Legislature

Law would take away guns from domestic violence offenders (03/18/10)
Convicted domestic violence offenders in Iowa could lose their right to own guns and ammunition if the governor signs a bill into law Monday. A person accused of domestic violence who has a protective order placed against them can be required to relinquish their firearms temporarily, the bill states...

State looking to raise revenue from traffic violation fines (03/17/10)
The Iowa Senate passed a bill Tuesday that could double or triple traffic violation fines. The purpose of the bill, which passed the Senate 31-17, is to combat shortfalls in the state's budget. The 207 proposed fine increases would add $8.8 million in revenue to the general and judiciary funds, Sen. Randy Feenstra said...

MidAmerican customers may help finance nuclear study (03/16/10)
The 7,184 MidAmerican Electric Company customers in Plymouth County may see a monthly increase in their payment due to a proposed law. The increase would come if Iowa Gov. Chet Culver signs a bill to allow MidAmerican to boost electric consumer payments throughout the state by $15 million to study the possibility of bringing a second nuclear plant to Iowa...

Cyclists hope bike safety bill pedals through Legislature (03/04/10)
Last year a Plymouth County woman was hurt after being struck by a beer can while riding her bicycle along a country road. Erin Schroeder still gets butterflies in her stomach when she climbs on her bike. She hopes a proposed bicycle safety bill in the Iowa House of Representatives moves forward to help protect cyclists on the roadways...

Proposed texting and driving ban receives local support, criticism (02/26/10)
As soon as this summer, Iowa drivers who text and drive might see flashing blue and red lights in their rear view mirror. The Iowa House and Senate have both passed their own versions of a bill that would ban texting and driving. However, they have to come to an agreement before the law can move forward...

Branstad says it's time to clean house, Iowa (02/19/10)
Former Gov. Terry Branstad is OK with ice cream for breakfast, but he's not OK with Iowa's government the way it is now. That's what he told the crowd at the Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor in Le Mars Thursday morning on a campaign stop for the 2010 governor's race...

City's $16 million budget approved for public hearing (02/17/10)
The city's 2010-11 budget is officially accepted by the Le Mars City Council. Now only one more step, a March 2 public hearing, remains before the city's adoption of a $16,164,421 budget for the coming year. The balance spending package will allow for continuation of the city's current $13.75 tax levy, said Bill Cole, Le Mars' assistant city administrator...

Legislators and taxpayers talk budget, unions (02/15/10)
Iowa Legislators Rep. Chuck Soderberg and Sen. Randy Feenstra discussed the gaping hole in the state budget, union bills, ethanol requirements and state tax returns Saturday with about a dozen people at the Le Mars Public Library. Soderberg and Feenstra were in Le Mars for a legislative forum where they invite the public to come and ask questions and find out how the legislators feel about the current legislative session...

Huseman seeks re-election (02/15/10)
Rep. Dan Huseman (R-Aurelia) announced Friday he will be running for re-election to the Iowa House. Huseman represents Cherokee County, 10 townships in eastern and southern Plymouth County and nine townships in northern Woodbury County. "State government must manage Iowans' tax dollars wisely. ...

Public employee bargaining: Designed to protect citizens (02/11/10)
(Editor's note: This story is the first of two stories taking a closer look at public employees' bargaining.) In the business world, salaries and benefits of a business' employees are somewhat dependent on how well the business is doing. However, in the public sector, employees like teachers and city workers are given the chance to organize and bargain collectively based on Iowa Code Chapter 20...

Steve King says time to stop spending (02/08/10)
U.S. Rep. Steve King thinks the biggest problem in government right now is overspending. He also doesn't believe President Barack Obama's $787 billion stimulus plan is working as it was set out to do. Neither does he favor a government-run national health care program...

Council gives first reading approval to code changes (02/04/10)
Le Mars City Council members Tuesday, following a public hearing, gave first reading approval to an ordinance amending the city's Fire Prevention Code from the International Fire Code 2006 edition to the 2009 edition. Members also gave first reading approval after a public hearing to the city's sign code ordinance to update terminology and incorporate the ICC Zoning Code, 2009 edition, into the present ordinance...

