Sioux City leaders are trying to balance the interests of city employees and taxpayers under the Affordable Health Care Act. By next year, the city is required to offer a health care plan to employees who work more than 29 hours per week. Officials estimate that would cost the city more than $2 million per year. City finance director, Bob Padmore, says some employee hours will be cut. City Councilman John Fitch calls it a lose-lose situation "that got shoved down our throat."
Officials with one northwest Iowa school district cite rising healthcare costs and retirement benefits for their decision to close the district's day care center. The infant-care program at Estherville Lincoln Central Community Schools will end in two days. The child care center will close in June. The decision has dozens of families scrambling to make other arrangements. The school district is trying to find ways to encourage creation of new child care centers or existing ones to expand.
A traveling display is honoring the more than 80 Iowans killed in the war on terror. East High School is the first to host the display in Sioux City. It's called "Remembering Our Fallen." The photo exhibit was created to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. Each Sioux City high school will host the exhibit for one week. After its week at East, it will move to West, and then North.
