DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 13 -- The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issued the following news release: * * * Air quality permits for review, published 02/13/2025 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 d  more

KANSAS CITY, Missouri, Feb. 13 (TNSres) -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics - Mountain-Plains Regional Information Office issued the following report on Feb. 12, 2025, entitled "Consumer Price Index, Midwest Region - January 2025": * * * Regional prices were up 0.6 percent in January, up 3.4 percent over the year * * * The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) in the Midwest Region advanced 0.6 percent in January, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics re  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Illinois, issued the following news release on Feb. 13, 2025: * * * Budzinski Re-Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Codify Year-Round E15 WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) re-introduced the bipartisan Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, which would extend the Reid vapor pressure (RVP) volatility waiver to enable the year-round, nationwide sale of ethanol blends up to 15 percent. "Higher blends of biofuels hel  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (TNSFR) -- The Committee for Purchase From People Who Are Blind or Severely Disabled has proposed the removal of certain products and services from the Procurement List, potentially impacting nonprofit agencies that provide employment opportunities for individuals who are blind or have severe disabilities. The proposed deletions include a general-purpose biodegradable cleaner supplied by Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired in San Francisco, California, as well as  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Rep. Mike Haridopolos, R-Florida, issued the following news release on Feb. 11, 2025: On Monday, Congressman Mike Haridopolos (FL-08) spoke on the House floor in support of two bills from the Financial Services Committee, H.R. 692, the China Exchange Rate Transparency Act, and H.R. 736, the Protect Small Businesses from Excessive Paperwork Act. He then voted in favor of both measures, which both passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support. "China's opaque  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, issued the following news release: * * * Cotton, Boozman, Thune Reintroduce Legislation to Repeal the Federal Death Tax Washington, D.C. -- Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) and Senator John Boozman (R-Arkansas) joined U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) and 45 of their Senate Republican colleagues today to reintroduce legislation that would permanently repeal the federal estate tax, commonly known as the death tax. The Dea  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Rep. Sharice Davids, D-Kansas, issued the following news release: * * * Davids Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Codify Year-Round E15 Fuel Usage Use of E15 lowers gas prices and supports Kansas agriculture Today, Representative Sharice Davids helped introduce the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act (link is external), a bipartisan, bicameral bill that expands access to lower-cost, homegrown fuel. By allowing the year-round, nationwide sale of E15 ethanol-ble  more

DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 13 -- The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issued the following news release: * * * Eighty five counties adopt Master Matrix DES MOINES -- Eighty five of Iowa's ninety nine counties adopted the livestock Master Matrix for the upcoming 12 months. Confinement sites who need a construction permit in those counties must meet additional requirements before they can build, modify or expand. County supervisors in the participating counties can provide input to producer  more

DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 13 -- The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issued the following news release: * * * Environmental Protection Commission meeting agenda DES MOINES - The Environmental Protection Commission (EPC) of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will have their monthly business meeting February 19. The meeting is open to the public. The meeting starts at 10:00 a.m. at the Iowa DNR Building, Walnut Woods Conference Room, 6200 Park Ave, Des Moines. The public can al  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has released the following public communication dated Feb. 3, 2025, from the National Agricultural Aviation Association, Alexandria, Virginia: * * * To: Dockets Operations U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, West Building, Ground Floor Washington, DC 20590 Re: Docket Number FMCSA-2024-0121 * * * To Whom It May Concern: The National Agricultural Aviation Asso  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Feenstra Applauds Senate Confirmation of Brooke Rollins as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) released the following statement after the U.S. Senate confirmed Brooke Rollins as the 33 rd U.S. Secretary of Agriculture: "I congratulate Brooke Rollins on her confirmation to be President Trump's Secretary of Agriculture. As the backbone of Iowa's ec  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Feenstra Leads Legislation to Permanently Repeal Death Tax on Family Farms and Small Businesses WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) led more than 170 of his colleagues in introducing the Death Tax Repeal Act. This legislation - which enjoys support from more than 230 organizations - would permanently repeal the death tax, which imposes an unfair and costly tax on the transfer o  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Feenstra Votes to Prosecute and Imprison Illegal Immigrants who Threaten Border Patrol Agents on High-Speed Pursuits WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) voted for, and the U.S. House of Representatives passed, the Agent Raul Gonzalez Officer Safety Act in memory of Border Patrol Agent Raul Gonzalez, Jr. who was killed in the line of duty while pursuing a group of illegal immigr  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (TNSFR) -- The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is reviewing a preliminary permit application from Low Head Hydro M 18, LLC, to assess the feasibility and environmental impact of a hydroelectric project at the Mississippi River Lock and Dam 18. The proposed facility, spanning Des Moines County, Iowa, and Henderson County, Illinois, would generate up to 25.43 megawatts using four Kaplan turbines, with supporting infrastructure including intake and tailrace channel  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: * * * Fischer Reintroduces Legislation to Support America's Energy Independence Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, led her colleagues in reintroducing the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025. Senator Fischer's legislation is the only permanent, nationwide solution to unleash the power of year-round E15--fulfilling President Trump's m  more

DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 13 -- Gov. Kim Reynolds, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Gov. Reynolds announces disaster proclamation for highly pathogenic avian influenza in Buena Vista County Gov. Kim Reynolds today authorized a disaster proclamation for Buena Vista County, Iowa effective immediately through March 15, 2025. The USDA has confirmed a positive case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a commercial turkey flock. This proclamation allows state resources from  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Grassley, Cantwell Reintroduce Bills to Lower Prescription Drug Prices, Drive PBM Accountability WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and former Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee, are reintroducing two bipartisan bills to combat the high cost of prescription   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Grassley, Cortez Masto Lead Bipartisan Effort to Crack Down on Illicit Xylazine WASHINGTON - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) reintroduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to fight the spread of illicit xylazine. The Combatting Illicit Xylazine Act would classify this highly toxic sedative as Schedule III under the Controlled Su  more

DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 13 -- The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship issued the following news: * * * Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in a Commercial Turkey Flock in Buena Vista County DES MOINES, Iowa (Feb. 13, 2025) - The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) have detected a case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1 HPAI) in a commercial tu  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Hinson Helps Introduce Legislation Ensuring Access to Higher Education for Farmers, Small Business Owners' Children Washington, D.C. \- Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (IA-02) is a cosponsor of the Family Farm and Small Business Exemption Act, which would restore the decades-old standard that exempts the value of assets found on family farms and small business from being assessed as part of a family's net   more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Sen. John Hoeven, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Hoeven, Thune Reintroduce Bill to Repeal the Death Tax WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.) joined Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) in reintroducing legislation that would permanently repeal the federal estate tax, commonly known as the death tax. "Our legislation would repeal the death tax and prevent families, particularly those with family farms, from facing unnecessary hardsh  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * ICYMI: Whistleblowers' Accounts Expose Dark Reality of Yearslong Weaponization and Political Infection at FBI WASHINGTON - Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today during an executive business meeting highlighted whistleblowers' first-person accounts of the retaliation and abuse they have suffered at the hands of current and former top FBI officials. Grassley's comments came sho  more

DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 13 -- The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issued the following news release: * * * Iowa Phosphorus (P) Index Calculator update DES MOINES -- Manure management planners should note that the Iowa NRCS updated the Iowa Phosphorus (P) Index calculator in April of 2024. This updated calculator must be used for any P Index updates to application fields contained in a manure management plan (MMP), and can be downloaded from the NRCS Field Office Technical Guide. All f  more

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, Feb. 14 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa issued the following news release: * * * A man who distributed approximately 40 kilograms of methamphetamine and a kilogram of heroin was sentenced February 11, 2025, to more than 19 years in federal prison. Manuel Tomas Gaspar, age 25, from Atlanta, Georgia, received the prison term after an August 30, 2024, guilty plea to one count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. Information  more

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, Feb. 14 -- The office of the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa issued the following news release on Feb. 13, 2025: A man who possessed methamphetamine with intent to distribute pled guilty today in federal court in Sioux City. Todd Aaron Howard Hamilton Sutton, Jr., age 33, from Mason City, Iowa, was convicted of one count of possession with intent to distribute 5 grams or more of pure methamphetamine. In a plea agreement, Sutton admitted that on July 27, 202  more

DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 13 -- Iowa Workforce Development issued the following news release on Feb. 12, 2025: * * * IWD Opens Grant Opportunity Supporting Summer Youth Internships Iowa Workforce Development Communications For Immediate Release Date: February 12, 2025 Contact: Jesse Dougherty Telephone: 515-725-5487 Email: communications@iwd.iowa.gov Grants Will Help Employers Create New Experiences for Young Iowans in the Workforce. DES MOINES, IOWA - Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) is  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- Sen. John Kennedy, R-Louisiana, issued the following news release: * * * Kennedy champions bill to repeal woke CFPB rule forcing banks to collect data on sex, ethnicity from small businesses WASHINGTON - Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) today introduced a bill to repeal the Biden administration's Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) rule that would implement Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Section 1071 amends the Equal Cred  more

DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 13 -- The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issued the following news release: * * * Livestocks water quality conservation loans available DES MOINES -- The State Revolving Fund (SRF) offers conservation loans to landowners for installing water quality practices via Linked Deposit loan programs. Landowners can borrow up to $500,000 at a maximum interest rate of 3%. These loans can solely finance projects or be combined with existing state or federal cost share funds   more

DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 13 -- The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issued the following news release: * * * Manure Applicator Certification (MAC) Renewals due by March 1 DES MOINES -- Certificates expire annually on March 1 for commercial manure applicators. Confinement site certificates are viable for three years ending on Dec. 31, with a two-month grace period for renewals. All applicators renewing certificates - commercial and confinement site -- need to complete, and pay fees prior t  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Miller-Meeks Leads Bipartisan Legislation to Prevent Preterm Births U.S. Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) led a bipartisan effort with Reps. Robin Kelly (IL-02), Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07), Buddy Carter (GA-01), Shontel Brown (OH-11), and Jen Kiggans (VA-02) to introduce the Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early (PREEMIE) Reauthorizati  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Connecticut, issued the following news release: * * * Murphy Demands Investigation Into Elon Musk's Access To Americans' Personal Information WASHINGTON-- U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) sent a letter to Gene L. Dodaro, U.S. Comptroller General and head of the Government Accountability Office (GAO), calling for an investigation into the legality and scope of the agreement authorizing Elon Musk and his aides to use private servers to access  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Nunn Introduces Bill to Protect Social Security and Medicare Benefits WASHINGTON D.C. -- U.S. Representative Zach Nunn (IA-03) today introduced bipartisan legislation to protect Iowans' Social Security and Medicare benefits. The Safeguarding Social Security and Medicare Act, which is co-led by U.S. Representative Don Davis (NC-01), will require the U.S. Comptroller General to create a plan to protect Socia  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * Padilla Presses Deputy Attorney General Nominee During Nomination Hearing WATCH : Padilla criticizes Trump Administration's unlawful firings of more than a dozen Inspectors General WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) questioned President Trump's nominee for U.S. Deputy Attorney General, Todd Blanche, during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Blanche was President T  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- President Trump sent 63 nominations to the Senate on Feb. 11, 2025: Kirsten Baesler, of North Dakota, to be Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Education. Gary Andres, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services. Sean Cairncross, of Minnesota, to be National Cyber Director. Daniel Aronowitz, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Labor. John Hurley, of California, to be Under Secretary for Terroris  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- Sen. Mike Rounds, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Rounds, Paul and Colleagues Reintroduce REINS Act to Rein In Federal Overreach and Spending WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Senator Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and 16 of their Senate colleagues reintroduced the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act to help put power back in the people's hands instead of the administrative state. "The heavy-handed bureaucracy has h  more

DES MOINES, Iowa, Feb. 13 -- The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship issued the following news: * * * Secretary Naig Congratulates Brooke Rollins on her Confirmation as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture DES MOINES, Iowa (Feb. 13, 2025) - Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate confirmed Brooke Rollins to lead the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA): "Congratulations to Secretary Brooke Rollins on her bi-partisan con  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, posted the following statement in the Congressional Record on Feb. 4, 2025: * * * Madam President, as chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Iowa small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize World's Window of Cedar Falls, IA, as the Senate Small Business of the Week. In 1982, Vonna Yoder founded World's Window to  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Sen. Tim Scott, R-South Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Sen. Scott Leads Effort to Ease Burdens on Small Businesses WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.), chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, introduced commonsense legislation to ease burdens and shield small businesses from excessive legal red tape. The Protect Small Businesses from Excessive Paperwork Act of 2025 would extend the filing deadline for businesses  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following opening statement on Feb. 12, 2025, on the nominations of Todd Blanche to be Deputy Attorney General and Gail Slater to be Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust: * * * Good morning. I'd like to welcome everyone to this hearing to consider the nominations of Todd Blanche to serve as the Deputy Attorney General and Gail Slater to serve as the Assistant Attorney General for  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 -- Sen. Tim Scott, R-South Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Sens. Scott, Rosen Introduce Antisemitism Awareness Act WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) introduced the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which directs the Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition of antisemitism when investigating antisemitic acts on campus. This bill ensures that the Department of Educat  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Rep. Adrian Smith, R-Nebraska, issued the following news release: * * * Smith, Craig, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Codify Year-Round E15 Washington, D.C. - Today, Reps. Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Angie Craig (D-MN) along with Reps. Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), and Sharice Davids (D-KS) introduced the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would extend the Reid Vap  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune Leads Effort to Permanently Repeal the Death Tax WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today led 45 of his Senate colleagues, including Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, in reintroducing legislation that would permanently repeal the federal estate tax, commonly known as the death tax. The Death Tax Repeal Act would end this purely pu  more

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 -- Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wisconsin, issued the following news release on Feb. 13, 2025: * * * Tiffany, McBath Introduce the Justice for Murder Victims Act Bipartisan proposal seeks to end archaic 'year-and-a-day' rule, strengthening homicide prosecution WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07) and Congresswoman Lucy McBath (GA-06) announced the reintroduction of the Justice for Murder Victims Act. This bipartisan bill would strike down the "year-and-a-day" ru  more