Senator Joni Ernst held her first in-person town hall meeting of the year and many in the crowd in Parkersburg raised concerns about the “Big Beautiful Bill” that passed the House and is under consideration in the U-S Senate. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill would cut over 700 billion dollars from Medicaid over the next ten years. Ernst said the goal is to make sure people who are not eligible for Medicaid benefits aren’t getting them.

Ernst says Republicans intend to return to the original rules for Medicaid.

Ernst says she agrees with most of the House provisions on Medicaid, but she did not comment today (Friday) on the section of the bill that would establish work requirements for able bodied Medicaid recipients. Ernst told the crowd in Parkersburg senators would eliminate some policy items in the “Big Beautiful Bill.” That’s because Senate rules only allow spending related matters to pass by a 51 vote margin. Bills that include policy are subject to the senate’s 60 vote filibuster rule.

(Radio Iowa) – Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra hosted his annual fundraiser today (Friday) in Sioux Center — but did not mention running for governor. Feenstra announced yesterday (Thursday) that he’s raised over three MILLION dollars for his campaign for governor, but his remarks today (Friday) were focused on his work in the U.S. House.

Feenstra says he worked with the Trump Administration in writing parts of the package that deal with tax and ag policies.

Iowa Congressman Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) (official photo)

The bill extends the tax cuts President Trump approved in 2017 and Feenstra mentioned the new tax credit for contributions to scholarships that go to students in K-through-12 private schools.

Feenstra says the bill will secure crop insurance for farmers. According to Feenstra, the package moves the country into the future Trump described on the 2024 campaign trail.

Feenstra announced in mid-May that he had formed a fundraising committee to explore a run for governor. He’s already run campaign style ads and the bio on Feenstra’s account on X, or Twitter, does not mention he’s a member of congress. It says Feenstra is a “Republican for Governor of Iowa.”

CEDAR RAPIDS – Officials with Google, today (Friday),  announced the tech company is investing an additional $7 billion in Iowa within the next two years in cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, as well as in expanded workforce development programs — meaningfully increasing the pace of investments the company has made in the state since 2007.

The announcement reflects development of both a new data center in Cedar Rapids, and expansion of its existing facility in Council Bluffs, as well as funding to support an innovative program with the electrical training ALLIANCE (etA) to help increase the electrical workforce pipeline in Iowa by 95%, further powering this next chapter by helping develop the labor force needed to build new energy infrastructure.

The company said is a new release, “Google’s deep, longstanding investments in American technical infrastructure, as well as research and development, will help the U.S. continue to lead the world in AI, unlocking substantial economic opportunity for American businesses, advancing scientific breakthroughs, fortifying cybersecurity for the U.S., and creating new career opportunities for millions of Americans.”

New AI Infrastructure

During a community celebration held today (Friday), Google welcomed federal, state, and local leaders and community members to showcase the ongoing development of its new Cedar Rapids data center campus and announced the expansion of its facility in Council Bluffs. Among the most energy efficient in the world, Google’s data centers are the backbone of its AI capabilities and digital services — including Google Cloud, Workspace, Search, YouTube and Maps — providing the foundation for economic growth for American businesses. Iowa is part of Google Cloud’s global network of 42 cloud regions that deliver high-performance and low-latency services to large enterprises, startups, and public sector organizations, including Casey’s and Hy-Vee, Inc.

Workforce Development

To help Iowans access the opportunities created by these technology investments and innovations, Google has funded local organizations that have trained more than 100,000 residents in digital skills. Today, etA, with support from Google.org’s AI Opportunity Fund, announced $500,000 in funding to integrate AI tools into training curriculum and boost the number of apprentices in Iowa. The initiative will train existing electrical workers and more than 700 apprentices in the state by 2030, strengthening Iowa’s workforce, economy, and technological infrastructure.

Google is also partnering with the Iowa Department of Education and Community Colleges for Iowa to offer Googler Career Certificates and AI Essentials to students and faculty at Iowa’s K-12 schools and 15 community colleges, at no cost to them. This new partnership will help increase workforce readiness for Iowans across the state and help faculty to master the latest AI skills and tools.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds says “Google’s $7 billion investment in Cedar Rapids and our state reaffirms its role as an AI pioneer, and Iowa will play a key role in delivering that technology to the world.”  Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell said “We are thrilled to officially welcome Google to Cedar Rapids. This investment is a once-in-a-generation opportunity that changes the game for our city. Yes, it is a data center project adding new jobs and major local investment — but the real story is the ripple effect it will have across our economy and community.”

Council Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh said “We are proud that Google first planted roots in Council Bluffs in 2007, and has provided a ripple of economic impact throughout our community ever since. Today’s investment announcement underscores Google’s commitment not only to Council Bluffs, but our state as a whole. Whether it’s supporting our schools and nonprofits, or building one of the largest free community wi-fi networks in the country, Google has worked to bring economic opportunity to all who live in Council Bluffs.”

Learn more about Google in Iowa at g.co/economicimpact/iowa.

(Radio Iowa) – A rising senior at Oskaloosa High School will get to help shape the future of high school athletics and activities across the country. Linus Morrison was picked to serve on the student advisory council for the National Federation of State High School Associations. He’s one of just 16 students nationwide who will serve on the panel which has a voice in the organization governing most high school sports and activities. Morrison will serve a one-year term.

“They really wanted to hear kids’ perspectives on things in the schools and throughout sports and activities,” Morrison says, “and they just wanted to see how we feel about stuff and what we want to do to try to make improvements on things.” Morrison plays golf and baseball for Oskaloosa High and says he’s thrilled to have a small leadership role in determining updates to national rules and initiatives that impact some 12-million student-athletes. He has some ideas for policies he’d like to see created.

Linus Morrison in foreground, right (Submitted photo)

“Yeah, I definitely do,” Morrison says. “There’s a few things that have already been improved in baseball that the NFHS has done and it’s really cool to see that in our everyday lives.” Playing positions including left-hand pitcher, outfield and first base, Morrison says he’s already seen the influence of the federation in changing the game of baseball, for the better, like adding a base at first base.

“There’s actually two bases at first base. You have the fielder’s base and then you have the runner’s base,” Morrison says. “The runner’s base is pink and you run through that one as the runner, and it’s just so there’s less collisions likely to happen at first base and everybody can stay safer.” The panel meets in person and via Zoom, and Morrison’s first experience with the council was an intensive in-person session in Indianapolis, where all 16 students met for the first time. “We were one big group for 40 hours straight,” he says. “We really got to know each other fast. It kind of felt like a family.”

After graduation from Oskaloosa in the spring of 2026, Morrison plans to attend South Dakota State University and play baseball, with a tentative major in business or economics.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office says a man from Emerson was arrested today (Friday). 65-year-old Thomas Anderson was arrested in the 100 block of Coolbaugh Street, on an outstanding warrant for Probation Violation. Anderson was being held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $2,000 cash bond.