Here First: Recent Episodes
Iowa Public Radio
Start your day with the essential local news you need to know. Host Clay Masters rises bright and early to bring you the top news stories of the morning in under 15 minutes. Wake up, pour your coffee and get your news Here First.
Job Corps locations could possibly stay open. Iowa will receive more opioid settlement funds. And a healthcare leader in eastern Iowa is concerned about proposed Medicaid work requirements.
A Democrat has announced a bid for an Iowa seat in the U.S. House, and another has suspended a campaign. A new report looks at Iowa's health system. And what is the Hinterland Music Festival doing this year for festival goers worried about possible high temperatures?
A church camp in southeastern Iowa is being investigated for allegations of child abuse. Gov. Kim Reynolds' summer food program is off to a rocky start. And a new tick-borne disease in the state is reaching cows.
The Minnesota state senator shot and injured along with his wife near the Twin Cities over the weekend once lived in Polk County. It was one of two shootings that also took the lives of a Minnesota state representative and her husband. Thousands of Iowans joined millions across the country in protests against Trump administration policies over the weekend. And a number of Iowa communities plan to observe Juneteenth later this week – commemorating the end of slavery in the United States in 1865.
Ames is closing its police review committee to comply with a new state law. Des Moines metro residents aren't allowed to water lawns in order to keep nitrate levels below safety standards. And what are federal lawmakers doing to regulate hemp?
Governor Kim Reynolds vetoed an eminent domain bill. Unhoused veterans in Polk County are becoming fewer. And how are Native American tribes in the Midwest getting their ancestral land back?
Protesters against ICE raids in Los Angeles rallied in Des Moines last night. A Democratic state lawmaker is running for U.S. Senator Joni Ernst's seat in 2026. And a look at the federal and state proposals for Medicaid.An earlier publication of this podcast said there was no police presence at the rally. There were Des Moines police officers observing from a distance in a nearby building, but there were no confrontations with protestors.
Iowa's ag secretary says he doesn't know yet how proposed federal cuts USDA programs could impact Iowa farms. Several central Iowa counties are making public health plans. And tractors are on the move in Eastern Iowa for a yearly showcase.
The state will seek federal permission to establish work requirements for Iowa's Medicaid expansion program. Iowa is ninth in the country for child well-being. And how are some trying to bring awareness to radon mitigation?
A Missouri woman has been released from jail after being detained by ICE for over a month. Corporate sponsorship for Pride month events is down across the country and in Iowa. And why are screwworms worrying cattle ranchers?
The ACLU of Iowa says some cities could unconstitutionally restrict drag performances. An Iowa DOGE Task Force member says Iowa should consolidate the counties. And there was a vigil for Afghan refugees.
A federally funded health care center in central Iowa is ending gender affirming care. Another Democrat has announced a campaign for governor. And an over century old Iowa history publication is trying to find a new publisher.
A Democrat has announced a campaign for U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst's seat. There are efforts to keep open two Job Corps in Iowa. And a southern Missouri community is advocating for the release of an immigrant who was detained by ICE at a routine meeting.
Senator Joni Ernst is facing backlash for a comment she made at her town hall in eastern Iowa. Healthcare workers in Ottumwa are unionizing. And a law that protects wetlands has been upheld by a federal court.
Local fundraising efforts will allow some AmeriCorps workers to stay in Davenport for the summer. Iowa Democrats are worried about the impact to rural healthcare under proposed federal Medicaid cuts. And why are more farmers taking out loans?
There's a new state law focused on addressing rural health care access. Another Democrat has announced a campaign for Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks' congressional seat in 2026. And a food pantry says more people are seeking assistance as tariff policies impact grocery prices at some stores.
Gov. Kim Reynolds is abandoning her goal to eliminate the state income tax. A new rule limiting events at the state capitol is upending a summer tradition. And residents in Davenport are still looking for answers two years after an apartment building collapsed that killed three people.
The federal government is requiring states to hand over all records associated with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, as it tries to prevent people without legal status from accessing the program. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says she’s talking to people for and against a new bill to regulate hazardous liquid pipelines in the state before deciding whether to sign it. And Iowans throughout the state took time Monday to remember and honor fallen service members on Memorial Day.
SNAP benefits won't be able to cover some food items in Iowa soon. Gov. Kim Reynolds is starting a few initiatives aimed at improving access to child care. And all four of Iowa's U.S. House representatives voted for the so-called Big Beautiful Bill.
Greenfield residents honored lives lost in the EF4 tornado that tore through the small town last year. Several states are trying to restrict certain foods eligible under SNAP. And how is the town of Perry doing a year after its largest employer closed down?
Places of worship in Des Moines can offer shelter to people without it. At least five cities in Iowa will have to get rid of a citizen board that oversees local law enforcement. And a Democrat has announced a campaign for secretary of state.
The Dubuque County Sheriff is not participating in voluntary programs with ICE. Students speak out about proposed tuition increases at the state's public universities. And a new art installation in Davenport.
Local 911 service providers are concerned about a provision in the state budget bill. An environment conservation program in Cedar Rapids lost AmeriCorps members because of federal funding cuts. And the latest ruling on Iowa's law that bans LGBTQ instruction in schools.
The Iowa legislative session is over for the year. One Iowa resettlement agency worries about refugees who haven't been able to come to the U.S. And the state's share of national opioid maker settlement funds will go to substance use treatment programs, among other behavioral health efforts.
A student says she couldn't have gone to college without a federal program President Trump is proposing to cut. A bill is waiting on the governor's desk that would lower the unemployment taxes businesses pay. And a state lawmaker is raising concern with how a state agency tested out gambling surveillance technology.
Former transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg was in Iowa last night. The Iowa House has passed a ban on Medicaid coverage for some gender affirming care. And Gov. Kim Reynolds is asking federal officials to restrict some foods through SNAP in Iowa.
A bill involving eminent domain is heading to the governor's desk after a dozen lawmakers forced a vote on it. Democratic State Auditor Rob Sand says he's running for Iowa Governor. And how does brain drain impact Iowa?
Gov. Kim Reynolds' summer food assistance program won't help as many children as a different plan that she rejected. Voter materials can only be in English in Iowa under a recent state supreme court ruling. And the legislature is still figuring out budget plans.
Republicans in the Iowa House and Senate say they’ve reached an agreement on a new state budget. The spending plan is the last major bit of business to take care of before the Legislature adjourns for the year. House Democrats have elected Rep. Brian Meyer of Des Moines as the new minority leader. And the Roman Catholic bishop of Des Moines hopes newly-elected Pope Leo XIV will promote unity within the church.
The USDA has approved Governor Kim Reynolds' alternative to the federal summer EBT program. A Des Moines man has been charged with causing a diesel fuel spill last weekend, which is estimated to cost over $100,000 in environmental cleanup. And Kimballton residents in western Iowa are under a bottled water advisory after their water tower ran dry.
A University of Iowa professor says federal officials are using antisemitism as a cover up to dismantle free speech. Several Iowa arts organizations suddenly lost federal grants. And state lawmakers are disagreeing on higher education funding.
The first Democrat has announced a bid for Iowa's third congressional district. Sioux City has rolled back on several diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. And Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley shares his stance on proposed federal funding cuts to public media.
The International Writing Program won't have to reduce enrollment this fall after receiving a private donation. Gov. Kim Reynolds' request for redirecting Summer EBT funds for a grocery box program for low-income families might have a better chance of being granted under the Trump Administration. And why is the legislative session in overtime?
A dozen Iowa Republican state senators are refusing to vote on budget issues until another piece of legislation is voted on. Hundreds of AmeriCorps members in Iowa have been impacted by federal funding cuts. And more people are renting chickens amid the rise of egg prices.
A bill in the legislature wouldn't allow Medicaid coverage of some gender-affirming care. A leaked proposed budget shows some disability assistance programs in Iowa could lose federal funding. And a Latino festival in eastern Iowa was cancelled amid fears attendees could be targeted by law enforcement.
A northeast Iowa high school is investigating the circulation of AI-generated deepfake nude photos of several students. The Planned Parenthood in Des Moines won't have abortion care as it expands other services. And an Iowan who fought in the Vietnam War shares his experience flying one of the last helicopters out of Saigon.
Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer will be running for state auditor in 2026. Iowa House and Senate Republicans are still negotiating a state budget. And a worker's union in Iowa is concerned about the federal cuts to OSHA.
The governor is suing the Des Moines Register. An Iowa City nonprofit says the civil rights of several Latino construction workers were violated during a traffic stop. And what are state lawmakers still needing to get done?
Iowa State University will expand a civic center and program. Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson held a town hall. And why are some farmers fearing another farm crisis?
Some Iowans are speaking out about the state’s plan to add work requirements for some people on Medicaid. The state says all schools in Iowa are in compliance with a federal order to eliminate DEI-related programs. And a school district in northwest Iowa says students are finally back in a building that was heavily damaged in last summer’s flooding.
Sioux City will be the first to launch a homeless court in the state. Summit Carbon Solutions' proposed pipeline is facing a setback. And four international students at the University of Iowa are working to restore their student statuses.
A Des Moines priest says the late Pope Francis stood up for everybody's dignity. A Republican state lawmaker is officially considering a run for governor. Magic mushrooms would be legal to treat PTSD and other conditions under a bill.
The governor has signed several bills into law. An advocacy group is bringing light to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People movement. And a couple Democrats announce campaigns for Iowa congressional seats.
A few public safety officers in Iowa will train to identify and detain people in the U.S. without legal status. Federal funding freezes could impact family planning services for low-income Iowans. And an environmental nonprofit and university will examine high cancer rates in Iowa.
Bills in the legislature would make cash tips and overtime pay income tax free. Emergency room wait times are especially long for older patients. And what other Republicans are considering running for governor?
There are now two attempts to add work requirements for some Medicaid recipients in Iowa. Five University of Iowa students have had their visas revoked. And tuition increase proposals for the public universities have been released.
Gerrymandering is a concern with a new state law that impacts a few counties' board representation. A bill that would make major changes to election recount policies has made it to the governor's desk. And how did a couple overcome homelessness in Des Moines?
Governor Kim Reynolds will not run for reelection in 2026. Iowa's top election official says it would be "pretty serious" if some federal election security programs ended. And how could psychedelics help treat alcohol use disorder?
Some student visas have been cancelled at two of the state's public universities. Millions of dollars in federal humanities funding has been terminated. And what is a state committee recommending to reduce maternal mortality?
Some everyday household items could be state sales tax free under a bill in the legislature. Iowa biodiesel producers are seeking certainty amidst tariffs and new tax credits. And an in-depth look at the push to restrict foods people can buy with SNAP.
The governor says she's looking forward to signing a bill that regulates cell phone use in Iowa schools. Senator Chuck Grassley is not backing down on his bill involving tariff policies. And a K-12 education funding bill is ready to be signed by the governor.
Legislation regulating handgun ownership in the state is headed to the governor's desk. State lawmakers have figured out K-12 education funding past the budget deadline. And why are some National Weather Service offices not launching weather balloons anymore?
An environmental advocacy group is concerned with amendments to Iowa legislation involving pipeline projects. Protests happened in over a dozen Iowa cities over the weekend against the Trump administration. And the legislature has reached a second critical deadline.
A bill banning DEI offices at several agencies across the state has been amended. The state legislative session has passed another critical deadline. And how do buildings kill birds?
Artificial intelligence is being used in an Iowa school for security purposes. Governor Kim Reynolds has signed a law to cut down on distracted driving. And how would a law that protects pesticide companies from cancer lawsuits impact Iowans?
Funds for substance abuse prevention and other state community health programs have been terminated. A state representative has resigned. And Iowa high school graduation rates have improved.
A bill heads to the Iowa Senate floor that would change the definition of bullying. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture met with Iowa agricultural leaders last night. And what's the impact of cuts of federal funding that supported food purchases at Iowa schools and food banks?
An Iowa-based think tank says the percentage of working-age men in the labor force is falling faster in Iowa than in the country as a whole. A special census says Ankeny has gained about 8,000 people since 2020. And, today is International Transgender Day of Visibility. Hundreds of people marked the day Saturday in Des Moines.
Sioux City multicultural festival could see final year, job numbers are steady across Iowa, and CDC cuts could affect Iowa's health services. Also, the Iowa House considers SNAP limits and a carbon dioxide pipeline bill passes.
Cell phone use while driving could soon be illegal in Iowa. Graduate students at the University of Iowa protested over uncertainty of employment contracts. And would a bill banning eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipelines affect Summit Carbon Solutions' proposed pipeline?
A bill allowing 18 year olds to carry handguns is moving through the legislature. A state law banning books with explicit sexual content in school libraries has been blocked for a second time in federal courts. And a proposal aims to protect foster and adoptive parents' religious beliefs.
A new report shows the potential impact of federal health and food assistance program cuts to Iowa's economy. A bill that would impact school cell phone policies is making it's way through the state legislature. And some graduate students at the University of Iowa are concerned about their funding.
Chuck Grassley says checks and balances of the government will work in the new presidential administration. Foster care leaders say there's a need for more foster parents in Iowa. And catch up on the state legislature with Legislative Monday. Correction: A previous description said "Chuck Grassley says President Donald Trump is moving toward a dictatorship." He did not say that--a participant said that at a town hall hosted by Chuck Grassley.
Governor Kim Reynolds took a trip to the White House yesterday. Iowa's top election official says he's verified how many noncitizens voted in the 2024 election. And how are Ukrainian refugees in Iowa making peace while negations between Ukraine and Russia are ongoing?
A county supervisor in eastern Iowa says a bill waiting to be signed would take power away from voters. Postal service union members in Iowa are rallying against federal proposals to change USPS. And Adventureland has new owners.
Home births have become a lot more common. DEI is the subject of many proposals in the state legislature. And how did the COVID-19 pandemic impact vaccine attitudes five years later?
Des Moines' largest homeless shelter will soon stop taking extra people during extreme weather. There are only five citizen police review boards in the state, but a bill in the legislature is trying to ban them. And Jane Goodall was in Iowa over the weekend.
Some Republican lawmakers are trying to reverse a federal ban on a cancer-causing chemical. Police use-of-force reports are considered public records. And what federal buildings in Iowa are on a list to be closed this year?
Iowa is taking in less revenue, so state lawmakers will have to use some state savings to cover some of next year's budget expenses. Lawmakers still haven't finalized an education spending plan. And what are restorative dialogues?
The Iowa House has passed a bill that would allow legislative members to apply for a professional weapons permit. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is coming to Iowa. And how are some Iowans recovering from long COVID?
LGBTQ rights advocates continue to speak out at the state capitol. The Iowa House still has its supermajority after a special election. And two Des Moines police officers can now be sued for inappropriate behavior involving a 2018 traffic stop.
Over 300 farmers that have planned for USDA money aren't getting it now. A suspect is facing charges in a decades-old cold case involving the alleged murder of a Native American woman. And a clerical error with the USHUD has caused stress for an Iowa agency that is missing a payment.
The state attorney general's office is staying silent about one of Iowa's worst fish kills. Parking ticket fine increases is one of many possibilities to help the City of Des Moines anticipated budget shortfall. And what bills made it and didn't make it past funnel week in the state legislature?
Republican lawmakers release a major plan to overhaul the state's property tax policies. A bill targeting homeless populations in the state has been tabled. And what do state lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have to say about funnel week?
A bill in the state legislature would make sleeping or camping on public property illegal. Another bill would limit protests outside of the state capitol. And The 1619 Freedom School is now hosting the yearly African American Read-In event.
The American Soybean Association wants the Trump administration to reconsider tariffs on Chinese imports. Two bills in the state legislature would loosen gun ownership restrictions. And how is Iowa's health care workforce doing five years after the COVID-19 pandemic?
Agriculture leaders are concerned about a trade war. A student speaks out about the University of Iowa ending identity-based residential communities. And an LGBTQ rights nonprofit says transgender Iowans should prepare now for a state law going into effect in July.
Some biodiesel producers in Iowa are slowing production. A bill would cut state support for public libraries if they're members of national library groups. And what did Governor Kim Reynolds have to say about why she signed a historic bill that removes gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights Act?
Republican state lawmakers have given final approval to a bill that removes anti-discrimination protections for transgender Iowans. The Board of Regents has ditched plans to create a school focusing on social and cultural analysis at the University of Iowa. And what are herbaria?
Today is the last public hearing on legislation that would remove gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights Act. Waterloo Community Schools will have layoffs over the next two years. And new data is out about abortion in Iowa in 2023.
Governor Kim Reynolds could have a bill that removes gender identity as a protected class in Iowa on her desk tomorrow. Several dozen protestors in Waterloo say they feel ignored by their U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson. And the annual Iowa Cancer Registry report is out.
A bill that would remove transgender anti-discrimination protections from state law drew heavy protests at the capitol. A University of Iowa professor shares her concern over federal layoffs. And Iowa is one of the few states that don't allow fentanyl testing strips for public use.
The first public hearing is happening today on a bill that would remove gender identity protections from state law. The Waterloo Community School district canceled a Black History Month event. And Bernie Sanders spoke in Iowa City over the weekend.
A scientist at an USDA facility in Ames says recent layoffs are mostly people who take care of animals. Some Republican state lawmakers are trying to remove gender identity protections from a state law. And what's the future for rural postal service?
State lawmakers are considering the details of the governor's bill involving preschool access. A former federal employee who was fired last week as part of layoffs is speaking out. And why has a national arts funding organization changed its grants guidelines?
The state auditor says state officials are not giving him information he needs to audit the education savings account program. Some state lawmakers want to make it a felony to knowingly bringing a minor to a drag performance. And how does Gov. Reynolds want to address the health care provider shortage in the state?
There's another attempt to let the state's major electricity providers have dibs on building transmission lines. Public libraries and educational institutions would have to follow obscenity laws under a bill in the legislature. And 2026 election bids are starting to come in.
Delayed payments and layoffs are a couple of impacts of the federal freeze on certain USDA grants. A bill moving through the Iowa Senate would create guidelines for voluntary Bible classes in Iowa high schools. And there are unanswered questions about how the state would implement a bill that would require citizenship status on IDs.
Some state lawmakers are trying to require citizenship status on driver's licenses. Religious exemptions from school required vaccinations are on the rise. And how would selling carbon in trees save forestland?
Republican state lawmakers are trying to ban instruction about LGBTQ topics in middle and high school. Several higher education bills are making gains in the legislature. And how might the NIH funding freeze impact research?
Some Republican lawmakers are trying to change the definition of bullying in Iowa. Changing the weather via chemtrails, a conspiracy theory, could be outlawed in the state. And a nonprofit is ready to challenge the recently approved Cedar Crossing casino.
Governor Kim Reynolds signed an executive order creating an Iowa DOGE task force. The owner of a Davenport apartment that partially collapsed in 2023 will not be held criminally responsible for three deaths and one injury from the event. And a snowstorm warning is in effect overnight in much of Iowa.
Protesters will gather at the state capitol today rallying against a bill involving pesticide companies. The Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office is under investigation after the sheriff said he won't help ICE with potential detainers. And the City of Des Moines is fully enforcing its camping ban ordinance today.
A northeastern Iowa county sheriff says his office won't help ICE detain residents. The long disputed casino in Cedar Rapids has been approved by state regulators. And what Iowan will be playing in the Super Bowl on Sunday?
Four protesters were removed from the state capitol yesterday. Governor Reynolds says Iowa was doing DOGE before it was a thing. And will Linn County get a gambling license today?
