DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - A group of state Republican lawmakers
from areas hit hard by severe weather this year is calling for a special
legislative session to help Iowa recover. They're also offering
proposals for that effort, including canceling the construction of
a new prison in Fort Madison.
FORT DODGE, Iowa (AP) - The president of Iowa Central Community
College in Fort Dodge is resigning. The Fort Dodge Messenger
reports that Robert Paxton will step down in the wake of a
controversial photo that raised questions about his conduct. The
newspaper says Mark Crimmins, the president of the college's board
of trustees, met with Paxton yesterday and both parties agreed on
Paxton's departure.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Iowa Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson will
be at the Democrat National Convention in Denver tonight, where she
lead the Pledge of Allegiance. That's according to Barack Obama's
presidential campaign. Obama is to accept the nomination tonight.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - A second supervisor arrested after a
massive immigration raid at the Agriprocessors Inc. plant in
Postville has pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the harboring
of undocumented immigrants. Martin De La Rosa-Loera appeared in
federal court on Wednesday in Cedar Rapids. He was arrested in July
following a raid at the kosher meatpacking plant two months
earlier.
DENVER (AP) - Democratic lawmakers say they believe Congress can
pass a package of financial flood aid by the end of September. U.S.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin
told the Des Moines Register on Wednesday that they are committed
to taking up disaster relief when Congress reconvenes after the
August recess.
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - A group of GOP house members from areas
wracked by severe weather this summer say a special session of the
Legislature is necessary to help spur recovery. The lawmakers are
also sharply criticizing Gov. Chet Culver. Rep. Kraig Paulsen, the
House minority whip, says Culver is forcing the state to play a
"guessing game" about the status of a special session. He says
constituents need help now and can't afford to wait.
