Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad said last week he’s optimistic that next year’s session of the Iowa Legislature will focus on the need for in­­creased funding to repair badly deteriorating roads and bridges in the state.

"Transportation infrastructure is something we need to address, and I’m very hopeful that it will be addressed in the 2015 legislative session," Branstad said during a speech at the 96th annual meeting of Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF). ...