Two Iowa teenagers charged in the 2021 beating death of a high school teacher have pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. Willard Miller and Jeremy Goodale both changed their pleas to guilty Tuesday and admitted helping kill their Spanish teacher, 66-year-old Nohema Graber. Investigators say the attack was possibly regarding a dispute over grades. The teacher’s body was found in a park in Fairfield.
Republicans in the Iowa Senate passed a bill early this morning (Tuesday) that would expand the hours and types of jobs teenagers under the age of 18 could work.
State officials could waive prohibitions on minors working in certain industries if it’s part of a work-based learning program. While the Senate bill would NOT allow work in mining and meatpacking plants, it would allow hazardous activities like the operation of woodworking machines, and brick and tile manufacturing.
Democrats criticized the provision to allow 16-and 17-year-olds to serve alcohol in places that also serve food. He says his 18-year-old niece was harassed by customers at a bar owned by his family.
Republicans say the bill is just meant to provide more opportunities to youth who want to work.
The Iowa Senate on Monday sent the governor a bill setting a $5 million limit on the noneconomic damages a victim can win in court as the result of an accident involving a trucking company.
In a compromise with the House, the Senate agreed to a $5 million cap on damages such as pain and suffering, mental anguish, and loss of consortium of a spouse. The Senate originally voted for a $2 million cap.
Food security and healthcare advocates are urging Governor Kim Reynolds to veto new restrictions on public assistance.
The bill would deny food assistance, or SNAP, to households with more than 15-thousand dollars in assets, except for a home and some vehicles.
The state would do real-time checks of Iowans’ eligibility for public assistance. Opponents say paperwork discrepancies will cause people to lose food and health care.
Leaders of the Iowa Hunger Coalition say the bill will deny food to Iowans at a time when SNAP enrollment is low but food bank use is breaking records.
The Sioux City Council approved a budget plan Monday that will increase the tax levy. For more on the story from the Sioux City Journal click here.
The Iowa crop report shows farmers were able to get some planting done last week.
The week saw severe storms and snow flurries, but farmers also got some unseasonably warm weather and planted seven percent of the expected corn crop. That’s almost two weeks ahead of last year and six days ahead of the five-year average.
Radio Iowa reports some farmers are still waiting for extended warm days to bring the soil temperature up — while others are hoping for some more rain before putting the planter into the fields.
Former Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy could miss the entire 2023 NFL season, according to comments he made during an interview with Yahoo Sports.
Purdy led the San Francisco 49ers to the NFC Championship this past season before injuring his elbow.
Governor Pillen Extends Statewide Burn Ban
LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen announced he is extending the statewide suspension of the authority of local fire chiefs to waive the open burning ban. The suspension is effective through midnight April 23, 2023 based on extreme dry and windy conditions that pose major fire risks. The Governor will be in consultation with fire and emergency officials to continually reassess the prohibition on open burns.
Attorney General Bird Sues Biden Administration over New Cybersecurity Regulations for Public Water Systems
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, April 18, 2023 Contact: Alyssa Brouillet | Press Secretary | 515-823-9112 | alyssa.brouillet@ag.iowa.gov
DES MOINES – Monday, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird joined a multistate lawsuit challenging the Biden Administration’s memorandum that has effectively created a new, burdensome cybersecurity rule. The new rule imposes significant costs on Iowans in small and rural public water systems.
With the new rule in effect, water systems with a population as small as 25 Iowans will have to pay to upgrade their cybersecurity systems and face large costs. Previously, under the law passed by Congress, there was a common-sense exception to the cybersecurity rule on public water systems serving fewer than 3,300 residents. The new rule now expands to the 93% of Iowa’s public water systems that serve between 25 and 3,300 people.
“Rather than cleaning up our water, the federal government is hurting Iowa’s small towns,” said Attorney General Bird. “At a time of soaring inflation, where it’s hard enough to make ends meet, the federal government insists on making Iowans’ water bills more costly. We’re going to hold the Biden Administration accountable and protect Iowans’ pocketbooks.”
The Biden Administration’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) bypassed standard approval processes to impose the new rule and violated the Administrative Procedure Act. The new rule went into effect immediately.
Iowa joined Arkansas and Missouri in the lawsuit.
Read the full lawsuit here.