Iowa students must give CPR to graduate (01/15/10)
Freshmen at Le Mars Community High School are learning how to save lives -- skills students across the state are now required to master to graduate. That mandate was handed down last year by the Iowa Legislature as part of the Healthy Kids Act. The requirement is effective for the graduating class of 2012...

Legislators to host Le Mars forum Saturday (01/14/10)
Saturday, Iowa Rep. Chuck Soderberg and Iowa Sen. Randy Feenstra will be hosting legislative forums 9 a.m. at the Le Mars Public Library to discuss various issues concerning the Iowa Legislature. The public is invited and encouraged to attend the meetings and address any issues that are of concern...

Cherokee Mental Health Institute escapes DHS chopping block (12/15/09)
The Iowa Department of Human Services is recommending closing the Mount Pleasant Mental Health Institute -- not Cherokee's -- in a proposal today (Tuesday) to the Iowa Legislature. Last spring, the Legislature asked the DHS to recommend closing one of Iowa's four mental health institutes without cutting services...

Community Foundation award $142,169 in grants (12/14/09)
Twenty-seven organizations and groups in Plymouth County are recipients of grant money totaling $142,169 from the Community Foundation of Greater Plymouth County. The $142,169 represents the largest amount the foundation has been able to award in grants in the four years it has existed...

Cherokee Mental Health Institute not on chopping block (12/14/09)
The Iowa Department of Human Services is recommending closing the Mount Pleasant Mental Health Institute, not Cherokee's institue, in a proposal today (Tuesday) to the Iowa Legislature. Last spring, the Legislature commanded the DHS to recommend closing one of Iowa's four mental health institutes without cutting services...

Youth center plans hit speed bump (12/09/09)
A group planning a new youth center planned for Plymouth County is facing delays. What was slated to be a public hearing Tuesday to help Standing Stones, Inc. apply for a grant for a youth center turned into an announcement that the group's grant writer had resigned...

Group taking steps to build new teen center (12/02/09)
Plymouth County youth may soon have a new place to hang out after school and on weekends. Preliminary work is underway on a proposed teen center geared toward youth age 16 and up. It will be operated through Standing Stones Inc., a nonprofit organization started by Mindi and Jason Jackes, of Le Mars, and community members in Sioux City and Sioux Center...

Deadline looming for first look at closure of Mental Health Institutes (12/01/09)
The Iowa Department of Human Services will make its recommendation in two weeks as to which of the Cherokee, Independence, Clarinda or Mount Pleasant Mental Health Institutes should close. On Dec. 15, the Department of Human Services (DHS) will present its decision to Iowa Gov. Chet Culver and the Legislature...

Le Mars LOST dollars: All tied up at the moment (09/18/09)
Local Option Sales Tax spending is on pause for the city of Le Mars. Of the nearly $13 million in revenue from the one-penny sales tax projected to come into the city by 2016, $2 million has not yet been spent or committed to projects. "If the (Le Mars City) Council awards any more LOST dollars, it will delay payment of projects or the prepayment of loans," Assistant City Administrator Bill Cole said...

Supervisors amend joint urban renewal area (09/17/09)
No one attended a public hearing Tuesday to amend the joint urban renewal area along the Highway 75 Bypass. Following the hearing, the Plymouth County Supervisors approved a resolution re-designating property lines and clarifying legal descriptions in the joint urban renewal area...

Nicholson touts 4-H as important life experience (08/05/09)
A family reunion brought former Secretary of Veterans Affairs R. James Nicholson back to his hometown and an opportunity to visit the Plymouth County Fair last Friday. "I can't believe how much its grown. It's spectacular," Nicholson said during an interview at the 4-H Food Stand, indicating his last visit to the fair was about 10 years ago...

Rants says his background fits the bill for Governor (07/16/09)
Iowa Rep. Christopher Rants has been in business and in government. And that, he says, is one thing that sets him apart among those vying for the Iowa governor's seat in 2010. The Sioux City Republican spent more than an hour Tuesday pitching his ideas to people at the Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor in Le Mars...