Freezing rain is expected in much of the state today. An attempt to stop casino development in the state for the next five years has been blocked by the Iowa Senate. And immigration advocates in northwest Iowa are trying to stop misinformation while also supporting migrants.
Iowa Republicans and Democrats propose different amounts to increase education funding. Students and community members gathered in Iowa City last night protesting against mass deportations. And, yes—it has been a very mild winter.
Bird flu was detected in an Iowa commercial poultry flock over the weekend. Caitlin Clark has retired her University of Iowa jersey. And it's legislative Monday! Will a casino license moratorium pass the Iowa Senate this week?
Iowans with disabilities are asking lawmakers to loosen Medicaid income limits so they can advance their careers and get married without losing coverage. An investigation by the state auditor's office found that an Iowa Workforce Development program director embezzled more than $430,000 over a seven year period. And a bill advancing in the Iowa House would prevent in-state tuition hikes of more than 3 percent at Iowa's public universities.
Taxes in Cedar Rapids will go up for a new data center. Foster care advocates say social workers caseloads need to be lower. And a bill would require "In God We Trust" to de displayed at the main entrances of Iowa public school buildings.
The Iowa Legislature is trying to set general education requirements at the public universities. Governor Kim Reynolds comments on frozen federal funds. And resettlement agencies in Iowa are losing key funding.
State lawmakers are advancing a bill that would block a casino in Cedar Rapids. Some Iowa Democrats in the state capitol have a different take on cell phone policy in classrooms. And Governor Kim Reynolds spoke at the Prayer Rally for Life yesterday. Correction: An earlier version of Here First reported a bill in the Iowa House would lift a license requirement for some homeschool teachers. If the bill was passed, it would not change that requirement.
Illegal reentry cannot be enforced in Iowa for now. There are disputes over the state's proposed science standards. And what happened last week in the state legislature?
Immigration advocates are asking people to not spread unverified information about ICE in Iowa. A Christian organization is lobbying to require fetal development lessons starting in first grade in Iowa. And a look at the battle over the so-called 'swampbuster' law.
There are five Iowa nonprofits that are allowed to pay people with disabilities less than minimum wage. A town impacted by last year's flooding is finding the funds to repair the city's wastewater treatment system. And there's another attempt in the legislature to limit cellphone use while driving.
IPR talked to one of 10 Iowans pardoned for crimes related to the Jan 6 attack on the U.S Capitol. Another attempt to limit the use of automatic traffic cameras in the state has started again in the Iowa House. 34 states have anti-SLAPP laws. Could Iowa become one of them?
Iowa has one of the highest rates of binge drinking in the country. A nonprofit in Des Moines wants to build tiny homes for people in need. And how does immigration impact Iowa's population growth?
Happy Martin Luther King Junior Day and Inauguration Day! An Iowa organization that helps immigrants has been preparing for Trump to take office. A look at the two candidates for one vacant senate seat in the state legislature. And Iowa's biggest school district says the chronic absenteeism law is costly to implement.
Indigenous rights advocates are calling on more Native American families to become foster homes for Indigenous children. A bill that would make it illegal to pet sharks in Iowa has been stalled in the legislature. And how would mass deportations impact the meatpacking industry?
The state supreme court chief justice delivered the Condition of the Judiciary address. A homeless shelter in Mason City has been over capacity the past couple months. And what are the new federal regulations on carbon dioxide pipelines?
Governor Kim Reynolds wants work requirements for people who use Medicaid. Senator Joni Ernst says she will support Pete Hegseth, despite previously raising concerns about his restrictive views on women in combat roles. And, after months of differing public comments, the EPA is affirming its decision to keep several Iowa waterways on a list because of unsafe drinking water standards.
The City of Des Moines has decided to layoff the sustainability office, citing budget deficits. An arrest has been made in a four decade old cold case involving the murder of an Indigenous woman. And why are farmers and biofuel producers still confused about a new tax credit?
The years long battle to open a casino in Cedar Rapids is coming to an end, but with some more hurdles. Monarch butterflies could soon be considered a threatened species. And today is the first day of the 91st Iowa General Assembly—are you prepared?
Charter schools in Iowa keep opening up since a 2021 state law. Last year layoffs at John Deere are impacting another industry's workforce. And an in depth look at an effort to popularize collard greens in grocery stores.
The DNR is investigating a lactic acid spill in southwest Iowa this week. Newly awarded grants are expected to create over 800 childcare slots across Iowa. And how does a rural Missouri school district support its unhoused students?
Iowa nonprofit takes Selzer case pro bono, farmers' new feelings on ag economy, and elevated radon levels in Iowa homes. Also: John Deere announces more layoffs, and new info on physical activity's effects on chronic disease.
Republican lawmakers say they’re open to hearing what Gov. Kim Reynolds proposes for a cell phone policy for schools, but say they’re not sure how far the state should go with any legislation. Johnson County is expanding a program that helps families who get child care assistance from the state. And, Iowa has its first reported case of bird flu in 2025.
Water quality advocates will gather signatures in northeast Iowa today to stop a water use permit. Despite facing criticism, Rita Hart was reelected to serve another term as chair of the Iowa Democratic Party. And why is imported cooking oil top of mind for Midwestern senators?
The income limit to qualify for Medicaid postpartum in Iowa has dropped. A service tomorrow will remember the one year anniversary of the Perry High School shooting. And why is the ag economy sluggish?
Happy New Year! The state income tax is now a flat 3.8 percent. Mental health issues could be impacting housing opportunities for veterans in the state. And how many tornadoes were in Iowa last year?
A new study has found a widening disparity between urban and rural counties for cancer rates associated with the HPV virus. A final vote on a proposed Cedar Rapids casino is expected in the New Year – and the state’s existing casinos are lined up against the project. The state ombudsman says his office got fewer complaints last year, but still the fourth-highest number in the history of the office.
The number of children in Iowa vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella has been declining in recent years. Iowans who crossed paths with Jimmy Carter when he was campaigning for the 1976 Iowa caucuses remember him as a down-to-earth politician. And former Iowa governor and outgoing U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says he’s proud of federal programs that have helped increase the number of smaller farms in Iowa.
The top Republican in Iowa’s House of Representatives says he won’t stand in the way of legislation cracking down on drivers distracted by their phones. The U.S. has won a trade dispute with Mexico over genetically-engineered corn. And several Iowa airports will share millions of federal dollars for improvement projects, including a new terminal at the airport in Des Moines.
A small town in western Iowa is seeing slow but steady rebuilding progress eight months after a devastating tornado struck the community. A group of lawyers in Iowa has used financial grants to help prevent 25,000 Iowans from being evicted over the last three years. And some UI scientists plan to study whether liquefied CO2 can be stored deep beneath Council Bluffs.
The Farm Bill has been extended once again but includes new measures for farmers. Why are fatal opioid overdoses down? And Des Moines is asking people to participate in a housing survey.
The Iowa Supreme Court ruled on a case involving mandatory inspections of rental properties. The DNR is learning more about the low number of gray foxes in the state. And residents in a northwest Iowa community are still facing life changing decisions after historic flooding.
Bird flu is being detected in waterfowl in Iowa. A small business owner shares how Trump tariffs could impact her store. And wild rice in the Great Lakes region has been declining for a century.
A lawsuit has been filed to block a state law that limits what nicotine vape products can be sold. An economist says agriculture is vulnerable to trade wars. And how one small Iowa school district finds funding to support students and families without stable housing.
President-Elect Trump is suing pollster Ann Selzer and the Des Moines Register. A dean at an Iowa university is speaking out about the state's ban on DEI efforts. And incarcerated Iowans share what it means to help restore the state's prairies.
Iowa now has a lieutenant governor after a two month vacancy. The Iowa Supreme Court ruled on a pay discrimination lawsuit. What is Batch and Build? And is it effective like public officials are claiming?
Bird flu is on the rise again in Iowa. Governor Kim Reynolds joined other Republican governors saying they'll back mass deportations. And a look at the racial disparities in Alzheimer's treatment and diagnosis.
Summit Carbon Solutions is closer to building its pipeline project. Children's book author Don Tate is in Iowa this week. And how can wood be used in construction to fight climate change?
Iowa's top election official wants changes to state law to identify noncitizens who attempt to vote. Long time Iowa Congressman Jim Leach as died. And a southeast Iowa county is trying to put more regulations on wind turbines.
An Iowa agriculture organization is concerned with President-elect Trump's plan to impose high tariffs. Polk County might increase its budget to cover hotel stays for families without housing. And a report suggests construction companies are illegally labeling workers as independent contractors to save money.
Iowa now has six cases of bird flu in poultry flocks this year. A task force reviewing Iowa's Area Education Agencies is delaying its report. And what's the prevalence of manure spills into Iowa waterways?
Bird flu has been detected in two northern Iowa poultry flocks in the past week. Congress has until December 20th to pass a new farm bill or reauthorize the current one. And more people are using food pantries in the Des Moines area.
Low Medicaid reimbursement rates are causing dentists in northwest Iowa to stop accepting those patients. Black Hawk County Democrats are hopeful a special election next month could change the Board of Supervisors. And Governor Kim Reynolds wants her tax policies to be the country's tax policies.
Nursing home advocates are asking a federal judge to allow the enforcement of new federal nursing home staffing requirements. Some birth control users are concerned about possible future restrictions to access the medications. And Iowa Republican lawmakers want to focus on property tax regulations.
State Senate Republicans want to pass work requirements for Iowans who receive Medicaid benefits. John Deere has announced another round of layoffs at its Waterloo plant. And what type of ecosystem prevents flood damage?
Iowa Republicans cast more absentee ballots than Democrats in the 2024 General Election. Des Moines police have named the man who was killed by officers last week in a shooting. And the airport in Des Moines is acknowledging the sunflower symbol.
Business groups are calling on Iowa utility regulators to make some changes in how they evaluate rate increase requests. Some environmentalists say they worry Iowa’s growing Republican legislative majority will mean less money for environmental protection. And a Des Moines university is partnering with a historically Black university in South Carolina to bring in more students.
Iowa ranks 39 out of 49 states for new rates of lung cancer, according to a new report from the American Lung Association. Simpson College students are researching how cells respond to changes to gravity with help from a NASA grant. And about 60 percent of Iowa communities experience a shortage of mental health care.
Gov. Kim Reynolds says she wants to restrict cell phone use in Iowa schools to ensure kids aren’t distracted from learning. The governor also says she’ll name her new lieutenant governor “really soon.” And Davenport Democratic Rep. Monica Kurth has won another term in the Iowa House after a vote recount.
Anti-hunger advocates are asking Iowa again to join a federal food assistance program. School districts have limited time to use federal money for unhoused students. And which Des Moines suburbs will keep using DART?
A new Iowa House committee will review all higher education in the state, including community and private colleges. Iowa Senate Democrats have elected their new leader. And where do all those pumpkins come from for pumpkin pie?
Catholic churches in Iowa are showing support for migrants in preparation for the second Trump term. Iowan adults with multiple adverse childhood experiences are more likely to have mental and physical health conditions. And how did that four-year drought impact Midwestern wildlife?
Iowans are seeking out-of-state abortions more often. Oral arguments were heard yesterday in a federal court case involving Summit Carbon Solutions and two Iowa counties. And who did Trump pick to serve as U.S. Ambassador to NATO?
Congress is back in session, but can a new farm bill be passed during the lame-duck session? A childcare funding program matched private donations and public funds to increase capacity. And organic producers are calling for more government support.
Recounts have been requested for three close Iowa statehouse races. The EPA says six river segments should be added to Iowa's impaired waters list. And the Illinois Farm Bureau is no longer in the national association.
Iowa’s Racing and Gaming Commission is taking public comment this week on a proposed casino for Cedar Rapids. The commission has denied the city a casino license in the past. Famed political pollster Anne Selzer says this month’s pre-election poll is her last, and she’ll move on to other ventures. And a study of homeless services in the Des Moines metro recommends more emergency family shelters.
It’s now up to the Iowa Supreme Court to decide if the families of four people who died of COVID-19 in 2020 after working at a Waterloo meatpacking plant can continue their lawsuits against Tyson Foods executives and supervisors. White supremacist messages have again shown up on fliers posted in Waterloo. And, a threatened turtle species in Iowa is getting a boost under a new conservation program.
Summit Carbon Solutions is asking North Dakota regulators for a second time to allow a carbon capture pipeline to be built in the state. Public health was at the center of a recent ruling involving Iowa's Driftless Area. And Republican Senator Chuck Grassley says the president-elect has the power to enact tariffs without congressional approval.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is prosecuting another legal resident for illegally voting. A new grant will fund research on ovarian cancer treatment, which hasn't changed in decades. And a 12-year-old girl published a children's book about overcoming negative situations.
The last Democrat serving in a northwest Iowa county was replaced by a Republican. The University of Northern Iowa football coach reflects on his time at the school. And Iowa's second congressional district representative is not interested in a GOP House leadership role.
There's been a drop in beef herds. The hospital in Greenfield is reopening today just months after a tornado hit the town. And Iowa has its first zero carbon certified building.
The Board of Regents has reallocated over two million dollars originally used for DEI programs. The first transgender representative has been elected to the Iowa House. And why are farmers needing second or third jobs?
Missouri voters petitioned to make abortion legal on the ballot and approved it. The competitive first congressional district race in Iowa still has not been called yet. And a theatre in Cedar Rapids will keep the lights on.
A settlement has been reached to the estate of a former Glenwood Resource Center resident. A Des Moines teen has been sentenced for a shooting he was involved in. And happy Election Day! All the details you need for the last day to cast a ballot.
Stressed about the election? You're not alone - some tips on alleviating stress this week. A federal ruling sided with the Iowa Secretary of State's plan to challenge the ballots of more than two thousand voters. And the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge celebrates its 100-year anniversary.
The ACLU has filed a lawsuit against the Iowa Secretary of State for challenging over two thousand voter registrations. Cargill union workers are no longer on strike. And what is being done to close the voting gap between people with disabilities and people without?
Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate says public pressure led him to flag over two thousand Iowans as potential non-citizens. City officials say all manufactured homes for displaced Rock Valley residents should be done by Thanksgiving. And a look at the candidates in Iowa's second congressional district.
There are no designated Rural Emergency Hospitals in Iowa. Lawmakers are questioning why a chicken processing company that recently declared bankruptcy received millions of federal dollars just two years ago. Trick-or-treating in the Des Moines area has been moved to Halloween night. And what are the candidates in Iowa's first congressional district saying?
Planned Parenthood North Central States says more Iowans are traveling out-of-state for abortions. Some Iowa Democrats are raising concern over the constitutional amendment about governor succession. And who are the laureates for this year's World Food Prize?
The Iowa Department of Agriculture has euthanized over a million chickens. The country's top election security official says U.S. elections are secure. And the Republican in Iowa Senate District 22 is running for his sixth term.
Some Midwestern states want to ban cultivated meat. A group of Iowa State University students are concerned a state law could dissolve marginalized student resource centers. And where does Iowa rank for women and children's health?
Candidates in Iowa's second congressional district share thoughts on Biden's proposal involving over-the-counter birth control methods. The expiration of the 2018 farm bill is impacting farmers. And how Iowa Democrats are making abortion rights a central issue in their campaigns.
The Iowa Secretary of State has given names of alleged non-citizen voters to law enforcement for possible felony prosecution. The 80/35 music festival in Des Moines may not be happening anymore. And how are Iowa congressional candidates talking about immigration?
Candidates for Iowa's competitive 1st congressional district both agree when it comes to tariffs. More groups are challenging Iowa's law that restricts teaching about LGBTQ topics in schools and bans books with sexual content in school libraries. And an Iowa-based gas station secured the naming rights for the Wells Fargo Arena.
House Speaker Mike Johnson was in Iowa over the weekend. A look at the two candidates running in Iowa Senate District 14. And an update on an alleged 2020 sexual assault involving University of Iowa fraternity members.
Investigation documents have been made public about the January 4th shooting at Perry High School. Midwest farmers continue to deal with drought conditions. And a report predicts state revenue will drop because of tax cuts.
The Iowa Judicial Branch has been misspending collected court debts for three years. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird wants the legislature to change rules for collecting rape kit evidence. And how does a school district in Nebraska work with local groups to support homeless students?
Recovery efforts continue after the historic flooding of the Little Sioux River in late June. Bonds to fund conservation and recreation projects are on the ballot in two Iowa counties. And a Clayton County farmer has been sentenced to over 15 years in federal prison.
Iowa House Democrats say there were issues with data they used to claim more private schools are opening at the expense of public school funding. Polk County Attorney Kimberly Graham says the Des Moines camping bans are counterproductive. And a cute, tiny aquatic creature keeps showing up in Iowa ponds.
Linn County Auditor Joel Miller will get to pursue his lawsuit involving the security of Iowa's voter registration system. The number of volunteer EMTs is on the decline in Iowa. And the Iowa Supreme Court rules on the case involving the murder of a Spanish teacher in Fairfield.
Several Iowa sustainability groups are trying to intervene in a lawsuit involving farming wetland areas. Iowa's top election official wants more veterans to vote. And how could an anticipated drop in farm income impact farmers?
Iowa is leading a lawsuit to block enforcement of new federal nursing home staffing requirements. The Des Moines police chief search is over. And why do some rural Midwestern schools struggle to identify unhoused students?
Agritourism has become a more popular form of income for Iowa farmers. A recap on oral arguments on a state land survey access law. And what the candidates in Iowa's third congressional district said about abortion and rural access to healthcare in a debate last night.
Jewish community groups spoke at the state capitol yesterday to mark the one year anniversary of the Israel-Hamas war. Cargill union workers will meet with the company this week to negotiate a new contract. And will eminent domain flip Iowa's 4th congressional district?
Texas Governor Greg Abbott is thankful for Iowa National Guard members who have been at the US-Mexico border. Ryan Melton, the Democratic candidate running in the fourth congressional district, says lawmakers need to do more to limit fertilizer in Iowa waterways. And what is the DNR doing about the dropping deer population in western Iowa?
A tenth Iowan is facing federal charges in connection to the January 6th capitol riot. Union workers at a Cargill corn milling facility in Cedar Rapids are still on strike. And how are Midwest universities dealing with increasing food insecurity of college students?
Grain won't be directly impacted by the dockworker's strike. One of the finalists for police chief of the Des Moines Police Department filed for bankruptcy earlier this year. And an Iowa biotech company wants to bring its technology to India.
Union workers at a Cargill corn processing plant in Cedar Rapids are on strike. The Iowa DOT denied most applications for speed traffic cameras across the state. And an update on a 2021 lawsuit involving the fraternity FIJI and two University of Iowa students.
Congress is in recess until Nov 12 and still hasn't passed a new Farm Bill. An Illinois man is suing TMC Transportation after the company allegedly fired him for not cutting his dreadlocks. And how did the drought in the Corn Belt impact nitrate levels in waterways?
A northwest Iowa homeless shelter will stay open after a push for funding from the local city council. A push for absentee voting in Iowa. And how much livestock manure is produced in Iowa every day?
The Iowa Democratic Party responds to absentee ballot request forms mistake. A summary of arguments over if Iowa's illegal reentry law can take effect. And a recent LA Times investigation found many imported dogs in California come from the Midwest—and even puppy mills.
Arguments are scheduled today in an appeals court over Iowa's illegal reentry law. Iowa disability rights groups will host candidate forums for people running in the Iowa Legislature. And how have English language learner students adjusted in a western Iowa school district?
