From our inbox:

Here are a few items from CCI’s weekly organizing update. Click here to join, donate or sign up for updates.

Everyday Iowans know what’s best for our communities. And we don’t take too kindly to bullies and corporate power coming to town and telling us what to do.

And yet Bruce Rastetter and his money-hungry Summit Carbon Solutions just can’t seem to help themselves, as they’ve now sued a third county over their CO2 pipeline ordinance protecting their community.

But here’s the thing – we’re not going to get bullied for doing what’s best for the people and places we love. And that’s exactly what CCI members and residents in St. Ansgar did last week when they applauded their city council for filing an objection to the pipeline with the Iowa Utilities Commission.

Together we’ll keep at it until it’s impossible for Bruce Rastetter to ignore us. If you’re interested in getting your city council to file an objection, drop us a line and we’ll be in touch.

Kudos to the folks in St. Ansgar! Read on for more ways to speak up and speak out. Our communities before corporate greed,

Matthew Covington
Strategic Operations Director

TAKE ACTION

Tell the EPA to force Iowa DNR to do its job, report the truth

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has told the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that seven impaired water segments should be added to the 2024 Iowa Impaired Waters list due to high nitrate levels that are toxic to human health. But the DNR is dragging its feet and failing to comply.

If impaired water segments are being left off the list, it creates misleading data that can be harmful to people and the environment. We need the Iowa DNR to be held to high standards and strong regulations.

December 3: Public School Strong

Governor Reynolds and Republican lawmakers expanded their majorities in the state this election, so they may feel emboldened to do more on education in the upcoming legislative session. But we also saw voters – many in red states – reject private voucher scams and politicizing school boards. This tells us that despite the political makeup at our statehouse if we stay organized we can, and will, win.

It’s as important as ever to build power at the local level to protect and strengthen our public schools. To make an impact, we want to ramp up our Public School Strong presence across the state.

Join us on Dec 3 at 6pm to learn how you can get involved with a statewide effort to build our power to win honest, equitable, and fully funded public education!

What We’re Reading

These are a few links that are informing our work – we’ve shared them so that you can read, too!

Judge says Iowa DNR should consider environment, public health when weighing water permits  [Des Moines Register] The woman whose crusade gave today’s book-banning moms a blueprint [Time]

Project 2025 is coming for our wetlands [Bleeding Heartland]

Trump may start his second term with a stunning power grab [Vox]

Why we’re challenging Bayer and the chemical industry (by CCI board chair Barb Kalbach) [Marshalltown Times Republican]