State Auditor Mary Mosiman has issued a report concluding state officials privatized the Medicaid program in 2016 “without establishing a reliable methodology for calculating cost savings.” Mosiman’s updated calculation shaves about $14.6 million off the savings estimate the Reynolds Administration released in May. Governor Terry Branstad hired three private companies to manage Medicaid on April […]Powered by WPeMatico
Iowa kids from Chariton to Washington to Davenport are getting an extra day of Thanksgiving vacation as many schools across the southeastern third of the state canceled classes due to heavy snow. Sunday’s blizzard dumped 6-12 inches of snow on much of the region, but meteorologist Brooke Hagenhoff, at the National Weather Service, says some […]Powered by WPeMatico
The UNI Panthers received an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament after winning the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Saturday, Nov. 24. The Panthers will play Pepperdine in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The first round will be held at the University of Wisconsin Thursday, Nov. 29. “It is great place to play volleyball […]Powered by WPeMatico
Key state policymakers, including Iowa’s Republican governor, do not expect to push the 2019 Iowa legislature to pass a ban on all abortions in the state. “I don’t have any intention of doing that until we see what happens with the courts,” Reynolds told Radio Iowa. In May, Governor Kim Reynolds signed a law to […]Powered by WPeMatico
Thanksgiving celebrates the harvest season and this year the harvest includes a new crop that’ll soon be legally sold in Iowa for the first time. Medical marijuana products made from the plants grown in Iowa will be available for the first time starting December 1st. MedPharm Iowa’s Joe Kerner is the head cultivator of the […]Powered by WPeMatico
It’s smart policy for Iowans to keep their smartphones locked with a password or a fingerprint, according to consumer protection advocate Michelle Reinen. She says having an unlocked phone is one step from having your identity stolen. Even if unlocking the phone takes a few extra seconds, Reinen says it’s worthwhile to secure it. Reinen […]Powered by WPeMatico
The annual financial review of IPERS — the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System — was completed last week. IPERS CEO Donna Mueller says the report shows the pension system had $32.3 billion in assets on June 30, 2018. “That’s after paying $2.1 billion in benefits for the past fiscal year. Of that amount, $1.8 million was paid […]Powered by WPeMatico
Iowa Lottery CEO Terry Rich says due to recent “jackpot runs” for Powerball and Mega Millions, Iowa Lottery sales and profits are running about a month ahead of projections. “We’re still, per capita, are in the middle in the number of dollars spent per person,” Rich says. “You go to the east coast, it’s probably […]Powered by WPeMatico
The chief supplier of food to pantries in eastern Iowa is preparing for a huge boost in donations of milk thanks to tariffs on U.S. farm products. Mike Miller, president and CEO of the River Bend Food Bank in Davenport, says the government is buying milk that would have been sold overseas and donating it […]Powered by WPeMatico
