A Fort Dodge mother charged with first-degree murder in the death of her infant daughter has followed the baby’s father and pleaded guilty to a lesser charge. Brooke Bickford reports.

Taylor Blaha pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of her infant daughter last November. Following the plea, Blaha requested that she be sentenced immediately, and she was sentenced to 50 years in prison. She must serve 70 percent of that sentence. Blaha’s plea follows a plea deal that the baby’s father, Brandon Thoma  made last month. He will be sentenced on September 1st for child endangerment causing injury or death and the abuse of a corpse.

There are about 800 U-P-S employees in Iowa and they have until August 22nd to vote on the contract the company and the Teamsters union negotiated. The deal would give all U-P-S full and part-time employees in the country a raise and guarantee a wage rate of at least 21 dollars an hour. James Bartlett is a Teamsters union steward. He delivers packages for U-P-S in Milford and Okoboji and is a “yes” vote for the contract. He says most of the people in rural shops like his are in favor of the contract, while some part-timers in larger cities want to hold out for higher wage increases.

Part-time U-P-S employee Adam Spencer has worked at the company’s facility in Hiawatha for nearly two decades. He’s a “yes” vote on the contract, but he’s heard the concerns that part-timers need a bigger raise

Teamsters leadership has recommended the deal. The company has called the five-year contract offer a win-win-win for the union, employees and the company.

(DES MOINES, IA) – Today, the Iowa Economic Development Authority Board approved an award to 3M Company. The company, headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, plans to upgrade its existing facility in Ames.

3M designs, manufactures and distributes a broad range of products within four main business groups: safety and industrial, transportation and electronics, healthcare, and consumer. The company’s Ames location manufactures a variety of abrasives products in the industrial, automotive repair and consumer markets. 3M plans to upgrade the Ames facility with additional equipment to expand capabilities and capacity.

The board awarded the company state tax benefits through the High Quality Jobs program. The project represents a nearly $13.6 capital investment by 3M and is also projected to create 25 jobs incented at a qualifying wage threshold of $30.07 per hour.

DES MOINES – Iowa’s Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg has been elected Chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA).  NLGA is the professional association supporting lieutenant governors in all 50 states and the U.S. territories.  The mission of NLGA is to assist these leaders, and the states and territories themselves, to be as effective and as efficient as possible for constituents.    

“Adam Gregg is a strong advocate for rural Iowa and rural America, and serving as chair of the NLGA will present opportunities for him to further amplify the issues effecting rural communities nationwide,” Governor Reynolds stated.  

“I’m honored to be chosen by my colleagues from across the country to lead the National Lieutenant Governors Association,” said Lt. Governor Gregg. “We will continue to be a leading resource for innovative policy solutions at the state level.” 

“NLGA thrives under leaders that are willing to participate, share, and learn with their peer seconds-in-command from across the country,” said NLGA Director Julia Brossart.  “Lt. Governor Gregg’s peers find him to be an engaged leader willing to share ideas, from rural prosperity to emergency medical services.” 

Lt. Governor Gregg was nominated and approved by the NLGA membership and begins service immediately.  He will serve as Chair of the NLGA until the Summer of 2024. 

The association meets three times a year and is responsible for charting a course of issues and experiences to be available to the nation’s second-highest state officeholders, while working to address issues of mutual concern to all states and territories.     

Lt. Governor Gregg has served in the role of lieutenant governor since May of 2017.  He leads the Governor’s Empower Rural Iowa Initiative, he led the Feeding Iowans Task Force in 2020, and he is a past Chair of the Republican Lieutenant Governors Association. 

Governor Kim Reynolds previously served as Chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association from 2015-16.