(Radio Iowa) — State officials say if there is a prolonged shutdown of federal agencies like the U-S-D-A, they may shore up state programs run in conjunction with the federal government. Governor Kim Reynolds spoke today (Thursday) at a statehouse forum organized by The Associated Press. “I’m proud of the fact we do things differently here in Iowa. I think Iowans don’t like what they see happening out in Washington, D.C.,” Reynolds said. “…They like the fact that, for the most part, two parties are able to work together to put Iowans first.”

Reynolds told reporters her budget director checks every day with state agencies that may be impacted by a federal government shutdown to ensure “essential services” are provided to Iowans. “Right now, we’re in pretty good shape. We’re hoping that they can get something done,” Reynolds said. “Who knows, right now, what that looks like, but we’ll continue to monitor it.” Legislative leaders say there’s no need for action now, but they’ll re-evaluate if the the federal government shutdown lasts for months.

House Speaker Linda Upmeyer, a Republican from Clear Lake, says the election’s over, it’s time to get to work.  “I don’t want to speculate too far into the future,” Upmeyer told reporters at today’s AP forum, “but we need people to get busy and solve their problems, find solutions, compromise and get this job done.” House Democratic Leader Todd Prichard of Charles City says if the state eventually has to “fill voids” in federal spending, that may create budget headaches.  “I think the situation in DC shows the importance of Iowa having sound budgeting principles and practices and being in a position where we can deal with the unexpected,” Prichard told reporters at the AP forum,” whether it’s a federal shutdown (or) whether it’s a sudden downturn in the economy.”

The food stamp program is a joint state-federal program, run through the U-S-D-A, which is shuttered. The U-S Ag Secretary has said there’s enough money to provide benefits in February if the shutdown continues. Janet Petersen of Des Moines, the Democratic leader in the Iowa Senate, says if the shutdown lasts longer, state officials need to act. “I can’t imagine that we wouldn’t assure Iowans that we will make sure they can put food on the table if things in DC are still going horribly wrong,” Petersen says. “Iowans deserve to know that they’ll be able to feed their families.”

The State of Iowa ended the last budgeting year with a surplus. Estimates indicate there’s a 200-million dollar cushion in the current year’s state budget. That’s in addition to the state’s economic emergency funds.

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans on Thursday criticized a fellow GOP lawmaker for making what they said were “racist” comments. Rep. Steve King of Iowa was quoted in The New York Times saying, “White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization — how did that language become offensive?”

The comment drew a denunciation from a member of House Republican leadership. Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, the No. 3 Republican, said King’s remarks were “abhorrent and racist and should have no place in our national discourse.” Another Republican, Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan, tweeted, “This is an embrace of racism, and it has no place in Congress or anywhere.”

King later issued a statement saying he is neither a white nationalist nor a white supremacist. “I reject those labels and the evil ideology that they define. Further, I condemn anyone that supports this evil and bigoted ideology which saw in its ultimate expression the systematic murder of 6 million innocent Jewish lives,” he said. “Under any fair political definition, I am simply a Nationalist.”

It’s not the first time some Republicans have denounced King, nor the first time King has said his intent is to defend “Western civilization.” “We can’t restore our civilization with somebody else’s babies,” he tweeted in 2017. Then he doubled down on CNN, telling the network, “I’d like to see an America that’s just so homogeneous that we look a lot the same.”

King’s standing in the Republican Party was imperiled even before his latest remarks. Just ahead of last year’s midterm elections, the chairman of the House GOP’s campaign arm issued an extraordinary public denunciation of him. “Congressman Steve King’s recent comments, actions, and retweets are completely inappropriate,” tweeted Ohio Rep. Steve Stivers, then the chairman of the National Republican Campaign Committee. “We must stand up against white supremacy and hate in all forms, and I strongly condemn this behavior.”

Despite the criticism, King narrowly won re-election in November. But he’s already facing a challenge from within his own party in the next election. Randy Feenstra, a Republican state senator, announced Wednesday that he plans to run against King in 2020. King has represented the district since 2013.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police in Des Moines are investigating the death of a man at a homeless camp on the city’s north side. Police say in a news release that officers responded to the camp Thursday morning for a report of a dead person and found the man’s body. The man’s name has not been released.

Police say the circumstances surrounding the death are suspicion, and initial investigation has led officers to suspect the man may have been hit by a vehicle in a hit-and-run incident late Tuesday afternoon near the scene.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa GOP legislative leaders say they plan to go into the 2019 session challenging the way things are done in state government several issues including property taxes and picking judges. Senate Republican leader Jack Whitver said Thursday at a legislative forum hosted by The Associated Press that Iowans expressed confidence in his party by returning it to power again and that means keeping campaign promises.

One of those promises is a thorough review of property taxes during the session which starts Monday. Gov. Kim Reynolds said at the forum she’s interested in looking at what lawmakers come up with. As a former county treasurer she said she heard for years complaints from business owners and individuals about rising property taxes.

Senate Democatic Leader Janet Petersen says her concern is that local governments including counties, cities and schools aren’t harmed in the process by taking away funding they need.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Two Iowa workplace safety inspectors were fired Tuesday in what they are calling retaliation for blowing the whistle on a hostile environment inside their agency. The firings of Jason Garmoe and Travis Stein are the latest turmoil at the Division of Labor, which has been rocked by recent personnel turnover and accusations of cronyism and harassment. The agency accused both men of misconduct that included leaving a state vehicle running for two hours while conducting an inspection — an allegation they call false.

Garmoe and Stein said in interviews with The Associated Press that they were singled out for harsh treatment after providing critical information about agency leaders to state investigators. Both said they feared they would lose their jobs for doing so but were assured that they would be protected. Labor Commissioner Michael Mauro declined comment.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Sentencing has been delayed for a man who operated a western Iowa dog business where carcasses and dozens of malnourished dogs were found. The Daily Nonpareil reports that a judge delayed the sentencing scheduled Wednesday for Dustin Young so authorities could complete a pre-sentence report. The new date: Feb. 13th. Pottawattamie County court records say Young pleaded guilty to 12 counts of animal neglect after prosecutors dismissed 28 more. The dogs and carcasses were discovered in May at Young Gunz Kennel , about 2 miles southeast of Hancock.

Officials said the inside of the business was covered in animal urine and feces, and there was no food or water for the dogs.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Appeals Court has overturned the second murder conviction of a man who’s spent more than 10 years in prison. Juries have twice found Kenneth Heard guilty of murder for fatally shooting of 26-year-old Joshua Hutchinson in December 2007. The Des Moines Register reports that the court ruled Wednesday that Heard’s constitutional right to compel witnesses to testify was violated. The appellate court says the trial court failed to determine the “extent and validity” of one witness’s assertion of his Fifth Amendment privilege against incriminating himself.

The witness testified for the prosecution at Heard’s first trial but asserted his Fifth Amendment right at the time of his deposition before the second trial. Heard has accused that witness of fatally shooting Hutchinson. Heard’s first first-degree murder conviction in the case was overturned after he claimed his lawyers were ineffective. It’s unclear whether prosecutors will seek a third trial.