial Aid
Attorney General
james. lynch@gates
Iowa Senate approves 988 million education fund package
The Iowa Senate approved a 988 million education budget for 2009 by a 34 to 12 vote. It adds 4 million for UNI STEM initiatives, 2.5 million more for All Iowa Opportunity Scholarships reaching 4 million, and 1.9 million for the senior plus program to expand college credit for high school students. Additional funding boosts for community colleges and regent university budgets are noted. The plan returns to the House with changes and includes a veto in part over library access rules for minors.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Rod Boshart
Gazette Des Moines
Senate
Chet Culver
Culver
University of Northern Iowa
Frank Wood
D-Eldridge
Also Mentioned on This Page
Jo Oldson
D-Des Moines
House Appropriations Committee
Rod.boshart
Gazcomm.com
Sen
Coralville
Capitol Digest
the Gazette
James. Lynch
General Assembly
Jim Henter
Iowa Retail Federation
Will Ferrell
Ebert To Miss Festival
Clown City
Regent
State Board of Regents
University of Iowa
Shirley MacLaine
Barbra Streisand
Ehevanse
Richard Sterban
Oak Ridge Boys
Doug Clifford
Rob Hyman
The
Hooters
Eric Bogosian
Michael O'Keefe
Roseanne
Henne Senees
David J
Love and Rockets
Bauhaus
Billy Gould
Faith No More
Cedric the Entertainer
Bent
Djimon Hounsou
Amistad
Hole
Aaron Comess
Melinda Clarke
Bascusaakdonteainic
Eric Balfour
Kelly Clarkson
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