The city of Des Moines is closer to enforcing camping bans. More money is being spent on Iowa's Republican congressional candidates ahead of the election. And a union says Iowa prisons don't have enough funding.
After community support, a northwest Iowa warming shelter received funding to stay open a little bit longer. The state of Iowa wants to do more trade with India. And more Midwest farmers are putting prairie strips in crop fields.
The Iowa Attorney General's Office is prosecuting an Iowa man who is a legal U.S. resident, but not a citizen, and has been charged with counts of election misconduct. Penguin Random House dropped off books commonly banned in school libraries in Des Moines yesterday. And how has Operation Lone Star impacted Iowa and other midwestern states?
The Des Moines Public School district is working with unsheltered students and families to prepare them for the city’s new ban on sleeping in public places. Sioux City leaders are working to help unhoused people after one of the city’s largest shelters said it would close at the end of this month. And today’s the final public meeting on Summit Carbon Solutions’ proposed expansion to its planned carbon capture pipeline.
A state administrator is disputing the State Auditor's report on the frequency of nursing home inspections. The Iowa Deputy Secretary of Agriculture says there's disparity in access to federal disaster aid for farmers. And how will the Des Moines camping bans be enforced?
The CEO of DART says the Des Moines metro bus system is facing a large deficit by 2027. Northwest Iowa communities are still recovering after historic summer flooding, with housing being the biggest concern. And a central Iowa city is expanding its wastewater treatment facility to reduce nutrient pollution.
The Des Moines City Council has banned camping on public property. An Associated Press investigation has found a group had been targeting two Iowa congressional races. Iowa nursing homes are not inspected as frequently as federal law mandates. And today is National Voter Registration Day.
The Des Moines City Council will have a final vote tonight on two ordinances impacting unhoused people. Another lawsuit has been filed against the Iowa Utilities Commission over Summit's carbon capture pipeline. And why are there more birds dying in the mail?
Mayors of Des Moines suburbs say they will drop DART if the City of Des Moines doesn't change the funding model soon. An attorney for Willard Miller, the Fairfield teen who pleaded guilty to killing a teacher in 2021, is asking the Iowa Supreme Court to reconsider his sentence. And researchers are looking for ways to lower the emissions of beef production.
The Iowa Supreme Court ruled three Libertarian congressional candidates can not be on Iowa's General Election ballot. A former north central Iowa police chief has entered an Alford Plea in a case involving using a stun gun during parties. And a new program in central Iowa is trying to increase Blanding's turtles.
The Iowa Supreme Court says it plans to make a ruling over the removal of three Libertarian candidates before Iowa General Election ballots have to be printed Wednesday night. A group of Iowa Republican lawmakers say they plan to sue the Iowa Utilities Commission for approving a carbon pipeline project. And community support might keep a homeless shelter open in Sioux City.
Arguments in front of the Iowa Supreme Court are set today over three Libertarian congressional candidates who were removed from the Iowa ballot. A petition opposing the rezoning of a piece of farmland in Sioux City is gathering support. And a genetically-modified baker's yeast might be the future of bacteria treatment in ethanol production.
A district court judge upheld a decision to keep three Libertarian congressional candidates off of Iowa's General Election Ballot. Protesters called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war at a fundraiser for U.S. Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks. And there's a new vaccine to prevent a tick-borne disease in cattle.
The Dallas County Attorney says she does not plan to release a report detailing the findings of an investigation into the Perry High School shootings. Attorneys argued in court yesterday three Libertarian congressional candidates should be put back on the Iowa General Election ballot. And a homeless shelter in Sioux City is closing its doors on October 1st.
Governor Reynolds says she'll take some time to pick her new lieutenant governor. The Iowa GOP says it'll focus on voter turnout and absentee voting ahead of the General Election. And a new treehouse village with adaptive play equipment opened this week in Boone County.
Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg has resigned and will start a new job in October. A district judge says the state can't certify November ballots until a case involving Libertarian candidates is resolved. And Mpox has been detected in an Iowa correctional facility.
Libertarians are asking a district court to delay the Iowa Secretary of State from certifying which candidates will be on the November ballot. Attorney General Brenna Bird is drafting a constitutional amendment after an Iowa Supreme Court ruling over children testifying in court. And a new report shows growing disparities between rural and urban healthcare access.
Iowa Democrats say the state’s Area Education Agencies have 429 fewer employees than last year, after lawmakers made changes to the system’s funding and structure. Classes are set to begin in Rock Valley, after two months of repair and preparation following severe flooding in June. And, a landfill in northeast Iowa is recycling the methane it produces into natural gas.
Three Libertarian candidates for Congress have been removed from the state ballot. Iowa Utilities Commission has officially granted a permit for Summit Carbon Solutions to build its CO2 pipeline. And a bird flu vaccine for dairy cows is in field testing stages.
Environmental groups want more transparency from Iowa energy companies. The Iowa DOT is asking a driver to change their personalized license plates after multiple complaints allege they are referencing Adolf Hitler's manifesto "Mein Kampf." And a settlement requires the Des Moines city manager to acknowledge the importance of a free press, which he did in a statement.
Today is the first day Iowans can request absentee ballots for the upcoming November election. Former Republican candidate Kevin Virgil is backing Democrat Ryan Melton for Iowa's 4th congressional district. And Waterloo residents will vote on a high school merger plan this November.
Governor Reynold's proposed summer food assistance program will cost the state $1.9 million in the first year. Waterloo school board members will vote to either withdraw a $165 million plan to merge high schools or let voters decide in November. And an explanation of changes coming to Iowa's Area Education Agencies.
Summit Carbon Solutions is facing a legal setback in its carbon capture pipeline project after a South Dakota Supreme Court ruling. Iowa has launched a website for people to find childcare. And a new workforce program for young adults at risk or experiencing homelessness will sell produce from a hydroponic greenhouse.
A courtroom heard emotional victim impact statements during the sentencing of Kyle Ricke who will now spend his life in prison. The former medical director at Glenwood Resource Center is facing charges for professional incompetency. And the Sac County voters will decide in November on a bond referendum to fund a new county jail.
Several people spoke against proposed ordinances impacting unhoused people in Des Moines at a city council meeting. An update on the first-degree murder conviction of Kyle Ricke. And Cedar Rapids schools is asking voters to renew a facility maintenance tax levy.
Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack spoke at the Democratic National Convention. Democratic candidate Sarah Corkery says her life experience would help her if she's elected to represent Iowa's second district in the U.S. House. And demolition of a damaged railroad bridge started with a boom.
Governor Kim Reynolds responds to criticism of her proposed plan to provide monthly food boxes to low-income families. A man has been charged following an investigation of anti-immigrant signs posted on Latino-owned businesses in Hampton. And a controlled blast of a northwest Iowa railroad bridge is planned for this morning.
Governor Reynolds has again rejected participating in a summer federal food assistance program for kids. A petition is calling on Des Moines city leaders to not pass proposed ordinances that impact unhoused people. And how unpasteurized milk producers have been adjusting to bird flu outbreaks in dairies.
Anti-immigrant signs were posted at several Latino-owned businesses in a small Iowa town. Domestic Violence Intervention Program is preparing the launch of its new sexual assault support division. And temporary housing is now available in Spencer for flood victims.
The deadline for Iowa to join a federal food assistance program for next year is tomorrow. Iowans on Medicaid will no longer need a prescription to repair their wheelchair. And state fairs across the Midwest prepare for health concerns.
The hospital in Greenfield is partially re-opening about three months after the town was hit by an EF4 tornado. Waterloo residents have submitted a petition to the Waterloo Community School Board over a $165 million bond issue. And more political coverage from the Iowa State Fair.
Iowa's law banning books with sexual content from school libraries can take effect. A trail in central Iowa is opening this weekend. And some political coverage from the Iowa State Fair.
More than three thousand Iowans have signed a petition urging Governor Kim Reynolds to direct state agencies to participate in Summer EBT next year. A middle and high school in northwest Iowa is starting a "no cell phone" policy this school year. And Mohammed Salah feels most at home when he's advocating for human rights.
Permits have not been issued yet for Iowa school employees to carry guns on school property. A company wants to set up a well to collect underground hydrogen in western Iowa. And Andrés Mora Mata finds his sense of home through sharing music with others.
A hospital in northwest Iowa is closing next month. Iowa State Auditor wants more penalties for embezzlement. The man convicted of first-degree murder of an Algona police officer is seeking another trial. And Jathan Chicoine finds home in restoring Iowa's prairies.
Iowa Democratic leaders gather in Cedar Rapids for guaranteed protections for access to contraception. Waterloo community members are gathering signatures to let voters approve or deny a plan to realign the high schools. A recent study shows oxbows can remove some nitrates from streams and rivers. And Aminah Nalani is creating spaces in Des Moines for the queer community.
A new biomarker blood test for Alzheimer's disease could be widely available soon. A charter school in Cedar Rapids is enrolling students. An update on the Farm Bill. And the meaning of home in Iowa for a teacher at the Meskwaki Settlement School.
Iowa's new behavioral health districts have been made. The University of Iowa Stanley Museum of Art has returned the Benin Bronzes to the Benin Kingdom. The Gulf of Mexico dead zone is twice the size that a task force wants it to be in 2035. And Midwest farmers are starting to use drones more.
Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig comments on the use of eminent domain. A new report shows deaths in Iowa from drug and alcohol-related causes fell slightly between 2021 and 2022. Bird flu outbreaks from early summer are causing some people to not show their dairy animals in county fairs. And a conversation with KFF Health News editor and reporter about Iowa's closing rural labor and delivery units.
Some Iowans want the Iowa Utilities Commission to expand its definition of affected person in regard to hazardous liquid pipeline rules. An advocate for Ukrainian immigrants says it's been harder to bring refugees to Iowa. And community members oppose the Waterloo School Board's project for a new high school.
A conversation with an Iowa mother in the wake of the new abortion law. A biodiesel tax credit is making fuel more affordable. A new wildlife management area in Marshall County. And Iowa Democrats speak out on abortion ban.
Iowa's fetal heartbeat abortion ban goes into effect today. Iowa Democrats heard from Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear over the weekend. And the Trans Youth Emergency Fund is now available in Iowa.
A federal judge has blocked Title IX protections for LGBTQ+ students from taking effect in Iowa and other states. Iowa's consumable hemp regulations will stay in effect as a district judge rejected the latest request for an injunction. And a northeast Iowa ethanol-producing facility has been fined for expelling excessive pollutants; the DNR says this may have caused harm to the environment and public health.
Cedar Falls is seeing a sudden increase in extremist graffiti. A new report finds that Iowa and Nebraska nonprofits are still struggling to retain employees since the pandemic. And IPR takes an in-depth look at how Iowa's abortion law that bans the procedure at fetal cardiac activity will impact how people will get the procedure.
Iowa's new abortion law will take effect at 8 a.m. on July 29th. A report by the state auditor's office found the Iowa Department of Education improperly renegotiated a contract. And Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City is settling a lawsuit with international students who accused the college of human trafficking.
The Iowa Supreme Court will not reconsider its late June decision to allow the heartbeat ban abortion law to go into effect. Des Moines community members call the city's proposed ordinances that impact unhoused people "inhumane." And Iowa Democrats are backing Vice President Kamala Harris.
The Des Moines City Council is considering changing its ordinance that allows the clearing of encampments on public property this morning, some say the new ordinance is a harder-line approach to homelessness. The Iowa chapter of the ACLU has sent a letter to the council opposing the changes. Iowa Democrats respond to President Biden's exit from the 2024 presidential race. And a Polk County Judge says he's allowing some time to lift the injunction on Iowa's heartbeat abortion ban, but didn't say how much time.
The company Bayer is lobbying congress to prevent lawsuits over Roundup allegedly causing cancer. The Iowa Great Lakes boating speed limits will be lifted this weekend. And some state lawmakers say they will try to put another moratorium on gaming licenses.
Iowa's abortion law that bans the procedure at fetal cardiac activity could go in effect tomorrow, awaiting a Polk County district judge to lift an injunction. Rules for the sale of consumable hemp go into effect today after while hemp producers are still at a loss. And U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley wants to investigate what he calls a "monumental security failure" during the attempted assassination of Former President Donald Trump.
Iowa General Attorney Brenna Bird spoke at the Republican National Convention. ARPA funding aimed at helping homeless students still hasn't been fully spent by school districts. And there's an update to the 5 mile per hour boat speed limit in some parts of the Iowa Great Lakes Region.
The Sierra Club of Iowa, counties, and landowners are requesting the Iowa Utilities Board to reconsider its approval of the Summit Carbon Solutions' initial carbon pipeline project. Thousands of Iowans are without power after severe storms on Monday evening. And Attorney General Brenna Bird will speak at the Republican National Convention today.
Iowa GOP Chairman Jeff Kaufmann will give a speech today to formally nominate Donald Trump for president. Iowa political leaders respond to the attempted assassination of Trump. This week marks the second anniversary of the 988 national hotline. And there aren't as many foster group homes for girls compared to boys in Iowa and Missouri.
Governor Kim Reynolds has announced four new programs to help Iowans whose homes and farms were recently damaged by severe weather. Kyle Ricke has been found guilty of first-degree murder of an Algona police officer. And new research shows bird flu is transmitted in a cow's mammary gland.
Governor Kim Reynolds says she will announce new plans for flood victims today. A new study shows about a quarter of working Iowans make less than $17 an hour. And there are two hearings in federal district court today attempting to block Iowa's hemp law.
Woodbury County residents are now able to apply for individual FEMA assistance. Testimonies have started in the trial of a northern Iowa man accused of fatally shooting a police officer. And Republican Doug Campbell has announced he will run for Iowa Senate seat 30 to replace Waylon Brown.
Public meetings have been set after Summit Carbon Solutions requested to expand its initial carbon pipeline plan. Senate Majority Whip Waylon Brown has resigned and ended his reelection campaign. And federal food assistance is available for Iowans impacted by recent severe flooding.
Jury selection starts today in the trial of a man accused of murder of an Algona police officer. Climatologists say climate change is the wallpaper behind recent severe weather. And some health groups are concerned about a chemical used to decaffeinate coffee.
The Small Business Administration is trying to help keep small businesses afloat after flooding in northwest Iowa. Debris from flooding along the Mississippi River could be good for the river’s wildlife and anglers. And the Animal Rescue League in Des Moines is putting out an urgent call for people to adopt or foster dogs and cats.
Sioux City residents speak out about frustrations with flood responses. Moderna is getting over 170 million dollars in federal funding to support development of a human bird flu virus. And Iowans offer mixed opinions about new state hemp regulations.
Northwest Iowa communities are starting to pick up the pieces after historic flooding. The U.S. Department of Labor says Iowa's state child labor law can't be less strict than federal protections. And John Deere announces more layoffs in Iowa.
The Iowa Supreme Court ruled on Friday Iowa's fetal-heartbeat abortion law can go into effect. Two Waterloo police officers were shot on Sunday. The suspect was shot by police and declared dead on the scene. And casino developers in Cedar Rapids can now apply for a gaming license after a two-year state pause on new licenses.
A second flood-related death has been confirmed in Iowa. FEMA visited northwest Iowa towns where residents are still trying to recover from flooding. And, today, the Iowa Supreme Court is set to rule on Iowa's "fetal heartbeat" abortion law.
Today FEMA is visiting northwest counties impacted by severe flooding. New research suggests the bird flu virus could survive after pasteurization. And the State of Iowa responds to a lawsuit over Iowa's new consumable hemp laws.
The Biden Administration has granted a federal disaster declaration for five counties in northwest Iowa hit by historic flooding. As flooding continues in western Iowa, the northeast corner of the state is bracing for more rain and a rising Mississippi River. In southeast Iowa, the City of Davenport has already deployed temporary barriers and pumps in anticipation for flooding.
An Illinois man was found dead after northwestern Iowa flooding. Rock Valley residents are starting to clean up their homes after historic flooding. And Iowa abortion advocates say access is still difficult, even though abortion is legal up to twenty weeks in Iowa.
Many northwest Iowa towns are flooded after heavy rains this past weekend. Iowans gathered at the state capital for the March for Life rally. And some groups want country of origin meat labeling requirements in the farm bill.
The Attorney General has filed an appeal to lift the injunction blocking enforcement of Iowa's immigration law. Bird flu has been detected at another county in Iowa. An injunction hearing has been set to block Iowa's new hemp law that is supposed to go into effect on July 1.
Another case of bird flu in an Iowa dairy has been found. All residents in Glenwood Resource Center have been moved out to receive care elsewhere. And a new text help line for eating disorders is available for Iowans.
The Iowa Attorney General's office is opening a new unit to solve cold cases. A Libertarian candidate is in the running for Iowa's first congressional district. And the Des Moines City Council is planning its first comprehensive housing strategy.
A federal judge in Des Moines has temporarily blocked enforcement of Iowa's immigration law making "illegal reentry" a state crime that was supposed to go in effect on July 1. The USDA says there are now seven Iowa dairies with bird flu. The Glenwood Resource Center is one of two state-run facilities for people with severe disabilities, and it's going to close on June 30.
The latest on the bird flu outbreaks in Iowa. Bruegger's Bagel employees protest in Iowa City. And some state-owned beaches are under a swimming not recommended advisory for high levels of E. Coli.
The Board of Regents has raised tuition at Iowa’s three public universities for this fall, after the Legislature gave the schools less funding than they’d asked for. A Cornell College professor stabbed in China earlier this week is back in Iowa. And officials in Dubuque say they’re keeping an eye on a bear that’s been seen in the area this week.
Bird flu has been detected on a third dairy farm in northwest Iowa. The Iowa Board of Regents says it won’t divest its investments in Israel and companies doing business with that country. And a popular northwest Iowa bar will move later this year because of structural problems with its current building.
A federal appeals court will now decide the fate of Iowa’s ban on books with sexual content in school libraries. A panel of judges heard arguments in the case yesterday. John Deere will pay more than $1 million to job applicants the Labor Department says were discriminated against. And China says the attack on four Cornell College instructors in that country appears to be an isolated incident.
A federal judge says he’ll decide by July 1 whether an Iowa law making “illegal reentry” by immigrants a state crime can be enforced. A federal appeals court in Minnesota hears arguments today in a lawsuit challenging Iowa’s education law that’s led to hundreds of books being pulled from library shelves. And, state officials are monitoring both livestock and people after a couple of outbreaks of avian flu in Iowa dairy herds.
Iowa’s “illegal reentry” immigration law has a hearing in federal court this morning. Last night the Catholic bishop of Des Moines led a prayer vigil in opposition to the law. A new report says Iowa’s ranking has dropped a bit when it comes to child well-being. And, the state has another reported case of avian flu in a dairy herd.
U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson and her Republican colleagues plan to introduce a bill next year they say will enact stricter controls on the southern U.S. border. The Sierra Club says water use by Iowa’s ethanol plants will skyrocket if a carbon capture pipeline is built. And, some parents in Sioux City are upset their school district has cut summer school this year.
Iowa is reporting its first case of avian influenza in a dairy herd. It affects about 4,500 animals at a farm in O’Brien County. Pork producers say they expect the next farm bill to address a law in California that bans the sale of pork from breeding pigs raised in pens that don’t meet state minimum standards. And, Osceola should have enough drinking water for the summer, now that a rainy spring has nearly-refilled its only reservoir.
