Sioux City, Iowa, discussing recognizing MLK Jr.'s birthday as holiday

SIOUX CITY, Iowa, July 16 (UPI) -- The Sioux City, Iowa, City Council Monday was discussing creating a city holiday in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., officials said.

The Sioux City Chapter of the NAACP for the past 27 years has asked city lawmakers to follow Woodbury County, the state of Iowa and the federal government in recognizing the slain civil rights leader's birthday as a holiday, the Sioux City Journal reported.

City Human Resources Director Bridey Haeys was expected Monday to discuss the financial consequences of adding another holiday to the eight to 12 holidays the city already recognizes, the newspaper said.