DES MOINES (IRN) – Governor Kim Reynolds announced that her administration has now implemented the alignment bill passed by the legislature last session. Senate File 514, which became effective on July 1, reduces the number of cabinet-level departments from 37 to 16 by consolidating agencies with similar functions and centralizing programs that serve similar needs. The legislation also eliminated more than 500 unfilled positions. The governor also introduced a new state logo that will be adopted by executive branch departments.

HIGHWAY 20 (IRN) – The Iowa State Patrol announced a partnership with 12 agencies as part of an ongoing effort to patrol Highway 20. The effort started in Iowa has spread to 12 states along the highway for what was the longest stretch of highway in the nation in 1989 at over 3,000 miles long. The Highway 20 Speed Enforcement project is a bimonthly collaborative effort, taking place on a select day with two, two-hour initiatives in the morning and evening. On July 13th, 691 contacts were made with motorists on the highway in 12 states, resulting in 389 citations.

CAMP DODGE (IRN) – The Iowa National Guard is joining the Department of Defense in celebrating 30 years of the State Partnership Program this week. The program was developed to pair state National Guards with established European countries during the dissolution of the Soviet Union to facilitate cooperation with all aspects of civil-military affairs and encourage state-level ties. Governor Kim Reynolds and Maj. Gen. Stephen Osborn, the Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard, are marking the occasion by recommitting their support for the program. In 2011, the Iowa National Guard formed a unique partnership with Kosovo, and earlier this year, Governor Reynolds traveled to Kosovo to meet with President Vjosa Osmani on an international trade mission.

DES MOINES (IRN) – Three foods will compete for the title of the best new option at the Iowa State Fair. Fair officials have taken 64 new offerings down to the finals, and according to KCCI-TV, the Bacon Box’s grinder ball, Watcha Smokin’s Iowa Twinkie, and What’s Your Cheez’s deep-fried bacon brisket mac and cheese grilled cheese are the choices. Fairgoers will have the chance to try all three and vote for their favorite between August 10th and the 14th, with the winner announced on Wednesday, August 16th.