Tuesday was primary election day across Iowa, with three congressional primaries on the ballot. In Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, Lanon Baccam defeated Melissa Vine in the Democratic primary. In southeast Iowa’s 1st District, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks defeated challenger David Pautsch in the GOP primary. And in northwest Iowa’s 4th District, Rep. Randy Feenstra defeated challenger Kevin Virgil.
It’s primary election day in Iowa. There are primaries in three of Iowa’s four congressional districts, as well as some county and legislative offices. Weather forecasters say Iowa’s rainfall this month should be closer to normal. That could be good news for farmers whose fields are soggy after a soaking wet May. And half a dozen small towns in Iowa are getting state money to address run-down, city-owned buildings.
Many Iowa Republicans attended Sen. Joni Ernst’s “Roast and Ride” fundraiser on Saturday, and said they believe former President Trump’s conviction last week could give his reelection campaign a boost. And as severe weather events become more common and some insurance carriers stop writing policies in Iowa, a growing number of people in the state are foregoing home insurance.
Iowa leaders react to Trump's verdict. Efforts to build a new jail in Johnson County may hinge on Tuesday's primary election. Iowa is drought-free. And a labor study is underway in northeast Iowa.
A former southwest Iowa fire chief is accused of stealing donations after devastating flooding in 2019. A preliminary proposal for a new law enforcement center is unveiled in Johnson County. The family of a Buchanan County man is suing after their son died in jail. The head of Iowa's Insurance Commission says severe weather outbreaks during the past few years have led to record premiums.
Greenfield held a candlelight vigil a week after a deadly tornado hit the community. Iowa reports its first case of avian flu in more than five months. State and federal officials say they're ready to respond to any election security issues. A Davenport businessman is challenging incumbent Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks in the 1st District Republican Primary next week.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has set up a Disaster Recovery Center in Greenfield. More than 150 homes were damaged or destroyed there in last week’s tornado. Experts are warning Iowans to take precautions to keep kids from accidentally consuming alcohol. And, Waterloo is adding mental health to its list of activities for young people this summer.
Four Iowa counties are awaiting a FEMA disaster declaration after a total of 202 homes were destroyed or had major damage in Tuesday’s storm. The Waterloo Visiting Nurses Association will be closing its doors after almost a century of work in the Black Hawk county area. And Coe College in Cedar Rapids is opening an aviation management program and professional pilot school, pending accreditation approval.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds calls the devastation in Greenfield "gut-wrenching" after a tornado outbreak kills five and injures more. The head of FEMA visits the storm-damaged area today. Protesters say the University of Iowa and its police department violated their civil rights. A damaging fertilizer spill is being referred to the Iowa Attorney General's Office.
Multiple tornadoes strike Iowa, with several killed in the small community of Greenfield. Heavy rainfall threatens planting in northeast Iowa. A chance of venue for the suspect accused of killing an Algona police officer. And a new human trafficking law will go into effect July 1st.
The Des Moines City Council has approved a lawsuit settlement involving four women who accused the police department of sexual harassment and discrimination. A domestic violence intervention group in Iowa City is preparing to provide services to sexual assault victims in southeastern Iowa. And an environmental group is asking the EPA to better protect northeast Iowa’s Driftless Area from commercial animal farm waste.
Nursing homes have new federal rules for minimum staff levels, though the industry says chronic staffing shortages will make those numbers hard to meet. A new rule closing the “gun show loophole” for firearms sales goes into effect today. Iowa’s attorney general is among those suing to stop the change. And, a new state law clears the way for Lee County to have just one county courthouse. It has maintained two courthouses for the past 176 years.
Gov. Kim Reynolds is putting pandemic recovery funds into opioid addiction treatment and recovery after the legislature failed to allocate opioid settlement funds. A new law will review the accessibility of state parks for people with disabilities. And after rebranding under a new name, what is the future of Schwan’s food delivery?
Governor Reynolds signs behavioral health system overhaul into law. Participants in the "Uplift Program" call it "life-changing. Food insecurity increases in Iowa. Waterloo turns to urban garden spaces to help immigrant farmers. Jan Jensen is officially named the head coach for the Iowa women's basketball program.
A group of Iowans is calling on the state to take strong action against those responsible for a major fertilizer spill in western Iowa. Attorney General Brenna Bird still won't say who paid for her trip to NYC for former President Trump's "hush money" trial. Drake University receives a big gift. Community members say a northwest Iowa community college needs to be more transparent about lawsuits involving international students who accuse the school of human trafficking.
A lawsuit claims the Black Hawk County Sheriff is abusing a system under which counties collect fees from people serving time in jail. Sen. Chuck Grassley says prospects for a new Farm Bill this year are looking difficult. And U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller Meeks says artificial intelligence could be part of the solution for the state’s health care workers’ shortage.
U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson is predicting the new Farm Bill will include a provision to override laws in California and Massachusetts that Iowa hog farmers say will cost them millions of dollars to comply with. Caitlin Clark makes her regular season WNBA debut tomorrow when her Indiana Fever open the regular season. And the FDA commissioner says steps are being taken to limit the spread of bird flu among dairy cows.
A new Iowa immigration law faces two lawsuits, including one from the U.S. Department of Justice. By next month, a western Iowa facility serving people with severe disabilities will close. And some parts of the Midwest are still very dry. Farmers are adjusting their plans for planting season.
Iowa Congresswoman weighs in on Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green's failed move to try and oust Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. Iowa's first substance abuse center for younger Iowans is looking for more funding after the legislature failed to provide money from opioid lawsuits. National Park Service signs a historic preservation agreement with the Meskwaki Nation. And a show of solidarity for western Iowa trucker David Schultz.
Governor Reynolds signed a law intended to boost reading scores. Tuition slightly increases for Iowa's public universities. Iowa DHS contracts with four pregnancy crisis centers under the MOMS program. And, a new study shows coal plants in northwest Iowa greatly impact air quality and health.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is threatening legal action over new federal Title IX rules aimed at protecting students from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Heavy rains across Iowa this spring have led to a spike in nitrate levels in some bodies of water. And a Tennessee-based cleaning contractor will pay nearly $650,000 in fines for employing children to clean meat processing plants – including one in Iowa.
Iowa’s Republican leaders say they’ll fight a federal lawsuit expected to be filed tomorrow against the state’s new law making it a state crime for a person to illegally re-enter the country. A bill that would have allocated funding for addiction treatment from lawsuits against prescription opioid sellers didn’t make it through the legislature this year. And a federal judge says the Des Moines Art Center cannot remove an outdoor artwork it wants to take out over safety concerns.
Hundreds of thousands of Iowans were dis-enrolled from Medicaid once the federal government lifted pandemic restrictions on how states manage the program. Gov. Kim Reynolds warns that state officials will closely watch pro-Palestinian protests at the University of Iowa. And wool isn’t worth much, so sheep producers are testing out new uses for it.
Immigrants and advocates gathered in Des Moines and a few other cities to protest Iowa's immigration enforcement law. A new state flat tax rate of 3.8% is now law. Medical experts say new insurance changes will help diagnose and treat cancer and other diseases. And people impacted by a tornado outbreak in western Iowa are receiving more assistance from near and far.
Waterloo hopes to build affordable housing on the site of an abandoned ammunition plant, but it’s worried about the toxicity of the property. State Auditor Rob Sand says he’s disappointed in a Supreme Court decision related to his office’s withholding of some emails requested by a conservative law firm. And the USDA says working-age rural residents die from natural causes at higher rates than people in urban areas.
A 10 p.m. curfew remains in effect in Minden, as residents and recovery workers clean up and restore power after Friday’s devastating tornado. Iowa’s Supreme Court has told a lower court to hold more proceedings to determine if the state auditor broke Iowa’s public records law. And Iowa Wesleyan University has been selling off assets since closing last month, but it’s unlikely to raise enough to pay a $26 million federal loan.
Volunteer efforts are underway in Minden after a tornado damaged or destroyed 180 homes. Additional tornadoes were confirmed across the state. And over the weekend, House Speaker Mike Johnson was on stage with Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who is facing a competitive race in November.
Iowa’s public universities say they believe they’re complying with new state directives on diversity, equity and inclusion. Authorities in western Iowa say they don’t believe foul play was involved in the death of a trucker who’d been missing for five months before his body was found Wednesday. And, Waterloo plans to create a task force to help address the city’s homelessness problem.
Planting is underway in Iowa, except for the northeast. The wife of a missing western Iowa trucker says his body has been found. A northwest Iowa community college reaches a $3 million settlement with students. And, public university students and staff say they feel free to express their opinions.
The governor's "Thrive Iowa" Program receives $8 million to help link people in need to faith-based and nonprofit groups. A Sioux City Council member and advocate says the legislature failed to improve the lives of the disabled. A senior housing project helps fill a need in Waterloo. And ISU researchers lead a project to help secure the nation's renewable energy grid from cyberattacks.
Kossuth County libraries are facing deep budget cuts beginning this summer, possibly forcing three branches to close. The ACLU in Iowa has filed a “friend of the court” brief in a case that challenges an ordinance in Oregon that bars people from sleeping outdoors in public. And spring planting is underway – corn growers already have 13 percent of their crop in the ground.
The Iowa Legislature’s 2024 session is in the books. Before adjourning early Saturday morning, lawmakers passed a flat-rate tax bill, and did not extend a casino moratorium for five more years. Some Iowans are concerned the sale of a Lee County fertilizer plant could mean unfair pricing for farmers. And the bridge over the Mississippi River between Lansing and Wisconsin is open again.
Republicans in the Iowa legislature have a plan to speed up planned income tax cuts. Lawmakers face a deadline to pass a law that would allow Iowa men who were sexually abused as Boy Scouts to receive their full payment from a national settlement. And rural newspapers are experimenting with ways to keep local news alive.
Iowa lawmakers approve a plan to improve reading scores for students. The state attorney general announced an open-call for a new sexual assault support service for southeastern Iowa. A new study shows a program to help young people as they leave foster care is working. And, former Hawkeye Caitlin Clark is officially introduced as a member of the Indiana Fever.
Governor Reynold's plan to eliminate and merge boards and commissions get modified in the Iowa House. The state gets closer to banning guaranteed income programs. Parents in Waterloo raise concerns about a new plan to arm teachers and staff. And, a potential pay raise for lawmakers.
The Iowa House is sending a bill to the governor's desk that details training requirements for teachers and staff who are authorized to carry guns in schools. Members of the Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force are concerned about a new law that allows state police to arrest undocumented immigrants. Dickinson County is looking at distance requirements for carbon dioxide pipelines. And, as expected, Caitlin Clark was picked first in the WNBA draft.
Supporters held a rally in Iowa City to mourn the closure of the Rape Victim Advocacy Program at the University of Iowa. Independent presidential candidate RFK Jr. campaigned in Des Moines and says he received enough support to show up on the ballot in November. The head of the Iowa ACLU comments on a traffic camera proposal. And, Caitlin Clark enters the WNBA draft tonight.
The Iowa Supreme Court hears arguments over a law that would ban most abortions at as early as six weeks of pregnancy. The Republican Speaker of the Iowa House wants more review of a bill that could affect settlement payouts for victims of sexual abuse as Boy Scouts. And a Kansas company is building weed-seeking robots for farmers.
The Iowa Supreme Court will hear oral arguments today over the "fetal heartbeat" law, which would ban abortions as early as six weeks of pregnancy. Governor Reynolds signed a bill into law allowing state officials to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants that is similar to one passed in Texas. And Iowa lawmakers continue to back a proposal that makes it easier to allow teachers and staff to carry firearms.
Iowa governor signs bill strengthening oversight of foreign farmland ownership. There are challenges for funding for sexual assault support services for the University of Iowa. The NAIA bans transgender athletes from sports. And, Iowa Hawkeye star Caitlin Clark wins another repeat award.
Iowa lawmakers are discussing having the state pick up more of the tab for training law enforcement officers in hopes of attracting more applicants. The University of Iowa is ending a program that works with victims of sexual violence. And thousands of people gathered in communities across southern Illinois and Missouri yesterday to catch the total eclipse of the sun.
Iowa fans are disappointed at yesterday’s Hawkeye loss in the NCAA women’s basketball championship game – and star Caitlin Clark now awaits next week’s WNBA draft. Pork prices are stabilizing after one of the worst years on record. And Iowa won’t be in the path of today’s total solar eclipse, but a partial eclipse will be visible early this afternoon.
A bill headed to the governor authorizes the state to send funding to anti-abortion pregnancy centers without hiring a third-party administrator as initially required by law. The job of a park ranger in Iowa state parks is changing. And the Iowa Hawkeyes prepare for a Final Four matchup with UConn.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law that ends the requirement for gender equality on boards and commissions. A plan to expand coverage for postpartum assistance has passed in the Iowa House. A new ID system for unemployment benefits is in use, and Iowa basketball star Caitlin Clark has received a repeat award.
The Iowa House has passed a bill aimed at improving reading scores of Iowa students. Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a bill she says will prevent state and local governments from infringing on religious freedom. And business experts say they don’t expect the Baltimore bridge collapse to hurt Midwestern manufacturers very much.
Iowans who were sexually abused by Boy Scout troop leaders decades ago could get less money from a national settlement than victims in other states, unless Iowa changes a state law this month. The wife of a Woodbury County supervisor has been sentenced to four months in prison for election fraud. And the University of Iowa women are headed back to basketball’s Final Four.
A new report finds some Iowans are having a more difficult time getting contraceptives in the two years since the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision. The longest-serving member of the Des Moines School Board has died. And lots of Midwestern communities in the path of next week’s total eclipse are hoping for an economic boost from visitors.
A bipartisan bill passed the Iowa House would allow a court to decide whether eminent domain can be used for projects like Summit Carbon Solutions’ CO2 pipeline. Lawmakers want to know more about payments to former city employees in Davenport. And Iowa State ends its March Madness run in the Sweet 16.
Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a bill giving the state more oversight of Iowa’s nine Area Education Agencies. The state auditor says he’s concerned about the amount of time the attorney general’s office is taking to review its pause on paying rape victims’ emergency contraceptive reimbursements. And Waterloo is considering moving a rail yard that runs through one of the city’s predominantly Black neighborhoods.
The Iowa Senate has sent legislation to Gov. Kim Reynolds overhauling the state’s Area Education Agencies. The House has approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would require a two-thirds vote by lawmakers to raise some taxes. And, Davenport has ordered a downtown apartment building vacated over structural concerns.
A top state health official says Gov. Kim Reynolds’ plan to overhaul Iowa’s behavioral health system will make it easier for people to get help. Sen. Joni Ernst says time is running out for the federal government to fix the college financial aid application process for families applying this year. And the University of Iowa women are headed to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen.
Senate Republicans could send Gov. Reynolds an education package this week, giving school districts more control over state funding that currently goes to Area Education Agencies. A Woodbury County supervisor whose wife was convicted last year of voter fraud says he won’t run for another term. And bees across the country produced more honey last year.
The Iowa House has passed another version of a bill to change funding and oversight for the state’s Area Education Agencies. A key lawmaker says tax cuts are still up in the air this session, as debate over AEA changes has put tax and budget talks on hold. And one school district in northeast Iowa is working on ways to keep up with the growing demand for child care space.
A bill that would put a flat tax in the Iowa Constitution is moving ahead at the Statehouse. Lawmakers are also considering allowing the Perry School District to pay bonuses to teachers and staff to encourage them to stay after this year’s shooting at the city’s high school. And a healthcare clinic in northeast Iowa says it's having trouble keeping up with the cost of remote care.
A bill that would allow certain undocumented immigrants in Iowa to be arrested and deported is awaiting Gov. Reynolds’ signature. The House is considering another bill that would challenge the use of eminent domain in building utility projects. And Sen. Chuck Grassley says he believes the Senate will eventually approve a bill ordering the sale of the social media app TikTok.
Iowa Senate Republicans are proposing putting school districts in control of state money that goes toward Area Education Agency services. Salaries for direct care workers in Iowa have remained stagnant in recent years, according to a new report. And a school district in northwest Iowa will change extracurricular activity policies after a hazing incident involving members of the high school wrestling team.
Iowa Senate Republicans say they’re getting close to unveiling their own version of a bill to overhaul Area Education Agency services in the state. Two new housing projects in Sioux City are aimed at putting at least a dent in the need for affordable housing. And the University of Iowa women’s basketball team is among the Number One seeds in this year’s NCAA tournament.
School districts in Iowa have to submit their proposed budgets today - but they still don’t know how much money they’re getting from the state. A bill to define man and woman in Iowa law appears dead for this legislative session. And, a small town in western Iowa is still recovering from a flood that hit the community five years ago today.
Iowa lawmakers are trying to move bills along before a Friday deadline that could leave some legislation dead for the session. On Wednesday, the House approved a bill to allow school districts to use state funding to pay for guns for staff members. In the Senate, a bill that critics fear could have affected in vitro fertilization did not advance.
A proposal that would keep the Iowa DNR from acquiring land for public use if it was bought at an auction is moving ahead in the House. The NAACP says it’s concerned about a bill that would ban citizen police review boards in Iowa. And, Perry’s mayor says he’s trying to find ways to help nearly 1,300 Tyson workers who will lose their jobs when a processing plant closes in June.
Perry is losing its largest employer. Tyson Foods says it will shut down its pork plant in the city, where 1,200 people currently work. Trial begins today for a Coralville resident challenging a new state law related to protesting. And a northwest Iowa high school wrestling coach is resigning, following allegations that some of his players tasered younger teammates last month.
Iowa lawmakers are advancing a bill that would restrict the use of artificial intelligence in elections and campaign materials. Another bill would require new homes in the state to have radon mitigation systems. And, crews are repairing the Mississippi River bridge at Lansing, which was shut down last month after two of its piers shifted.
Democrats say a bill in the Iowa House could threaten fertility treatments. It would raise the criminal penalty for causing the death of an ‘unborn person.’ A bipartisan bill in the House would give raises to teachers and other school workers. And a lack of affordable housing is one reason the University of Northern Iowa expects more students to live on campus next year.
Parents in Iowa would have to give permission before their kids could open a social media account, under a bill moving ahead in the Iowa House. Lawmakers are also advancing legislation that makes it easier for school employees to carry guns on the job. And, a report says more than two dozen Iowa hospitals aren’t fully complying with federal price transparency requirements.
Iowa Democrats say more than 12,000 people participated in the party's first-ever mail-in caucus, with President Joe Biden capturing more than 90% of that vote. Iowa House Republicans have passed a bill putting more restrictions on absentee voting. And the Senate has passed a bill that would make it is a crime to enter the state if they were already deported or refused entry to the U.S.
Iowa House Republicans have voted to ban guaranteed income programs in the state. Senate Republicans have voted to ban citizen police review boards. And expect a lot more red flag fire warnings in Iowa until fields start turning green this spring.
Caitlin Clark is the all-time leading scorer in major college basketball. She surpassed Pete Maravich just before halftime of yesterday’s game in Iowa City. Tomorrow’s the deadline to mail in presidential preference cards for the Iowa Democratic Party’s first mail-in caucus. And an Iowa City facility aimed at keeping some people out the ER or jail is turning three years old.
The Iowa House has passed a plan to make changes to the state’s Area Education Agencies, but it’s different from what Gov. Kim Reynolds proposed at the start of the legislative session. House Republicans have passed a bill they say keeps government from infringing on religious freedom. And Iowa basketball star Caitlin Clark says she’ll turn pro this year.
The Iowa House has passed a bill making it easier for school districts to allow teachers and staff to carry guns on the job. The Senate has approved a bill to make businesses in the state use a federal system to ensure their workers are authorized to work in the U.S. And a church in northeast Iowa is one of the few in the state that’s going solar.
