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U.S. gender wage gap grows for the first time in a decade; Trump has embraced NC's Mark Robinson, calling him 'Martin Luther King on steroids; Volunteers sought as early voting kicks off in MN; Women's political contributions in congressional races fall short of men's.

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Rising threats of political violence, a Federal Reserve rate cut, crypto industry campaign contributions and reproductive rights are shaping today's political landscape.

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A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

IA Watchdog: Pandemic Offers Lessons in Government Transparency

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Wednesday, May 20, 2020   

DES MOINES, Iowa - Iowa's handling of the coronavirus response has received criticism at times. A watchdog organization says it's fair to question some of the moves, but adds there's a lot to consider.

Gov. Kim Reynolds has been scrutinized for not issuing a stay-at-home order, and the state's troubled testing initiative has raised eyebrows for contracting with a tech firm lacking in health-care experience. Suzanne Behnke, executive director of the investigative news group Iowa Watch, said one of her biggest questions centers around protecting workers at meat plants.

"I'm very curious myself about the personal protective equipment being available to those workers," she said. "Oftentimes, they are underrepresented populations in our state."

A new Associated Press report said state regulators delayed in responding to complaints of workers at a meat plant being exposed to the coronavirus. Behnke said the crisis should serve as a reminder for governments to always be transparent and acknowledge mistakes.

The governor's office did not respond by deadline to requests for comment, but this week announced the state's website for COVID-19 would include more up-to-date data.

Behnke said it appears state officials have put a lot of work into Iowa's response, and noted that the governor has been consistent in her message about moving the state forward. Behnke said when elected leaders are dealing with a situation of this magnitude, being forthcoming and taking timely action can help with public trust.

"Allow your state agency directors to take interviews and to answer for themselves," she said. "Be proactive in your information dissemination, rather than reactive."

Behnke said the public shouldn't demand perfection from officials such as Reynolds, but they still should hold them to a high standard.


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