New library law reads: Sex offenders stay out (07/07/09)
People convicted of a sex offense against a minor will need permission to check out materials at Le Mars Public Library and libraries across the state. A new law, which became effective July 1, states sex offenders convicted of a sex offense against a minor cannot be on public library property without permission of a library administrator...

New law pushes for gender balance on boards (06/10/09)
Gender will matter when it comes to appointing board members in the future. A law signed by Gov. Chet Culver last month says that all boards, commissions, committees and councils with appointed members across Iowa will need to have a gender balance among members on and after January 2012...

It's official: You must mow your lawn (05/15/09)
New city code updates, which range from ruling how big a political sign on your yard can be to how high you can let your lawn grow, will be open to public comment next Tuesday. The Le Mars city code, according to Code Enforcement Officer Jason Vacura, is updated every several years. The updates include changes made at the city level in the past few years, plus changes from Iowa Legislature that affect city rules...

Court costs will increase if Culver signs bill (05/12/09)
Whether facing a traffic violation or filing for divorce, the costs you pay for the court may increase this month. A bill passed by Iowa legislators is only awaiting Governor Chet Culver's signature -- he has until May 26 to sign -- before the increases take effect...

Work on Highway 3 and Business 75 move forward (05/07/09)
Moving ahead on roadwork projects this week, the Le Mars City Council members set public hearings on two of them: the widening of Highway 3 East near the Floyd Valley Hospital and curb, gutter and sewer improvement of Business Highway 75. The hearings have been set for noon June 2...

New rule would keep sex offenders away from schools, playgrounds (04/30/09)
The 2,000 foot rule wasn't enough. That's according to Plymouth County Sheriff Mike Van Otterloo, who was part of the force pushing for a new sex offender law in Iowa. Now a proposed law would include more restrictions than the current one, which only bans sex offenders from living within 2,000 feet of a school, daycare, playground or other place children might gather...

Iowa law now effective for same-sex couples to marry (04/27/09)
The Plymouth County recorder and others across the state can today begin accepting applications for gay and lesbian people wanting to marry. The official order allowing same-sex couples to marry was handed down by the Iowa Judicial Branch today (Monday), reflecting a ruling by the Iowa Supreme Court...

Opinions divided on biodiesel mandate (04/24/09)
A proposed law that would require all diesel sold in Iowa to contain 5 percent biodiesel has made it partway through Legislature but may not pass this year. Biodiesel is diesel fuel made from animal fats, corn oil and soybean oil. The Iowa Senate passed the measure in a 31-19 vote last week...

DREAM Act may help local student fight for residency (04/17/09)
Attending college. Joining the military. Training for a career. These are possible dreams for most U.S. high school graduates. Yet, for one upperclassman at Le Mars Community School, there is only one option: returning to Mexico. She would join the group of nearly 65,000 immigrant high school students each year who do not have the opportunity to pursue their dreams in the United States with their peers...

Police see complaint, arrest numbers fall (04/16/09)
Le Mars Police records show that in the past year, complaints are down. Tickets are down. Arrests are down. Is Le Mars simply becoming a more law-abiding community? Police Chief Stu Dekkenga said he'd like to think so, but he's not jumping to conclusions...

Rumors about changing gun control laws shot down (04/13/09)
Rumors surrounding federal and state changes in gun laws can be laid to rest for another year. Sen. Randy Feenstra, R-2, said last week any bills on the state level pertaining to gun control restrictions or taxes on ammunition are dead. "There are no bills that will be happening concerning the Legislature this year," Feenstra said...

Dropping day of mail a 'last resort,' local USPS man says (04/10/09)
Earlier this year the United States Postal Service's postmaster general caused a stir when he told Congress the USPS may temporarily drop one day of mail delivery. But the likelihood of going from six-day delivery to five days is slim, according to Barry Snyder, supervisor at the Le Mars Post Office...

