Today, Governor Kim Reynolds recognized the life and work of former Iowa Ag Secretary Bill Northey. Northey died today at the age of 64. Northey served as Secretary of Agriculture from 2007 to 201. He also served as Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation at U.S. Department of Agriculture from 2018 to 2021.
Reynolds said Bill was a great leader whose work ethic and passion for Iowa agriculture was unmatched.
Northey was born in Spirit Lake, Iowa in 1959.
Despite the above average runoff last year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is forecasting below-average runoff into the mainstem reservoir system this year.
For 2024, runoff in the Missouri River Basin above Sioux City is forecast to be 20.1 MAF, 78% of average. Last year Missouri River Basin runoff above Sioux City totaled 118% of average. The forecast is based on current runoff trends, drier than normal soil conditions, and below-average plains and mountain snowpack.
Iowa will receive more than $2.5 million from the national settlement to help address the opioid crisis. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird joined a bipartisan coalition of 53 attorneys general in announcing a $350 million settlement with Publicis Health.
The settlement comes after extensive investigations revealed Publicis engaged in deceptive marketing practices that downplayed the risks of opioids and their addictive nature. Publicis actively contributed to the opioid crisis by aiding Purdue Pharma’s marketing of OxyContin and other opioids.
Under the terms of the settlement, Publicis will:
- Pay $350 million to be distributed nationwide to support opioid treatment, recovery, and prevention efforts.
- Disclose thousands of internal documents detailing its work for opioid companies.
- Stop accepting new clients for marketing and promoting opioid-based Schedule II and other Schedule II narcotics.
The Sioux City Council yesterday passed a resolution to support the submission of a grant to help bring a water park to the city.
Siouxland Splash, LLC and Frontline Development, LLC have committed to purchase land from the City at 3820 Highway 75 North for the development of a new water park. The site will be occupy 10 acres and will require a total investment of $10-15 million dollars. The project is scheduled to be open for the 2025 season.
The city will apply to the Iowa Department of Transportation’s Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy (RISE) Program for funds to build the roadways needed to support water park development.
Applications for this category of RISE funding must demonstrate a significant economic impact from out-of-state visitors to the project. Through economic impact studies commissioned by the developers of the water park, city officials say they believe they are able to meet the threshold for eligibility.
The engineer's estimate for construction of the road is $1,375,925 and the estimate for the turning lanes is $1,125,988.
https://www.sioux-city.org/home/showpublisheddocument/40166/638424672187730762
