Iowa Attorney General Explains Next Steps After Meta Settlement
(Des Moines, IA) — Iowa’s Attorney General is explaining next steps after a multi-state settlement with Meta. Iowa was awarded 126-million dollars as part of a roughly 17-billion dollar multi-state settlement with social media giant Meta. Iowa AG Brenna Bird says the first payment should arrive by the end of this year, with the rest to be paid in yearly installments over the course of a decade. Iowa and several other states sued Meta, alleging the company misrepresented the safety of Instagram and other platforms and knowingly exposed young users to harmful content.
Des Moines Considers Millions in Budget Cuts
(Des Moines, IA) — The City of Des Moines is looking to close a 17-million-dollar budget gap projected for fiscal years 2028 and 2029. City Manager Scott Sanders is proposing about 11-and-a-half-million dollars in cuts and revenue changes, including reductions to programs and staffing. Some of the proposed cuts include the elimination of six police investigators and six patrol officers, which the union says will compromise public safety. Other proposals would end the floodplain buyout program, which helps remove damaged homes in high-risk flood areas, and eliminating the city’s remaining mosquito treatment program. The Des Moines City Council is expected to vote on the recommendations September 14th.
Skydiver Injured After Crashing Into Central Iowa Field Expected To Fully Recover
(Knoxville, IA) — A skydiver that was injured after crashing into a central Iowa field last weekend is expected to fully recover. Des Moines Skydivers says the injured skydiver, Jessica Wiederholt, became tangled with another diver’s parachute before the crash. Police were called to the Knoxville field to find Wiederholt in critical condition and she was flown to a Des Moines hospital. She has since been discharged and is recovering from home.
Central Iowa Coach Charged With OWI Suspended From Two Games
(Waukee, IA) — The head football coach for Waukee High School has been suspended from coaching the first two games of the season. Coach Gabriel Bakker [[ BAKER ]] was arrested last week for operating under the influence, first offense. His blood-alcohol level was nearly three times the legal limit. A statement from the school district says Assistant Coach Matt Jeter will coach the games, scheduled for Friday and September 4th. The district says it’s releasing the information with the permission of Coach Bakker, whose two-game suspension represents 25-percent of the regular season.