A bill requiring biannual training for nursing home inspectors is moving ahead at the Iowa Statehouse. The Senate has passed a bill requiring plant-based or lab-grown meat to be clearly labeled as such. And Cedar Rapids has approved incentives to a company that plans to build a big data center in town.
A bill to raise starting teacher pay in Iowa is moving ahead in the Iowa House, but its future in the Senate is less certain. The House has passed a bill ending a requirement that state and local boards and commissions have to be gender balanced. And a 183-year-old inn in eastern Iowa has been moved a few miles up the road.
Union members plan to rally at the Iowa Statehouse today. They say they’re promoting solutions workers need – like restoring and expanding collective bargaining. More than 123,000 households in Iowa could lose internet service this spring unless Congress renews a federal subsidy. And Des Moines is proposing extra funding to help the city’s financially-troubled transit service.
Iowa House Republicans have approved an increase in funding for public schools next year, but Democrats say it’s not enough to avoid school budget cuts. An audit has revealed money missing from a county public health department. And one Iowa county has become home to dozens of Ukrainians displaced by the war with Russia.
Parents and educators told Iowa lawmakers last night they’re worried that a proposal to overhaul Area Education Agencies will result in lost services that help students. Teamsters protested outside the Statehouse yesterday. They’re against a bill they say could decertify some public worker unions. And a Mississippi River cruise line that has served several Iowa cities has suspended operations.
Iowa Senate Republicans have passed a bill they say guards against government interference in the exercise of religion – but opponents say it could weaken civil rights protections. The Senate has also voted to repeal a law that says public boards and commissions have to have an equal or nearly equal number of men and women. And a new report says Iowa has the country’s fastest growing rate of new cancers.
The Iowa Senate has approved a bill from Gov. Kim Reynolds extending postpartum Medicaid coverage, while reducing the number of women who’d qualify for it. Lawmakers are also moving ahead on the governor’s proposed tax changes, though they plan to break the proposal into separate bills. And a turkey processing plant in eastern Iowa says it will cut about one-fourth of its workforce this year.
The federal government says it’s concerned Iowa isn’t processing food assistance applications fast enough. The latest agricultural census shows the average age of farmers continues to rise. And it’s the last day to request a presidential preference card from the Iowa Democratic Party. The mail-in cards are replacing the in-person presidential caucus this year.
Caitlin Clark makes basketball history in Iowa City. A bill moved ahead in the Iowa House would continue to rely on the state’s Area Education Agencies for special education. And a Sioux City Symphony oboe player searched the world for the right instrument for a new composition.
Lawmakers in Iowa continue trying to advance bills ahead of a legislative deadline this week. Last night the Senate Education Committee advanced its version of the governor’s proposal to overhaul Area Education Agencies. The House will try to do the same later today. And, the governor’s bill to reduce the number of boards and commissions in the state is moving ahead at the Statehouse.
Iowa Republican lawmakers are proposing changes to the state’s voting laws – including moving up the deadline for returning absentee ballots, and mailing them out sooner. Another bill in the House calls for joint training for nursing home staff and home inspectors. And limits on tax revenue are leading one Iowa community to rethink city staffing needs.
Iowa’s House Education Committee heard from Iowans for and against the governor’s proposal to define men and women based on their sex at birth. House Republicans are proposing allowing teachers to carry guns on the job. And, 3rd District Congressman Zach Nunn is criticizing former President Donald Trump for his comments suggesting he wouldn’t protect NATO countries that don’t fulfill financial obligations.
Members of an immigrant rights group will meet with state lawmakers this morning to talk about some bills they say target immigrants in Iowa. Cultural organizations are making plans for what happens when some tax levies expire in a few years. And it’s not just you – it really has been cloudier than usual in the Midwest this winter.
Iowa lawmakers are taking feedback on Gov. Kim Reynolds’ plan to merge systems that provide substance abuse and mental health services. City councils could take more control over public libraries under a bill in the Iowa House. And landowners are wary of plans to crisscross the Midwest with new carbon dioxide pipelines, even though they could help reduce emissions.
Immigrants’ rights groups rallied at the Iowa Statehouse yesterday, accusing Republicans of targeting undocumented immigrants. Gov. Reynolds’ proposal to improve reading scores is moving ahead, though some teachers don’t like a proposed required test on reading instruction. And there’s an effort underway to create a Black historical district in Waterloo.
A bill that would direct government bodies in Iowa to identify people by their sex at birth has advanced in the Iowa House. Another bill saying schools could not punish someone for using the wrong names or pronouns for a teacher or student has passed the House Education Committee. And, lawmakers observed moments of silence Tuesday to honor former Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey, who died earlier this week.
Gov. Kim Reynolds says she plans to send Iowa state troopers to the U.S. southern border for a third time. The governor’s proposal to extend Medicaid pregnancy coverage to 12 months is getting overwhelming support in the legislature. And, former Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey has died at 64.
Police in Perry say threats made against the school district over the weekend were “not credible.” Ft. Dodge might add a franchise fee to utility bills to help pay for more police officers. And, the loss of young, highly-educated people remains a problem for many parts of the Midwest.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has filed a bill that would require transgender Iowans to have their sex assigned at birth shown on their ID. Republicans in charge of the Iowa House and Senate tax committees have released a plan to eventually eliminate the state income tax. And Kate Grumke from Harvest Public Media reports on what early adopters of all-electric school buses think so far.
Gov. Kim Reynolds’ scaled back overhaul of Iowa’s Area Educational Agencies is advancing in at least one legislative chamber. A bill that would have reduced legal protections for transgender Iowans is not moving ahead. And Iowa State University celebrates world-famous agricultural scientist and alum George Washington Carver today.
Smuggling people would be a new crime in Iowa under a bill advancing at the Statehouse. Iowa Democrats are proposing a number of bills to protect abortion rights, expand access to birth control, and extend postpartum Medicaid coverage. And, a Mason City native who has led the national League of Women Voters for the past four years has died.
There’s another move in the Legislature to restore the death penalty in Iowa. The last execution carried out in the state was in 1963. Lawmakers Wednesday will discuss removing gender identity as a protected characteristic in the Iowa Civil Rights Act. And former longtime Ft. Dodge Mayor Albert Habhab has died.
A crowd of teachers and parents filled a North Liberty meeting room Sunday to speak out against proposed changes to Iowa’s Area Education Agencies. A new report that compares reading laws around the country says Iowa should do more to promote the science of reading. And this month’s snow, deep freeze, and thaw has resulted in a bumper crop of potholes.
Anti-abortion pregnancy centers could soon receive funding even though state officials not found an administrator for the program required by law. A proposal in the Iowa legislature would allow Iowans with disabilities to vote absentee. And thin ice is forcing some changes at the Okoboji Winter Games.
Under a bill advancing in the Iowa Senate, medical providers could refuse to refer patients to any health service that violates their ethical, moral or religious beliefs. Senators are considering requiring a parent’s permission for a minor to be vaccinated against sexually transmitted infections. And there’s a bill working its way through the Statehouse that would require public school students to sing the national anthem.
Sixteen and seventeen-year-olds would be able to care for infants and toddlers at child care centers under a bill moving forward in the Iowa House. Lawmakers are also considering a bill to let drivers as young as 14 ½ drive themselves to jobs. And Waterloo fears a state tax law signed last year will mean less money for its public libraries.
Gov. Kim Reynolds told an anti-abortion rally Monday she’ll never back down from efforts to ban abortion, and she’s proposing ways to help pregnant women. A bill in the Iowa House would ban the use of gender-neutral instruction in world languages. And, the U.S. agriculture secretary has announced millions of dollars in funding for domestic fertilizer and renewable energy projects.
Iowa lawmakers are considering a bill that would ensure homes that assist pregnant women can operate in residential neighborhoods. Hundreds of people turned out Saturday for the funeral of Dan Marburger, the Perry High School principal who died of wounds received in a Jan. 4 shooting at the school. And the University of Northern Iowa has met a fundraising goal more than two years ahead of schedule.
Republican lawmakers are making changes to Gov. Kim Reynolds’ plan to overhaul special education in Iowa. The state would directly administer a program supporting anti-abortion pregnancy centers under a bill in the legislature. And because of drought, fewer waterfowl made their usual stop at a western Iowa wildlife refuge.
Some Iowa Republican lawmakers want to stop cities from banning the practice of conversion therapy. Anti-hunger advocates are calling on legislators to accept federal food assistance for low-income kids this summer. And, this month’s bitterly cold temperatures have meant more cases of frostbite in Iowa.
Iowa lawmakers have gotten a look at the governor’s plan to merge the state’s mental health and substance use treatment systems. Lawmakers are considering making mug shots private in most cases, until a person pleads guilty or is convicted. And a group of people in Black Hawk County has won its fight to keep a parcel of land zoned for agriculture.
Former President Donald Trump has won the Iowa caucuses by a record margin. He defeated Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis by 30 percentage points. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley finished third. Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy was a distant fourth, and announced he was suspending his campaign for president. Iowa Democrats caucused as well, but not to choose a presidential nominee. Turnout was reported low.
Iowans gather in school gymnasiums and auditoriums, churches, and lots of other places tonight for the Iowa caucuses. Republicans will be the first in the nation to indicate a presidential preference. For the first time, Democrats are choosing their candidate by a mail-in card. And the principal of Perry High School has become the latest to die as a result of a Jan. 4 shooting at the school.
Most of Iowa will be under a blizzard warning on Friday, with gusty winds and snow cutting visibility to near zero. This weekend, wind chills will be at least -20. Iowa’s State Board of Education has approved eight new charter schools for Des Moines and Cedar Rapids.
GOP presidential candidates Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley took questions about border crossings, health care, and more in the final debate before Monday’s Iowa caucuses. The debate was held at Drake University. Iowa’s chief justice says the state still has a shortage of attorneys willing to represent people who can’t afford a lawyer. And, the CDC says Iowa’s wastewater is seeing a spike in COVID-19 virus levels.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds is asking lawmakers to enact a 3.5% flat income tax rate. It was one priority laid out in her Condition of the State Address last night. She also wants to see an overhaul of the state’s Area Education Agencies that serve kids with disabilities. And, some people in Black Hawk County are concerned about a plan to rezone 20 acres of agricultural land for commercial development.
More snow is on the way for much of Iowa. The National Weather Service says the eastern half of the state will get another 3-10 inches of snow today. Iowa lawmakers have gaveled in their new legislative session in Des Moines. Dozens of students greeted them with a rally calling for stronger gun laws after last week’s deadly shooting at Perry High School.
Iowa is set to receive its biggest snowfall in a couple of years, beginning Monday and lasting through Tuesday afternoon. Iowa’s legislature gavels in for another session this morning. It’s the eighth year in a row Republicans have controlled both chambers and the governor’s office. And President Trump is being criticized for remarks he made in Iowa over the weekend about the Civil War.
Prayer vigils were held in the central Iowa community of Perry following a deadly shooting at the high school that killed one student and injured five others. In Des Moines, one of the teenagers who led a drive-by shooting at a high school was sentenced to 70 years in prison. And agriculture has generally been a positive for U.S. trade, so why have the last few years shown a trade deficit?
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is making a campaign swing through Iowa with the first-in-the-nation Iowa Caucuses less than two weeks away. Business groups are pushing state lawmakers for a new tax credit program. And a vision for the future of Waterloo includes a goal for free public transportation.
A student-led gun control group is asking Iowa lawmakers to make three changes to state gun laws this year. Near-total abortion bans around the country have led to an increase in birth rates in some states, but with varying degrees. And, there are now far fewer electric vehicles that qualify for a big federal tax credit.
It’s been a year since the federal government created a new designation to help rural hospitals, but so far no hospitals in Iowa have signed up for it. The end of COVID-19 assistance payments is straining the budgets for senior meal delivery services. And some counties in Iowa say they need more attorneys.
Des Moines’ longest-serving mayor wraps up 20 years on the job this weekend. Some Republican lawmakers in Iowa are calling on others to join in stopping the use of eminent domain for carbon capture pipelines. And Iowa’s blood banks are putting out the call for more people to roll up their sleeves this winter.
Anti-hunger advocates say research on food insecurity doesn’t match Gov. Kim Reynolds’ reasoning for opting out of a summer food program for kids. Traffic deaths are up in Iowa for 2023. And Iowa is a leading state for volunteering.
With the Iowa Caucuses just over 2 weeks away, GOP voters supporting Donald Trump appear set on their decision. Sioux City schools are making budget cuts with the loss of COVID funding and doctors warn respiratory illnesses are causing more hospitalizations.
Republican Statehouse leaders say they’re not sure if lawmakers will take action against future Satanic displays in the Iowa Capitol. A Dubuque native who's been in the Iowa legislature since 1993 has a new role in the Iowa Senate, but she hasn't decided whether to seek reelection in 2024. Plus, a new report on social media use among teens shows there are both mental health harms and benefits that can come from it.
Iowa's unemployment rate increased to 3.3% in November. Schools in Iowa are preparing for enforcement to take effect for a state law banning any books that show or describe sexual acts. Plus, the debate over National Forests as climate solutions.
The West Des Moines Water Works is the latest utility to sign off on plans to establish a new regional drinking water system. One Iowa recycling center’s holiday work should go quite a bit faster this season. Plus, a conversation with Republican presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Former President Donald Trump is defending his comments about migrants crossing the southern border. Iowa lawmakers will likely soon consider repealing a law that requires state boards and commissions to be “gender balanced.” Plus, a conversation with Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley.
There's been a huge increase in traffic fatalities in Iowa this year. Top Republicans in the Iowa House and Senate say they want to speed up existing income tax cuts. Plus, a group of Native American women from Nebraska and Iowa are using sewing to help heal from trauma.
Nikki Haley has denounced Republican presidential rival Ron DeSantis in Iowa for campaigning in the state with Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie. The state of Iowa is expanding a water quality program to try and clean up one of most polluted rivers in the state. Plus, labor unions in Iowa were more active in 2022 and 2023 than in previous years.
The head of a conservative law firm asked the Iowa Supreme Court to find that the Democratic state auditor violated the public records law. Iowa Senate Democrats were shot down by Republicans in their call for a government oversight committee meeting on Iowa’s nursing homes. Plus, an evergreen tree called the eastern red cedar is taking increasing amounts of land and water throughout the Great Plains.
Former President Donald Trump is urging his supporters to guard against complacency as he expands his lead ahead of the Iowa caucuses. Iowa’s four Republican U-S House members voted to formally authorize an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. Plus, members of the panel that estimates Iowa’s tax revenue say they’re no longer fearing an economic recession.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis stepped up his case against Donald Trump during a CNN town hall in Iowa. Proposed rules for implementing Iowa’s fetal heartbeat abortion ban are now open for public comment. Plus, a survey by Iowa State University shows farmland values have started to plateau.
Holiday travel from the region that includes Iowa is projected to be the fourth highest on record. A presidential candidate forum that focuses on minority issues will not take place this year. Plus, a study by the US Department of Agriculture shows after a decade of decline the population of rural America grew by a quarter of a percent from 2020 to 2022.
Former President Donald Trump has strengthened his already overwhelming lead in the race for the Iowa caucuses. An Iowa man is under arrest in the death of a Catholic priest who was stabbed in the rectory of his a small Nebraska church. Plus, the University of Iowa is ending a merit-based scholarship for incoming first-year students from historically underrepresented populations.
CNN has announced it will host a debate on January 10th in Des Moines for Republican presidential candidates who have at least 10 percent support in three polls. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services says it has disenrolled more than 160 thousand people from Medicaid in the past seven months. Plus, access to reproductive health care sits on shifting sands across the Midwest and South and that’s led some people to make permanent decisions.
A report on national farmland values shows prices are holding their own despite several down economic issues. Iowa state lawmakers are discussing how to continue their work on improving access to child care in the next legislative session. Plus, both the state and federal departments of agriculture have confirmed a positive case of highly contagious bird flu in Mills County.
More community leaders are calling for action surrounding a Woodbury County Supervisor whose wife was convicted of voter fraud. A federal judge permanently barred two Iowa counties from enforcing their ordinances that restrict the placement of carbon dioxide pipelines. Plus, Emergency housing and first-time homelessness claims are up from last year in Black Hawk County.
Iowa Congressman Zach Nunn is co-sponsoring a bill that would make members of the US House and Senate who are expelled ineligible for a congressional pension. Shifting regulations on whole pork products sold in California and Massachusetts have some people in the agriculture industry concerned. Plus, we go on the campaign trail with Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis who were in Iowa this weekend.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis completed an Iowa milestone that’s lead to victories on past caucus nights. The Iowa Democratic Party has determined what candidates will be on their party’s 2024 presidential preference caucus cards. Plus, advocates for human trafficking survivors say Iowa’s limited safe housing options for victims face challenges because of a lack of funding.
Sen. Joni Ernst was choking on food during a luncheon when fellow Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky performed the Heimlich maneuver on her. A second lawsuit has been filed against Iowa’s law banning books with sexual content from school libraries. Plus, we hear about a federal program that’s working to connect farms with food pantries to prevent wasting food.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley are increasingly outsourcing central parts of their campaigns. Home sales in the state were down nearly 12% in October compared to last year. Plus, why talking about climate change can be a tough job in Middle America.
The ACLU of Iowa and Lambda Legal filed a lawsuit challenging Iowa’s law that restricts discussions of LGBTQ topics in schools and bans books that describe sex acts. The husband of a Sioux City woman convicted of voter fraud isn’t stepping down from the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors. Plus, Iowa author Nancy Jane Price has died.
Planned Parenthood workers in Des Moines will picket as part of a multi-state union demonstration over labor concerns. The Iowa Environmental Council has an eye-popping report out on the costs Iowans will pay for the removal of nitrates from drinking water supplies over the next five years. Plus, most of the state is going into its 178th consecutive week of drought.
The Iowa Democratic Party has hired the National Vote at Home Institute to handle its first-ever mail-in system to determine which presidential candidate Democrats in Iowa prefer. An Iowa man now holds the Guinness World Record for the largest pencil collection. Plus, Millions of people with mental illness across the country go untreated and that comes at a cost.
The wife of a Woodbury County supervisor has been found guilty of voter fraud. Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis now has the public support of a well-known voice in Iowa's evangelical community. Plus, the tangled web of funding that keeps the water tap on.
The forecast has cleared up in Iowa ahead of Thanksgiving travel. Governor Kim Reynolds says she’s working on another tax cut plan that she’ll reveal to Iowans at her Condition of the State address in January. Plus, jury deliberations are underway in the voter fraud case involving the wife of a Woodbury County supervisor.
Former President Donald Trump says a decisive win for him in Iowa’s January 15 caucuses could put an early end to the Republican presidential nomination process. The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics has received a new grant to help address child mental health issues through school resources. Plus, the history between families’ preference for pumpkin or sweet potato pie.
The Board of Regents is directing Iowa’s public universities to cut diversity, equity and inclusion programs that aren’t necessary for research contracts or accreditation. Some protest participants in the Iowa City area learned this week that one month later, police put out a warrant for their arrest. Plus, researchers say that insects are declining at alarming rates.
Jeremy Goodale, one of the two Fairfield teenagers who pleaded guilty for the murder of Spanish teacher Nohema Graber, has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. The State Department of Education is advancing a set of rules that give schools and teachers some clarification on a law that includes a ban on books with sexually graphic content. Plus, Senators from Iowa and Nebraska are supporting Federal legislation that would return land in northwest Iowa to the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.
