Latest news with #Muscatine
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Muscatine attorney Taylor Wettach launches bid for Iowa's 1st Congressional District
Taylor Wettach, a Democrat from Muscatine, is positioning himself as an advocate for Iowans who will "not bow to political leaders" as he launches his bid to unseat Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks in Iowa's 1st Congressional District. Wettach on Tuesday, July 8, announced his campaign to oust Miller-Meeks, 69, joining an increasingly crowded Democratic field vying for southeastern Iowa's 1st District seat. It is expected to be among the most closely contested congressional races in the U.S. in the 2026 midterm elections. "If people want change, you have to fight for it," Wettach told the Des Moines Register. "Iowans deserve leaders who will fight for our communities, not bow to political leaders, but to win, we need candidates who are willing to try something new and are able to appeal to both urban areas of our district, but also the rural areas ... so that's why I'm running for Congress." "It's time for a new generation to step up for a better Iowa and stand up against the damage being done to our economy, our health care, benefits for seniors, veterans, and making sure we have a society that works for all of us." The 34-year-old is a seventh-generation Iowan from Muscatine who has worked as an international trade and national security lawyer and still lives in the city with his wife, Megan Yao. He said he learned early from his parents, Sandy and David Wettach — previously a preschool teacher and family doctor, respectively — about public service. "I'm excited to fight for my home," Wettach said. "I'm excited to fight for the district where my wife and I hope to raise our kids and plan to raise our kids. And excited to listen to folks and try and do better than Miller-Meeks and providing for people." Wettach recently quit his job after his former employer, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, was one of five law firms that the Associated Press reported agreed to provide $125 million in free legal work to the Trump administration for causes including veterans affairs and combating antisemitism to avoid punitive executive orders. "I began talking with friends, family, neighbors about how I could best serve our community as we navigate the harm caused by this previous election, but also, really, a series of policy decisions that have been made by Mariannette Miller-Meeks and some far-right politicians in Washington," Wettach said. Elections observers forecast another tight race in the 1st District race, which spans 20 counties in southeastern Iowa, including Iowa City and Davenport, and stretches into Marion, Warren and Jasper counties in south-central Iowa. It is one of 35 races the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the campaign arm of House Democrats, is targeting to gain control of Congress. Iowa's 2nd and 3rd District races, where Republican Reps. Ashley Hinson and Zach Nunn hold office, also are among the targets. Political analysts with the Cook Political Report, Sabato's Crystal Ball and Inside Elections categorize the 1st District race as a "tossup," signaling either party has a good shot at nabbing the seat. To flip the seat, Wettach said Democrats need to prioritize listening to constituents across urban and rural areas. He said candidates need to pursue policies that address "brain drain" by responding to the concerns of young people trying to raise their families or looking for their first job, and creating an economy where people feel that they have a future in Iowa. "Democrats can absolutely do better in this district, but it's going to require more work in places like where I'm from, like Muscatine," Wettach said. "It's going to require more work in the river towns. It's going to require more work in the rural areas, and it's also going to require a platform that's directly responsive to those concerns." Wettach, like other Democratic challengers, plans to make Miller-Meeks' vote for Trump's massive tax cut and spending legislation a key issue in the race. The law will cut Medicaid spending by about $1 trillion over a decade, resulting in an estimated 11.8 million people becoming uninsured, and would trim $300 billion in spending on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The CBO estimated the law would add $3.3 trillion to the federal deficit over a decade. More: Nunn, Miller-Meeks walk a tightrope with letter opposing Senate's deeper Medicaid cuts Wettach said Miller-Meeks has failed to deliver on promises to curb inflation and provide a growth-oriented economy, drawing a contrast with his background as an attorney "standing up to corporate overreach" and advising the federal government on certain economic policy cases. "We have an inflation and affordable crisis for folks to decide whether they want to put food on the table or whether they're going to provide health care for their family," Wettach said. "And we have a crazy trade policy that I think folks in Washington don't even understand. It's ripping our farmers and our small businesses and the consumer every which way." Improving health care is another issue he plans to center in his campaign, citing Iowa having the second-highest and fastest-rising cancer incidence rate in the U.S. and lowest number of OB-GYNs per capita as top concerns. He said Trump's budget bill would take away health care for thousands in the 1st District and feared it would force more rural hospitals to shutter. "It's just wrong to take health care away from people, and I think it's something that's going to be also impactful immensely for our economy, considering how in many rural towns like my town, the healthcare industry is a significant employer," Wettach said. He said he supports adding incentives to encourage people to