Latest Iowa Headlines

All the headlines from our Iowa Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Unions File OSHA Complaint Over No Mask Mandate at Iowa Capitol

Jan 25 2021 // A labor union representing state workers has filed a complaint with the state Occupational Safety and Health Administration, arguing that a lack of a mask mandate at the Iowa Capitol threatens the safety of everyone who...

First Mainstreet Acquires Nissen-Caven Insurance, Tyler Insurance in Iowa

Jan 14 2021 // First MainStreet Insurance (FMSI), an affiliate of TrueNorth Companies, has acquired two Iowa-based agencies: Nissen-Caven Insurance and Tyler Insurance Services.Nissen-Caven Insurance joined FMSI on Nov. 1, 2020. Since...

World Insurance Associates Acquires Two Rivers Insurance in Iowa

Jan 12 2021 // World Insurance Associates LLC (WIA) has acquired Two Rivers Insurance Company Inc. (TRIC) of Burlington, Iowa.TRIC includes Two Rivers Insurance Services (TRIS) and Employee Benefits Systems (EBS). Terms of the Dec. 31,...

Repairs Planned for Iowa Train Depot Damaged in Derecho

Jan 8 2021 // Officials in Marion, Iowa are set to approve a plan to repair the city’s historic train depot that was heavily damaged in last summer’s devastating derecho.The Marion City Council received a motion this week...

Iowa Supreme Court Bars Punitive Damages in Excessive Force Cases

Jan 5 2021 // The Iowa Supreme Court on Dec. 31 severely limited the financial damages that can be awarded for injuries and deaths caused by state police officers who are found to have used excessive force.The court ruled 6-1 that...

Tyson not Shielded by Order Keeping Meatpackers Open, Iowa Judge Rules

Jan 4 2021 // A federal judge has rejected an argument by Tyson Foods that is not liable in the death of a worker in Iowa because it was following federal guidance when it kept meatpacking plants open during the coronavirus...

Outlooks Revised to Negative for Iowa’s United Fire Group, Property/Casualty Subs

Dec 21 2020 // AM Best has revised the outlooks to negative from stable and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) of “a” of the property/casualty...

Iowa Police Chief Sues Law Enforcement Academy Over Toxic Gas Leak in 2018

Dec 17 2020 // A police chief is suing the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy for injuries he suffered from a 2018 carbon monoxide leak that exposed dozens of recruits to unsafe levels of the toxic gas.Justin Lyman, police chief in the...

Storm Lake, Iowa, Tyson Plant Sued Over Worker’s COVID-19 Death

Dec 17 2020 // The family of a man who died from COVID-19 while working at a Tyson pork plant in Storm Lake, Iowa, has filed a lawsuit accusing the company and several plant executives of gross negligence.Michael Everhard, 65, of Fonda,...

Tyson Fires 7 Managers at Iowa Plant Over Betting on COVID-19 Cases

Dec 17 2020 // Tyson Foods Inc. said on Wednesday it had fired seven managers at an Iowa pork plant after investigating allegations that they took bets on how many employees would catch COVID-19.The independent investigation, led by...

4 Injured in Explosion, Fire at Iowa School Bus Garage

Dec 16 2020 // Four people were injured on Dec. 14 in an explosion and fire at a school bus garage in Waterloo, Iowa, authorities said.The explosion occurred at the School Bus Sales garage shortly before 1 p.m. Four people were taken to...

Iowa Insurance Agent Fined $18K, Loses License Over Fraudulent, Dishonest Practices

Dec 15 2020 // An Iowa insurance agent has been ordered to pay $18,000 in civil penalties and relinquish her producer’s license over fraudulent and dishonest business practices, regulators say.The Iowa Insurance Division cited...

$76K Water Pollution Fine Against Iowa Cattle Feedlot Upheld

Dec 11 2020 // An administrative judge has approved a $76,000 fine against an Iowa cattle feedlot for violating the Clean Water Act by discharging polluted wastewater into the East Fork of the Des Moines River.Tony and Joshua Brown, of...

Labor, Civil Rights Groups’ Lawsuit Claims Iowa Failed to Protect Workers

Nov 16 2020 // Eight Iowa labor and civil rights groups have filed a federal complaint alleging the state has failed to protect workers in meatpacking, dairy, construction, transportation, health care facilities, nursing homes and other...

Iowa Agent Charged with Insurance Fraud

Nov 10 2020 // An Iowa insurance agent has been charged with one count each of Insurance Fraud (Class D Felony), Fraudulent Sales Practices – Over $10,000 (Class C Felony), Theft – 2nd degree (Class D Felony), Fraudulent Practices...

Iowa Insurance Claims from August Derecho Top $1.6B

Nov 9 2020 // As of Nov. 2, 2020, more than 200,000 claims arising from the Aug. 10 derecho windstorm have been reported in Iowa, insurance regulators say. Of those, nearly 160,000 claims totaling more than $1.6 billion have been paid...

OnVue to Provide Online Iowa Insurance Producer Exams

Nov 6 2020 // Iowa insurance producer examinations will be available in an online format through OnVUE online proctoring by PearsonVUE beginning Nov. 12, 2020, the state insurance division announced.“This new process will help...

Universal Insurance Holdings Subsidiary Now Writing Homeowners Insurance in Iowa

Nov 2 2020 // Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Co. (Universal Property), a subsidiary of Florida-based Universal Insurance Holdings Inc., has begun writing homeowners insurance policies in Iowa. With the company’s entry...

Iowa Orders Hole in Won, Affiliates to Stop Selling Insurance

Nov 2 2020 // The Iowa Insurance Division has ordered Hole in Won LLC, Kevin Kolenda, Hole In Won.com, Hole in Won.com Worldwide, Golf Marketing Worldwide, Compliance HIW, and Amanda Penrose (respondents) to cease acting as an insurer...

Black Man Shot by Iowa Police Settles Suit for $400K

Oct 26 2020 // A Black man who was shot by police outside an Iowa nightclub five years ago and alleged he was singled out because of his race has agreed to a nearly $400,000 settlement.Jovan Darnell Webb, 33, was wounded while attempting...