A continuing resolution passed by Congress back in September provides funding for food assistance programs even if the government shuts down this week. A Polk County district court judge has ruled a law allowing Iowans’ garbage to be searched by police without a warrant is unconstitutional. Plus, the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority has scheduled a series of public meetings to gather input on possible service cuts.
AAA Iowa says they’re expecting a significant boost in Thanksgiving travelers for the region of the Midwest that includes Iowa. The trial for the wife of a Woodbury County Supervisor accused of voter fraud started in Federal court in Sioux City. Plus, State Auditor Rob Sand is asking Iowans to take steps to avoid becoming victims of fraud and to prevent the misuse of public funds in their own communities.
South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott is dropping out of the 2024 Republican presidential race. Many women and children who qualify for a federal nutrition program never apply for benefits. And Caitlin Clark sets a new scoring record for women’s basketball at the University of Iowa.
Iowa’s Department of Health and Human Services plans to sell land it owns at five state-run facilities. It says a land sale at a site in Cherokee will help with that city’s housing crisis. Recidivism is down at Iowa state prisons for the third straight year. And Waterloo has unveiled a monument to the Five Sullivan Brothers, who were all killed in action in World War Two.
The head of Iowa’s law enforcement training academy says its facilities and processes are “unacceptable.” Some state lawmakers plan to ask for more money for the academy. Today, one of the companies proposing a carbon capture pipeline in Iowa plans to offer its rebuttal to those who don’t want the pipeline on their property. And Republican U.S. Rep Zach Nunn will have a Democratic challenger in the 2024 election.
Des Moines voters have elected a woman as mayor for the first time. Connie Boesen will replace Frank Cownie, who is stepping down after 20 years in office. Voters in Cedar Rapids have rejected a $220 million dollar bond to improve and replace school facilities. And voters in Polk County have overwhelmingly approved a $350 million bond to fund construction of a new terminal at the Des Moines International Airport.
Tuesday is Election Day in Iowa for city and school board elections and polls are open from 7 am to 8 pm. Governor Kim Reynolds has officially endorsed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the Republican presidential nomination contest. Plus, the state will pay $10 million to two Iowa children who faced abuse, neglect and torture by their adoptive parents under a settlement approved by the state appeal board.
Iowa Republican Governor Kim Reynolds is set to endorse Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the Republican presidential nomination contest. Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman headlined an Iowa Democratic Party fundraiser over the weekend. Plus, Tuesday is Election Day for city and school races across the state. In Des Moines, voters will choose a new mayor for the first time in 20 years.
Iowa's Joni Ernst is among five U.S. senators who've publicly pleaded with a fellow Republican senator to end his blockade of military promotions. Six counties are trying to bring back a passenger rail line to the state, but the process won’t be easy. Plus, an audio postcard on one of the largest livestock shows in the United States.
The Biden administration is proposing giving Iowa an estimated $8 million to help address the opioid epidemic. Iowa Democrats can begin requesting mail-in presidential preference cards for the 2024 Iowa caucuses. Plus, Waterloo has proposed a development solution to one of its riverfront brownfield sites.
State and federal officials have confirmed bird flu has hit a third commercial turkey operation in northwest Iowa. University of Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz is addressing the athletic department’s decision to sack his son and offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz at the end of the season. Plus, how elevated levels of nitrate in drinking water have recently been linked with health issues like cancer.
A Texas-based private equity firm says the auction results for Mercy Iowa City hospital aren’t final. An eastern Iowa company has agreed to pay a fine to the Environmental Protection Agency over alleged hazardous waste violations. Plus, a look at the state of the Iowa caucuses less than three months before the first contest in Republican presidential nomination calendar.
Former President Donald Trump campaigned in Sioux City on Sunday. Election officials say anyone planning to vote absentee needs to get their ballot in the mail soon, if they haven’t already. Plus, in an unusual turn of events, the University of Iowa has won the auction for Mercy Iowa City hospital.
Opponents of a proposed wind farm in the Iowa Great Lakes region credit a grassroots effort for putting a pause on the project. AARP Iowa has come out against a rate increase proposal from Interstate Power & Light. Plus, we hear about the barriers to clean water and the fight for infrastructure funding on one Nebraska reservation
A missing 14-year-old girl from Des Moines was found safe following an Amber Alert issued Wednesday night. Gov. Kim Reynolds says her husband, Kevin, is doing well following his first month of treatment for lung cancer. Plus, The World Food Prize will be awarded Thursday to the founder of a nonprofit that turns mine fields back into farm fields.
Traffic fatalities in Iowa are higher than they’ve been at this time of the year for at least the previous five years. Cedar Rapids Schools has closed more sections of its middle schools. Plus, IPR’s Sheila Brummer takes a look at compliance surrounding Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy and the dilemma that producers face.
Two more bird flu cases have been confirmed in the state. Iowa City is running a two-year experiment to see whether making its public buses free will impact demand for the service. Plus, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott is moving more of his resources to Iowa ahead of the first-in-the-nation Republican caucuses.
Ethanol producers say they won’t stop supporting carbon capture pipelines in Iowa, despite a decision to kill a proposed $3.5 billion pipeline slated to run across Iowa. Iowa Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks is firing back at those who've criticized two of her votes for House Speaker. Plus, the future of wind turbines in the Iowa Great Lakes could be decided this week.
Iowa’s unemployment rate was up slightly in September, as college students left their summer jobs and headed back to class. The University of Iowa has hired a mental health counselor to work with students who are veterans. And, LeMars is considering letting police officers live farther from town.
Iowa Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks says she's received credible death threats after she switched her vote for House speaker. A Cedar Valley resident says she’s challenging 2nd District Republican Representative Ashley Hinson next year partly because of a health care issue. Plus, Starbucks and the union organizing its workers sued each other Wednesday in Iowa in a standoff sparked by a social media post over the Israel-Hamas war.
Early voting begins Wednesday in Iowa. All four of Iowa’s Republican members of the US House voted for Ohio Representative Jim Jordan in the failed vote for speaker of the House. Plus, we check in on Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy with IPR’s Grant Gerlock as we kick off a series of stories on the state’s water quality issues.
Former President Donald Trump campaigned for the Republican presidential nomination in Iowa on the same day a judge issued a partial gag order on him. Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says the rain that fell on the state last week was both ill-timed and badly needed. Plus, it’s "National School Bus Safety Week.”
Three of the four Republicans who represent Iowa in the US House will support Ohio Representative Jim Jordan for House Speaker. A new report has ranked Iowa 16th in the nation when it comes to women and children’s health. Plus, the University of Iowa set a new women's basketball attendance record Sunday.
The latest figures for Iowa’s new education savings accounts show 18,893 students are approved for state funding to put toward private school tuition. Presidential candidate Ron DeSantis is buying $2 million in advertising in Iowa. Plus, how the program Title One began and where it’s at today as federal lawmakers mull a new farm bill.
State regulators plan to resume a hearing next month on Summit Carbon Solutions’ route for its proposed CO2 pipeline. Cedar Rapids School officials are concerned a middle school in the district isn’t structurally sound. Plus, an Iowa man has been sentenced to two life terms for killing a 10-year-old girl.
Sen. Joni Ernst met in-person with Israel's top leaders as they respond to terror attacks that started over the weekend. Mercy Iowa City announced on of its primary creditors bought the financially imperiled hospital. Plus, more than 200 scientists at Iowa colleges and universities have signed on to the 2023 Iowa Climate Statement.
Iowa’s congressional delegation reacts to the attacks on Israel. Republican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis has strong words for Hamas and Democrats after the attack on Israel while campaigning in Iowa. Plus, the Iowa Bicycle Coalition has a new leader.
Former President Donald Trump and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley campaigned for the Republican presidential nomination this weekend. The Iowa Democratic Party will release the results of its caucuses on Super Tuesday in 2024. Plus, a middle school in Eastern Iowa has been awarded a special distinction by the United States Department of Education.
Iowa’s Racing and Gaming Commission says the sports betting scandal at two of the state’s public universities has not turned up any attempts to fix games. Marshalltown is installing a public Narcan dispenser to help fight opioid overdoses. Native American advocates in Iowa are raising awareness of Indigenous People’s Day, which is Monday.
Ground’s been broken on a new passenger terminal for Des Moines’ airport. This year’s drought has brought an increased risk of fire during the fall harvest. And, Iowa City’s famed Hamburg Inn #2 reopens today under new ownership.
Cedar Rapids public school officials say it’s safe for students to be back in class, while the investigation continues into a threat that closed schools on Monday. A predominantly Black neighborhood in Waterloo is celebrating the opening of its first grocery store in almost 50 years. And, the NASCAR Cup Series is coming to Newton next summer.
Iowa officials say they’ve reached an interim settlement in a lawsuit claiming the state doesn’t provide adequate mental health support for children on Medicaid. Cedar Rapids public school students head back to class today, after a social media threat closed schools yesterday. And parts of Iowa could see the first freeze of fall by the end of the week.
The Iowa Board of Regents will ask the legislature for an additional one million dollars next session to address students’ mental health needs. The U.S. Agriculture Department is changing a rule in hopes of getting more free meals to students. And, Iowa is seeing a critical shortage of dentists who treat patients with Medicaid coverage.
A Polk County judge has denied a motion to dismiss the state of Iowa and a state ride inspector from a lawsuit filed by the family of a boy who died when in Adventureland. With COVID cases up again, the federal government has once again started offering Americans free at-home testing kits. Plus, new challenges for composting.
Gov. Kim Reynolds is promising another round of tax cuts as she reports a $1.8 billion budget surplus from the past fiscal year. Republican Senator Chuck Grassley says it’s “idiocy” to be going through another government shutdown. Plus, a healthcare clinic in Cedar Falls has partnered with 3 other states to provide care after a statewide bill restricting LGBTQ care has become enforceable.
A leader in the union that represents 19-thousand federal employees who work in Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, and the Dakotas says some of them will be required to work, without pay, if there's a federal government shutdown. The federal government is funding nearly 80% of Davenport's project to make the railroad line along its riverfront safe for pedestrians and motorists. Plus, Iowa State University has a goal to trim $15 million from its College of Liberal Arts and Sciences by 2025.
A state committee that has been evaluating the number of boards and commissions in Iowa is sending final recommendations to lawmakers. Thousands of people have been mistakenly dropped off Medicaid since the spring. Planned Parenthood North Central States says its book sale at the state fairgrounds next month will be its last.
The federal government is heading toward a shutdown that will disrupt many services. Iowa officials say a man has been found and arrested after failing to show up for the verdict at his murder trial. Plus, thirteen cities and water systems in the Des Moines area have drafted a final proposal to create a combined utility in charge of sourcing drinking water for the metro region.
The deadline to file to run for local office this November ended Thursday. Cedar Rapids Schools is asking voters this November to approve the largest school bond ever put to Iowa voters. Plus, Iowa’s first gentleman, Kevin Reynolds, has been diagnosed with lung cancer.
Former President Donald Trump is taking heat from all sides of the abortion issue after he criticized Republican-led states for enacting tough restrictions for the procedure. A funeral was held for Algona Police Officer Kevin Cram who was killed in the line of duty last week. Plus, a new report has found Iowa is one of 22 states with an obesity rate over 35%.
An Iowa lawmaker says the state lacks the authority to grant permission for a carbon capture pipeline to use eminent domain. A hearing on that issue continues in Ft. Dodge. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says she’s proud of the six-week abortion ban she signed into law, after former President Donald Trump called a similar law in Florida a “terrible mistake.” Graceland University in Lamoni is cutting its tuition cost in hopes that families don’t rule out applying based on the sticker price alone.
A solemn vigil was held in downtown Algona on Sunday night as hundreds of area residents came together to remember the life of Algona Police Officer Kevin Cram. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is visiting 70 Iowa schools this fall to encourage 17 year olds to register to vote now, so they're ready to cast a ballot when they turn 18. Plus, some parts of Iowa actually got a normal amount of rainfall last week.
The Iowa Democratic Party's 2024 Caucuses will be on the same day Iowa Republicans plan to hold their Caucuses. Republican presidential candidates spoke to a large gathering of evangelical Christian voters in Des Moines over the weekend. Plus, the Johnson County area is exploring a dedicated rapid bus line to transport residents across its growing municipalities.
An Algona police officer has died after being shot Wednesday night while trying to make an arrest. Cedar Rapids is the largest recipient in the state of USDA money going to plant and maintain trees. Plus, we hear about a new mural in downtown Storm Lake that illustrates the community’s diversity.
Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says the impeachment inquiry into President Biden is part of the oversight function Congress has over the executive branch. Woodbury County’s new law enforcement center in Sioux City will open even later than expected. Plus, the aviation program at Iowa Lakes Community College will be expanding into nearby air space.
All four members of Iowa's US House delegation say they support an impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden. A vice president for one of the companies that wants to build a carbon capture pipeline in Iowa says permit denials for the pipeline in North and South Dakota should not affect their Iowa pipeline plans. Plus, how old homes will have to cope with climate change heat in the Midwest.
South Dakota regulators have rejected Summit Carbon Solutions’ application to build a carbon capture pipeline through that state. It’s part of the same project that would cross Iowa. The University of Iowa has launched a new program to train nurse-midwives. Plus, a special election for an open Des Moines City Council seat will be added to the November ballot.
Donald Trump stopped at a fraternity house before heading to watch the Iowa-Iowa State football game in Ames this weekend. New data have shown that abortion in Iowa increased 11 percent in the first half of this year as compared to 2020. Plus, recent heat and drought have fueled concerns about this year’s corn crop.
A new report says bad practices across the board led to the fall of The Davenport in May that killed three people. Gov. Kim Reynolds was on hand for the ribbon-cutting at a new charter school in Des Moines. Plus, the corn battle in Mexico between food sovereignty and trade agreements with the U.S.
A state subcommittee that has proposed eliminating more than a quarter of Iowa’s boards and commissions heard more than two hours of public testimony. A Des Moines city councilmember who hasn’t attended meetings or work sessions since March has resigned. Plus, we learn about a backlog of more than 6,000 cases of alleged child abuse and neglect in St. Louis.
Former President Donald Trump plans to attend Saturday’s football game between Iowa State University and the University of Iowa. A top executive with Summit Carbon Solutions took to the witness stand in Fort Dodge Tuesday in the hearing that will decide if its carbon pipeline project is approved by the Iowa Utilities Board. Plus, new large-scale solar project regulations got their first approval by the Linn County Board of Supervisors.
A northwest Iowa school superintendent who worried his district might lose students to private schools didn’t see any changes in enrollment due to the state’s new education savings accounts. Many Iowans suffer from long COVID symptoms but experts say it’s still unclear why some people develop persistent symptoms. Plus, a Des Moines man who survived the Nazi holocaust during World War Two has died.
The latest Iowa Drought Monitor shows drought conditions have worsened across Iowa. Iowa’s Department of Natural Resources has maintained an E. coli advisory for 11 lakes across the state through Labor Day weekend. Plus, the pressure is on for Congress to pass a new Farm Bill or file an extension before it expires at the end of the month.
Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds says she will not reinstate COVID-19 restrictions as hospitalizations across the state increase. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird has filed an appeal to a recent court ruling clarifying that some voting materials can be printed in languages other than English. Plus, residents of a Muscatine apartment building have been evacuated and the building's owner is waiting for a structural engineer's report.
Test scores from last spring show Iowa students made some improvement overall in math proficiency but there was little change in reading. Democrat Kimberly Sheets won a special election for auditor in Warren County last night. Plus, the city of Cedar Rapids has received 1.8 million dollars in workforce housing tax credits to help revitalize one of its most historically diverse neighborhoods.
Voters in Warren County in central Iowa will decide in a special election to retain their current interim county auditor. A new study has found a correlation between reproductive issues and tear gas used by police in the protests following the 2020 death of George Floyd. Plus, Republican Congressman Zach Nunn says his race for a second term in the U.S. House will get national attention.
The second week of hearings opens Tuesday in Fort Dodge as the Iowa Utilities Board takes public comments on the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline. A trial is beginning this week for the first of two teens charged with murder in a shooting at a Des Moines alternative school that left two students dead and the program’s founder injured. Plus, a look at one Iowa community emphasizing diversity on its police force.
Classes at Iowa State University are going online after a fire at the university’s power plant caused an outage of the main cooling system. As heat index levels hit more than 100-degrees this week, emergency rooms in the region have seen higher than usual numbers of heat-related illnesses. Plus, a look at how farmworkers are particularly vulnerable to high temperatures.
Iowa continues to see excessive heat warnings and near triple digit temperatures. An excessive heat warning greeted students starting new school years across Iowa on Wednesday. Plus, we visit a drag competition aimed at giving queer Latinos a safe space to perform.
Weeks of public hearings are underway to decide the future of a proposed carbon capture pipeline in Iowa. More than 160 reimbursement requests for rape victims’ emergency contraception are pending with the Iowa attorney general’s office. And the heat and humidity will make the first days of school short ones in some Iowa districts.
Gov. Kim Reynolds is in Texas where she sent 109 Iowa National Guard troops this month she says to prevent the illegal trafficking of fentanyl by cartels. As a new school year begins for students across Iowa, a message sent out by the Sioux City Community School District is causing concern with a local LGBTQ organization. Plus, the final public hearing for the Summit Carbon Solutions’ carbon capture pipeline begins.
As this week starts, temperatures are predicted to be near or above 100 degrees over the next few days. A new Des Moines Register Iowa poll shows Donald Trump holds a commanding lead over the rest of the 2024 Republican presidential field in Iowa. Plus, researchers in Missouri are looking to curb contamination in chicken products with new technology to test for bacteria like salmonella.
COVID-19 levels are trending upwards across the country. IPR’s Natalie Krebs reports that’s due to a new more contagious subvariant. UPS workers have until August 22 to vote on a contract the Teamsters negotiated last month. Plus, a look into why peaches are hard to find and expensive this year.
The final days of the Iowa State Fair promise to be sweltering. Iowa officials say they’re reopening the search for an administrator to oversee a state program supporting crisis pregnancy centers that support childbirth over abortion. Plus, some state Democrats representing land targeted by a carbon capture pipeline project say the Iowa Utilities Board needs to slow down.
More than a half-dozen Iowans are now on the wildfire-ravaged Hawaiian island of Maui. Iowa City Democrat Christina Bohannan is taking another shot at Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ seat in Congress. Plus, an administrative law judge has decided that Summit Carbon Solutions should give certain documents to groups that seek them as evidence for the company’s upcoming pipeline permit hearing.
The Navy decommissioned the USS Sioux City during a ceremony at a naval base in Florida. A new charter school in Des Moines will welcome around 100 students when classes start on Thursday. Plus, the University of Iowa women’s basketball team has sold out its upcoming 2023-24 season tickets for the first time in program history.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s trip to the Iowa State Fair on Saturday was overshadowed by former President Donald Trump’s trip on the same day. The Democratic Party is not planning any presidential candidate debates ahead of the 2024 primary season, but two candidates were at the State Fair Saturday looking for voters’ support. Plus, researchers are starting to consider how the Mississippi River system itself contributes to climate change.
A jury has acquitted a Swisher man of charges related to his driving through a line of protesters crossing the street last year in Cedar Rapids. Republican presidential candidates are arriving at the Iowa State Fair to ask voters for support in January’s Iowa Caucuses. Plus, a conversation with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds about her role in the run-up to the Iowa caucuses.
