Labor unions representing state workers have filed a complaint with the state Occupational Safety and Health Administration, arguing the lack of a mask mandate at the Iowa Capitol threatens the safety of everyone who enters the building. Iowa Federation of Labor AFL-CIO President Charles Wishman says in a letter sent to House Speaker Pat Grassley and Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver yesterday that their refusal to enact or enforce a mandatory mask policy shows a lack of concern about the coronavirus pandemic. The union and representatives from six other Iowa labor unions filed a complaint yesterday with Iowa OSHA. Whitver and Grassley say they believe they’re taking the needed precautions.
Officials say Iowa will expand the groups who can get a coronavirus vaccine to include people ages 65 and older, among others, starting next month. Gov. Kim Reynolds said yesterday that vaccination eligibility will expand to those 65 and older, K-12 teachers and staff, first responders, and law enforcement personnel in early February even though the federal government hasn’t made good yet on promises to send the state more doses. The state yesterday reported another 1,708 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 51 more deaths from the disease, pushing Iowa’s pandemic death toll to 4,445.
The University of Northern Iowa faculty union still wants to restore items removed from its contract after a change in state law four years ago, but administration officials maintain they don’t have to talk about it. United Faculty made the request yesterday during a virtual initial bargaining session on behalf of the more than 600 full- and part-time employees and adjuncts it represents. UNI is offering a 1% wage increase applied to the existing contract during each of the next two years. A new contract would begin July 1.
A new monthly survey of bankers suggests growing improvement in the economy in rural parts of Iowa and nine other Plains and Western states. But Creighton University economist Ernie Goss says bank CEOs’ biggest fears for 2021 are excessive inflation and higher long-term interest rates. The overall index of January’s Rural Mainstreet Survey improved to 52.0 from December’s 51.6 — the highest reading since before the onset last year of the coronavirus pandemic. Any score above 50 suggests a growing economy.
The Linn County Compensation Board, which recommends salary amounts for Linn County Officials, unanimously approved a 3% raise across the board. The raise would apply to all three county supervisors as well as the county auditor, sheriff, recorder, treasurer, and county attorney. The compensation board’s recommendation still needs to be approved by the board of supervisors.
Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa’s second district is asking the U.S. House to dismiss an election contest filed by her Democrat challenger that claims the six-vote race was wrongly decided. Miller-Meeks argues in a legal motion that the Democrat-controlled chamber should not consider Rita Hart’s appeal because Hart did not contest the outcome fully under Iowa law. An attorney for Miller-Meeks says Hart “should have raised her claims before a neutral panel of Iowa judges rather than before a political process controlled by her own party.” Hart claims she has identified 22 votes that were wrongly excluded and would change the outcome if counted.
Police say the owner of a child care facility in northeast Iowa has been arrested and charged with child endangerment after being accused of injuring a 1-year-old in her care. An employee on Tuesday reported 54-year-old Crystal Bahe of Sumner to authorities. Bahe owns and operates Crystal’s Christian Child Care in Sumner. The facility’s operations have been suspended while police and the Iowa Department of Human Services conduct investigations into the allegation. Officials say families of the children attending the daycare have been notified and children have been moved from the facility.
