Mary Hartnett

082219 504

The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Sioux City will likely be offering sports betting by the middle of September.  The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission this morning approved a contract between the Hard Rock and the third-party sports betting operator, “Hard Rock Iowa," which is a partnership between Hard Rock Sioux City and Hard Rock International. 

Mobile sports betting, which allows gamblers can place mobile bets with an electronic device, will come later.

082219 432

The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Sioux City will likely be offering sports betting by the middle of September.  The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission this morning approved a contract between the Hard Rock and the third-party sports betting operator, “Hard Rock Iowa," which is a partnership between Hard Rock Sioux City and Hard Rock International. 

Mobile sports betting, which allows gamblers can place mobile bets with an electronic device, will come later. 

082219 404

The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission this morning approved a contract between the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino and the third-party sports betting operator, bringing the casino's sports betting one step closer to reality, according to the Sioux City Journal. 

The Hard Rock’s Mike Adams said the casino's third-party sports betting operator will be "Hard Rock Iowa," a partnership between Hard Rock Sioux City and Hard Rock International. 

082119 504

One of the candidates running for Democratic nomination for the US Senate in Iowa next year visits Sioux City next Tuesday.  Theresa Greenfield from Des Moines will hold a campaign event at 5 p.m. at The Marquee on Fourth St.  Greenfield is a real estate agent and one of three Democrats who are running for the seat, which is held by U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst. 

082119 432

More than a dozen Democrats running for president talked up their support for organized labor at a meeting of union leaders near Des Moines today (Wednesday).

In turn, they’re trying to win the support of union workers, who voted for the Democratic candidate in the last presidential election by a smaller margin than any other time in the past three decades.

Several candidates mentioned the Iowa Legislature’s 2017 actions, led by Republicans, that limited collective bargaining rights for public workers.

082119 404

One of the candidates running for Democratic nomination for the US Senate in Iowa next year visits Sioux City next Tuesday.  Theresa Greenfield

of  Des Moines will hold a Sioux City campaign event on Tuesday. The meet-and-greet event will take place at 5 p.m. at The Marquee on Fourth St.

Greenfield is a real estate agent and one of three Democrats who are running for the seat, which is held by U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst. Ernst was first elected in 2014 and is running for re-election.

081619 532

South Sioux City police officer Brian Van Berkum will face no criminal charges for his actions during a fatal May shootout.  A grand jury has ruled today that no charges will be filed, according to the Sioux City Journal.

081619 504

A grand jury on Friday found that a South Sioux City police officer's actions during a fatal May shootout were not criminal, and no charges will be filed, according to the Sioux City Journal.

The decision cleared South Sioux City police Officer Brian Van Berkum for his actions in a fatal shootout in May. The grand jury ruled there was no criminal conduct in the May 11 incident in which Van Berkum fatally shot Luis Quinones Rosa outside of Los Amigos, a South Sioux City bar and liquor store.

081619 432

Iowa’s unemployment rate went up very slightly in July, but it is still one of the lowest in the nation. Iowa Workforce Development says the July rate was 2.5, and for the previous 12 months the rate was 2.4 percent. 

081619 404

Iowa's unemployment rate climbed slightly in July to 2.5% but remains among the lowest in the nation.

Iowa Workforce Development announced Friday that the unemployment rate rose from 2.4% in June. The rate had been stuck at that level since July 2018.

Although the unemployment rate increased, the number of residents with jobs also rose by about 4,000 compared to June. The number of unemployed residents increased by about 1,400.

Iowa's unemployment rate was third-lowest in the nation, behind Vermont and North Dakota and tied with New Hampshire.