Podcasts about iowa city council

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

This is Stephen Colbert from the Gazette Digital News Desk, and I'm here with your update for Tuesday, January 3rd, 2024.According to the National Weather Service, today will have a slight chance of freezing drizzle between 7am and 8am. Otherwise it'll be mostly cloudy, with a high near 35 Tonight will be partly cloudy, with a low around 20.Johnson County, Iowa City governments choose leadersThe seven-member Iowa City Council on Tuesday elected Bruce Teague to continue to serve as mayor for a third time.Unlike many cities, Iowa City voters do not directly vote for the mayor, so it is the council's decision. His colleagues first elected Teague to the role in 2020.Council member Megan Alter, who served as mayor pro tem from 2022-23, nominated council member Mazahir Salih for mayor pro tem — essentially an assistant mayor who fills in when the mayor isn't available.No other nominations were put forward for either position, so the council unanimously supported Teague as mayor and Salih as mayor pro tem.Days before caucuses, GOP candidates hold clashing eventsFormer President Donald Trump will skip a televised debate five days before Iowa's caucuses featuring GOP rivals Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley and will instead hold a competing event at the same time.And presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who failed to qualify for the CNN debate stage, also will hold his own event at the same time.The end result: Three clashing Republican campaign events in Des Moines.They all are scheduled to start at 8 p.m. Jan. 10. Iowa's Republican caucuses will be held Jan. 15.Passenger in Cedar Rapids car chase before shootout was a juvenileThe passenger who left a car during a police chase that ended in a shootout Monday is a juvenile, according to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.Authorities say police responded to reports of the shooting and quickly began pursuing the suspect vehicle, described by the DCI as being occupied by two males. The driver began shooting with a rifle at police near First Avenue and 12th Street SE and again near Mount Vernon Road and 34th Street SE, investigators said.“At some point in the pursuit, the passenger in the suspect vehicle exited the vehicle and was taken into custody by officers,” according to a news release from the DCI. According to Joe Lestina, DCI special agent in charge of the investigation. The identity of the passenger — and any information about any charges he may be facing — will not be released to the public because he is a juvenile

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

This is Stephen Colbert from the Gazette Digital News Desk, and I'm here with your update for Tuesday, October 10, 2023.According to the National Weather Service, Tuesday morning will see areas of frost before 10am. Otherwise, it'll be sunny, with a high near 63. Tonight will be mostly clear, with a low around 39Gov. Kim Reynolds orders flags at half-staff to honor deaths in IsraelGov. Kim Reynolds, who has worked to strengthen ties between Iowa and Israel in recent years, Monday ordered flags at half-staff in Iowa to honor lives lost in the attack on Israel by Hamas this weekend.In a statement, Reynolds said: “Iowans mourn for the families of those killed by Hamas in Israel. Hamas' brutality knows no bounds, with reports of Holocaust survivors, women, and children taken by Hamas militants from their homes as hostages or brutally murdered. Today and every day, Iowa stands in solidarity with Israel and their right to defend themselves.”The conflict in Israel and Gaza unfolded after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a surprise attack Saturday. Israel has responded with rocket strikes in the blockaded Gaza Strip. More than 1,300 people had been killed as of Monday, including at least nine Americans.Mercy Hospital: Foundation support necessary to keep operatingMercy Iowa City's philanthropic foundation has — after contentious backroom negotiations — agreed to help fund the hospital's operations as it navigates Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.In asking a U.S. bankruptcy judge to approve a settlement between the hospital, its foundation, and ancillary interested parties — like bondholders and an unsecured creditors committee — Mercy attorneys in court documents Monday said without foundation support, the hospital won't be able to sustain operations.Iowa City primary will decide November ballot TodayVoters in Iowa City Council District A vote Today in a primary that will decide which candidates' names appear on the November ballot.The district, which covers the southwest portion of the city, has three candidates vying to represent it on the Iowa City Council: Laura Bergus, Tim Borchardt and Pauline Taylor. Voters will be able to select one candidate. The top two vote-getters will advance to the Nov. 7 election.Primary elections for Iowa City Council are relatively rare. According to Johnson County, the last time Iowa City had a primary for a regular city council election cycle was 2011. A primary was needed for a special election in fall 2018.If a primary election is necessary for a district seat, only the voters who live in that district can vote in the primary. However, for the November election, all Iowa City voters – regardless of their district – can vote to decide a district winner.Polling places in District A are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. today. Voters can find their polling places at gis.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/pollingplaces.Don't forget to register for our free 2023 Iowa Ideas conference!Iowa Ideas is an annual virtual conference designed to gather Iowans from all perspectives to explore, discuss and offer solutions on issues impacting the state. Every attendee has the ability to customize their own schedule, with over fifty sessions across nine tracks. The free virtual conference will take place October 12-13. Register for free at IowaIdeas.com.Have a good weekend, everyone.

