Majority of Iowa Waterways Exceed Drinkable Nitrate Limit

Posted on May 6, 2016 by Trish Nelson
Iowa Water Quality Information System

Click on the image to go to iowaenvironmentalfocus.org


IowaEnvironmentalFocus.org

KC McGinnis | May 3, 2016

Data from the Iowa Water Quality Information System (IWQIS) shows that more than half of Iowa’s waterways being recorded currently exceed the nitrate threshold of 10 mg/l, with several outpacing levels from previous years.

Weeks of warm spring temperatures followed by a week of consistent rain throughout the state last week may have contributed to a spike in nitrate in Iowa’s waterways as it was washed out of fields where it had previously been applied in fertilizers, either as part of the planting process or in the form of anhydrous ammonia in the fall. Nitrate is a pollutant that must be removed at water treatment plants before the water can be suitable for drinking, sometimes at great cost to the plants. Excess nitrate can also cause the spread of toxic algae in lakes and ponds and contributes to a lack of oxygen in the Gulf of Mexico, causing what’s known as a Dead Zone.

Nitrate levels are well ahead of where they were in previous years by this time. Annual data available through IWQIS shows that the Daily Accumulated Yield (the amount of nitrate per watershed acre) in the North Raccoon River is at a level not reached until late May of 2015 and not until late September of 2014. Similar progress can be seen at the South Fork Iowa River in north central Iowa, where nitrate levels are currently the highest in the state at about double the drinkable limit.

The Iowa Water Quality Information System, developed by the University of Iowa IIHR—Hydroscience & Engineering, has a wealth of data available to the public on Iowa’s water quality.  Click here to go to their website and view a tutorial on how to use the system.

Posted in Environment, Farming, water | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Majority of Iowa Waterways Exceed Drinkable Nitrate Limit

IUB: Stop Rewarding Dakota Access

Posted on May 5, 2016 by Trish Nelson

Bakken Pipeline Proposed RouteChange.org

May 4, 2016 — The IUB has requested that Dakota Access produce justification to begin construction BEFORE the Army Corps of Engineers permit is issued. The company has repeatedly fed us the line that “delays will impact farmers over two growing seasons instead of one.”

If they are genuinely worried about impacting farmers, then they need to do the right thing and wait until next year to commence construction instead of arguing that delays will cause them to work during two growing seasons.

No one asked them to jump the gun on “pre-construction” clearing and cutting. No one asked Dakota Access to stockpile materials throughout our state. They are using these activities to pressure public servants, farmers, and elected officials all over our state. The IUB needs to stop rewarding Dakota Access for behavior that is far from “Iowa Nice”.

Please file a complaint at https://iub.iowa.gov/

Within the form choose “other” and say “Dakota Access is NOT a utility” then tell them that it benefits no one to allow construction to begin early.

Posted in Climate Action, Climate Change, Corporate Greed, Environment, Environment Iowa | Tagged , | Comments Off on IUB: Stop Rewarding Dakota Access

The Real Reason For Republican Voter ID Laws

Posted on May 4, 2016 by Trish Nelson

 

Posted in 2016 Election Campaign, Vote Fraud | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on The Real Reason For Republican Voter ID Laws

Help Democrat Susan Bangert Oust “Goofy Guth”

Posted on May 3, 2016 by Trish Nelson

iowa capitolWouldn’t Iowa be better off with one less gay-bashing, right wing Republican in the legislature?

“Guth himself is an extremely weak incumbent. In his first election in 2012 he won with only 53% of the vote against a Democratic candidate who didn’t have any time to campaign. He’s known locally as “Goofy Guth” for his peculiar personality and hard-right ideology.” – Iowa Starting Line

ALGONA, IA- Democrat Susan Bangert announced today that she will be a candidate for State Senate in Iowa’s 4th Senate District, which includes Emmet, Kossuth, Winnebago, Hancock, and Wright counties. She will seek the Democratic Party nomination at a convention following the primary, and will face off against Republican incumbent Dennis Guth in November.

Bangert has dedicated her life to serving her community, spending all of her professional life as an educator. She worked in area schools for 30 years as a speech pathologist, and also owned her own small business, Great Minds Learning Center. Her time working with Iowa’s students is the primary motivation behind her run.

