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Restaurant inspection update: Moldy buns, roaches in garlic

on Sun, 02/23/2025 - 19:57   by Anonymous

by Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch
February 21, 2025

State, city and county inspectors have cited Iowa restaurants and stores for hundreds of food-safety violations during the past six weeks, including moldy bread, long-expired food, rodent droppings and filthy kitchens.

The findings are reported by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing, which handles food-establishment inspections at the state level. Listed below are some of the more serious findings that stem from inspections at Iowa restaurants, stores, schools, hospitals and other businesses.

The state inspections department reminds the public that their reports are a “snapshot” in time, and violations are often corrected on the spot before the inspector leaves the establishment.

Bill shielding pesticide companies from some lawsuits advances in Iowa Senate

on Fri, 02/21/2025 - 01:22   by Anonymous

by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch
February 19, 2025

A bill that would shield pesticide companies from label-related lawsuits, provided the company adhered to federal label regulations, advanced from the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday.

Senate Study Bill 1051 passed 11-7, with opposing senators arguing the bill protects companies rather than Iowans. 

Sen. Mike Bousselot, who chaired the bill’s subcommittee, said the bill was a “common sense” piece of legislation.

“It is the simple premise that someone should not be allowed to sue someone else … for failing any duty to warn, when that manufacturer followed every federal rule and regulation required to warn,” Bousselot said. 

QC Times parent company loses nearly $17 million in 1st quarter; print ad revenue plunges 19 percent

on Sat, 02/08/2025 - 04:02   by news

Lee Enterprises, Inc. – owner of the Quad City Times and Dispatch/Argus – hopes increasing digital advertising and subscription revenues will eventually offset the steady decline in the media company's print ad and subscription revenue.

But the latest quarterly report shows the difficulty in jumping from print to online revenue streams.

The company lost $16.9 million for the first quarter as print ad revenues plunged more than 19 percent compared to the same period a year ago. A year ago, the company lost $1.6 million during the first quarter.

U.S. Senate Republicans (including Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley) have little to say about Trump pardons of 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants

on Wed, 01/22/2025 - 20:05   by Anonymous

by Ashley Murray, Iowa Capital Dispatch
January 21, 2025

WASHINGTON — Barring a few exceptions, Senate Republicans on Tuesday largely deflected or altogether avoided questions about President Donald Trump’s broad clemency for over 1,500 defendants who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 — including many who beat police officers, smashed windows and trashed offices as lawmakers hid in designated safe areas.

Just hours into his second term Monday, Trump commuted the sentences of 14 felons, including leaders of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers.

The president granted a “full, complete and unconditional pardon to all other individuals convicted of offenses related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.” He also dismissed any pending indictments.

The pardons did not come as a surprise. As Senate Republicans were cheering for Trump on his march to electoral victory, the former and now current president exalted the “hostages” and “patriots” who injured more than 140 law enforcement officers and caused north of $2.8 million in damage to the Capitol, according to the Department of Justice.

EPA confirms additions to Iowa impaired waters list

on Tue, 01/14/2025 - 21:17   by Anonymous

by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch
January 13, 2025

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency affirmed its November decision to add seven additional segments to Iowa’s list of impaired waters, following a public comment period. 

EPA announced in November it had partially approved the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ assessment of surface water quality in the state and called for the inclusion of additional segments on the Cedar, Des Moines, Iowa and South Skunk rivers, based on measured levels of nitrate.

Per EPA documentation, a vast majority of the public comments submitted were in favor of the EPA decision. DNR, which monitors and compiles the impaired waters list every two years, per the Clean Water Act, called EPA’s assessment “illegal” since nitrate is not officially listed as a “toxic pollutant” under the Clean Water Act.

Lee Enterprises, Inc. earnings plummet in 4th quarter; company loses $28.5 million in fiscal 2024

on Fri, 12/13/2024 - 06:08   by news

Lee Enterprises, Inc. maintains its transition from a print to digital revenue platform is succeeding, but the Davenport-based media company's overall revenues and earnings continue to slide.

The company reported it lost $1.69 per share ($10 million) for the fourth quarter ended Sept. 29, compared to a loss of 32 cents per share ($1.98 million) for the same quarter a year ago.

For the full year, the company reported it lost $25.8 million ($4.35 per share) compared to a loss of $5.3 million (90 cents per share) for fiscal 2023.

Iowa attorney general among Republican AGs suing BlackRock, other investment firms over ‘woke’ climate action efforts

on Sat, 12/07/2024 - 01:40   by Anonymous

by Allison Kite, Iowa Capital Dispatch
December 6, 2024

Major institutional investors have artificially lowered coal production and raised energy costs for consumers in an effort to lower global carbon emissions, a federal lawsuit claims.

Republican attorneys general in 11 states – including Iowa's Attorney General Breana Bird – filed a joint lawsuit last month against BlackRock, Vanguard and State Street, claiming the organizations’ efforts to pressure coal companies to lower carbon emissions and respond to climate change amount to anti-competitive business practices.

All three companies, the lawsuit says, have acquired significant shares in the largest publicly traded coal companies to coerce their management.

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