Iowa Among 17 States in Egg Price-Fixing Settlement
(Des Moines, IA) — Iowa is part of a Department of Justice price-fixing settlement with some of the nation’s largest egg producers. More than 50 million eggs will be donated to food banks and nonprofit organizations, and producers will pay 17 states nearly three-and-a-half million dollars under the settlement. A federal investigation revealed the egg producers illegally coordinated for years to influence a daily price index, which increased egg prices for retailers.
New Iowa Law Targeting Habitual Offenders Starting July 1
(Des Moines, IA) — Iowa’s “Three Strikes” law takes effect today, creating a new point system for repeat offenders. House File 2542 requires anyone convicted of a Class C or D felony, after two prior felony convictions, to serve a minimum of seven years in prison without the possibility of parole. The law also increases the maximum prison sentence for habitual offenders from 15 to 20 years. The law is one of many new laws set to take effect July 1st.
Iowa Supreme Court Rules Executive Can Be Personally Named In GFS Lawsuit
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa Supreme Court rules that an executive can be personally named in a lawsuit against his company. The State of Iowa is suing Global Fiberglass Solutions, arguing that the company failed to clean up and recycle thousands of wind turbine blades after having been hired to do so by two major wind turbine companies. The state’s lawsuit says, as a result, roughly 13-hundred blades sat in stockpiles for years at sites in Ellsworth, Newton, and Atlantic. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled that GFS executive Donald Lilly will be personally named in the case alongside the company.
Wells Fargo Announces Additional West Des Moines Layoffs
(West Des Moines, IA) — More layoffs are coming to Wells Fargo. The Jordan Creek campus is eliminating 43 positions effective August 22nd. The notice was posted on the Iowa Workforce Development website. It did not clarify which department. The bank has eliminated 261 jobs in the Des Moines metro so far this year.
WalletHub: Iowans Spend 10th-Lowest Percentage Of Their Income On Child Care Costs
(Undated) — Iowans are in the top ten for spending the lowest-percentage of their income on child care, according to a new study. WalletHub compared all fifty states using average child care prices and median family incomes. Iowa families rank tenth for spending the least, with married couples making a median income spending about nine-percent of it on day care costs. Single-parents spend about 30 percent of a median income on day care. Nebraskans, Californians, and New Yorkers spend the most of their income on child care costs.
Des Moines City Council Approves Federal Grant For Soccer Stadium
(Des Moines, IA) — A federal grant will be used to wipe out lease payments for Iowa’s first professional soccer stadium. The Des Moines City Council will voted to approve a 16-point-four-million-dollar grant that will be given to the Iowa Soccer Development Foundation for the planned soccer stadium and public plaza. The grant will be used to make lease payments back to the city over 25 years.