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

This is Stephen Schmidt from the Gazette Digital News Desk, and I'm here with your update for September 21, 2023.According to the National Weather Service there will again be a slight chance of rain all day on Thursday. Besides that it will be mostly sunny, with a high near 78 degrees.As one the fastest growing metro regions in the Midwest, and second only in the state to Des Moines, Iowa City officials are looking for ways to lessen traffic congestion, provide alternative transportation options and improve commute times.But which transit style makes the most sense?Iowa City Council members voted 6-0 Tuesday to hire a consulting firm to explore the feasibility of adapting the existing Cedar Rapids & Iowa City Railway corridor right of way between Iowa City and North Liberty to accommodate a bus rapid transit system.Bus rapid transit is a high-capacity system designed to deliver fast and efficient service that may include dedicated bus lanes, busways, traffic signal priority, off-board fare collection, elevated platforms and new stations, according to the Federal Transit Administration.The transit system has advanced throughout the county in the last decade as congestion has increased and community leaders have sought affordable transit alternatives, according to the agency. Such systems operate in big cities like Los Angeles and Atlanta, and are growing in popularity in the Midwest including Cleveland, Omaha and Kansas City.Because it contains features similar to a light rail or subway system, bus rapid transit often is considered more reliable, convenient and faster than regular bus service, according to federal transit officials. And with the right features, it can avoid the delays that can slow regular buses, like being stuck in traffic and queuing to pay fares on board.The warden of the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility resigned earlier this month, just six months after starting the job.“Kris Karberg resigned from his position as warden of the Fort Dodge Correctional Facility effective September 1, 2023,” Department of Corrections Spokesman Nick Crawford said in an email. “Deputy Warden Don Harris became acting warden effective the same day.”Karberg had been warden at Fort Dodge since Feb. 17, when the Corrections Department transferred him from Anamosa State Penitentiary, where he had been warden since 2021.The Gazette reached out to Karberg, who declined to comment extensively on why he'd left the Iowa Corrections Department. He said he was likely moving back to South Dakota, where he'd lived before taking the Anamosa job.Karberg was deputy warden at the Mike Durfee State Prison in Springfield, S.D., for three years before moving to Iowa. Earlier in his career, he spent 10 years providing private security in Southwest Asia, Belize and Afghanistan where he was a contractor for the U.S. State Department, he told the Iowa Board of Corrections in 2021.On Wednesday night, Emmanuel Rodriguez hit a second-inning grand slam, the Cedar Rapids Kernels built an early 5-0 lead and went on to beat Great Lakes, 7-6, in the winner-take-all Game 3 of the Midwest League Championship Series in front of a boisterous crowd of just over 2,000 at Veterans Memorial Stadium.Players sprayed each other with bottles of sparkling cider on the field during a massive celebration that began with a victory dogpile around the pitcher's mound when Rodriguez secured the final out with a catch of a fly ball. It is the Cedar Rapids franchise's first MWL title since 1994.

