News headlines for August 9, 2017
- Democrats have retained an Iowa House seat in a special election. Unofficial results from Tuesday's voting in House District 82 show Phil Miller will replace Democratic Rep. Curt Hanson, who died in June. The special election leaves the makeup of the Iowa House at 59 Republicans and 41 Democrats.
- Iowa's voluntary strategy to prevent runoff from farm fields reaching the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico is progressing — but has a long way to go. This year's dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico, an area starved of oxygen, is the largest ever. Iowa secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey says cover crops, which keep roots in the ground and prevent nutrients and soil from washing away, are a key practice.
- A Republican state representative is urging Governor Bruce Rauner to issue bonds to start paying down the backlog of bills. Representative David Harris, from Arlington Heights, is one of the Republicans who voted with Democrats to raise taxes and pass a budget. He says the state's $14 billion in unpaid bills was a big reason why.
- New options will soon be available for people who want to spend a weekend in a park, but not necessarily "rough it." Wednesday, the Scott County Conservation board will hold a ribbon cutting fortwo new cabins in West Lake Park, adjacent to the Summit Campground.
Forecast
Nice weather continues Wednesday. It will be sunny with a high near 83 degrees. There's a slight chance for showers Thursday. Otherwise, partly sunny and 82. Chances of rain continue overnight Thursday, ahead of sunshine Friday through the weekend, with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s.