“Education is such an important part of a child’s life. I have had the joy and privilege of serving the children in our community and shared their excitement when they mastered a new skill. It is such a thrill. I’ve also experienced the heartache of students who struggle academically. It’s agonizing, and I go home at night thinking, how can we do more to help.”

For Susan, helping means running for office so that she can fight to ensure that our schools get the funding they need to help each and every student succeed.

Susan is a lifelong Iowan. She was born and raised in Forest City, the fifth of nine children. Her father was a factory worker, and her mother a homemaker. She is a graduate of the University of Iowa and Truman State University. Susan and her husband, Kevin, have lived in Algona since 1981, where they started a family that now includes three children and four grandchildren. Kevin also served their community, working for 30 years as a police officer, and spending 25 of them as Algona’s Police Chief, before his retirement.

“I don’t claim to have all the answers. But I will promise you that I will always listen to you, and with your help, seek solutions to our common problems.

I’m running for State Senate to bring people together and keep our state a wonderful place to live and work.”

Susan can be reached at (515) 295-9505 or at bangertforsenate@gmail.com. Residents of the 4th district are encouraged to reach out with their ideas for what Susan can do in the Senate to move Iowa forward.

Amber Morrow
Iowa Senate Majority Fund Director
Office: (515) 244-7292
Direct: (515) 974-1694
Cell: (515) 867-3681
5661 Fleur Dr., Des Moines, IA 50321

Posted in 2016 Election Campaign | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Help Democrat Susan Bangert Oust “Goofy Guth”

Did Mason City Councilors Conceal Information From Citizens Re: Prestage Slaughterhouse Project?

Posted on May 2, 2016 by Trish Nelson

cciAction Alert From CCI:

CCI members reviewed and released 218 documents obtained through Freedom of Information Act request regarding proposed Prestage slaughterhouse

Des Moines, IA. Members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement (CCI) are demanding that the Mason City City Councilors vote no on the proposed Prestage slaughterhouse after leaving citizens in the dark.

Following an initial review of public records regarding the proposed Prestage slaughterhouse, which were obtained from the City of Mason City through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, it is clear that city officials went to great lengths to keep the public out of the decision-making process.

Based on this initial review, it is clear to CCI that:

The city intended to rush this project because Prestage is “on a fast track” and the “sooner we get it done the better,” according to an email string between Governor Branstad’s Economic Development Authority and city officials, as well as a handwritten note from an internal city meeting. While city leaders discussed the project for months, the public was deliberately kept in the dark due to concerns about opposition.

The rezoning of the new Southside Gateway Urban Renewal Area was quietly initiated just 12 days after the city was approached about the Prestage slaughterhouse for the purpose of “[providing] TIF incentives for the new pork production plant.” Yet, the city made no mention of Prestage, making it impossible for the public to truly weigh in on the rezoning process.

City councilors are aware of the potential explosion of factory farm construction in North Central Iowa and the problems associated with the factory farm industry. In an email to city councilors, Chad Shrek, President and CEO of the North Iowa Corridor, glossed over the impact of the Prestage slaughterhouse. Yet the same email cites industry analyst Steve Meyer, saying, “filling the five plants (Mason City, Iowa; Coldwater, Mich.; Sioux City, Iowa; Windom, Minn.; and Pleasant Hope, Mo.) being built or remodeled at present would take roughly 9.625 million head of hogs or 8.3 percent more than last year’s slaughter.” This shows that the city knows the implications of the Prestage slaughterhouse to the area.

CCI invites the public to review the 218 FOIA documents, which includes email correspondences, handwritten notes, site plans, project documents, meeting notes, etc. Documents can be viewed online by clicking here.

“This shows that we can’t trust the city councilors. They’ve already made their decision before listening to what the public has to say,” said Dillion Daniels, a Mason City resident. “We’re still calling on them to do the right thing.”

Prestage Farms is a privately held, out-of-state corporation and the nation’s 5th largest pork producer. It currently operates 142 factory farms in Iowa. Its proposed slaughterhouse in Mason City, which would kill up to 22,000 hogs per day, will mean more factory farms and more pollution in Iowa at the expense of independent family farmers, taxpayers, and quality of life.