Governor Kim Reynolds is reacting to the latest indictment of Donald Trump. Iowa’s State Treasurer says his office has returned thousands of shares of stock in the McDonald’s corporation to their rightful owner. Plus, a report from Harvest Public Media on the lack of tree diversity and what some communities are doing about it.
The Board of Regents is backing the University of Iowa’s acquisition of Iowa City’s Mercy Hospital. Polk County supervisors unanimously approved a resolution to start using county funds to pay for rape victims’ emergency contraception. Plus, Cedar Rapids is coming to voters for hundreds of millions of dollars this November for its school district.
Applications for Iowa’s new Education Savings Accounts have been approved in 96 of the state’s 99 counties. Iowa City’s Mercy Hospital has filed for bankruptcy. Court filings show the community hospital might find a second life as part of the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Plus, Iowa and Nebraska sued the Environmental Protection Agency over their request to make E-15 gas available year-round.
Seven Republican presidential candidates running against former President Donald Trump spoke at a fundraiser in Cedar Rapids. Governor Reynolds has issued disaster proclamations for Lee and Sioux Counties for severe weather that struck on Friday and Saturday. Plus, how the town of Greene pulled together to get their newspaper out.
More applications have been approved for Iowa’s new state-funded Education Savings Accounts. Urbandale schools is changing course in how it responds to a new law restricting books with sexual content and teaching related to LGBTQ topics. Plus, how ranchers across the Midwest and Great Plains are working to build their own meat plants.
Governor Kim Reynolds is deploying more than 100 Iowa National Guard soldiers to Texas. The board that governs the three state universities approved budgets for the schools. Plus, the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico is smaller this year, but that’s largely because of dry conditions in the Mississippi River basin.
Iowa State University’s starting quarterback has been accused of gambling on Cyclones sporting events – including football. Hunter Dekkers is among four current or former ISU athletes facing similar charges. Polk County officials are urging people to keep firearms properly stored, to help prevent increasing gun fatalities among young people. And, state officials have released a report on the cause of death for three people killed in the collapse of a Davenport apartment building.
A new report says about a third of Iowa’s counties can be considered “maternity care deserts” – meaning they have no OB/GYN’s and no birthing hospitals or centers. Iowa is moving its DMVs out of malls and into free-standing buildings. And, a new aviation school is a few weeks from opening in Sioux City.
Iowa officials say about 120,000 people have been disenrolled from Medicaid since April. Most have been for procedural reasons, like not returning paperwork. The state attorney general says her office should decide “soon” on the future of using the state victims compensation fund to pay for sexual assault survivors’ emergency contraceptives or abortions. And it’s been a good couple of years for agriculture in the U.S., but there are signs of challenges ahead.
Former President Donald Trump will join his GOP rivals at a Republican Party fundraiser in Des Moines tonight. It’s the first multi-candidate event he’s attended in Iowa since announcing his run for the White House. Historic preservation advocates in Cedar Rapids have a petition drive underway to save a century-old elementary school building from demolition. And the Iowa Lottery says it set a sales record for the fiscal year that just ended.
Iowans face another day of heat advisories and warnings today, and officials are reminding employers to make sure their workers are safe in the high heat. U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley says he opposes a bill in Congress that would require the U.S. Supreme Court to create a code of ethics for itself. And, some people in northwest Iowa’s Dickinson County want local leaders to enact a moratorium on new wind farm construction.
Much of Iowa will be under a heat advisory beginning at noon today, with heat index values reaching 105 for the southern two-thirds of the state. And cycling through that heat, an estimated 60,000 RAGBRAI participants making their way from Ames to Des Moines. And the Iowa Supreme Court says it will consider Gov. Kim Reynolds’ request to have a new abortion law take effect.
The University of Northern Iowa’s president says so far, a recent Supreme Court decision on considering race in college admissions hasn’t affected his campus. Many of the Republicans running for president plan to campaign in Iowa this week before or after the GOP’s Lincoln Dinner in Des Moines Friday. And Iowa might soon be down to its last Ben Franklin store.
Gov. Kim Reynolds is appealing a district court’s decision that has blocked Iowa’s new six-week abortion ban. A state panel has awarded incentives to several more companies looking to expand their operations or move into Iowa. And the hot summer temperatures not only affect people and livestock – they also affect cricket chirps.
Recent data shows states that ban or severely restrict abortion are less likely to attract medical school graduates for hospital residency slots. Iowa has invested a record amount of money to repair, renew and maintain the state’s roads and bridges. Plus, will recent rains be enough to loosen a years-long drought in the Midwest?
A food bank in eastern Iowa is trying to raise the equivalent of 50,000 meals by September. Storm Lake officials are implementing mandatory water conservation measures after two of its water wells were taken out of commission. And a sinkhole near Knoxville last spring could lead to new rules for mineral mines in Iowa.
Gov. Kim Reynolds says she’ll appeal a judge’s ruling that’s blocked the state’s new abortion law as early as this week. The governor also says more than 2,600 state workers have transitioned to a different department under Iowa’s government reorganization plan. And Sen. Chuck Grassley is trying again to win approval of a bill calling for more price disclosure in the cattle market.
A Polk County district judge has issued a temporary injunction blocking a new Iowa law that bans abortion as early as six weeks of pregnancy. Iowa State University reports its researchers raised more than $300 million in the past fiscal year for a range of projects. Plus, unionized workers at Iowa City’s Englert Theatre say management isn’t abiding by their contract.
A ban on most abortions in Iowa is in effect. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he would consider Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds as a potential running mate. Plus, the U.S. Department of Agriculture gave two companies the green light last month to produce and sell their lab-grown chicken meat across the country.
An Iowa judge this afternoon will consider a request to postpone the state’s new ban on most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy just before Governor Kim Reynolds signs the bill. An Iowa Republican senator has revoked his endorsement of former President Donald Trump. Plus, this Sunday marks one year since a three digit phone number went live that allows people experiencing a mental health or suicidal crisis to call for support.
Iowa abortion providers are asking a judge to block enforcement of a 6-week abortion ban that’s set to become law on Friday. The youngest son of University of Iowa Basketball coach Fran McCaffery has been cited in a fatal accident. Plus, repeated Mississippi River flooding is threatening prehistoric burial mounds that comprise Iowa's only national monument.
Iowa’s Republican-led Legislature has passed a bill banning most abortions after roughly six weeks of pregnancy. MercyOne officials say they still plan to move ahead with plans to replace their hospital in Cedar Falls. Plus, IPR’s Zachary Oren Smith follows a reverend who the Methodist church forced to choose between their spiritual home and who they are.
Lawmakers gavel in for a special session to ban abortion in Iowa Tuesday. Abortion providers say if lawmakers pass new abortion restrictions, they plan to challenge the law in court. Plus, a state board has suspended a former Lone Tree educator’s Iowa teaching license for at least 12 years for alleged sexual involvement with a student nearly two decades ago.
Iowa Republican lawmakers have scheduled public hearings Tuesday morning on a so-called fetal heartbeat bill. Iowa Republican Party leaders have set January 15th as the date for their party's 2024 first-in-the-nation Caucuses. Plus, public school advocates react to initial numbers for Education Savings Accounts.
Planned Parenthood officials are urging abortion rights supporters to come to the Iowa Capitol next week to speak out against abortion bans. The number of applications for Iowa’s new program providing state funding to pay for private school has more than doubled estimates. Plus, how tax credits are playing a key role in the Biden administration’s efforts to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Gov. Kim Reynolds has called a special legislative session so lawmakers can enact new abortion restrictions. The first of two Iowa teenagers who pleaded guilty to fatally beating their high school Spanish teacher with a baseball bat is to be sentenced. Plus, Iowa women's basketball star Caitlin Clark played in the John Deere Classic Pro-Am.
Iowa has a new law that adds requirements for schools to report and investigate allegations of teacher and staff misconduct. The state treasurer says it might be time to consider raising the yearly amount of money that can be set aside in College Savings Iowa accounts. And, Iowans could soon have access to voter registration forms and instructions in languages other than English.
This long Fourth of July holiday period is largely free of presidential campaigning in Iowa. Only three of the GOP candidates are in the state for the holiday. For people who sell fireworks in Iowa, the days before the Fourth mean long hours. And Iowa has already seen about three dozen tornadoes this year – though most of them happened on a single day.
Iowa’s Board of Regents declined to comment on the U.S. Supreme Court Ruling that strikes down affirmative action policies at universities. Molina Healthcare will join the state Medicaid program as its third managed care organization. Plus, how a major surge in climate resilience funding is allowing urban forestry departments to bet big on trees.
Bettendorf school officials have agreed to settle a claim that they unlawfully prevented journalists from attending a high-profile public meeting last year. Iowans who need emergency contraception can now get it in the mail for free through the Family Planning Council of Iowa. Plus, Abortion is still legal in Iowa up to 20 weeks of pregnancy, but it’s not clear how long that’ll last.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has issued an air quality advisory for the entire state through Wednesday because of Canadian wildfires. Tens of thousands of Iowans will be traveling for holiday road trips. Plus, the Iowa Association of Realtors report shows some improvement in the availability of homes in May.
The ACLU and three Iowa journalists who sued the governor for not promptly responding to public records requests say their settlement shows government officials must follow the public records law. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is hiring three new attorneys for the Statewide Prosecutions Section in the Iowa Department of Justice. Plus, Iowa basketball star Caitlin Clark was honored as the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year.
Planned Parenthood says it will close some of its centers in Iowa but will increase services at other locations. Some of Iowa’s top Democrats marked the first anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision by pledging to fight to keep abortion legal in the state. Plus, some cities are putting conservation measures in place to keep their water supplies from drying up.
The Iowa Department of Education is going through an unexpected change in leadership. An online news outlet aimed at telling the stories of Black Iowans is publishing in print for the first time. Plus, how the U.S. Department of Agriculture is looking at vaccines to help control the spread of bird flu.
National anti-abortion leaders were in Des Moines Wednesday night to call on Republican presidential candidates to vocally support nationwide limits on abortion. The state of Iowa has settled three lawsuits against Governor Kim Reynolds that accused her of failing to follow the state’s public records law. Plus, Iowa is among just a handful of states that haven’t adopted the federal government’s option to extend postpartum care coverage from 60 days to one year for those on Medicaid.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is co-hosting a donation drive this week for anti-abortion pregnancy centers. Landowners and environmental groups say a state regulator is moving too fast to hold hearings over Summit Carbon Solutions’ proposed CO2 pipeline. Plus, continued dry conditions across Iowa are hurting the state’s corn and soybean crops.
The City of Davenport has hired two firms to look into the causes of the collapsed building that killed three people. The personal data of thousands of individuals may have been exposed in a cyberattack that cancelled classes for Des Moines Public Schools in January. Plus, Iowa’s resignation from a bipartisan group that helps states keep their voter rolls clean became official at the end of last week.
Abortion rights supporters are celebrating the Iowa Supreme Court’s decision to decline to reinstate a six-week abortion ban last week. The Iowa Democratic Party’s delegate selection plan was found non-compliant by national Democratic Party leaders. Plus, the story of one small Iowa town that became a popular destination for same-sex couples to tie the knot.
Wildfire smoke from fires burning in Canada wafted across eastern Iowa on Thursday. The Iowa Supreme Court is expected to issue a decision Friday that could lead to abortions being banned in Iowa around six weeks of pregnancy. Plus, how efforts to bring back the pallid sturgeon could also protect the floodplain.
Tuition is going up at Iowa’s three public universities next year. Crews began knocking down the remainder of the partially collapsed apartment building that killed three Davenport residents in May. Plus, A new vaccine to protect seniors against RSV could be available as early as this fall.
A former capitol leader is out of his lobbying job after intervening in a leadership shakeup in the Iowa Senate Democrats’ caucus. An annual report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation has ranked Iowa sixth in the nation overall for child well-being. Plus, organizers at RAGBRAI are dropping their attempt to break a Guinness World Record when cyclists cross the state next month.
A Scott County Magistrate Judge ordered the owner of the partially collapsed building in downtown Davenport to pay a small civil fine. Former Iowa Senate Minority Leader Zach Wahls says Senate Democrats voted him out of his position because he fired two longtime staffers. Plus, this week's Iowa Crop and Weather report from the USDA rates 60% of Iowa topsoil either short or very short of moisture.
Gov. Kim Reynolds reacts to the federal indictment of former President Donald Trump. Iowans are kicking off Juneteenth celebrations across the state this week. Plus, scientists predict flash droughts could get more common as climate change accelerates.
Iowa’s top education official says state funding will be transferred to accounts families can use to pay for private school beginning July 15. The City of Davenport completely evacuated another downtown building on Thursday. MidAmerican Energy is asking the Iowa Utilities Board for an increase in its natural gas delivery rates. The invasive emerald ash borer was found in another Iowa county.
Democrats in the Iowa Senate voted to replace have removed the lawmaker who's been their leader for two and a half years and selected a veteran legislator to be Senate Minority Leader. A Davenport woman who was rescued from the wreckage of the collapsed apartment building is suing the owner and others for negligence. Meanwhile, Gov. Kim Reynolds says Iowa doesn’t have the resources on its own to manage the fallout from the partially collapsed building in Davenport, so Reynolds is looking for help from President Biden.
Lawsuits are being filed in connection with the apartment building in Davenport that partially collapsed last week. Meanwhile, the Salvation Army is trying to help dozens of people displaced by the collapse find new places to live. Former Vice President Mike Pence officially gets into the race for president with an announcement in Ankeny today. And schools throughout Iowa are gearing up to help kids get something to eat during the summer.
Search and rescue teams have ended their recovery efforts at a partially-collapsed apartment building in Davenport after recovering the remains of three men who died in the disaster. And former Vice President Mike Pence files the paperwork to run for president ahead of an announcement planned in Ankeny.
The body of one of three people missing since last week’s partial collapse of an apartment building in Davenport has been found. Iowa City is close to making its buses free to ride. And Iowa Democrats have approved holding their caucuses on the same night as Republicans next year – and using mail-in cards to record presidential preference selections.
There are still three people unaccounted for following the collapse of a downtown Davenport apartment building. Governor Reynolds signed a lot of bills into law on Thursday. Plus, what it’s like to date as a farmer.
One of many documents Davenport officials released last night related to an apartment building collapse quotes an engineering inspection that noted brick bulging away from the building. Five people are still missing after Sunday’s collapse. Former President Donald Trump returns to Iowa today to campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. And, opponents of proposed carbon capture pipelines in Iowa are again calling for the projects to be put on hold until new pipeline safety rules are written.
Five people are still missing from a partially collapsed apartment building in Davenport that city officials say could collapse further at any moment. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis kicks off a campaign tour across Iowa. And Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announces plans to send state troopers to the southern border.
Davenport officials say an apartment building that partially collapsed Sunday is unstable and will be demolished. This week the federal agency in charge of oil and gas pipeline safety will hold two days of public meetings in Des Moines as it prepares to rewrite rules for carbon dioxide pipelines. Plus, the use of temporary migrant workers in agriculture continues to increase year after year in the Midwest and Great Plains.
Rescue operations continue after part of an apartment building collapsed in Davenport. A Cedar Rapids group is sending volunteers into the field to document Veterans’ graves for Memorial Day. Plus, Governor Kim Reynolds has signed several education-related bills into law that, among other things, would prohibit LGBTQ topics in elementary curriculum.
A Supreme Court ruling weakens environmental protections in the Clean Water Act. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was in Cedar Rapids to see the Biden Administration’s infrastructure dollars at work. Plus, stories about the effort to loosen Iowa’s child labor laws and the current status of the Republican presidential field campaigning in Iowa.
South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott was in Sioux City yesterday, rallying support for his newly-declared campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. Iowa’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy is 10 years old. The state’s agriculture secretary says there’s much to celebrate, but still a long way to go to reduce nitrate levels. And, Woodbury County supervisors want to keep wind turbines at least 2 miles from the county’s incorporated cities.
An Iowa state panel has ruled that footage from the body cameras worn by Des Moines police officers when they shot and killed a 16-year-old boy will not be made public. The company hired to administer Iowa’s new education savings account program held its first online training session. Plus, any day now, Gov. Kim Reynolds will decide whether to sign a bill that weakens the State Auditor’s access to certain information.
Four Iowa newspapers owned by Davenport-based Lee Enterprises have just three print editions a week beginning June 20. Iowa City is considering making its buses free to ride. Plus, this year's 80/35 Music Festival will be its 14th and final year at Western Gateway Park in downtown Des Moines.
Legislation to restrict gender-affirming care is often pre-written and shopped out by a handful of interest groups, according to an AP analysis. A new report has ranked Iowa 20th in the nation overall for senior health. Plus, a special traffic enforcement effort targeting seatbelt usage gets underway Monday.
More Iowans can qualify for child care assistance under a new law Governor Kim Reynolds signed on Thursday. A local law enforcement agent says Iowa’s new law increasing penalties for dealing fentanyl could help reduce the number of opioid-related deaths. Plus, auctions for farm equipment and household goods are increasingly going online.
Wells Fargo has agreed to pay $1 billion to settle a class action lawsuit. Pharmacists across America are walking a tightrope as they weather drug shortages. Plus, the towers and cables of the old I-74 bridge in the Quad Cities will come down this summer.
Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law that increases criminal penalties for crimes related to selling fentanyl and other illegal drugs. Iowa’s largest school district has chosen its next superintendent. Plus, a conversation with the author of “The Swine Republic: Struggles with the Truth about Agriculture and Water Quality.”
An Iowa pork producer says he won’t make changes to his hog operation to comply with a California animal confinement law. Iowa’s network of water quality sensors that track nitrate and phosphorus levels could lose state funding under a bill that’s on the governor’s desk. Plus, residents of Mt. Pleasant in southeast Iowa struggle with the town’s identity once it loses Iowa Wesleyan at the end of the month.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was in Iowa over the weekend as he mulls a run for president. A bill that’s awaiting the governor’s signature is expected to offer child care assistance to more Iowans. Plus, a conversation with Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart on trying to correct her party’s struggles.
The US Supreme Court has rejected a challenge to a California law requiring more space for pigs.Tuition would go up by 3.5 percent at Iowa State University, the University of Northern Iowa and the University of Iowa under a plan presented to the Iowa Board of Regents. Plus, a look at the science of storing carbon.
Thursday marks the end of the federal public health emergency for COVID-19. Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a bill that will allow physician assistants to practice medicine unsupervised. Plus, an investigation into potential illegal gambling by authorities in Iowa has identified more than 40 college athletes in the state.
The Iowa Board of Regents will consider raising tuition at the state’s three public universities when it meets this week. The University of Iowa’s nursing program is getting a state funding boost it says will help bring in more students to eventually address the state’s nursing shortage. And the USDA is giving Iowa more money to help get locally-grown food to food banks throughout the state.
The University of Iowa and Iowa State University say a total of 41 of their student athletes are suspected of wagering on sports in violation of NCAA rules. Students at Drake University will soon be able to pursue a new zoo and conservation science degree. And, Iowa is eliminating the requirement that those who apply for a teaching license in the state be at least 21 years old.
Power is back on for most people following a round of severe storms that rolled across Eastern Iowa. The Iowa Supreme Court has reversed itself. Plus, we get an explainer on the federal Farm Bill and why the looming debt crisis could complicate the massive food and farming package.
The 2023 Iowa legislative session ended. Starting May 31st, families can apply for state funding to help pay for private school tuition. Plus, a Dubuque shipyard is one of 350 small yards in the country to get federal funding to expand their operation.
