A bill recently passed by the legislature that relaxes state labor rules for Iowa children conflicts with federal workforce regulations. That’s according to a letter from the U.S. Department of Labor concerning Senate File 532. The letter is a response to an inquiry from multiple Democrats in the Iowa Legislature, reports the Cedar Rapids Gazette. http://bitly.ws/ESsa
The federal labor department says the youth employment bill has at least four provisions would create labor standards for Iowa children lower than federal standards. Any employer that allowed Iowa children to work under contrary terms would be in violation of federal regulations.
The bill would allow Iowa children to participate in some work activities that are currently prohibited and to work longer hours. It also lets the state workforce department issue waivers to permit children to work under some circumstances that are currently prohibited, among other provisions.
Reynolds has not yet taken action on the bill and she has until June 2 to do so. The proposal was approved with only Republican support in the Iowa Legislature.
A man was arrested with 434 fentanyl pills in Sioux City after an early Thursday morning pursuit.
Twenty-three year old Benito Miguel Curiel was arrested with the pills following a pursuit by South Sioux Police, Sioux City Police and Iowa State Patrol, according to a Sioux City Police news release.
He was charged with possession of a controlled substance (A class C felony), failure to affix a drug stamp (A class D felony), felony eluding, no driver's license, interference with official acts, failure to obey traffic control device, operating without registration, and driving on defective tires.
Iowans who are 65 or older and own the home they live in have about six weeks to apply for a new property tax exemption, according to Radio Iowa. http://bitly.ws/ERYL
The tax plan Governor Reynolds signed into law earlier this month includes a new property tax exemption for Iowa seniors. It will reduce the taxable value of a home by $3250 for property taxes due this September and next spring. For the next assessment year, the exemption doubles to $6500.
Iowans who were at least 65 years old by January 1st of this year have until July 1st to file a form with their local county assessor to claim this exemption. Once the exemption’s granted, there’s no need to reapply in future years. The Legislative Services Agency estimates it will be worth $50 million annually to Iowa seniors.
South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds is making an impassioned third attempt at securing a congressional charter for the National American Indian Veterans (NAIV) organization, according to the Argus Leader. http://bitly.ws/ES3K
The effort to create a charter started several years ago as bipartisan legislation with nine sponsors has grown to a faction of 35 — nearly a third of the U.S. Senate. Granting a congressional charter recognizes patriotic and national organizations operating for charitable, literary, educational, scientific or civil improvement purposes.
NAIV is headquartered on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. The organization began in 2004 to serve the needs of Native American veterans in all 50 states.