The Mason City City Council will take its final vote on the proposed Prestage slaughterhouse at its meeting on Tuesday, May 3. CCI members and community members will attend this final hearing to demand that the City Council vote against approving this project.

Posted in Calls to Action, Corporate Greed, Factory Farms (CAFOs) | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Did Mason City Councilors Conceal Information From Citizens Re: Prestage Slaughterhouse Project?

*Release* Iowans to Hold Sen. Grassley Accountable During Recess‏

Posted on May 1, 2016 by Dave Bradley
Filling the vacancy on the Court should be a top priority

Filling the vacancy on the Court should be a top priority

For Immediate Release: April 30, 2016
Contact: Matt Sinovic, (515) 423-0530

Iowans to Hold Sen. Grassley Accountable During Recess
Sen. Grassley to be followed by demonstrations, questions, and a mobile billboard criss-crossing the state

IOWA — Iowans will gather across the state this week, beginning this weekend in Creston and Sioux City, to hold Senator Grassley accountable for his unprecedented obstruction of Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland. A mobile billboard sponsored by Americans United for Change, demonstrations by Why Courts Matter Iowa, and Iowans attending Senator Grassley’s town hall meetings will question why he has refused to hold or schedule a hearing for Garland in the Judiciary Committee, where he serves as Chair.

Grassley’s obstruction is truly unprecedented, as it would be the first time a Supreme Court nominee has been denied a hearing, according to the Senate historian.

This week’s events will be the most recent actions taken by Grassley’s constituents to hold him accountable. During the past few months, Iowans have delivered more than 9,000 petition signatures, 36,000 copies of the U.S. Constitution, held more than 2 dozen events, and used online and social media to tell the Senator: #DoYourJob.

Here are additional details about each event this week:

WHAT: #DoYourJob Mobile Billboard
WHEN: Saturday, April 30, 12:00 PM
WHERE: Southwest Iowa Community College, 1501 W Townline St, Creston, Iowa

WHAT: #DoYourJob Mobile Billboard
WHEN: Sunday, May 1, 12:00 PM
WHERE: Outside Sen. Grassley’s Office, 320 6th St, Sioux City, Iowa

WHAT: #DoYourJob Mobile Billboard
WHEN: Monday, May 2, 12:00 PM
WHERE: Outside Sen. Grassley’s Office, 201 W 2nd St, Davenport, Iowa

WHAT: #DoYourJob Mobile Billboard
WHEN: Tuesday, May 3, 12:00 PM
WHERE: Outside Sen. Grassley’s Office, 531 Commercial St, Waterloo, Iowa

WHAT: #DoYourJob Demonstration! (featuring mobile billboard)
WHEN: Wednesday, May 4, 12:00 p.m.
WHERE: Outside the federal building, 210 Walnut St, Des Moines, Iowa
RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/263562540658270/

WHAT: Sen. Grassley Town Hall (featuring mobile billboard)
WHEN: Thursday, May 5, 3:45-4:45 p.m.
WHERE: Taylor County Farm Bureau Meeting Room, 607 Pollock Blvd, Bedford, Iowa
RSVP: http://bit.ly/grassleytownhalls

WHAT: Sen. Grassley Town Hall
WHEN: Friday, May 6, 8:00-9:00 a.m.
WHERE: Ringgold County Courthouse, 109 West Madison St, Mount Ayr, Iowa
RSVP: http://bit.ly/grassleytownhalls

WHAT: Sen. Grassley Town Hall
WHEN: Friday, May 6, 10:00-11:00 a.m.
WHERE: Leon Community Center, 203 NE 2nd St, Leon, Iowa
RSVP: http://bit.ly/grassleytownhalls

The Why Courts Matter Iowa coalition is focused on ensuring that the federal judiciary is representative of America’s diverse population and ending the judicial vacancy crisis so that every American can have his or her day in court. Why Courts Matter Iowa is led by Iowa Citizen Action Network, Americans for Democratic Action Iowa, Progress Iowa, and One Iowa. For more information visit www.whycourtsmatteriowa.org.

