Mary Hartnett

Mark Lowe, Director of the Iowa Department of Transportation Edit | Remove

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The director of the Iowa Department of Transportation is resigning at the request of the governor.

A statement from Governor Kim Reynolds’ office says she, quote, “has decided to seek a change in leadership as she continues to build her administration.”

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A new state program will mail free opioid reversal drug kits to anyone in the state. 

The drug involved is naloxone -- also known as Narcan.

Kevin Gabbert is the Opioids Initiatives Director at the state Department of Public Health, which has partnered with the University of Iowa to offer the program. 

He says a two-dose kit can cost as much as 150 dollars.

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The director of the Iowa Department of Transportation is resigning at the request of the governor.

A statement from Governor Kim Reynolds’ office says she, quote, “has decided to seek a change in leadership as she continues to build her administration.”

Reynolds appointed Mark Lowe to the top transportation job in 2017 when she became governor. Lowe worked for the D-O-T for nearly a decade before that.

Lowe’s resignation letter doesn’t provide any details about why the governor asked him to leave. His resignation is effective January tenth.

Legendary U.S. Congressman Berkley Bedell died over the weekend.  The Spirit Lake native served 12 years in DC. We hear about Bedell’s life and work from a former state lawmaker and Sioux City attorney Al Sturgeon.  He worked with Bedell more than 40 years ago.

It looks like Woodbury County voters will be asked to weigh in on a possible new law enforcement center in March of 202o, and we talk with Woodbury County Sheriff Dave Drew about the issues involved.

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Most Iowa politicians, commodity groups and Iowa’s business community today are celebrating news of a deal that will lead to U.S. House ratification of the US Mexico Canada Trade Deal. The deal is expected to ratified by the end of the year. Canada and Mexico are Iowa’s two largest trade markets.

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Iowa politicians, commodity groups and Iowa’s business community are celebrating news of a deal that will lead to U.S. House ratification of a new trade agreement to replace NAFTA. Canada and Mexico are Iowa’s two largest trade markets.

The Sioux City Council deferred a vote on a consulting services agreement related to the redevelopment of the Badgerow Building for the second time yesterday.

There was no discussion among council members before the 4 to 0 vote to further delay the matter. Mayor Pro Tem Dan Moore abstained from voting, citing a conflict of interest.

The council is now scheduled to vote on the resolution regarding the consulting services agreement with Chicago-based Hunden Strategic Partners (HSP) on Dec. 16.

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Lawmakers from Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota gathered this morning at Western Iowa Tech Community College for the Tri-State Legislative Forum 

Childcare and workforce retention were on the mind of many state and local leaders.  Iowa is often referred to as a childcare “desert.”  Lack of childcare can be a deal-breaker for those who want to take a job in Siouxland. 

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House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy predicted today that Congress will pass the North American Free Trade Agreement replacement by the end of the year, despite Democrats’ focus on impeaching President Donald Trump. Iowa Republican US Senator Charles Grassley says he hopes the deal with go through by the end of the year.

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Lawmakers from Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota gathered this morning at Western Iowa Tech Community College for the Tri-State Legislative Forum 

Childcare and workforce retention were on the mind of many state and local leaders.  Iowa is often referred to as a childcare “desert.”  Lack of childcare can be a deal-breaker for those who want to take a job in Siouxland.