Around a dozen Iowans have returned from a week-long agricultural trade mission to Central America. Bill Tentinger, president of the Iowa Pork Producers Association, says there’s currently a 70% tariff on U.S. pork imports to Panama. But, that will change soon. “I think by 2014, the tariff will start going away and there’s a possibility [...]

The Iowa Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday evening in Governor Terry Branstad’s appeal of a district court ruling that overturned his item veto of part of a bill that appropriated over eight million dollars to keep 36 Iowa Workforce Development offices open. Richard Sapp presented the governor’s case and told the justices that the veto [...]

Iowa College Republicans were handing out free cupcakes at the statehouse today — under one condition. Legislators and anyone else in the capitol who wanted a cupcake had to show a valid photo I.D. to get it. The event was designed by the College Republicans to showcase a proposal from Republican Secretary of State Matt [...]

Iowans who were sexually abused as children would have more time to file a lawsuit against their alleged abuser if a bill pending in the Iowa Senate becomes law. Today, someone who was sexually abused as a child must file a lawsuit against their alleged abuser after they turn 18 — and before they turn [...]

It took a jury less than three hours to deliver a guilty verdict today in the case of a man who was driving drunk and hit a Des Moines police officer outside the Iowa State Fair last year. Keith Terry, a North Carolina resident, now faces up to seven years in prison. Terry was found [...]

Western Iowa residents forced out of their homes by Missouri River flooding may have another option for temporary housing. Iowa Finance Authority spokeswoman, Ashley Jared, says flood victims can apply for a waiver to live in housing usually restricted by the federal government to low-income families. “They don’t have to worry about their income to [...]

A mid-winter survey of Iowa’s bald eagle population finds warmer weather is having no impact on eagle numbers, but there are far fewer of the majestic birds at a western Iowa park than usual. Greg Wagner, spokesman for the Nebraska Game and Parks Division, says the DeSoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge, which straddles the Missouri [...]

Drake basketball coach Mark Phelps says there is a chance junior forward Ben Simons could return to action on Wednesday night when the Bulldogs host Southern Illinois in their home finale. Simons has missed the last five games after being diagnosed with mono. Phelps says Simmons has been practicing without contact and being evaluated, and [...]

The Iowa Supreme Court will hear oral arguments tonight in the appeal of a ruling against the governor over the closing of 36 Iowa Workforce Development offices. A Polk County judge ruled the governor’s line-item veto of money set aside by the legislature to keep the offices open was unconstitutional because the governor attempted to [...]

Anyone who uses e-mail, the Internet or credit cards should be concerned about cyber-security, but Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says new legislation in Congress would be a step backward in keeping our accounts safe. Grassley, a Republican, says a cyber-security bill that’s backed by the Obama administration was introduced in the Senate last week and [...]