Posted in 2016 Election Campaign, Charles Grassley, Republican Obstruction, SCOTUS | Tagged | Comments Off on *Release* Iowans to Hold Sen. Grassley Accountable During Recess‏

Early Voting For Primaries Started April 28th

Posted on May 1, 2016 by Dave Bradley
do it early so you don't forget

do it early so you don’t forget

We are reminded by the Robb Hogg campaign that early voting for the June 7th primary began last Thursday. The biggest and most important choice this year is picking out a candidate to oppose the quite vulnerable Senator Grassley.

Depending on where you live there may be races for state house seats and senate seats. Races for various county positions are also at stake.

It is very important that democrats vote to pick the best candidates we can. This election is extremely important to put people in office who will stop special interests from controlling our government and our lives.

In the crucial senate race Democrats include the aforementioned Robb Hogg, Patty Judge, Tom Fiegen and Bob Krause.

You can vote early at your county auditor’s office or by filling out an absentee ballot request here

Don’t forget that you must be a Democrat to vote in the Democratic Party primary.

By voting early you also eliminate the problem of forgetting to vote on primary day, June 7th.

Posted in 2016 Election Campaign, Rob Hogg | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Early Voting For Primaries Started April 28th

Grassley Events In Iowa Week Of May 1 – 7

Posted on May 1, 2016 by Dave Bradley
taking some time off from doing nothng in the senate

taking some time off from doing nothng in the senate

Senator Grassley will be making public appearances in three counties along the Iowa Missouri border next week.

If you can, get out and let him know that obstructing the Supreme Court nomination of Judge Merrick Garland goes against Iowans sense of fair play.

Here is his schedule:

Taylor County
Thursday, May 5, 2016
3:45-4:45 p.m.
Taylor County Farm Bureau
Meeting Room
607 Pollock Boulevard
Bedford

Ringgold County
Friday, May 6, 2016
8:00-9:00 a.m.
Ringgold County Courthouse
109 West Madison Street
Mount Ayr

Decatur County
Friday, May 6, 2016
10:00-11:00 a.m.
Leon Community Center
203 NE 2nd Street
Leon

Posted in 2016 Election Campaign, Charles Grassley, Republican Obstruction, Republicn Policy | Tagged | 1 Comment

Sunday Funday: May Day! May Day! Edition

Posted on May 1, 2016 by Dave Bradley
May 1 is also an international day in honor of workers

May 1 is also an international day in honor of workers

May Day! Republicans obstruct at state level!
May Day! Koch money will be big in state races!
May Day! Voting rights in danger across the country!
May Day! Money corrupts politics to the core!
May Day! Climate warming rapidly with no stopping in sight!
May Day! Gun Violence in America out of control!
May Day! Labor unions decline hurting all Americans!
May Day! Income inequality worst since 1929!

May Day used to be an international day to honor workers. Well, as Warren Buffet once said, there has been a class warfare and my class won.

Were you paying attention?

1) Stop Trump! What two campaigns aligned to do just that last week?

2) Which US retailer said their transgendered customers could use the bathroom of their choice, prompting immediate protests?

3) Former Pennsylvania senator Harris Wofford stunned many when he announced that he would be getting married (yesterday) to whom?

4) Prince’s death stunned the world last week. Unknown to most, Prince was a devout practitioner of what Christian sect?

5) What national restaurant chain announced it would close 27 restaurants and layoff 1100 workers?

6) What car maker joined Volkswagen in admitting it falsified test results, in this case on fuel consumption, for 25 years?

7) In the Republican party primary in the 4th congressional district, what major Iowa politician refuses to endorse incumbent Steve King?

8) What legendary Indiana athletic figure said he will campaign for Donald Trump prior to Tuesday’s primary?

9) What legendary labor leader was born on May 1st, 1830 in Cork Ireland? A national muckraking magazine in the US is named in this leader’s honor.

10) Republicans in the Iowa House chose to address the water crisis in Des Moines by doing what?
11) John Boehner insulted Lucifer by comparing what presidential candidate to him?

12) The city of Cleveland settled with the family of Tamir Rice for how much in Rice’s death?

13) Former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert was sentenced to how long in prison in his banking laws case?

