From the KCRG-TV9 Newsroom:
Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson is making the case Congress can move forward with more spending cuts. On Thursday, the U.S. House passed President Donald Trump’s budget blueprint in a narrow vote, passing 216-214 with all four of Iowa’s Representatives voting in favor of it. It would mean more tax dollars for the military, border security and immigration enforcement and less money for programs like Medicaid and food assistance. Hinson says she not only wants to extend the current Trump tax cuts, but hopes to make them even bigger.
NewBo City Market in Cedar Rapids says it is again moving forward with its expansion project after nearly $2 million in federal grants was released. NewBo put the project on hold in February, citing a pause on federal funding. But NewBo now says it faces higher construction costs. The Market already raised more than $4 million, but now says another $1.25 million is needed to complete the project. A groundbreaking is set for September.
Iowa City now plans to start construction on its new city pool next month. The City approved the work with a private contractor for $13.7 million. Construction of the new City Park Pool alone will cost $13.7 million, but it will cost at least $2.5 million extra to pay for architects, plus pool and park equipment. The City says those costs are included in its budget so there will not be an increase in taxes.
University of Iowa Health Care will hold a ribbon cutting today for its new campus in North Liberty. The facility will primarily focus on orthopedics and sports medicine. But there will also be a 24-hour emergency room on site. There will be an open house for the community to see the campus this Saturday, and it plans to officially open April 28.
Another case of bird flu was detected in Iowa. State ag officials and the USDA announced a case of avian influenza was detected in a backyard flock of mixed species birds in Hardin County. It’s the seventh detection of bird flu in Iowa’s domestic bird flock so far this year.
