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Noon Newscast 8.30.19

democrats.org

The Democratic National Committee will recommend scrapping state plans to offer virtual, telephone-based caucuses in 2020 due to security concerns, sources tell The Associated Press.   

The final choice whether to allow virtual caucuses in Iowa and Nevada is up to the party's powerful Rules and Bylaws Committee.

The state parties had planned to allow some voters to cast caucus votes over the telephone in February 2020 instead of showing up at traditional caucus meetings.

Iowa and Nevada created the virtual option to meet a DNC mandate that states open caucuses to more people.

The stage has been set for people vying for a seat at city hall in Sioux City.  

Credit City of Sioux City
SIOUX CITY MAYOR BOB SCOTT

Two candidates plan to run for mayor.  They are incumbent Bob Scott and Maria Rundquist.  

Credit maria4siouxcitymayor.com
MARIA RUNDQUIST

Five people are competing for city council including incumbent Rhonda Capron, so there will be a primary election on October 8th

The top two finishers face-off on November 5th.

The former head of the Iowa Department of Human Services has filed a complaint with the state seeking $2 million.

Credit State of Iowa
JERRY FOXHOVEN

Jerry Foxhoven says in documents filed with the State Appeal Board that Gov. Kim Reynolds, her chief of staff and legal counsel fired Foxhoven on June 17 as he questioned whether it was legal for the DHS to pay the salary of a governor's staffer.  That employee had moved from the agency to the governor's office.

Foxhoven's attorney says he seeks $1 million from the state and $1 million from the individuals involved, but the final amount will depend on how long he's unemployed and his future earnings.

Foxhoven, known for his frequent workplace praise of the late rapper Tupac Shakur, says his firing was done to prevent him from enforcing his legal right to disclose information he believed was illegal.

Reynolds has said Foxhoven never raised such concerns and never asked the staff for a legal opinion.\

Justices on the South Dakota Supreme Court are considering banning concealed handguns in the court's state Capitol space.

Lawmakers last session approved the Supreme Court's request to exempt its chamber from a new state law.  The law allows residents with enhanced concealed carry permits to bring guns into the Capitol building.

The measure requires notifying the Highway Patrol at least 24 hours ahead of time.

The state Supreme Court is now defining where exactly it will prohibit handguns in its space.

Justices are considering adopting a new rule that would prohibit handguns in the courtroom, justices' offices and other areas.

Residents would still be able to have a concealed handgun where the public does business with the court.

And, there’s an outbreak of mumps in Nebraska.

The state’s Department of Health and Human Services says at least 30 cases of the highly contagious illness have been identified.

That’s 2 ½ times the number of cases reported for all of 2018.

Most of this year's cases occurred among people attending a wedding in northeastern Nebraska and in a workplace in southeastern Nebraska.

Mumps is a virus that causes swollen glands, puffy cheeks, fever, headaches and, in severe cases, hearing loss and meningitis. It can spread quickly through coughing and sneezing.

The health agency recommends people get vaccinated to avoid contracting the virus. People also are urged to avoid sharing drinking glasses and eating utensils, among other things.