Gazette Daily News Briefing, June 21
This is Jami Martin-Trainor, a summer intern for The Gazette, and I’m here with your news update for Wednesday, June 21st 2023.
Today’s weather is looking sunny with a high of 92, and we’re in for a clear evening and a low of 66.
Iowa’s Joni Ernst partners with Democrat to limit Chinese purchase of U.S. farmland
Following Erin Jordan’s investigative report on who owns Iowa farmland, Tom Barton reports on how Iowa Republican and United States Senator Joni Ernst announced a new bipartisan proposal to overhaul how foreign ownership of farmland is monitored.
Ernst and Michigan Democrat Debbie Stabenow said they hope to limit China’s ability to purchase United States farmland. The proposal also requires the federal government to consider removing some Chinese and foreign landowners of land they currently own.
According to the Department of Agriculture, foreign ownership and investment in United States agricultural land has nearly doubled over the last decade. Ernst said current federal law doesn’t offer enough oversight regarding which foreign entities are buying farmland.
Ernst said China has been allowed to “use loopholes to attempt to exploit any potential vulnerability and assert control over our agriculture industry.”
Ernst also clarified that the proposed legislation does not prohibit Chinese and other foreign ownership in the United States. She said the legislation ensures the USDA and FDA have adequate knowledge of who owns land to ensure leaders can protect national security interests.
Middle Iowa River Watershed authority forming this month
The Middle Iowa River watershed management authority is expected to formally establish by the end of the month. It will be one of the newest watershed management authorities in Iowa, and spans from Marshall to Johnson County.
Watershed management authorities are agreements between cities, counties and soil and water conservation districts that coordinate water quality improvement and flood mitigation efforts. These were established in 2010 after the 2008 flood.
Iowa currently has 27 existing watershed management authorities, which cover 40 percent of the state. Across the board, they have received funding from all levels of government and general community support.
The Johnson County Board of Supervisors have overall allocated $125,000 for the Iowa River watershed plan. The project’s description is to “develop Iowa River Watershed plan to address nonpoint sources of pollution.”
Hunter Biden reaches deal to plead guilty in tax, gun case
President Biden's son Hunter has reached a tentative agreement with federal prosecutors on Tuesday. The deal has him plead guilty to two minor tax crimes and admit to the facts of a gun charge under terms that would likely keep him out of jail, according to court papers filed Tuesday.
Iowa United States Senator Joni Ernst commented on the plea deal to reporters on Tuesday.
“I am just grateful that we are starting to see some level of resolution here,” Ernst said. “And we’ll see what transpires over the course of the next few weeks and months. Obviously, if he pleaded guilty, there’s something there.”
Republican Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley also commented via statement.
“Today’s plea deal cannot be the final word given the significant body of evidence that the FBI and Justice Department have at their disposal. It certainly won’t be for me,” he said.
Any proposed plea deal would still need to be approved by a federal judge. Both the prosecutors and the defense counsel have requested a court hearing at which Hunter Biden, who is 53 years old, can enter his plea.
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