Democrats in the Iowa Senate are trying a second time to pass legislation that would give Iowa companies an advantage in selling goods and services to state government. Under their bill, if an out-of-state company is the lowest bidder, Iowa companies with bids just a bit higher would be given a chance to match the low bid and win the contract. Senator Liz Mathis, a Democrat from Robbins, is the bill’s chief sponsor. “The goal of the bill is to certainly focus on small businesses,” she says, “and to make sure that Iowa businesses are given a fair crack at state contracts.”

This new advantage for Iowa businesses would not apply on huge state government projects, like a new prison. It would apply any time the state buys under half a million dollars worth of goods or services on contract. An Iowa business within 10-thousand dollars or five percent of the winning bid from an out-of-state competitor could get the sale if the Iowa business lowers its price and matches the low bid. “And those bids are usually surrounding things like office supplies, ice machines, computers,” Mathis says. Similar legislation passed the Senate last year, but was never considered in the Republican-led House.

Republicans object to the concept, arguing Iowa taxpayers would wind up paying more to run state government because out-of-state companies with low-cost products would quit bidding for Iowa government contracts.

(Radio Iowa)

w/ Ric Hanson

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (1.3MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Officials with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources say 88 counties notified the DNR last month, that they plan to evaluate construction permit applications and proposed locations for animal confinements by using the master matrix. Animal producers in these counties must meet higher standards than other confinement producers who also need a construction permit. They must earn points on the master matrix by choosing a site and using practices that reduce impacts on air, water and the community.

With 11 exceptions, all counties will use the matrix during the next 12 months. None of the 11 counties who opted not to use the matrix are in western or southwest Iowa.  Counties that adopt the master matrix can provide more input to producers on site selection, the proposed structures and proposed facility management. Participating counties can also join in DNR visits to a proposed confinement site.

While all counties may submit comments to the DNR during the review process for permit applications, counties that adopt the master matrix can also appeal approval of a preliminary permit to the Environmental Protection Commission. The deadline for enrolling in the program is Jan. 31st of each year. Producers and citizens can obtain more information and view a map of participating counties by looking for preconstruction requirements for permitted confinements at www.iowadnr.gov/afo.

The matrix affects only producers who must get a construction permit for a confinement. Generally, these include proposed construction, expansion or modification of confinement feeding operations with more than 2,500 finishing hogs, 1,000 beef cattle or 715 mature dairy cows.

SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – A 23-year-old Sioux City man has been given 75 years in prison for murder and attempted murder. James Kroll Jr. had pleaded guilty to the charges last month. Kroll was sentenced on Thursday in Woodbury County District Court.  Authorities say Kroll used a crowbar to beat 54-year-old Jeffrey Moravek to death and seriously injure 54-year-old Mary Tope after breaking into Tope’s home in June.

Police say Tope’s daughter, Emily, was in the house at the time and identified Kroll, her former boyfriend. Court papers say Kroll was distraught that their relationship had ended. She was not injured.

The community of Guthrie Center, with a population of just over 1,560 people (according to the latest numbers), will swell by about 32-percent at the end of July, when two events converge upon the city. According to the Guthrie Center Times, officials learned late last month, that RAGBRAI, with its estimated 10-thousand riders, will be rolling through the town situated half-way between Harlan and Perry, on July 22nd. Less than 4 days later, Guthrie Center will host the annual two-day River Ruckus country music festival, which will bring more than 30,000 people to the community.Last year’s Ruckus brought more than 20,000 people to town.

The paper reports Ruckus promoter Grant Sheeder had originally scheduled to have his 60-foot concert stage trucked into town to begin construction on Monday of the concert week. However, learning RAGBRAI would clog all roads through town, he recently rescheduled the trucks’ arrival time for Sunday, July 21st, instead.

The acts for the River Ruckus, which features some of the biggest names in country music include:
Friday, July 26: Casey Donahew Band, Chris Cagle, and Big and Rich.
Saturday, July 27: Granger Smith, Josh Thompson, Gretchen Wilson, and Hank Williams, Jr.

A threat from G-O-P strategist Karl Rove makes it more likely rather than less likely that Republican Congressman Steve King will run for the U.S. Senate. Rove has vowed to spend millions in primaries to defeat ultra-conservative candidates, as Rove contends candidates like King cannot win a General Election. King says no one is going to bully him out of running for the U.S. Senate. “This is a decision for Iowans, not someone who happens to have a checkbook,” King told Radio Iowa. King sent an email to supporters on Thursday, saying he was “under attack” from a “crusade” led by “Karl Rove and his army.”

King asked his own supporters to make a campaign donation, to “show Rove he cannot decide (King’s) political future.”  “We’re going to have to have a battle in the court of public opinion until it’s clear that Iowans will make the decision on their nominee for the United States Senate and that will set a precedent for the rest of the country,” King said. “It’s that important.” King isn’t yet ready to officially declare himself a candidate for the Senate, however.

“It’s gotten closer each day, but I wouldn’t want to imply that the decision is made. It’s not,” King said. “It will be made by a thorough analysis of county-by-county, and all of the resources necessary to run a race of this magnitude.” King spoke with Radio Iowa by phone late Thursday afternoon. He was at Camden Yard in Baltimore, attending a Heritage Foundation retreat. Steve Forbes, the two-time presidential candidate, was the keynote speaker.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Voter fraud cases against several Iowans could be in trouble if a district court judge rules Iowa’s voter registration form is illegal. The attorney for a Council Bluffs man charged with election misconduct says the voter registration form has smaller type at the bottom where the person signing certifies citizenship. State law requires the print on the form to be uniform throughout.

Attorney David Richter says Pottawattamie County prosecutors stipulated at a hearing Monday that the type differs. He expects a judge to find the form illegal. If the judge believes that justifies dismissal of charges against Richter’s client, Albert Harte-Maxwell, prosecution in similar cases could be in trouble. Five other people are charged with election misconduct for registering to vote without U.S. citizenship, a felony in Iowa.

Authorities in Adams County responding to a dispute call in Corning Thursday, arrested two people on assault charges. Taken into custody at the residence in the 1000 block of 6th Street, was  53-year old Denny Moore and 56-year old Luann Stevenson, both of Corning. Moore and Stevenson were charged with Domestic Assault, a Simple Misdemeanor. The pair were transported to the Adams County Jail, where they were being held pending appearance before the magistrate. Their bonds were set at $300 each.