*Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds on Monday picked her new lieutenant governor, in announcing Republican State Senator Chris Cournoyer.
Cournoyer was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2018, and she also owns a web design and development business while living in LeClaire, near the Quad Cities. She’s an advocate for STEM education, a substitute teacher, and a former school board president.
Cournoyer says becoming lieutenant governor is a “humbling responsibility.” She says Reynolds’ results-oriented approach to government is isimilar to her own.
“Whether I’m programming software in the private sector, or in a classroom with students or in a committee room crafting legislation, I’m there to do a job. The same is true in the role I’m taking today, which involved advancing the governor’s agenda in any way I possible can," Cournoyer said.
Reynolds says Cournoyer’s wide-ranging expertise, especially in technology, is a major asset. She also says she loves that Cournoyer is a “doer” whose first instinct is to try to fix problems that come up.
“She takes responsibility, she gets her hands dirty, and she does the work. And the people of Iowa couldn’t ask for more in a lieutenant governor, and neither can I," Reynolds said,
Cournoyer is replacing former Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg, who resigned in early September to become the president and CEO of the Iowa Bankers Association.
*In other news, new and increased fees are being implemented in Nebraska for drivers of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
For electric passenger vehicles and trucks the annual fee for vehicles utilizing electric fuel will increase from $75 to $150.
For plug-in hybrid passenger vehicles and trucks a new annual fee of $75 will be applied.
The Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles announced changes to the annual registration fees for the vehicles this week.
The updated fees are aiming to align with legislative mandates and to ensure fair contributions from all vehicle owners toward road maintenance and infrastructure. Gas powered vehicles have their own fee structures.
*A big chunk of Northwest Iowa will be the area in which a laborshed study will be carried out in early 2025.
The Iowa Lakes Corridor region is partnering with Iowa Workforce Development and Iowa Economic Development Authority to complete a Laborshed employment study for the counties of Buena Vista, Clay, Dickinson, and Emmet.
The larger towns in that region are Storm Lake, Spencer, Spirit Lake, and Estherville.
State data analyst Sam Queen on Monday told Siouxland Public Media the purpose of the laborshed study is to measure the availability and characteristics of people to work in various markets.
Laborshed studies are tools for economic development teams and existing or prospective employers to understand the local labor market, make informed expansion and site selection decisions, and to maintain and recruit a high-quality workforce.
The survey questions will cover such topics as employment status, current and desired wages, current and desired benefits, education level, and type of occupation, among other things. This type of study is done every four years.
*Additionally, the number of detected cases of bird flu continue to rise in Northwest Iowa.
The latest incident came with the flu being detected in flocks in Monona and Sioux counties on Monday, after a case in O’Brien County in a flock of commercial layer hens was announced on Saturday.
Those news cases come on the heels of several others in the area over the past week.
Iowa governor Kim Reynolds in a release said the recent bird flu cases do not present an immediate public health concern, and it remains safe to eat poultry products.
If producers suspect signs of highly pathogenic avian influenza in their flocks, they should contact their veterinarian immediately.
