Quality of Life

Money Smart contest offers cash prizes to students

February 10, 2012

Students in sixth through eighth grade can now enter the Money Smart Kid Essay Contest for the chance to win $1,000. Students can enter the contest by writing an essay of 300 words on what to consider when deciding to borrow money. Essays are due by April 2. For more information, visit this link at the [...]

What do you think about passenger rail between Chicago and Omaha?

The Federal Railroad Administration and Iowa Department of Transportation are conducting a planning study for a Chicago to Omaha Regional Passenger Rail System. An online open house on February 13 will be the first opportunity for the public to participate in the study, which is intended to determine a preferred Chicago to Omaha route, evaluate [...]

Visual smoke detectors available

February 9, 2012

The State Fire Marshal has received a $40,000 grant to purchase and install electric smoke alarms in the homes of deaf and hard-of-hearing Iowans. The Fire Marshall will provide Kidde smoke alarms that use sound and strobe lights to alert people to fire in their homes. To request installation of one or more of these [...]

(VIDEO) Working mom helps tax cut pass Senate Ways and Means

February 8, 2012

Last Thursday, Senate Democrats invited Julie Heck of Pleasantville — a single mother of three — to speak at a statehouse news conference to tout the tax break that’s geared toward low-income Iowans.

Video from Senate debate on increasing support for local schools

On February 7, the Iowa Senate approved a four percent increase in basic state aid to Iowa’s K12 school districts across Iowa. These dollars help pay salaries, buy textbooks, fuel school buses, and help avoid large class sizes.

Healthy school meals make healthy learners

February 4, 2012

Iowa schoolchildren will soon see more fruit and vegetables and less fat in their school lunches, thanks to new U.S. Department of Agriculture standards to improve nutrition and reduce childhood obesity. This is the first overhaul of the school lunch program in more than 15 years. The result will be healthier breakfasts, lunches and after-school [...]

Food assistance gets Iowans through tough times

February 3, 2012

As our state continues to rebound from the national recession, struggling Iowans are benefiting from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. SNAP, the former Food Stamp program, is one of the most successful ways to combat hunger and help low-income households purchase healthy food. Here in Iowa, the program provided assistance to [...]

Helping victims of financial exploitation

February 2, 2012

The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved a bill to help victims of identity theft and senior citizens who’ve been cheated. Senate Study Bill 3055 allows Iowa victims of identity theft originating out of state to qualify for the Attorney General’s Identity Theft Passport Program. The Iowa Attorney General will provide victims with a “passport” that [...]

Senate Budget Priorities Focus on Job Creation

The leaders of the Iowa Senate have released an outline for a state budget focused on helping Iowa workers fill existing job openings and helping Iowa businesses create new jobs.

(VIDEO) Senate Democrats address corrections staff shortages

February 1, 2012

The Iowa Senate has approved 8.5 million dollars in additional funding for the Department of Correction (SF 2071). The money will address urgent needs at prisons and community-based corrections facilities across the state. At issue are staff shortages that could threaten public safety.