enter the nursing field or pursue other skilled jobs that are important for hospitals and nursing homes, as well as lowering prescription drug costs through laws that encourage competition rather than favor large pharmaceutical companies. "By making sure that the billionaires and the giant corporations are paying their fair share (of taxes) and we have a truly free economy with real competition, we can lower prices for all and folks can have a better quality of life here in the 1st District," Wettach said. Republicans who supported Trump's budget bill say it would keep ineligible people and undocumented immigrants from receiving Medicaid benefits, shielding the program for those who rely on it. They dispute that the bill cuts Medicaid, pointing to a Congressional Budget Office letter stating that most projected Medicaid disenrollment would stem from individuals being ineligible, not meeting new federal work requirements or being covered under other programs. Miller-Meeks has defended her vote for the bill as helping secure the border, preserve Medicaid benefits for those who truly depend on it and "preventing the largest tax hike in American history," she previously said in a statement. "This bill protects Iowa families, seniors, and small businesses while strengthening Medicaid for the vulnerable — not for those who can work and choose not to," Miller-Meeks said. University of Iowa law professor Christina Bohannan, a former state representative, in June announced her third campaign for the 1st District seat, potentially setting up a third rematch against Miller-Meeks if she prevails in the Democratic primary in June 2026. Travis Terrell, a UI Health Care employee from Tiffin, was the first Democrat to launch a 2026 bid for the 1st District. Former state lawmaker Bob Krause, of Burlington, also is seeking the Democratic nomination. And Republican David Pautsch has launched a primary campaign against Miller-Meeks. He unsuccessfully challenged her in 2024 for the 1st District GOP nomination.'East Coast Elitist Taylor Wettach just gave up his posh city life to join the clown car Democrat primary in Iowa's First Congressional District," Emily Tuttle, spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said in a statement. "There's no doubt that whoever comes out of this race to the left will lose to America First Mariannette Miller-Meeks next year.' Marissa Payne covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. Reach her by email at mjpayne@ Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @marissajpayne. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Muscatine attorney Taylor Wettach launches bid for Iowa's 1st District
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why HNI (HNI) is a Great Dividend Stock Right Now
Getting big returns from financial portfolios, whether through stocks, bonds, ETFs, other securities, or a combination of all, is an investor's dream. But when you're an income investor, your primary focus is generating consistent cash flow from each of your liquid investments. Cash flow can come from bond interest, interest from other types of investments, and of course, dividends. A dividend is the distribution of a company's earnings paid out to shareholders; it's often viewed by its dividend yield, a metric that measures a dividend as a percent of the current stock price. Many academic studies show that dividends make up large portions of long-term returns, and in many cases, dividend contributions surpass one-third of total returns. Based in Muscatine, HNI (HNI) is in the Business Services sector, and so far this year, shares have seen a price change of 1.57%. The maker of office furniture and fireplaces is currently shelling out a dividend of $0.34 per share, with a dividend yield of 2.66%. This compares to the Business - Office Products industry's yield of 2.74% and the S&P 500's yield of 1.54%. Taking a look at the company's dividend growth, its current annualized dividend of $1.36 is up 3.8% from last year. HNI has increased its dividend 3 times on a year-over-year basis over the last 5 years for an average annual increase of 1.84%. Future dividend growth will depend on earnings growth as well as payout ratio, which is the proportion of a company's annual earnings per share that it pays out as a dividend. Right now, HNI's payout ratio is 42%, which means it paid out 42% of its trailing 12-month EPS as dividend. Earnings growth looks solid for HNI for this fiscal year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 is $3.50 per share, with earnings expected to increase 14.38% from the year ago period. From greatly improving stock investing profits and reducing overall portfolio risk to providing tax advantages, investors like dividends for a variety of different reasons. It's important to keep in mind that not all companies provide a quarterly payout. For instance, it's a rare occurrence when a tech start-up or big growth business offers their shareholders a dividend. It's more common to see larger companies with more established profits give out dividends. During periods of rising interest rates, income investors must be mindful that high-yielding stocks tend to struggle. With that in mind, HNI presents a compelling investment opportunity; it's not only an attractive dividend play, but the stock also boasts a strong Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy). Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report HNI Corporation (HNI) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Vietnam vets who left school for service get diplomas over six decades later
