Removing funding for water testing effectively stops Iowans' learning what works and does not work in improving our water quality. Iowa might as well stop keeping track of how many promised jobs are actually created by our business handouts, number of nursing home closures/cases of abuse, or stop reporting on public health monitoring of private wells or other public health threats.
This is such an important and infuriating story. When I read that Chris Jones was leaving the University and had taken down the blog, the odor of something rotten was in the air (and water). Thank you for giving us the rest of the story. A few years ago I attended a forum in which Sen. Ken Rozenboom told the audience there was nothing wrong with Iowa's waterways. They will continue to lie and misconstrue. Without the science we have nothing to contest the lies.
Thanks you for the detailed education on the Bloody Run saga and reminding me of the company dog the first sergeant eventually kicked after the pissed-off Colonel's wife sent him out the door in stoney anger--it all flows downhill. One of the memorable memes I heard when working in the rotunda a few years ago (as a "required-to-register" lobbyist for a grassroots women's health initiative): "Don't poke the bear!"
That the bear can still be aroused and become vengeful is apparent and I suppose will still be even when the political winds eventually change. Meantime I encourage Professor Jones to continue his writing in a different venue and Bob Leonard to keep us posted on both Bloody Run and Jones.
Frightening! The timing of your article is prescient: Plymouth Congregational Church in Des Moines is holding an event Sunday afternoon from 1 pm - 4 pm, "Can Iowa's Water be Saved?"
Sponsored by the Plymouth Creation Care & Justice Committee, Iowa Interfaith Power and Light, Interfaith Green Coalition, and the Sierra Club of Iowa.
The keynote speaker will be Neil Hamilton, with panelists Chris Henning, Ruth McCabe, John Norwood, and Matt Russell. Moderator Pat Boddy.
I copied part of your article to a Plymouth staff member to share with the people listed above.
The governor sees STEM as scientists working for a company. She doesn't want to listen to independent scientists. A few of us profs refused to go to her STEM days on Capital Hill because of this. I also wrote Jeff Weld about it but no reply.
Thank you Bob, for this report. I have been following Mr. Jones’ blog and have learned a lot from it. Nobody needs to agree with his opinion that farmers have a license to pollute, but everyone should want independent measurements(AND REALISTIC GOALPOSTS) for the Iowa Nutrient Management Strategy
and any other water quality efforts. Iowa also needs an all out effort to adequately encourage cover crops….much more aggressive in nature than the small payments available now. Without goals, independent measurements, independent research funding, AND increased conservation cost-share payments, Iowa will just be lost in a bunch of name-calling and political nonsense and lawsuits. We need real leaders, not corporate yes-people or green- washers.
Absolutely nothing suspicious here! Move along peasants!
Removing funding for water testing effectively stops Iowans' learning what works and does not work in improving our water quality. Iowa might as well stop keeping track of how many promised jobs are actually created by our business handouts, number of nursing home closures/cases of abuse, or stop reporting on public health monitoring of private wells or other public health threats.
Thanks Bob and Chris for keeping this issue in front of the public!
This is such an important and infuriating story. When I read that Chris Jones was leaving the University and had taken down the blog, the odor of something rotten was in the air (and water). Thank you for giving us the rest of the story. A few years ago I attended a forum in which Sen. Ken Rozenboom told the audience there was nothing wrong with Iowa's waterways. They will continue to lie and misconstrue. Without the science we have nothing to contest the lies.
Another angle to this is how much funding is going on for measurements of hypoxia in the Gulf…. and what are the politics regarding that research.
Thanks you for the detailed education on the Bloody Run saga and reminding me of the company dog the first sergeant eventually kicked after the pissed-off Colonel's wife sent him out the door in stoney anger--it all flows downhill. One of the memorable memes I heard when working in the rotunda a few years ago (as a "required-to-register" lobbyist for a grassroots women's health initiative): "Don't poke the bear!"
That the bear can still be aroused and become vengeful is apparent and I suppose will still be even when the political winds eventually change. Meantime I encourage Professor Jones to continue his writing in a different venue and Bob Leonard to keep us posted on both Bloody Run and Jones.
Taught at Pella HS briefly. Now governor's adviser.
https://iae.education.uiowa.edu/dr-jeff-weld
Thank you for your stellar reporting!
Good reporting, Bob!
Frightening! The timing of your article is prescient: Plymouth Congregational Church in Des Moines is holding an event Sunday afternoon from 1 pm - 4 pm, "Can Iowa's Water be Saved?"
Sponsored by the Plymouth Creation Care & Justice Committee, Iowa Interfaith Power and Light, Interfaith Green Coalition, and the Sierra Club of Iowa.
The keynote speaker will be Neil Hamilton, with panelists Chris Henning, Ruth McCabe, John Norwood, and Matt Russell. Moderator Pat Boddy.
I copied part of your article to a Plymouth staff member to share with the people listed above.
The governor sees STEM as scientists working for a company. She doesn't want to listen to independent scientists. A few of us profs refused to go to her STEM days on Capital Hill because of this. I also wrote Jeff Weld about it but no reply.
I noticed a nice guest essay by Randy Evans in the Register....regarding the removal of funding for the stream monitoring.
Thank you!
Great interview. Senator Cindy Winckler references the issue in her newsletter.
Thank you Bob, for this report. I have been following Mr. Jones’ blog and have learned a lot from it. Nobody needs to agree with his opinion that farmers have a license to pollute, but everyone should want independent measurements(AND REALISTIC GOALPOSTS) for the Iowa Nutrient Management Strategy
and any other water quality efforts. Iowa also needs an all out effort to adequately encourage cover crops….much more aggressive in nature than the small payments available now. Without goals, independent measurements, independent research funding, AND increased conservation cost-share payments, Iowa will just be lost in a bunch of name-calling and political nonsense and lawsuits. We need real leaders, not corporate yes-people or green- washers.
When I heard that he'd resigned I suspected that something like this was going on. Thanks for bringing it out into the open.