Des Moines, IA- The Iowa Legislature has sent the governor a budget plan that includes a $7 million increase in spending for the state's prison system. Radio Iowa reports that Democrats like Representative Todd Prichard of Charles City say the murders of two Anamosa prison employees by two inmates attempting an escape last year should have prompted a higher amount, to address on-going staff shortages. "You're playing with people's lives, the lives of our correctional officers, the lives of inmates who are people, too and the lives of Iowans," Prichard says. Republican Representative Gary Worthan of Storm Lake says lawmakers provided the prison system $20 million dollars last year. "They couldn't hire enough people to use up that $20 million. That's the nature of the labor market at this point in time," Worthan says. "This budget will support staff, it will support adding staff. While maybe it's not optimal, it probably represen
Deer hunters would be able to use semi-automatic rifles during a newly created antlerless season in January under a bill approved by lawmakers Tuesday and sent to the governor.