DES MOINES, Iowa, Jan. 30 -- The Iowa Department of Education issued the following news release on Jan. 29, 2025: * * * "Nation's Report Card" shows encouraging progress in literacy, underscores Iowa's need for evidence-based mathematics support Iowa ranks 10th in the nation in 8th grade reading. Math rankings show the need for improved mathematics instruction, with Iowa ranking 30th for 4th graders and 23rd for 8th graders. DES MOINES -- The 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress   more

DES MOINES, Iowa, Jan. 30 -- The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issued the following news release: * * * Air quality permits for review, published 1/30/2025 DES MOINES - The DNR Air Quality Bureau has the following draft permits up for review. The permits help protect Iowans' health and the air where we live. DNR's permitting staff review the applications to ensure facilities comply with state and federal air quality standards. The public has the right and is encouraged to comment on dr  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, Jan. 24 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Midwest Regional Information Office issued the following report entitled "Iowa Job Openings and Labor Turnover - November 2024": * * * Iowa had 70,000 job openings in November 2024, compared to 76,000 openings in October, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. (See table 1.) Regional Commissioner Jason Palmer noted that the job openings rate in Iowa was 4.2 percent in November and 4.  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Chair Ernst Delivers Opening Remarks at Kelly Loeffler Nomination Hearing WASHINGTON - Today, at the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship hearing on the nomination of former Senator Kelly Loeffler to serve as the Small Business Administration (SBA) administrator, Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) highlighted how Loeffler's track record as a successful business leader provides the exact experien  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. Steve Daines, R-Montana, issued the following news release: * * * Daines Introduces Bill to Empower Montana Parents, Keep School Control Local In honor of National School Choice Week, U.S. Senator Steve Daines today reintroduced the "Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success (A-PLUS) Act," a bill to keep education tax dollars in the hands of Montana parents, teachers and local leaders. "Bureaucrats in Washington don't know Montana students like Montana parents and  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Ernst Discusses Fixing Broken SBA With Loeffler WASHINGTON - Today, at the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship hearing on the nomination of the Honorable Kelly Loeffler to serve as the Small Business Administration (SBA) administrator, Chair Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) highlighted the need to reform the agency. Ernst asked Loeffler about her plans to refocus the SBA on its mission to empower  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Rep. Jesus Garcia, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: U.S. Representatives Jesus "Chuy" Garcia (IL-04), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), and Lori Trahan (MA-03) introduced the Mentoring to Succeed Act in recognition of January as National Mentoring Month. U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced companion legislation in the Senate today. This legislation creates a strong, sustainable support system through mentorship t  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Grassley, Cassidy, Heinrich Propose Permanent Scheduling Fix for Fentanyl-Related Substances WASHINGTON - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today joined Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) in introducing the Halt Lethal Trafficking (HALT) Fentanyl Act. The bipartisan bill would permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I under the C  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Grassley, Johnson Make Public Whistleblower Records Revealing DOJ and FBI Plot to Pin Trump in Jack Smith Elector Case WASHINGTON - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) are releasing legally protected whistleblower disclosures that prove the genesis of the federal election interference case brought a  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Sen. John Hoeven, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Hoeven, Colleagues Reintroduce Bill to Protect AM Radio in New Vehicles WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven joined Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) in reintroducing the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act that would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to require automakers to maintain AM broadcast radio in their new vehicles at no additional   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Wisconsin, chairman of the House Administration Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 30, 2025: Today, Committee on House Administration Chairman Bryan Steil (R-WI) shared an opinion piece in the Washington Examiner. The column focuses on the importance of continuing the Committee's work on election integrity and advancing legislation to secure our elections while President Trump is in the White House. Read the full op-ed below or on t  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * ICYMI: Hinson Voices Iowans' Tax Priorities Before Ways and Means Committee Washington, D.C. \- Last week, Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-02) testified before the House Ways and Means Committee to advocate for tax policies that will help Iowans keep more of their hard-earned dollars and promote economic growth. Hinson addressed small business tax credits, investment in biofuels, support for manufactur  more

DES MOINES, Iowa, Jan. 31 -- Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand issued the following news release on Jan. 30, 2025: Auditor of State Rob Sand today released a report on a special investigation of the Children and Families of Iowa for the period of April 1, 2015 through May 31, 2022. The special investigation was requested by Iowa Workforce Development officials as a result of concerns regarding certain financial transactions processed by the former CFI WIOA Title I Program Director, Ms. Jodi Spargur-T  more