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Welcome to the weekend!This is Stephen Colbert from the Gazette Digital News Desk, and I'm here with your update for Saturday, September 9th, and Sunday, September 10th, 2023.According to the National Weather Service, temperatures on Saturday will be sunny, with a high near 82, cooling to a low around 57 Saturday evening.Sunday will be mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Sunday night there will be a chance of showers and thunderstorms until 4am with a low around 60.Iowa City Council votes to replace City Park PoolCity Park Pool, an “iconic” facility that has served the needs of the Iowa City community since 1948, will be replaced with a new pool.The Iowa City Council voted unanimously this week to replace the pool. The vote followed an hourlong presentation of a report prepared by consultants from Williams Associates Architects of Itasca, Ill. The city hired the firm in May to analyze whether the pool should be repaired or replaced.The 100-page report recommended replacement of the pool and includes a detailed list of the reasons why: water loss, accessibility, health and safety, and sustainability.The report puts repair costs for the pool at about $10.5 million. A new pool could cost between $10 million and $15 million.Report: Davenport building collapse had two ‘root causes'Removed brick and inadequate support structures caused the west wall at a downtown Davenport building to collapse in May, an investigative report released Thursday concluded.The report is dated Aug. 15, and was completed by two city-hired investigative engineering companies on the causes and origins of the partial collapse of the six-story building at 324 Main St. on May 28. The collapse resulted in three deaths, one person losing their leg, and many more homes and belongings lost.The 113-page report determined that removing layers of brick during repair work in the three days before the collapse "severely compromised the western bearing wall" and that "the temporary shoring that had been installed was grossly inadequate."Iowa looks at Florida program connecting needy with nonprofits, churchesIowa officials are looking into a Florida program that connects people who need assistance with food, housing and other essentials to nonprofits and faith groups after Gov. Kim Reynolds expressed interest in it at a campaign event earlier this year.Kelly Garcia, director of Iowa Health and Human Services, and a representative from Reynolds' office attended a Florida conference this week focused on Hope Florida.The state program uses online tools and state "navigators" to help people who need assistance connect with nonprofits and churches with the goal of getting them off government assistance programs. Members of the conservative Christian advocacy group The Family Leader from Iowa also attended the event.The program, spearheaded by Florida first lady Casey DeSantis, uses a service called CarePortal, which allows people to submit requests for assistance. Nonprofits and faith groups can see those requests and respond. CarePortal is used in similar programs in other states.Hope Florida also works with employers to help single parents find schedules that allow them to care for their kids and also with employers who can hire people with developmental disabilities.Have a good weekend, everyone.

While this may seem "hyper-local" it very well may give you and your community some ideas on how to create a winning event for the whole family. Here you'll meet Lauren Campbell and Susan Skeries who both sit on the Windsor Heights, Iowa City Council. They head up the Special Events Committee for the community of just over 5,200 people located in the middle of the Greater Des Moines Metro with over 700,000 folks. Our focus is on the Windsor Heights Fall Fest that takes place on October 6th and 7th. Here you'll learn more about the community and what happens when people band together to get some things...done. Enjoy!  Thanks for listening! The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

It's the Thursday Edition of the Business News Headlines and we kick things off talking about tourism and Hawaii. Thanks for being with us and make sure you click ahead for a conversation about a hyper-local event that just may give you and your community an idea of how to structure a fun weekend for the citizens of your town. My guests are Lauren Campbell and Susan Skeries who sit on the Windsor Heights, Iowa City Council and head up a volunteer group known as The Special Events Committee. You'll not only learn a bit about our community of 5,200 people but also our impact on the greater Des Moines Metro of 700,000. If you want to reach us on social media and if you're on Threads you can find us @Insight_On_Business. And you can hook up with us all day on Twitter or "X" @IOB_NewsHour and on Instagram.  Here's what we've got for you today: Don't stay away, come to Hawaii and why; The sexy Victoria's Secret event has changed and why; Gig workers are increasing in number but, there is a but; A big change in Minnesota when it comes to drivers licenses; Want a good job? Stop applying yourself and do this instead; What mortgage rate will move buyers and sellers? We'll share; The Wall Street Report; What low jobless numbers mean moving forward. For the interview you'll meet Lauren and Susan and their efforts to bring to life the second annual Windsor Heights Fall Fest. What's the benefit to the community and the larger Des Moines Metro?  We'll visit about that and more. To hear that conversation, click this link. Thanks for listening! The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information

