Gazette Daily News Podcast, Feb. 25
This is Stephen Colbert with the Gazette Digital News Desk and this is your update for Thursday, February 25, 2021.
Today’s going to see some patchy fog before 10am, but otherwise it’ll be partly sunny, with a high near 35. Tonight it’ll be partly cloudy, with a low around 21.
Iowa election limits clear Senate hurdle
https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/government/iowa-election-limits-clear-senate-hurdle-20210224
The Iowa Senate voted Tuesday to shorten Iowa’s early voting process to 20 days, close statewide election polls an hour earlier, condense absentee ballot rules and put in place tougher criminal penalties for “rogue” county auditors who fail to follow state rules.
With Senate passage, the bill now heads this week to the Iowa House. During a news conference last week, Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds indicated she would be willing to consider the election changes rapidly making their way to her desk to sign into law.
University of Iowa Health Care optimistic about new North Liberty hospital, despite state rejection
One week after a state council narrowly denied a University of Iowa Health Care application to build a new $230 million hospital in North Liberty, UI Vice President for Medical Affairs Brooks Jackson said the hiccup wasn’t surprising and he expects the project eventually will materialize.
Despite fervent opposition from regional community hospitals and health care providers to the proposed 300,000-square-foot UIHC expansion planned for 60 acres at the southwest corner of Highway 965 and Forevergreen Road, Jackson described the planned facility “as a vital extension of our academic medical center in a community setting that is centered on the patient.”
Despite COVID setback, Iowa economic development chief Debi Durham remains bullish
Back in December 2019, Debi Durham predicted 2020 would be one of the best years of her decade as chief of the Iowa Economic Development Authority. She based her prediction on trade deals that had been signed, positive signals in the farm sector and a rebound in manufacturing. The coronavirus pandemic was a setback, but Durham remains bullish on Iowa’s economy and economic development potential.
Chuck Grassley backs proposed changes to Iowa's election laws
https://www.thegazette.com/subject/news/government/iowa-senator-chuck-grassley-legislature-republican-election-voting-restriction-bill-approves-20210224
States should take a closer look at their election laws to protect against fraud in mail-in voting, Iowa Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley said Wednesday.
Grassley was asked during his weekly conference call with Iowa reporters about an Iowa bill that would shorten early voting, close polls earlier on Election Day and establish stricter standards for absentee ballots, among many other provisions.
This briefing is sponsored in part by Corridor Careers.
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