Ad-Express and Daily Iowegian, Centerville, IA

Community News Network

January 31, 2013

Drought assessment unchanged

OTTUMWA — This week's assessment of Iowa's drought shows no change, but it doesn't include Wednesday's snowstorm.

The storm dropped several inches of snow on southeast Iowa, with the heaviest band running from south-central Iowa, through the Des Moines area and into northeastern Iowa. It was enough to turn what had been a dry month into a fairly normal one for precipitation.

Southeast Iowa remains in moderate drought. That's better than most of the state. Almost 60 percent of Iowa is at least in severe drought, with nearly a third suffering from extreme drought.

The U.S. as a whole saw little change in the past week; nearly 20 percent of the nation remains in severe drought.

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The Iowegian wants readers to think about the debate Rep. Larry Sheets talks about at the state capital centered on "accepting Medicaid expansion as defined by the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), or choosing to create an Iowa specific health care program. Those who prefer the Medicaid expansion believe the federal government will fulfill its commitments three years from now. Those opposing explain that the federal government is only capable of that by borrowing the money from the Chinese." So, the question this week is, "Should Iowa accept the federal government's Medicaid expansion or create a health care program specific to the state?"

A. Accept Medicaid expansion.
B. Create health care program.
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