Iowa early News Headlines: Friday, April 15th 2016
April 15th, 2016 by Ric Hanson
Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press at 3:40 a.m. CDT
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Members of the Republican-controlled House have advanced a budget bill that would remove state funding for Planned Parenthood, though the proposal is not expected to have enough support in the Democratic-majority Senate. The House Appropriations Committee voted along party lines Thursday for a bill that would remove Medicaid funding for family planning facilities that provide abortions.
ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (AP) — An investigation into dog fighting by authorities in northwestern Illinois has resulted in two arrests and the seizing of 58 dogs. Rock Island Police Chief Jeffrey VenHuizen says 11 federal search warrants were executed Thursday in Rock Island and Davenport as part of a year-long, on-going investigation related to dog-fighting, narcotics and firearms.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Democratic-controlled Senate is attempting to revive a proposal to fund water quality initiatives through a sales and use tax increase, but the plan has little support in the Republican-majority House. A three-member panel of the Senate Ways and Means Committee agreed Thursday to advance a bill that would increase Iowa’s sales and use tax by less than a penny to fund a natural resources and outdoor recreation trust. The trust, established in 2010, has no money in it.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The board that oversees Iowa’s three public universities has indicated it may need to increase tuition for students because the Legislature has proposed limited new dollars for the next budget year. Bruce Rastetter, president of the Iowa Board of Regents, says the board is disappointed by the proposed funding announced Thursday. Rastetter says the board will immediately start discussions regarding tuition increases for the upcoming school year.