14) A fraud case against what presidential candidate was allowed to proceed to trial Tuesday in New York? The case involved a fake “university.”

15) President Obama will be visiting what crisis stricken US city this Wednesday?

16) Prince’s studio in suburban Minneapolis is know as what?

17) Ted Cruz pulled out the woman card and named who as his running mate?

18) Five years ago tomorrow, President Obama came on TV in the evening to announce the death of what man?

19) Tennessee’s governor signed a bill into law that allows counselors to deny service based on what?

20) May 5th, 55 years ago – America stops and watches the launch and 15 minute flight of what man’s suborbital flight?

21) A report Friday highlighted a little known effect of climate change, the deoxygenation of what area of the earth?

22) Looks like a bill to legalize what July 4th favorite will not pass the Iowa legislature this year?

23) Marco Rubio finally dropped his 10 month hold on the nominee for ambassador to what country?

24) In Kenya Friday, officials burned what poached material to send a message that they will not tolerate poaching?

25) The Large Hadron Collider in Bern Switzerland was shut down overnight Thursday due to what?

Enough with the questions! We need answers!

1) Kasich and Cruz. Little late fellows.

2) Target

3) a man, Matthew Charlton, 50 years his junior. Wofford was previously married to a woman.

4) Jehovah’s Witnesses

5) Bob Evans

6) Mitsubishi

7) Gov. Branstad

8) Bobby Knight. Look for a ceremonial chair toss at their joint appearances

9) Mary Harris (Mother) Jones

10) reorganize the Des Moines Water Works Board to cut the urban influence on the board.

11) Ted Cruz

12) $6,000,000

13) 15 months

14) Donald Trump for his Trump University

15) Flint, Michigan

16) Paisley Park

17) Carly Fiorina

18) Osama Bin Laden

19) religious grounds

20) Alan Shepard

21) the oceans

22) fireworks

23) Mexico. Yep, another aspect of Republican obstruction.

24) ivory – some 100 tons (200,000 pounds)

25) a small animal (possibly a weasel) chewed through a power cable.

Cooked weasel for supper again?

Posted in Humor | Comments Off on Sunday Funday: May Day! May Day! Edition

And Now, The Media Must Create A Horse Race!

Posted on April 30, 2016 by Dave Bradley
Another president from New York. How did that work out?

Another president from New York. How did that work out?

Well, it looks to be all over but the shouting. Unless Calgary Ted Cruz actually has some real clout with a god that can actually do something, we can expect to see Donald Trump add Republican Presidential Nominee to his resume of playboy, bully, braggart, heir to a fortune, reality TV star, businessman and litigant in innumerable law suits.

On the other side of the coin Democrats are close to spurning the assault from the left by Senator Sanders. Therefore it looks like in about three months Hillary Clinton will add Democratic Party Presidential Nominee to her resume of First Lady, Senator from New York and Secretary of State.

On paper this looks like a real mismatch. Trump’s resume is really light, but seems to be an accurate reflection of his intellectual ability. In comparison, Clinton’s resume is truly heavy with experience and accomplishments. On paper this is shaping up to be a landslide.

This is not a situation that bodes well for the cable news networks and the echo chamber of Fox News and right-wing radio. News is a profit center for media these days. Nothing brings in eyeballs like close elections especially at the presidential level. Therefore, the closer a Clinton-Trump contest is, the more eyeballs will be looking at the cable news networks. The more eyeballs, the more a network can charge for an ad. Especially all those god-awful “issue oriented” PAC ads that we will be seeing until hell freezes over in November.

When the ends justify the means, we can expect news to be slanted to favor Trump as the cable newsers do whatever they can to nudge the race into a very competitive race. Morality means nothing here. Like in the Godfather “it’s business.” This is yet beyond the vested interest that corporate parents have in trying to get special interest Republicans elected.

We can also expect Republicans in congress to do anything and everything to bring charges against Hillary during the campaign. This will play right into the cable news need to create a a spectacle so they can sell their various potions and attack ads.

Strap yourselves in folks, it is going to be a bumpy ride.

Posted in 2016 Election Campaign, Hillary Clinton, Media Bias, Television | Tagged , , | Comments Off on And Now, The Media Must Create A Horse Race!