Muscatine, Iowa — When Dennis Snyder of Muscatine, Iowa, took his yearbook photos more than six decades ago, he thought he would be a member of the graduating class of 1963. "It's hard to believe I was ever that young," Snyder joked to CBS News. The summer before his junior year at Muscatine High School, the Vietnam War was heating up. Snyder volunteered to join the Navy. The 17-year-old Iowa farm boy was sent to a base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The choice to serve his country meant Snyder missed the chance to graduate from the hometown school he loved. "I wanted to get my diploma through the high school any way that I could," explained Snyder, who obtained his GED, but wanted a diploma from Muscatine High. This year, his decades-long dream was finally realized, when he became one of a handful of octogenarians in Iowa who enlisted during the Vietnam War to finally get their high school diplomas. Snyder and another veteran, 81-year-old Richard Hill, along with their much younger senior peers, donned caps and gowns as part of the Muscatine High class of 2025. "Some of them were giving me thumbs up," Snyder said of the graduating students. "When I got that diploma, I felt like a million dollars." They are part of Operation Recognition, a program through the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs that's given more than 100 veterans a chance to graduate. "I think it's the least we can do for veterans that serve our country, and that's why they have the program, so they can close that chapter," said Eric Sanders, director of Muscatine County Veterans Affairs. Snyder says he shares the honor with high school friends who never made it home from the war. "We have seven that were killed in Vietnam…I knew all seven of them," Snyder said. "One was a very good friend." Snyder believes there are many more veterans around the country that deserve their diplomas and the recognition of service that comes with it. "I am honored to be at this point," Snyder said. "And, you know, I don't have a lot of years left…but I'm going to enjoy this diploma for the rest of my life." Sneak peek: The Life and Death of Blaze Bernstein Some key Democratic congressional leaders left out of Trump's Iran attack plans Netanyahu reacts to U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites
CBS News
22-06-2025
- General
- CBS News
Vietnam vets who left high school for service get their diplomas over six decades later
Vietnam vets in their 80s who left high school early to serve finally get their diplomas Muscatine, Iowa — When Dennis Snyder of Muscatine, Iowa, took his yearbook photos more than six decades ago, he thought he would be a member of the graduating class of 1963. "It's hard to believe I was ever that young," Snyder joked to CBS News. The summer before his junior year at Muscatine High School, the Vietnam War was heating up. Snyder volunteered to join the Navy. The 17-year-old Iowa farm boy was sent to a base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The choice to serve his country meant Snyder missed the chance to graduate from the hometown school he loved. "I wanted to get my diploma through the high school any way that I could," explained Snyder, who obtained his GED, but wanted a diploma from Muscatine High. This year, his decades-long dream was finally realized, when he became one of a handful of octogenarians in Iowa who enlisted during the Vietnam War to finally get their high school diplomas. Snyder and another veteran, 81-year-old Richard Hill, along with their much younger senior peers, donned caps and gowns as part of the Muscatine High class of 2025. "Some of them were giving me thumbs up," Snyder said of the graduating students. "When I got that diploma, I felt like a million dollars." They are part of Operation Recognition, a program through the Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs that's given more than 100 veterans a chance to graduate. "I think it's the least we can do for veterans that serve our country, and that's why they have the program, so they can close that chapter," said Eric Sanders, director of Muscatine County Veterans Affairs. Snyder says he shares the honor with high school friends who never made it home from the war. "We have seven that were killed in Vietnam…I knew all seven of them," Snyder said. "One was a very good friend." Snyder believes there are many more veterans around the country that deserve their diplomas and the recognition of service that comes with it. "I am honored to be at this point," Snyder said. "And, you know, I don't have a lot of years left…but I'm going to enjoy this diploma for the rest of my life."
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
Explosion at Muscatine home under investigation
An early-morning explosion at a Muscatine home on Saturday remains under investigation, according to a news release from the City of Muscatine.. No injuries were reported among the occupants or emergency responders. Shortly after 6:15 a.m., the Muscatine Joint Communications Center (MUSCOM) received a 911 call reporting a loud boom and visible smoke at a residence on the 1000 block of East 8th Street. Similar reports were received from across the surrounding area. When fire crews arrived on the scene, they found the residents safely outside and saw light smoke in the vicinity. 'Visible damage to the front door of the home appeared consistent with an explosion,' the release says. Firefighters quickly cleared smoke from the interior of the residence. Because of the nature of the incident, the Iowa State Fire Marshal's Office was requested to assist with the investigation. Investigators remained on site until about 9 a.m. While the cause of the explosion remains under investigation, officials believe it was an isolated event. The Muscatine Fire Department is being assisted by the State Fire Marshal and the Muscatine Police Department. Preliminary fire damage is estimated at $1,000. Fourteen firefighters from the Muscatine Fire Department responded, along with personnel from the Muscatine Police Department and the State Fire Marshal's Office. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