Legislators challenge proposed tax changes: Who wins and who loses? (04/06/09)
A new tax law that would mean a tax cut for about one-half of Iowans and an increase or no change for the rest is at the center of legislative debate this week. Rep. Chuck Soderberg and Sen. Randy Feenstra visited with area residents in an open forum in Le Mars on that proposed tax bill and others Saturday...

Legislators plan Le Mars visit (04/02/09)
On Saturday, Representative Chuck Soderberg and Senator Randy Feenstra will be hosting legislative forums at 9 a.m. at the Le Mars Public Library, and 10:30 a.m. at the City Hall in Orange City. They will be discussing various issues concerning the Iowa Legislature...

Students question college textbook legislation (03/27/09)
A new bill approved by the Iowa House of Representatives could help college students find lower priced textbooks. If signed into law, the bill would require public colleges to provide students with specific textbook information at least two weeks before semester classes begin...

New tobacco tax leaves retailers, smokers cornered (03/25/09)

Attempt to legalize marijuana for medical use fails again (03/13/09)

Senator sees issues with law to put more parents on abuse list (03/12/09)
A bill that could put parents or guardians on the child abuse registry if they allow a child to view pornography is working its way through Iowa legislature. Both the Iowa House and Senate are working on versions of the bill. However, Sen. Randy Feenstra, of Hull, is worried that if this became a law, it might be abused...

911 calls could alert family, friends (03/04/09)
Would you want to be notified if a loved one dialed 911 in an emergency? A new bill already passed unanimously by the Iowa Senate last week and now in the House could make that notification available. The bill proposes that Iowa residents could designate a friend or relative to be notified if they dial 911 in an emergency...

Eliminating electoral college could impact Le Mars (03/03/09)
Before he was president, Barack Obama shook Le Mars residents' hands. He answered their questions. He stopped at the fairgrounds and spoke in the Plymouth County Historical Museum. Not only that, locals had face time with other major players in the 2008 presidential race. Hillary Clinton. John McCain. Joe Biden...

New S.D. law keeps door open for Greater Hoyt (02/27/09)
A bill currently making its way through the South Dakota Legislature will assure that students from the Greater Hoyt and Greater Scott School Districts in South Dakota will be able to attend school across the state's border in Iowa at Akron-Westfield and West Sioux Community Schools respectively...

Legislator plans forum (02/24/09)
On Saturday, Feb. 28 Representative Chuck Soderberg will be attending the SIMPCO Legislative Forum. It will be held at 10 a.m. at the Siouxland Center for Active Generations located at 313 Cook Street in Sioux City. Soderberg will be discussing various issues concerning the Iowa Legislature...

Pheasants Forever to offer scholarship (02/24/09)
At the Pheasants Forever annual banquet April 4, a new $1,000 scholarship will be announced. The scholarship is open to Plymouth County graduating senior's with a minimum of a 3.0 GPA. Applicants must be pursuing a career in conservation, natural resources, environmental education, conservation law enforcement, biology or related field...

Legislators plan forums in area (02/17/09)
Representative Chuck Soderberg and Senator Randy Feenstra are planning another local town hall meeting. On Saturday, Feb. 21, the duo will be hosting legislative forums at 9 a.m. in the Brunsville Corner Cafe and 11 a.m. in the Hawarden City Hall. The legislators plan to discuss various issues involving the Iowa Legislature. The public is invited and encouraged to attend the meetings and address any issues that are of concern...

Economic downturn means havoc for Iowa budget woes (02/09/09)
Plymouth County legislators Rep. Chuck Soderberg and Sen. Randy Feenstra said the economic downturn is presenting some real challenges for the Iowa Legislature this year. The two spoke at a 9 a.m. Legislator's Forum Saturday at the Le Mars Public Library...

Iowa House Republicans ask for advice on what to cut (02/06/09)
Over the past year it's become apparent that no simple solution will right the nation's economy. With that in mind, some state legislators are starting a new website where citizens can suggest ways for Iowa's government to cut their budget. Republicans in the House of Representatives launched the website, iowahouserepublicans.com/contact/budget-savings-ideas, last week, and already members of the public posted more than 275 suggestions...

Related subjects