‘State Government’

The website designed to allow citizens to track how and where funds are being allocated as part of the $830 million I-JOBS infrastructure plan now includes an interactive tool to improve transparency, Gov. Chet Culver announced Thursday.
In June, Culver’s deputy chief of staff, Phil Roeder, told The Iowa Independent that 100 percent transparency was one [...]

The Iowa Pharmacy Board held its final hearing on the idea of legalizing medical marijuana on Wednesday, and the board’s vice chair expects a decision before the legislature reconvenes in January.
Susan Frey, vice chair of the board, told Radio Iowa’s O.Kay Henderson that the decision won’t be rushed.

In light of historic budget cuts recently implemented by Gov. Chet Culver due to a downturn in revenue projections, the state should increase its investment in postsecondary education for low-income adults. The investment would improve economic prospects for Iowa families, and in the process boost the state budget, according to the nonpartisan group Iowa Policy [...]

A group of filmmakers has sued the Iowa Department of Economic Development alleging the state breached its contract regarding issuing tax credits to finance their work.
The suit, filed Oct. 28 and scheduled to go before Polk County District Court Monday, was filed by a group of filmmaking companies that had received initial approval from the [...]

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has sent an additional $80 million in weatherization funding to Iowa, and while the influx of cash has raised worries about waste and abuse, the state argues the money is being put to good use and will help an additional 10,000 households.

“We’ve got such a long waiting list, we know the money will easily be spent,” said William Brand, administrator of Iowa’s Division of Community Action Agencies.

Roughly 25 people observed as six of 22 possible Republican delegates from Iowa House District 33 decided between three potential candidates: Ken Childress, John King and Josh Thurston. After each candidate was provided five minutes to make his case, delegates cast their vote and Thurston was the clear winner.

CEDAR RAPIDS — After hours of debate and voting Wednesday night, Democratic central committee members in Iowa House District 33 chose Kirsten Running-Marquardt as their candidate in a special election scheduled for Nov. 24.

Former Gov. Terry Branstad met privately with several leaders of Iowa’s social conservative movement to answer their questions and allay any fears the may have of his likely run for governor next year.

Plans to institute massive layoffs in two state departments will go forward unless union leadership agrees to reopen their contracts in order to find savings, Gov. Chet Culver said Wednesday.

Two of the three individuals who are said to be vying for the Republican nomination in the special election for Iowa House District 33 registered as Republicans just this week, records show.
The three individuals considered as possible candidates for the Republicans in Iowa House District 33 are John King, Kenneth Childress and Joshua Thurston. King, [...]