DAVENPORT, Iowa, Jan. 30 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa issued the following news release: A Burlington man was sentenced today to 20 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. According to public court documents, Giovani Denario Timmons, 24, participated in a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in Burlington between December 2019 and November 2021. Timmons served as a source of supply along with Kendric Centrall Childs, 25.  more

DAVENPORT, Iowa, Jan. 30 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa issued the following news release: A Burlington man was sentenced today to 30 months in federal prison for possessing five firearms as a drug user. According to public court documents, Isaac Davon Carter, 31, purchased four firearms on August 5, 2020, from four different guns stores in Burlington, Clive, and Des Moines. Five days later, the United States Postal Inspection Service intercepted a package  more

DAVENPORT, Iowa, Jan. 30 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa issued the following news release: A Davenport man was sentenced yesterday to 25 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and fentanyl. According to public court documents and evidence presented at a four-day trial and sentencing, Paul Antonio Deon Parrow, 41, also known as "Tone," distributed methampheta  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Sen. John Kennedy, R-Louisiana, issued the following news release: * * * Kennedy backs bill to crack down on fentanyl, help law enforcement tackle opioid crisis WASHINGTON - Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today joined Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) in introducing the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of (HALT) Fentanyl Act, which would permanently list fentanyl-related substances as Sche  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * LaHood, Neal, Schmitt, Kaine Reintroduce Bipartisan Resolution in Support of National Catholic Schools Week Washington, D.C. - Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16) joined Congressman Richard Neal (MA-01) and Senators Eric Schmitt (R-MO) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) in reintroducing a bipartisan, bicameral resolution in honor of National Catholic Schools Week. This resolution recognizes the contributions of Cath  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Nunn Leads Bill to Sanction Chinese Fentanyl Producers DES MOINES -- U.S. Representative Zach Nunn (IA-03) helped introduce legislation to hold China accountable for its role in the fentanyl crisis. The Stop Chinese Fentanyl Act, co-led by U.S. Representatives Andy Barr (KY-06) and Greg Murphy (NC-03), would hold Chinese entities accountable for producing, selling, financing, or transporting synthetic opio  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Sen. Katie Britt, R-Alabama, issued the following news release: * * * President Trump Signs U.S. Senator Katie Britt's Laken Riley Act into Law 'Turning promises made into promises kept' WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Katie Britt's (R-Ala.) S.5, the Laken Riley Act, today became President Donald J. Trump's first bill signed into law as the 47 th President of the United States. This bipartisan legislation is the most significant immigration enforcement and border secu  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following opening statement on Jan. 30, 2025, at a nomination hearing for Kashyap Pramod Patel to be FBI director: * * * Before we begin, I'd like to say that our prayers are with the victims and first responders of the horrible tragedy at Reagan National Airport last night. It's reported that more than 60 souls were on board the plane and helicopter that collided over the Potomac Ri  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, issued the following news release: * * * Sens. Cruz, Scott, Cassidy, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Recognizing National School Choice Week WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) joined Sens. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), and several of their Republican colleagues in Congress in introducing a resolution recognizing January 26 - February 1 as National School Choice Week. Upon introduction, Sen. Cruz said, "School choice is   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 30, 2025: Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today joined Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) in introducing the Halt Lethal Trafficking (HALT) Fentanyl Act. The bipartisan bill would permanently classify fentanyl-related substances as Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act. Grassley will chair a Sen  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, issued the following news release: * * * Sens. Johnson, Grassley Make Public Whistleblower Records Revealing DOJ and FBI Plot to Pin Trump in Jack Smith Elector Case WASHINGTON - Today, Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) are releasing legally protected whistleblower disclosures that prove the genesis of the federal election interference case  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29 -- Rep. Lori Trahan, D-Massachusetts, issued the following news release: * * * Trahan, Schakowsky, Garcia, Durbin, Duckworth, Booker Introduce Legislation to Support Youth Through Mentorship Programs LOWELL - Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) and Congressman Jesus "Chuy" Garcia (IL-04) introduced the Mentoring to Succeed Act in recognition of January as National Mentoring Month. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Cory Boo  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30 -- Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: * * * VIDEO: Ricketts Celebrates President Trump's Signing of Laken Riley Act with Sarah's Law WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE)celebrated President Trump's signing of the Laken Riley Act, with Sarah's Law included. Ricketts made the comments while on a conference call with Nebraska media. "Today, President Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law. This is landmark legisl  more