Iowa Democratic Party leaders say hard work and message discipline will yield results for the party in November’s election. Iowa Democratic Party chair Rita Hart kicked off the party’s 2024 state convention this weekend by acknowledging there’s a long, hard haul ahead.

All six members of Iowa’s current congressional delegation are Republicans and Republicans have large majorities in the Iowa House and Senate. House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst (KON-first) is one of the 36 Democrats in the Iowa House.

Konfrst says Iowans are concerned about public education and abortion — and Democratic candidates need to focus on those two key issues.

Senate Minority Leader Pam Jochum (YOH-kum) is one of 16 Democrats in the Iowa Senate. She says Democrats are the defenders of public education in Iowa.

Vice President Kamala Harris recorded a video message that was played for the three-hundred-25 (325) delegates who attended the convention.

Democrats who are running for seats in the U-S House addressed convention delegates, too. Second district nominee Sarah Corkery of Cedar Falls is running against Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion.

Lanon Baccam (luh-NON buh-CAHM), the Democrat who’s running against Republican Congressman Zach Nunn in the third district, also emphasized the abortion issue.

The General Election in November 5th — 140 days away. Iowa Democrats also announced on Saturday that Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (beh-SHEER) will be the keynote speaker at a party fundraiser on July 27th. Beshear, a Democrat who just won a second term as governor in 2023, is from a state that, like Iowa, has big G-O-P majorities in the Kentucky legislature and both of the state’s U-S Senators are Republicans.

The University of Iowa is moving ahead on a project to expand and renovate the Tippie College of Business after getting approval from the Board of Regents. U-I vice president, Rod Lehnertz (Lenn-ertz), says the budget is projected between 45 and 60 million dollars.

Part of the project involves renovation of Gilmore Hall.

The Pappajohn Business Building will also be renovated in this project. Lehnertz says they are seeking private gifts to fund a majority of the project. Another project would spend 14 to 17 million dollars to renovate the restrooms in Burge Hall.

Lehnertz says it is a major residence hall and dinning facility, so the work will be done during the summer to avoid disruptions. The Board of Regents also approved renovationg of Level 7 of the John Pappajohn Pavilion for expanded labor, delivery and postpartum patient care at the University Hospitals.

The estimated project cost is 74 million dollars.

(Schleswig, Iowa) – A man from Crawford County was injured during a single-vehicle rollover accident this (Sunday) morning. The Iowa State Patrol reports a 2008 Ford F-3250 pickup driven by 24-year-old Victor Rafael Eugenio, of Schleswig, was traveling north on Highway 59 about one-eight of a mile south of F Avenue, south of Schlewig, and according to witnesses, was being driven recklessly  with another vehicle.

The pickup went off the east side of the road, re-entered the road and then went out of control before leaving the road again, and rolling over. The crash happened at around 2:3-a.m.  Eugenio – who was not wearing a seat belt – was ejected from the vehicle. He was transported by Crawford County Ambulance to the Crawford County Memorial Hospital.

The patrol was assisted at the scene by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office.

KNOXVILLE, Iowa [KCCI] — An Iowa man was taken to a hospital Friday afternoon following a skydiving accident. According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, a group of skydivers jumped from just under 15,000 feet Friday afternoon shortly before 2:30 p.m. At about 4,000 feet, members of the group noticed one man experiencing an issue with his parachute. The man spiraled out of control and hit the ground near the Knoxville airport.

Officials on Saturday identified the man as 61-year-old Samuel Owens, of Urbandale. He was airlifted to a Des Moines hospital with serious injuries.

CARLISLE, Iowa — Authorities have identified a Carlisle teenager who was killed June 9th in a crash that injured two others. According to Iowa State Patrol, a Toyota Camry Solara was traveling northbound on 200th Avenue in Warren County on Sunday evening. The vehicle entered the ditch near the intersection of 200th and Delaware avenues, rolled and ejected two of the three occupants.

A passenger in the car, 15-year-old Hanna Shaffer, was airlifted to a Des Moines hospital, where she died from her injuries. The 16-year-old driver and another 15-year-old passenger were taken to a hospital; their conditions is not available. All Carlisle school district activities for Monday evening have been postponed. Services for Hanna Shaffer are set for Tuesday.

According to the latest data from the Iowa Department of Transportation, 119 people have died so far this year on Iowa roads. That number is 24 fewer than at the same point in 2023. Over the last five years, an average of 350 people have been killed in statewide crashes annually.