Gov. Reynolds names judge to Iowa Supreme Court
July 27, 2022 GMTDES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Kim Reynolds named David May to the Iowa Supreme Court on Wednesday, making her fifth appointment to the seven-member court.
Reynolds chose May from among three finalists for a position that became vacant with the retirement of Justice Brent Appel.
New US ambassador arrives in Beijing amid tense relations
March 6, 2022 GMTBEIJING (AP) — New U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Burns has arrived to take up his post in Beijing amid heightened tensions between China and the United States over Taiwan, trade, human rights and the war in Ukraine.
Judge: Iowa must pay union $2 million in dues deduction case
February 11, 2022 GMTDES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state court judge has ordered the state of Iowa to pay a labor union representing state workers nearly $2 million in a five-year legal dispute centered on whether the state could continue to deduct union dues from state worker paychecks after a state law change in 2017.
Branstad to head Iowa-based US-China business advisory firm
December 21, 2021 GMTDES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Terry Branstad, Iowa's former governor and the former U.S. ambassador to China, has formed a company to consult with business leaders and investors on how to conduct business between the U.S.
Iowa governor voting in Madison County shows she has moved
November 2, 2021 GMTDES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — With a photo posted on social media, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Tuesday unofficially announced she is now a resident of Madison County.
Reynolds posted the photo of her feeding her ballot into a voting machine and noted she had voted that morning in Madison County.
Bousselot wins special election to represent Ankeny in House
September 15, 2021 GMTANKENY, Iowa (AP) — Voters in the fast-growing suburb of Ankeny elected Republican Mike Bousselot to the Iowa House on Tuesday, filling a seat left vacant after the incumbent died in July.
Bousselot beat Democrat Andrea Phillips by 51.5% to 48.3% for the House District 37 seat that was previously held by Republican Rep.
Court overturns gay bias verdict against ex-Iowa governor
June 30, 2021 GMTIOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Overturning a landmark $1.5 million jury verdict, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that former Gov.
Judge again blocks Branstad’s deposition in agent’s firing
April 21, 2021 GMTIOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — For a second time, a judge has ruled that former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad does not have to testify in a long-running lawsuit brought by an investigator who was fired in 2013 shortly after filing a complaint about Branstad’s state vehicle speeding...
AP Interview: US ambassador defends tough approach to China
September 29, 2020 GMTBEIJING (AP) — The departing U.S. ambassador on Tuesday defended a tough approach to China that has riled relations between the world's two largest economies, saying the Trump administration has made progress on trade and that he hopes that will extend to other areas...
Terry Branstad, US ambassador to China, to leave next month
September 15, 2020 GMTBEIJING (AP) — The U.S. ambassador to China will step down early next month, ending a three-year tenure marked by a trade war and increasingly bitter relations between the world's two largest economies...
As Trump attacks, China sees a worrying trend for its future
July 16, 2020 GMTBEIJING (AP) — On Monday, it was the South China Sea. On Tuesday, it was Hong Kong. On Wednesday, Huawei and human rights...
Iowa to pay nearly $500,000 more in Branstad case fees
September 30, 2019 GMTDES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A panel of top state elected officials approved on Monday nearly half a million dollars more to cover attorney fees for former Gov. Terry Branstad's continued fight against a jury verdict that found he discriminated against a gay former state executive.
US ambassador raises concerns during rare Tibet visit
May 25, 2019 GMTBEIJING (AP) — The U.S. ambassador to China urged Beijing to engage in substantive dialogue with exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama during a visit to the Himalayan region over the past week, the U...
State’s costs in gay discrimination lawsuit reaches $1.2M
February 11, 2019 GMTDES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The state's bill for defending a lawsuit against a former official who claims he was discriminated against because he's gay has surpassed $1...
China summons US envoy to protest detention of Huawei exec
December 10, 2018 GMTBEIJING (AP) — China summoned the U.S. ambassador to Beijing on Sunday to protest Canada's detention of a senior executive of Chinese electronics giant Huawei at Washington's behest and demand the U...
AP FACT CHECK: 3 Iowa stores closed under Fred Hubbell
August 23, 2018 GMTRepublican Gov. Kim Reynolds campaign launched an ad critical of Democratic opponent Fred Hubbell's management of a once-popular Iowa department store chain called Younkers...
Discrimination lawsuit against Branstad set for January 2019
February 28, 2018 GMTDES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A judge has set a trial date for a lawsuit filed by a former state official who alleges he was pressured by former Iowa Gov...
‘Farm boy’ from Iowa tasked with bridging US-China divisions
June 28, 2017 GMTBEIJING (AP) — A self-described "farm boy from Iowa" who befriended China's president three decades ago is tasked with smoothing relations between the world's two largest economies amid increased unpredictability in American foreign diplomacy under President Donald Trump...
Governor scraps Lee County wage hike
April 3, 2017 GMTOnly two days after the Lee County Board of Supervisors approved the third reading of an ordinance that would increase the minimum wage to $8.20 in the county, Gov. Terry Branstad signed a preemptive bill which makes it illegal for counties to set wages.
Lawmakers OK standard minimum wage; some will see pay cuts
March 28, 2017 GMTDES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Republican-controlled Iowa Legislature on Monday approved a bill that would prohibit local governments from raising minimum hourly wages above the state level, effectively cutting some existing worker wages — an unusual result compared to other so-called pre-emption laws around the country...
Defunding Planned Parenthood could harm Iowa social program
January 15, 2017 GMTDES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa's governor has proposed cutting funding for needy kids as part of his plan to defund Planned Parenthood, a rare step even as Republican-dominated states grapple with whether to sacrifice federal dollars in order to lessen the organization's influence.
Iowa Republicans have ‘decent’ shot at winning both houses of Legislature
November 6, 2016 GMTIowa Republicans are hoping for a good election night that could hand them total control of the state’s legislative and executive branches for the first time in nearly two decades.
To do that they need to retain their majority in the House and flip three Senate seats — something that could happen, according to Dennis Goldford, political science professor at Drake University.
Hatch faults Branstad for nixing $1M solar grant
July 21, 2014 GMTIOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jack Hatch criticized Gov. Terry Branstad on Monday for giving up a $1 million solar energy grant, saying the governor is letting powerful utility companies write his energy policy.
APNewsBreak: Iowa nixes solar grant after lobbying
July 17, 2014 GMTIOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Gov. Terry Branstad's administration surrendered a $1 million grant designed to make Iowa a nationwide leader in solar energy after electric utilities lobbied for major changes, emails show.
GOP establishment choice wins Iowa’s House contest
June 21, 2014 GMTURBANDALE, Iowa (AP) — In a setback for the tea party and libertarian forces in Iowa, establishment Republicans on Saturday nominated their candidate for a House seat in one of the nation's most competitive congressional districts.
Branstad signs cannabis oil, HIV bills
May 31, 2014 GMTDES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad signed a number of bills on Friday, enacting into law significant policy changes for the state including a bill that legalizes the use of cannabis oil to treat severe epilepsy.
Rubio makes first postelection trip to Iowa
November 18, 2012 GMTALTOONA, Iowa (AP) — Sen. Marco Rubio said the way to turn around the nation's struggling economy is not to raise taxes on the wealthiest individuals, but rather to make "poor people richer" as he visited this politically important state in a trip certain to stoke speculation about Rubio's plans.