News

Iowa DNR Forced to Lay-off Employees

Iowa DNR Forced to Lay-off Employees

Photo: WNAX


The director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources says he’ll be forced to lay off employees and reduce services “significantly” if there’s not an increase in the fee for an Iowa fishing license. The 19-dollar annual fee hasn’t been changed since 2003. Those license fees go into the state’s Fish and Wildlife Trust Fund, which is used to run the state-run fish hatcheries and other related services, but the D-N-R’s Chuck Gipp says that budget’s becoming “a challenge.”

 

Gipp has met with groups that represent Iowa hunters, fishing enthusiasts and others to discuss the situation.

 

Nearly 400-thousand people purchased an Iowa fishing license this past year.  State officials say while there’s been a decrease in the number of hunters, the number of people who fish in Iowa has held steady.

Recent Headlines

2 weeks ago in Local

October 3, 2025 The Friday News Round-Up

FEDERAL SHUTDOWN LEAVES SOUTH DAKOTANS GUESSING AS AGENCIES OFFER UNEVEN GUIDANCE SOUTH DAKOTA (South Dakota Searchlight) – The federal government…

2 weeks ago in Local

October 1, 2025 The Wednesday News Round-Up

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN BEGINS AS NATION FACES NEW PERIOD OF UNCERTAINTY WASHINGTON, D.C.  (AP) – Plunged into a government shutdown, the…

3 weeks ago in Local

September 24, 2025 The Wednesday News Round-Up

SOUTH DAKOTA LAWMAKERS APPROVE $650 MILLION PRISON PROJECT PIERRE, S.D. (John Hult / SD Searchlight) – After 144 years, South…

3 weeks ago in Local

LEGISLATURE’S PRISON VOTE WILL CAP DECADES OF DEBATE

PIERRE, S.D. (Kevin Killough / South Dakota NewsWatch)  – The South Dakota Legislature convenes Tuesday for a special session to…

3 weeks ago in Local

September 22, 2025 The Monday News Round-Up

$20 MILLION DISPUTED GUN RANGE TO OPEN IN EARLY NOVEMBER PIEDMONT, S.D. (Bart Pfankuch / South Dakota News Watch) –…