Local government

County auditors are coordinating an election like no other: a surge in voter turnout, record-high interest in absentee voting, all in the midst of a pandemic. Local election officials are retooling their operations to handle these changes.

The Sioux City Council voted Monday to create a committee that will advise it on diversity, equity and inclusion. In the aftermath of the death of George Floyd by Minneapolis police in late May, the city and the local NAACP chapter thought of an idea to have this kind of committee.

The Sioux City Council is paving the way for a possible ban on fireworks while acknowledging that enforcement would be difficult.

The City of Dubuque has passed its own face covering mandate, under legal guidance from the city attorney that the order is enforceable, despite the governor's opinion that such local measures are moot.

The Johnson County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved a mandate on face coverings, which the county attorney has said will be enforceable, unlike a previous resolution.

The Siouxland District Board of Health wants to approve a countywide cloth face mask recommendation to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus but stopped short of a mandate.

Mayors in Linn County are joining with the county's board of supervisors and board of health in urging Gov. Kim Reynolds to let them issue local mask mandates.

The Sioux City Council on Monday unanimously approved a plan to buy 120 body cameras for its police department.

The Sioux City Police Department will bring forward a proposal to the city council on Monday requesting body cameras and other related equipment to enhance police accountability and public trust.

Iowa’s Latino commission members work for hours every month to give the governor insight into their community. At the end of each year, they list multiple proposals to solve problems Latinos in the state face. But they say their recommendations seem to fall through the cracks of government.