An update on flood recovery efforts in western Iowa is on the agenda as the State Interagency Missouri River Authority meets Friday in Des Moines.

Chuck Gipp, deputy director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says the process of cleaning up all of the damage and rebuilding after last year's summer-long flood is far from over.

The authority makes recommendations on policies affecting the Missouri River.

Besides the DNR, groups involved include the state departments of Homeland Security and Agriculture as well as federal agencies, like FEMA and the U-S Army Corps of Engineers.

Gipp says making repairs to the damaged floodwalls all along the river is a high priority.

Gipp says much of the DNR's role is to help state and federal agencies coordinate during the recovery process.

He says the panel will also discuss current and potential hydrologist roles and responsibilities in the state.

A House panel in Des Moines has voted to ban the use of automated red light cameras to enforce traffic laws.

The House Transportation Committee approved the ban Thursday on a 15-6 vote, sending it to the full House for debate.

Sioux City Democrat Chris Hall voted for the ban, but hopes some middle ground can be found:

Other backers say that public sentiment is overwhelmingly against using the cameras.

Opponents of the ban say the cameras make the roads safer and that should be the top priority for lawmakers.

They argue there's nothing underhanded about the cameras, which are being used in cities around the state such as Sioux City.

The Associated Press contributed to this story

A DECISION BY THE OBAMA ADMINSTRATION THAT FORCES CHURCH AFFILIATED EMPLOYERS TO COVER BIRTH CONTROL ON THEIR HEALTH CARE PLANS HAS OUTRAGED RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THAT MEANS CHURCH AFFILIATED HOSPITALS SUCH AS SIOUX CITY'S MERCY MEDICAL CENTER WOULD BE FORCED TO PAY FOR INSURANCE THAT COVERS CONTRACEPTIVES AND STERILIZATION.

MERCY SPOKESMAN JIM WHARTON SAYS THE DECISION MAKES NO SENSE:

WHARTON SAYS ORGANIZATIONS THAT DON'T ABIDE BY THE NEW MANDATE RISK LOSING FEDERAL FUNDS:

THE NEW RULES WOULD TAKE EFFECT IN AUGUST OF2013. 

U.S. HOUSE SPEAKER JOHN BOEHNER IS ALREADY CALLING ON THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO RECONSIDER THE ORDER, CALLING IT A GOVERNMENT MANDATE THAT VIOLATES THE CONSTITUTION.

THE OBAMA ADMINISRATION IS SAYING THEY WILL NOT BACK DOWN FROM THEIR DECISION ON THE MANDATE.

 SIOUX CITY IS BEING CONSIDERED AS A SITE FOR A FLIGHT SCHOOL....STARTING PERHAPS AS SOON AS THE FALL 2012 SEMESTER.

AIRPORT BOARD PRESIDENT DAN KAPLAN SAYS A LOCAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND AN ACCREDITED FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITY ARE EXPLORING AN AVIATION RELATED PARTNERSHIP:

KAPLAN SAYS THERE FIRST NEEDS TO BE ENOUGH PUBLIC INTEREST SHOWN FOR THE SCHOOL TO BE ESTABLISHED:

KAPLAN SAYS ONCE THE PROGRAM BECOMES ESTABLISHED, IT COULD EVEN LEAD TO AVIATION RELATED TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.

THE WEBSITE SURVEY IS AT www.flysux.com