DES MOINES – Gov. Terry Branstad reiterated his contention Monday that residents at the Iowa Veterans Home are getting top-quality care and expressed concern that criticism of leadership at the Marshalltown facility is becoming increasingly political. However, a key Democrat who has raised concern about quality of care and safety issues at the veterans’ home [...]

DES MOINES – A state senator Monday called on Gov. Terry Branstad to place two top leaders at the Iowa Veterans Home on paid administrative leave while independent investigators probe allegations of intimidation, bullying, sexual harassment and other problems at the Marshalltown facility. Sen. Steve Sodders, D-State Center, said the charges brought during a lengthy [...]

Alliant Energy Corp.‘s Interstate Power and Light subsidiary said Monday it has reached agreement with the Iowa Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) regarding construction of a new $700 million natural gas-fired electric generating plant in Marshalltown. Interstate Power previously filed for approval of eight rate-making principles before beginning construction of the 600-megawatt Marshalltown Generating Station. The [...]

State senators said Monday they are interested in holding a fact-finding meeting to get answers about concerns raised regarding the services provided and management at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown. Sen. Daryl Beall, D-Fort Dodge, chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, said the concerns center around labor-management issues that may be affecting employee [...]

U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley is planning to run for re-election in 2014, “but things can change,” the Waterloo Democrat said Friday. Braley, who is beginning his fourth term representing Eastern Iowa in Congress, is considered a possible challenger to Republican Gov. Terry Branstad in 2014. Braley, 55, insisted he’s not spending a lot of time [...]

By Tom Aller – Recently, our company, Interstate Power and Light Company, an Alliant Energy company, announced a long-term plan to meet the energy demands of our customers, maintain the most cost-effective mix of energy sources, make our fleet more efficient and invest heavily in Iowa. It’s a bold plan, a big step for us. [...]

UPDATE: Eastern Iowa authorities have captured a prisoner who may have used jail renovations to hide his escape. Authorities say 25-year-old Jeremy Mask, of Traer, was captured just before 9:30 a.m. Friday south of La Porte City. He’d escaped a little before 4 p.m. Thursday from Black Hawk County Jail in Waterloo. Officers from several [...]

CEDAR RAPIDS — Amanda Gaffey showed some pop. But other than that, it was strictly pop-ups for the Kennedy Cougars. Taylor Vaske kept Cedar Rapids Kennedy off-balance, scattering five hits, and Marshalltown sidelined the Cougars, 8-2, in a Class 5A regional softball quarterfinal Thursday night at Kennedy High School. “They just out-hit us,” Kennedy Coach Katie [...]

CEDAR RAPIDS — Amanda Gaffey showed some pop. But other than that, it was strictly pop-ups for the Kennedy Cougars. Taylor Vaske kept Cedar Rapids Kennedy off-balance, scattering five hits, and Marshalltown sidelined the Cougars, 8-2, in a Class 5A regional softball quarterfinal Thursday night at Kennedy High School. “They just out-hit us,” Kennedy Coach Katie [...]