This is Jami Martin-Trainor, a summer intern for The Gazette, and I'm here with your daily news update for Friday, June 23rd 2023. Today's weather is bright and sunny with a high of 92, and this evening will be partly cloudy with a low of 67.Iowa Department of Education director resigns after three monthsIowa's Department of Education director has resigned after a three-month stint on the job.Chad Aldis, who was hired in March, has resigned from the office for family reasons, according to an announcement from Gov. Kim Reynolds' office on Thursday.Reynolds has appointed McKenzie Snow, the current deputy secretary of education for Virginia, to replace Aldis as director of the department.Snow will start Monday, June 26, and Aldis will remain through June 30 to help with the transition, the governor's office said.Reynolds praised Snow's leadership in Virginia and New Hampshire, as well as her experience with the U.S. Department of Education and in the White House.Snow previously worked in Republican former President Donald Trump's administration, and as an aide to former U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.Snow will take over the department as it charts implementation of the state's new education savings account program, which lawmakers passed and Reynolds signed in January. The program was Reynolds' key legislative priority this year and was expected to cost $107 million in the first year, but applications have already exceeded expectations.University of Iowa lists its Mayflower Residence Hall for $45 millionFour months after the University of Iowa reported plans to sell Mayflower Residence Hall, the institution officially listed the property for $45 million.The eight-story building includes 523 rooms that are “built and furnished to house 1,015 residents as a dormitory, with one to four residents per unit,” according to the listing posted Wednesday on Zillow.com.The university doesn't plan to vacate the 55-year-old property until next summer, and has plans to house students there through the upcoming academic year.The Mayflower sale is part of the university's “housing master plan,” which includes building a new residence hall specifically for returning students as opposed to freshmen who account for most of the students the university houses annually. Although university officials haven't shared a specific timeline for the new residence hall, they predict it will cost $40 to $60 million and will be paid for with proceeds from the Mayflower sale and additional borrowing.By ridding itself of the Mayflower property, which UI bought in 1982, the campus will shed deferred maintenance costs associated with the building — which are part of the university's current $1.2 billion backlog in building renewal needs.Iowa City Council looking at what's next in community policing planThe Iowa City Police Department has implemented a majority of the recommendations outlined in a 2020 plan to restructure the department toward community policing.Police Chief Dustin Liston this week told the City Council he is “really proud” of the progress made on the 36 recommendations in the last two and a half years. He said the plan is “just a start” and now is an opportunity for the council to weigh in on next steps.The recommendations focus on...

This is Jami Martin-Trainor, a summer intern for The Gazette, and I'm here with your news update for Thursday, June 22nd 2023. Today's weather is looking similar to yesterday, with a sunny high of 91. The evening is mostly clear with a low of 67.Iowa Gov. Reynolds settles 3 lawsuits regarding delayed open records requestsIowa Governor Kim Reynolds has agreed to settlements in three lawsuits that alleged her office violated state law by failing to respond to open records requests in a timely manner.Under the terms of one settlement, the governor's office agreed to allow a state district court to resolve any future open records disputes with three plaintiffs that may arise over the next year.The settlements were approved Wednesday afternoon by the Iowa State Appeals Board. Now, they must be given final approval by a district court judge.The state will pay roughly $135,000 — the entirety of which will cover legal fees — to settle Belin v. Reynolds, according to state records. In that case, two Iowa news organizations and an advocacy group for government transparency argued the governor's office violated state open records laws by taking between five and 18 months to fulfill open records requests in 2020 and 2021.The governor's office fulfilled the requests in January of 2022, a month after the lawsuit was filed. The governor's office then tried to have the lawsuit dismissed because, its attorneys argued, the suit was no longer necessary after the records requests were fulfilled.A condition of the settlement is that the governor's office does not admit to a violation of state law.Consulting firm will help Iowa City determine if City Park Pool should be renovated or replacedIowa City will likely have an answer this fall on if the seven-decade old City Park Pool should be repaired or replaced.The Iowa City Council unanimously approved an agreement on Tuesday not to exceed $99,950 between the city and an Illinois engineering firm.Repairs or construction of a new facility will be targeted after the 2024 season, and the facility will be closed in 2025.The city said the pool loses 30,000 gallons of water per day. That is over three times the standard amount of water loss per day, according to the city.City representatives have also said the main pool gutter is worn and abrasive, and residents have complained of minor scrapes as a result. Additionally, the pool house structure and mechanical equipment do not meet modern safety expectations.The discussion surrounding the city's aquatic facilities has received attention from the public over the last year. City Park Pool is the oldest of Iowa City's three pools, and is the city's only outdoor pool.Residents have raised concerns about how the 73-year-old City Park Pool will be renovated and the lack of details so far. At Tuesday's meeting, residents and council members expressed how discussions are heading in the right direction.Iowa officials disappointed in EPA rule on biofuels mandatesIowa Republican lawmakers and biofuels interest groups expressed disappointment on Wednesday after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized a rule regarding the amount of corn-based ethanol that oil refiners must blend into the nation's fuel mix over the next three years.While increasing blending volumes overall by raising the level for advanced biofuels, the new rule includes lower mandates for ethanol in 2024 and 2025 than the EPA had initially proposed. Industry officials, farm advocates and members of Iowa's congressional delegation said the levels ignore production capacity and projected growth in biofuels. The industry is an important market for Iowa farmers, with more than half of the state's corn being used to produce ethanol.EPA Administrator Michael Regan said the final rule will reduce...

Coverage of the Iowa City Council work session.. Live first and third Tuesdays at 4 p.m. Click here for the City calendarClick here for agenda and meeting information packetsClick here for City Council contact information