Stories

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, a congressional leader known for his watchdog approach to federal agencies, believes that an online initiative launched by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services amounts to state-sponsored propaganda.
“The campaign now on hhs.gov is not purely informational because it expressly has visitors ‘affirm’ their commitment to work with congressional leaders [...]

Four additional Iowa influenza-related H1N1 deaths are being reported today by the Iowa Department of Public Health, and one of the new fatalities is not attributable to risk factors associated with an additional medical condition.
The latest victims are identified as adults in Dubuque, Polk, Mills and Monona counties. To date, there have been 11 confirmed [...]

A 54-year-old physician from Belle Plain, who allegedly engaged in a pattern of sexual misconduct, has entered into a formal agreement with the Iowa Board of Medicine not to treat patients.
Robert A. Bischoff, was charged in September with sexual misconduct, unprofessional conduct and disruptive behavior in the practice of medicine by the state board. The [...]

Two Iowa U.S. attorney’s offices are one step closer to being under new leadership.
The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, of which Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley is a member with seniority, agreed today by unanimous consent to pass the nominations of Stephanie Rose and Nick Klinefeldt on to the full Senate.
“These individuals are enthusiastic, intelligent attorneys, and [...]

According to research completed by sociologists at the University of North Carolina and Northwestern University, even when politically misleading comments are made by public officials — like U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley’s infamous “pulling the plug on grandma” myth — some people choose to believe the mistruths despite compelling information pointing to the contrary.
The study focused [...]

Blogger Mike Stark, who has been asking congressional leaders who oppose health care reform on camera about the specific demographics of their own districts, caught up with U.S. Rep. Steve King, the Republican who represents Iowa’s 5th Congressional District.
When asked if how many people residing in his district were uninsured, King responded that the people [...]

A social justice organization has taken a stand against the woman nominated to be the next U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Iowa.
Friends of Justice issued a statement Wednesday describing the nomination of Stephanie Rose for U.S. attorney as “just plain wrong.”

Officials in Muscatine County have taken a 51-year-old Mechanicsville woman into custody on charges that she attempted to extort funds from a conservative anti-tax group. The woman, Mary Kathryn Moravek, has served as a state lobbyist and well as a commissioner on a state board for people with disabilities.

Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Health are reporting the first death of a child in the state in association with the H1N1 virus. The victim, a resident of eastern Iowa who died during October, had factors that increased the risk of complications from the flu.
“Surveillance is showing a stead increase in pediatric illness [...]

Two central Iowa men, both members of the Libertarian Party, have filed papers to form an exploratory committee for Iowa’s 2010 gubernatorial race. And, unlike other candidates, the two readily admit their goal is not necessarily to win residence at Terrace Hill.
Eric Cooper, 43, of Ames, and Nick Weltha, 30, of Des Moines, will hold [...]