Next year, Iowans will vote on a proposed amendment that will align the Iowa Constitution with an election-related change made nationally more than five decades ago, according to Radio Iowa..
In 1971, the 26th Amendment the U.S. Constitution changed the legal voting age in America from 21 to 18. The proposed amendment to Iowa’s Constitution would specify that U.S. citizens who are at least 18 and residents of the state may vote in Iowa elections. While 17 year olds can register to vote if they will be 18 by the time of the election, this change officially amends the state constitution to state that right.
There are new development in the child pornography investigation concerning billionaire banker and philanthropist T. Denny Sanford. The South Dakota Supreme Court ruled unanimously yesterday that search warrant affidavits related to must be unsealed, according to the Argus Leader. https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/crime/2023/04/06/child-porn-investigation-tied-to-t-denny-sanford-timeline-south-dakota/70088343007/
The decision comes after a near two-year legal battle between Sanford, the Argus Leader and ProPublica, to gain access to the five documents. Supreme Court justices heard arguments from lawyers on both sides in late March during their spring session.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated 55 counties in Nebraska as primary disaster areas due to recent drought.
In a letter from Secretary Tom Vilsack to Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, counties as monitored by the U.S. Drought monitor that showed severe drought for eight or more consecutive weeks were included.
Counties in Siouxland include: Woodbury and Monona counties in Iowa, Clay, Union and Yankton counties in South Dakota, and Dakota, Dixon, Madison, Thurstan and Wayne counties, among others, in Nebraska.
Sioux Center and Hull, Iowa, this week became the latest cities to receive water from a tri-state water system. Water from Lewis & Clark Regional Water System began flowing to Sioux Center on Tuesday and Hull on Wednesday.
Sioux Center has reserved 600,000 gallons per day, and Hull has reserved 400,000 gallons. Those totals will rise once the water system expands its total capacity from 44 million gallons daily to 60 million gallons in coming years.
Incorporated in 1990 and authorized by Congress in 2000, the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System, began construction in 2004 on a system connecting 20 partners in Iowa, South Dakota and Minnesota. Water from Lewis & Clark Regional Water System began flowing to Sioux Center on Tuesday and Hull on Wednesday.
Tuesday morning, the Missouri River Historical Development group (MRHD) is announcing the recipient of their 2023 Economic Development Match Grant during an event at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino's Anthem, according to The Sioux City Journal. https://siouxcityjournal.com/business/local/missouri-river-historical-development-set-to-announce-economic-development-grant-award-on-tuesday/article_60a33abc-1d42-53b9-97d1-ed56e604b1a9.html.
The competitive grant, which allows for up to $1 million, is meant to support projects in Woodbury County and has to be matched dollar-for-dollar through cash or in-kind contributions.
The Iowa Lottery has begun the process of transitioning from a 365 day to 180 day time limit for redeeming winning lotto tickets that was approved by the Lottery Board in December, reports Radio Iowa. https://www.radioiowa.com/2023/04/06/iowa-lottery-transitioning-to-shorter-time-limit-for-collecting-prizes/
Lottery spokesperson, Mary Neubauer, says 180 days is the standard for most lotteries in the country. Neubauers says as time passes, it gets more difficult for everyone to remember all of the details involved in a ticket purchase, or even to hang on to a ticket.
The Iowa Bicycle Summit is being held today in the Des Moines metro area to promote cycling as a form of transportation, recreation, and health,
Mark Wyatt is the executive director of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition. He says the conference will feature a variety of experts in the field of cycling and trail development. Wyatt says people who will attend include cycling enthusiasts, bike retailers, city planners, trail builders, tourism officials, and more.