Iowa City is proposing cutting Sunday service and discounted fares from a public transit service for the elderly and people with disabilities. The proposal is the latest in a months-long dispute between Iowa City, and also Coralville, and Johnson County over the SEATS program. No Sunday service could hurt people with jobs, and the loss [...]

DES MOINES – The Iowa House began what members say will be a long day’s march to adjournment voting 94-0 in support of a plan to pay off state bond debt and making investments in state universities. House Appropriations Chairman Chuck Soderberg, R-Le Mars, and Rep. Kirsten Running-Marquardt, D-Cedar Rapids, agreed the bill, which also [...]

The leader of the Iowa Senate’s Republican caucus today refuted claims by a former employee of a hostile work environment where she and other female staff members were sexually harassed. “I’ve never tolerated in the past nor will I tolerate in the future harassment of any kind, including sexual harassment,” said Senate GOP Leader Bill [...]

A key legislative leader on education reform is “very optimistic” a conference committee working out differences between lawmakers and the governor will reach consensus today. “We’re making great progress,” House Education Committee Chairman Ron Jorgensen, R-Sioux City, said this morning. “We’re developing the conference committee report. We’ll take a look at it. They’ll take a [...]

First District Republican candidate Steve Rathje has called for the appointment of special counsels to investigate recent allegations about the Obama administration’s handling of Benghazi, IRS monitoring of conservative groups and the Department of Justice monitoring news reporters’ phone records. “While I have the utmost respect for (House Oversight and Government Reform) Chairman Darrell Issa [...]

Another bit of Depression-era art hidden away for decades will soon go on display again inside the council chambers at Cedar Rapids’ city hall. The Law and Culture mural on display in the old federal courthouse in Cedar Rapids was painted over for the final time nearly 50 years ago. But when the city of [...]

The split-control Legislature inched toward adjournment on its 18th day of overtime session Tuesday. House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, said progress on the outstanding issues holding up the session’s end was “excellent” and he told reporters “I think that there’s a very real possibility that we are done tomorrow.” Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council [...]

A pair of Eastern Iowa lawmakers are hoping to help the Legislature toward adjournment by offering a bipartisan compromise on two key issues that have generated interest in recent years. Reps. Bobby Kaufman, R-Wilton, and Dave Jacoby, D-Coralville, have offered a compromise on eminent domain legislation and funding for a passenger rail proposal that includes [...]

DES MOINES — The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee took a swipe at an Iowa state senator Monday for her change-of-heart on a statewide fuel tax increase. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Red Oak, is on the national committee’s radar because she’s one of a few Republicans publicly considering a run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated [...]

DES MOINES – Gov. Terry Branstad told fellow Iowa Executive Council members Monday he is still pushing to get the yearly salaries increased for their positions in 2014, but he’s not optimistic given the legislative reception the proposal received last week. Meanwhile, State Treasurer Mike Fitzgerald, a Democrat, said he was disappointed the proposal to [...]