Latest news with #GaryLipshutz
The Guardian
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
‘Beer-drinking, working-class populist': JD Scholten, Iowa Democrat challenging senator Joni Ernst
When Iowa senator Joni Ernst now infamously told a town hall audience last month that 'we're all going to die' in response to concerns about proposed cuts to Medicaid in Donald Trump's signature spending bill, her Democratic challenger JD Scholten was on his way to a funeral. Scholten, a state lawmaker and minor league baseball player, said it was at that funeral for a local Democratic activist that his tentative plans to run for Congress for a third time – this time for the upper chamber – suddenly became more certain. 'Sitting there at the funeral, you know, you question life, you question a lot of different things and hearing all the wonderful things that Gary Lipshutz did in his life and the activism, it just inspired me and I thought, I need to do this.' The next day when Ernst doubled down with what Scholten described as a 'very disrespectful 'apology'' – posting a video on social media in which she walked through a cemetery and sarcastically apologized for her comments – 'that's when I was like, game on,' he said. Scholten announced earlier this month that he's challenging Ernst for her seat next year, and one day after that, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report shifted the race from 'solid Republican' to 'likely Republican'. 'I think so much of modern politics is about matching the moment and we just said, you know, this won't be the perfect launch but we'll get it done,' he said. Scholten describes himself as a 'baseball-playing, beer drinking, Bible-reading, working-class proud Prairie populist'. He's upfront about the challenges facing his home state. 'I love where I'm from, but we haven't bounced back since the 2008 economic crisis,' he said. 'The status quo is just not working, both politically and economically for most of Iowa.' Iowans are already struggling with inadequate healthcare, and that's before huge proposed cuts to Medicaid, he said. Ernst made her recent controversial comments in response to a question at a town hall about her support for the US president's signature spending bill, which would likely strip Medicaid coverage from 8.7 million people and leave 7.6 million more Americans uninsured. Scholten said the cuts will also have detrimental effects on rural hospitals and nursing homes in Iowa, which would impact urban hospitals as well. Some in the state have taken to calling her 'Joni Hearse', he said. Ernst has also faced backlash from the right wing of her party in recent months for initially hesitating on confirming the secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth. Scholten is not the first or the only Democrat to announce a challenge to Ernst, who has served in the senate since 2015. On Wednesday, state senator Zach Wahls announced a campaign as well, including a clip of her town hall comments in his launch video. But as Scholten notes, he's the only Democratic candidate who has run for federal office before and who over-performed the Democrat on the top of the ticket by eight-and-a-half points when he won his state house seat last year. He also claims his full-time job – a pitcher on the Sioux City Explorers minor league baseball team – is the best one to prepare him for a messy primary and long campaign. 'A minor league baseball season is a grind. It is a marathon and not a sprint. Every night you have to perform and even on your off days, you have to be good, or you're going to get released.' But more importantly, he said he has insight into a demographic that Democrats have struggled with since the 2024 election: younger men. 'I don't have to hire a consultant to do a focus group. I can ask them and figure out ways to get my message out better so they care about what I'm passionate about just as much as I'm listening to what they're interested in.' When Scholten ran for Congress in 2018 and then 2020, he was known for having a used Winnebago RV he named 'Sioux City Sue' that would criss-cross the district. He said he hopes to recreate the van and get out to all of Iowa's 99 counties.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Amendment passes for South Sioux City redevelopment project
SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (KCAU) — The South Sioux City City Council voted to approve a second amendment to a redevelopment project. Council members unanimously voted yes on the amendment to allow the Hovey Construction to use TIF money on phase 3 of the project. The amendment indicates that TIF bonds or notes will not to exceed $3.049 million for the project. The total estimated costs for phase 1 and 2 is more than $2.8 million each, while phase 3 is estimated to cost more than $7.5 million. City officials said the amendment will also expand the project from its original 21-lot addition near the Siouxland Freedom Park. Story continues below Top Story: 2025 graduation ceremonies for Sioux City Community School District Lights & Sirens: 'The First Musketeer': Sioux City Musketeers founder Gary Lipshutz passes away Sports: Dell Rapids claims SDHSBA Class B title with 5-4 win over Dakota Valley in eight innings Weather: Get the latest weather forecast here 'We made a few changes to it to expand it a little bit, and so we met with Hovey, we met with a committee, and we made the changes we need to make. So it's going to be a little bigger, better basically not a whole lot of changes, but just made it, so we have more options and more flexibility,' said Mayor Rod Koch. Council members also approved a grant application for Siouxland Freedom Park's Rock Shelter Project along with agreeing to pay for half a sign for Freedom Park. The parks' board agreed to pay the other half of the sign, up to $3,250. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Morningside University is now a Part 141 Pilot School
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — Morningside University's Aviation Department has received a new certification. The Part 141 Pilot School certification shows that the school has structured training and a syllabus according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Morningside is excited to announce that they have fully transitioned to FAA Part 141 status. 'This is a tremendous moment for Morningside Aviation and a testament to the dedication of our faculty, staff, and flight training partner, Oracle,' said Dr. Chris Spicer, Provost. 'Achieving full Part 141 certification means our program now meets the FAA's highest standards for safety, curriculum quality, and instructional excellence.' Story continues below Top Story: 2025 graduation ceremonies for Sioux City Community School District Lights & Sirens: 'The First Musketeer': Sioux City Musketeers founder Gary Lipshutz passes away Sports: Dell Rapids claims SDHSBA Class B title with 5-4 win over Dakota Valley in eight innings Weather: Get the latest weather forecast here Now, the school plans to apply for the Restricted Airline Transport Pilot Program. 'Our graduates will now enter the workforce with credentials from a program backed by the FAA's most rigorous standards,' said Dr. Thomas H. Paulsen, Dean of the School of Agriculture and Aviation. 'This elevates our program and provides our students a critical advantage in a competitive and growing aviation industry.' The school said these efforts will help streamline the career of future pilots in their programs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Le Mars to receive $400K for site cleanup
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — The city of Le Mars, Iowa, is getting $400,000 in federal funding for environmental site assessments of contaminated sites. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley's office says the money comes from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, through its Brownfields Assessment Grant Program. Story continues below Top Story: 2025 graduation ceremonies for Sioux City Community School District Lights & Sirens: 'The First Musketeer': Sioux City Musketeers founder Gary Lipshutz passes away Sports: SportsZone Top 5 Plays of the Week (5-26-25) Weather: Get the latest weather forecast here The funds will be used for 18 Phase I & 7 Phase II assessments. The funds will also be used to develop three cleanup plans for the Business 75 Corridor and to support community engagement activities. Those plans include a former Walmart location, a former meat-packing plant, a vacant landscaping company, and an unused hotel. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Midwest Honor Flight still raising money for June 3 trip
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) — Midwest Honor Flight officials said they're still raising money for their upcoming Mission 26, which is set to fly out of Sioux Gateway Airport on June 3. Members of the Thunder on the Missouri reported their 11th event raised almost $11,000 for the nonprofit's trip this June. Story continues below Top Story: 2025 graduation ceremonies for Sioux City Community School District Lights & Sirens: 'The First Musketeer': Sioux City Musketeers founder Gary Lipshutz passes away Sports: SportsZone Top 5 Plays of the Week (5-26-25) Weather: Get the latest weather forecast here The group is waiting on two sponsors, which officials said is expected to increase the amount of money raised to more than $12,000. The event on Sunday had more than 100 vehicles take part, with about 300 people watching the ceremony. When the veterans come home from the Midwest Honor Flight, the public is welcome to post up at the Hawthorne Aviation Hangar to say 'welcome back' to the travelers. You can make signs or bring cards to give to the veterans. However, balloons are not allowed. The group is expected back around 9 p.m. on June 3, and doors open at 7:30 p.m. for the big welcome back. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