The Iowa Democratic and Republican parties are fighting over the caucuses. Republicans in the Iowa Senate sent a bill to the governor’s desk that would loosen some child labor laws. Plus, how pregnant people enrolled in Medicaid risk losing that coverage just two months postpartum.
Iowa lawmakers voted nearly unanimously to send a property tax relief bill to the governor’s desk. Republicans in the Iowa House passed a scaled-back version of the child labor bill. Plus, the Mayor of Cedar Falls opposed a city proclamation naming June LGBTQ Pride Month but decided to sign it.
The Mississippi River has crested at Davenport. Republican leaders have reached an agreement on how to provide property tax relief for Iowans. Plus, the Iowa House has finalized a bill that would require schools to review their discipline policies for students who are violent or threatening.
The rising Mississippi River will continue to test flood defenses in southeast Iowa as it crests Monday. The Sierra Club of Iowa is applauding a victory in its lawsuit over the Iowa DNR for approving a massive cattle feedlot in northeast Iowa. Plus, a look at action at the Iowa statehouse on what could be the last week of the 2023 session.
Officials along Mississippi River towns are confident they can hold back the floodwaters this weekend. The Iowa Senate passed a $2.1 billion health and human services budget today. Plus, the story of conflicting milkweed rules in the Midwest.
A bill that would limit the Iowa state auditor’s ability to access certain state information is on its way to the governor’s desk. The number of legal abortions nationwide dropped more than 6 percent in the months after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last June. Plus, John Pappajohn, one of the country's most successful venture capitalists has died at the age of 94.
Governor Kim Reynolds has issued a disaster proclamation for 10 counties along the Mississippi River. Republicans in the Iowa Senate approved a status quo budget for the Iowa DNR. Plus, Iowa Wesleyan University will close at the end of May and people in Mt. Pleasant are mourning the loss.
The City of Davenport has been preparing for flooding along its 9-mile riverfront. Congressman Zach Nunn is supporting federal legislation aimed at preventing school cyberattacks like the one that cancelled classes for Des Moines students earlier this year. Plus, how families with transgender children are responding to anti-LGBTQ legislation in Iowa.
Nine declared and potential Republican presidential candidates made a pitch to a large gathering of evangelical voters in Iowa. A wastewater facility in Muscatine is trying to scale up its production of methane. Plus, a look ahead at the week in the Iowa legislature.
Republicans in the Iowa House passed a bill to limit the state auditor’s access to certain state information. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird’s office says 67 reimbursement claims for emergency contraception for sexual assault victims are currently on hold while it reviews state policy. Plus, how hobby pilots are helping women get abortions in states where it’s legal.
The Iowa Senate has passed Gov. Kim Reynolds’ education bill for the second time as the two legislative chambers send the proposal back and forth. Drought conditions across the region will make the growing season difficult. Plus, the University of Iowa received approval from the Board of Regents facilities committee to move ahead with work on two prominent buildings on campus.
Two teenagers accused of killing a Fairfield Spanish teacher in 2021 have plead guilty. Food security and health care advocates are urging Governor Kim Reynolds to veto new restrictions on public assistance. Plus, Iowa US Senator Chuck Grassley is joining fellow Republicans in opposing an effort to temporarily replace Senator Diane Feinstein on the Judiciary Committee.
Republicans in the Iowa Senate passed a bill that would expand the hours and types of jobs teenagers under the age of 18 could work. Iowa’s new Education Director was confirmed. Plus, a look at how some states are adding AEDs in schools.
In a unanimous decision, the Iowa Supreme Court has rejected Gov. Kim Reynolds’ attempt to dismiss a lawsuit over providing records about the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. University of Iowa researchers have designed a new mobile app to help cancer patients manage their symptoms. Plus, an update on action at the Iowa legislature.
Republicans in the Iowa House sent a bill to the governor’s desk that would deny food assistance to households that have more than $15,000 in assets. The chair of the Iowa Democratic Party says Republican legislation requiring people to caucus in-person should not be necessary to keep the Iowa GOP first in the presidential nominating process. Plus, the ethanol industry says proposed pipelines to capture and store carbon dioxide emissions are essential but some question the climate benefits.
The Iowa House passed a bill authorizing legal gun owners to keep firearms in their cars outside public schools. U.S. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina is testing the waters for a run against former President Donald Trump. Plus, outdoor burning is once again not recommended across much of the state.
A lawyer for Governor Kim Reynolds argued before the Iowa Supreme Court that Iowa’s “fetal heartbeat” abortion ban should be reinstated. The Iowa Attorney General’s Office has given 1.2 million dollars to Goldfinch Health to help reduce the distribution of opioids in Iowa hospitals. Plus, The University of Iowa plans to ask for emergency authorization to make repairs to a facility damaged by the March 31st tornado.
Federal officials say nearly 3,000 workers hired to euthanize chickens and turkeys struck by bird flu in 2015 are eligible for back pay. House Republicans have advanced a bill that would effectively bar kids aged 14 to 17 from signing up for social media accounts unless they have permission from a parent. Plus, Governor Reynolds has appointed a former Republican legislator to lead the Iowa Utilities Board.
The Iowa legislature still has not debated the state budget. A wide-ranging education bill in the Iowa legislature would redefine which books are age appropriate for K-12 schools. Plus, a fatal disease affecting rabbits is spreading throughout the U.S., including Iowa.
Attorney General Brenna Bird’s office says it has suspended payment for emergency contraception for victims of sexual assault while they are reviewing state policy. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced $40 million in grants investing in conservation efforts. Plus, how Davenport is preparing for its next flood.
Iowa will receive nearly $80 million to help pay for improvements to drinking water infrastructure. This week, Clay and Dickinson counties have become the most recent Iowa counties to launch an adult drug treatment court program. Plus, how some states are stepping up efforts to support both kids in crisis and their caregivers.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed her 1500-page bill into law to reorganize the state government. An expansive education bill that includes a K-6 ban on teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity has passed out of the Iowa House. Plus, a couple tornadoes were confirmed in the state on Tuesday.
There’s another round of severe thunderstorms predicted similar to the one that hit the state on Friday. Iowa Senate Republicans are advancing their state budget proposal—without publicly releasing any dollar amounts. Plus, hundreds of basketball fans greeted the University of Iowa women’s basketball team coming home after coming up short in the NCAA national championship tournament.
The University of Iowa Women’s basketball team lost the NCAA national championship Sunday to Louisiana State University. Cleanup continues in eastern Iowa following a number of tornadoes that touched down on Friday. Plus, a new report ranks Sioux County as the healthiest in Iowa while Montgomery County came in last.
Governor Kim Reynolds responds to the indictment of former President Donald Trump. A pilot program in Johnson County offers a new community-based, outpatient approach for people ordered by the court to get mental health treatment. Plus, IPR Health reporter Natalie Krebs gives us the details about what happens Saturday when the state will be able to dis-enroll Iowans from Medicaid because they no longer qualify for the first time in three years.
Gov. Kim Reynolds’ expansive school curriculum and parents’ rights bill is advancing in the Iowa House after passing last week in the Senate. Republicans on a House panel have advanced a bill that would limit what information the Iowa state auditor can access. Plus, former VP Mike Pence was back in Iowa on Wednesday.
Iowa Wesleyan University says its closing its doors at the end of the academic year after 181 years. A bill passed by Iowa House Republicans would put a $5 million cap on non-economic damages awarded when a person is severely injured or killed by a commercial truck. Plus, Governor Reynolds has appointed former state auditor Mary Mosiman as the new director of the Iowa Department of Revenue.
The state of Iowa spent roughly $15.7 million on a financial-management system that was ultimately scrapped before its launch. Iowa law enforcement officials are hoping this is finally the year state lawmakers pass a bill requiring cell phone use in vehicles be hands-free. Plus, Linn County will likely continue its pause on new utility-scale solar installations through June.
The state has released the results of its public water testing for the chemicals known as PFAS. New data shows inflation affected rural and urban households equally by the end of last year. Plus, the Iowa legislature is entering its second “funnel deadline.”
Iowa Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks says congress cannot let TikTok stockpile sensitive information and spy on Americans. An industry survey of manufactures says the vast majority plan to make capital investments this spring but supply chain problems remain. Plus, a look at how rural Midwest towns are trying to keep grocery stores.
Transgender kids in Iowa are now barred from starting gender-affirming medical treatments. The Republican-controlled Iowa Senate has passed a bill banning schools from discussing gender identity and sexual orientation in kindergarten through sixth grade. Plus, Iowa officials say they will not participate in the Center for Disease Control’s 2023 Youth Risk Behavior survey.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says she’ll sign a bill that bans gender-affirming care for minors. She says she’s also in talks to get expanded access to birth control in the state passed. And, at least 30 school Iowa school districts received false reports of school shootings yesterday. The so-called “swatting” calls are designed to draw police response and create confusion.
A report done for Iowa’s ethanol industry says Iowa corn could lose value if the state’s ethanol plants don’t use pipelines to capture carbon dioxide and carry it out of state for underground storage. Conservation groups say they’re worried a bill in the Iowa Legislature would prevent the expansion of public lands in the state. And the Anamosa State Penitentiary is on restricted movement after exposure to an unknown substance sent four people to the hospital over the weekend.
A key sponsor of a bill to put more regulations on creating carbon capture pipelines says he’s confident the House will vote on the measure this month. Some librarians say they’re concerned Gov. Reynolds’ new government reorganization bill could hurt libraries in the state. And Davenport plans a couple of meetings this week to talk to residents and businesses about possible flooding along the Mississippi River.
Iowa lawmakers have sent Gov. Reynolds a bill banning transgender Iowans from using school bathrooms that align with their gender identity. Vice President Kamala Harris was in Des Moines yesterday for discussions on reproductive health. And the USDA is proposing a new rule around “Made in USA” labels for meat, poultry and eggs.
Republicans have passed Gov. Kim Reynolds’ big government reorganization bill. It’s now headed to her desk to be signed. Federal regulators have okayed a merger between the Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern railroads. And a new report says Iowans provided several hundred million hours of unpaid care in the state in 2021.
The head of the Iowa Board of Regents is ordering the state’s public universities to pause new diversity, equity and inclusion programs. A bill to create a new licensure designation for rural hospitals is headed to Gov. Reynolds’ desk. And, Davenport is preparing for possible flooding this spring.
Former President Donald Trump rallied supporters in Davenport last night. It was his first visit to Iowa since announcing his third run for the White House. Gov. Reynolds’ proposal to reorganize state government is causing some to worry about how the plan might effect electricity and natural gas prices in the state. And Iowa’s unemployment rate dipped slightly in January.
A bill in the Iowa legislature would drop requirements for gender balance on appointed boards. Former President Donald Trump is coming back to Iowa following recent visits by other GOP presidential hopefuls. And food prices are not expected to jump as much in 2023, but grocers are struggling to manage costs without making customers foot the bill.
With just under a year until the 2024 Iowa caucuses, more Republicans are making stops in Iowa including the two people most polls put at the top of the race for the GOP nomination. The University of Iowa decides to pay a racial discrimination lawsuit settlement with no contribution from the state. And the State Auditor says a bill passed in the Iowa Senate would make it harder to root out corruption.
Gov. Kim Reynolds has chosen an Ohio education reform advocate to be the next director of the Iowa Department of Education. School library books and curriculum must be age appropriate under a bill passed out of the Iowa House. Plus, gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors would be banned under a bill Iowa House Republicans sent to the governor’s desk.
The Iowa Senate voted yesterday to pass Governor Kim Reynolds’s plan to cut the number of cabinet-level state agencies by more than half. The Attorneys General in Iowa and Nebraska are warning the EPA they intend to sue the federal agency. Plus, voters in the city of Swisher rejected development of a public water system during a special election.
The state has agreed to pay for almost half of a $4.2 million settlement in a lawsuit accusing University of Iowa coaches and staff of racial discrimination. The Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids is in the final stretch of a ten year major construction project. Plus, a look at the recently signed medical malpractice bill and its impact on disabled Iowans seeking justice for pain and suffering.
More than a thousand Iowans rallied outside the Statehouse in Des Moines on Sunday in support of LGBTQ rights. The University of Iowa women’s basketball team won its second consecutive Big Ten women’s basketball tournament title. Plus, a USDA report shows that the number of farms in the U.S. is down by nearly 10 thousand from 2021.
The Iowa House has joined the Senate in advancing a bill out of committee that prohibits doctors from providing minors with gender-affirming care such as puberty blockers or surgery. A new analysis says endangered species and their critical habitat may be harmed by converting land to bring more crops into production for biofuels. Plus, a push for more rural public transportation.
Students in several school districts across Iowa walked out of the classroom to protest legislation moving in the Iowa statehouse that targets LGBTQ people. A bill advancing in the Iowa House would ban the state’s three public universities from spending money on diversity, equity and inclusion offices and professionals. Plus, Iowans who are getting a refund on their federal taxes this year should expect it to be a smaller check than it was last year.
A bill working through the Iowa Senate would ban transgender students from using a school bathroom that matches their gender identity. The latest annual report from the Iowa Cancer Registry has found Iowa’s incidence rate of cancer cases is the second highest in the country. Plus, an update on a lawsuit brought by former University of Iowa football players who sued the program two years ago for racial discrimination and harassment.
The Supreme Court is meeting to hear two cases challenging President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan. Members of trade unions gathered at the Iowa Capitol on Monday to protest against a bill that would loosen Iowa’s child labor laws. Plus, the board which oversees Iowa's medical marijuana program denied a petition to allow the use of the dried marijuana plant known as "vaporizable flower."
Governor Kim Reynolds’ bill to streamline state government would also expand the Iowa attorney general’s power to prosecute crimes. The president of the Board of Regents addressed concerns this week about the proposal to move the governance of the state's deaf, blind and visually impaired students to the Iowa Department of Education. Plus, a new study looks at wind turbine impacts on eagles.
An education proposal from Gov. Kim Reynolds is advancing in the Iowa Senate. Health officials say starting in April, they will no longer require positive COVID-19 tests processed in clinical labs to be reported to the state. Plus, how reintroducing bison to the landscape benefits more than just the creatures themselves.
A bill moving ahead at the Iowa Statehouse would allow health care providers to decline to provide certain medical procedures and services that conflict with the provider’s religious beliefs. South Carolina Republican Sen. Tim Scott is the latest potential presidential candidate to visit Iowa this month, ahead of next year’s Republican caucuses. And, the Iowa Supreme Court heard arguments yesterday about whether the governor’s office should have to comply with open records requests within a certain time frame.
Much of the northern half of Iowa will be hit with a snow and ice storm today. Iowa House lawmakers are moving ahead with a bill that would let gun owners have their weapon in a vehicle while driving to places like work or school. And lawmakers are advancing a bill placing more restrictions on the use of eminent domain for proposed carbon capture pipelines.
A legislative committee asks public school leaders how they handle challenges to school library books. Gov. Kim Reynolds wants enhanced penalties for fentanyl-related crimes. And Nikki Haley tells supporters in suburban Des Moines that choosing Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination would be sticking with the status quo.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says Iowa is out of line with surrounding states, as she continues to advocate for her plan to reduce the number of state agencies. The FDA appears to be on track to approve over-the-counter sales of an opioid overdose-reversing spray. And Des Moines Public Schools says some data was compromised in a cyberattack on the district’s computer network last month.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signs a bill limiting the amount of money people can get for non-economic injuries in malpractice lawsuits. A new report says Iowa’s nursing homes face growing financial and staffing challenges, and 140 years after Iowa’s first Black newspaper was founded, the Black Press in the state continues telling stories other media outlets don’t cover.
Parts of Iowa are in for as much as 6 to 8 inches of snow today – a little more in some areas south of I-80. Former Vice President Mike Pence was in Cedar Rapids yesterday, supporting parents who’ve sued a nearby school district over its transgender affirming policies. And 110 families in central Iowa will get $500 a month in a new program aimed at reducing poverty.
Governor Kim Reynolds is asking legislators to pass a bill that would forbid state agencies or pension funds from doing business with investment firms that boycott gunmakers or the fossil fuel industry. Iowa workers would have the burden of proving their employer violated the state’s drug testing laws under a bill advancing in the Iowa Senate. Plus, a study done for the ethanol industry predicts dire consequences if carbon dioxide pipelines don’t go forward in Iowa but do in other states.
Leaders of Iowa’s three public universities are asking state lawmakers for a $32 million boost in funding. Another bill that would prohibit curriculum related to gender identity and sexual orientation in Iowa schools is advancing in the legislature. Plus, Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids announced its scaling back.
Some parents and staff at the Iowa School for the Deaf are expressing concerns about what the governor’s state agency reorganization bill would mean for the future of the school and the Deaf community. Experts expect a reduced flood risk across the Missouri River Basin this spring. Plus, we get an update on the 2023 legislative session from IPR state government reporter Katarina Sostaric.
Republicans in the Iowa House are looking to make a change to the school choice law passed just two weeks ago. Republicans on a Senate panel have advanced a bill that would loosen some of Iowa’s child labor regulations. Plus, we hear about childcare disparities in the rural Midwest in a report from Harvest Public Media.
Most Republicans in the Iowa House and Senate voted to limit how much money victims of medical malpractice can get for non-economic injuries like pain and suffering. The Iowa Court of Appeals overturned the 2018 second-degree murder conviction of a Marion man. Plus, the nation’s largest chain of newspapers is shrinking much of its physical footprint in Iowa.
Governor Kim Reynolds has signed a 3% increase in public school funding. A new program aims to put more money in the pockets of childcare workers in Johnson County. Plus, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst is calling on President Biden to increase security at the U.S.-Mexico border to address fentanyl overdoses.
Anti-abortion groups and lawmakers are planning to introduce a bill that would ban all abortion in Iowa and state that life begins at conception. The Iowa legislature returned to the topic of school library book challenges at a House committee hearing. Plus, the Attorney General says the tile re-manufacturer at the center of a pollution crisis in Marengo has entered into an agreement with the state to clean up its facility.
The Democratic National Committee has voted to remove Iowa from the early window of presidential nominating states. The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs is funding more projects across the state that focus on building more creative places. Plus, a conversation with IPR State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric about what to expect this week in the statehouse.
Gov. Kim Reynolds says that after signing one of the nation’s broadest school choice laws she will continue pushing for new transparency rules in Iowa’ public schools. A bill introduced in the legislature would remove gender identity as a protected class under the Iowa Civil Rights Act. Plus, Harvest Public Media looks at the potential impact of a Supreme Court case surrounding wetlands.
The Iowa Senate Education Committee advanced an increase to state public school funding that matches the Iowa House proposal. A bill advancing in the Iowa House would add new enforcement measures to a law passed two years ago that bans teaching certain ideas about racism and sexism in schools. Plus, the University of Iowa is launching a new research center to improve flood prediction.
A Russian hacking group has claimed to have taken down the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics website, along with the websites of dozens of other hospitals nationwide. A bill advancing in the statehouse would have provide written permission before a school could call a transgender student by a name or pronouns that affirm their gender identity. Plus, the growing housing crisis threat to public health.
Canadian Pacific’s merger with Kansas City Southern is moving along and it has big implications on eastern Iowa. An Iowa Senate panel has advanced a bill in an effort to fix a 2021 state law that could raise taxes on residential property owners by up to $127 million this year. Plus, details on a dispute between two Des Moines-area organizations that get food to people in need has left some pantries in the metro struggling.
Police are refusing to release body camera video of three Des Moines officers fatally shooting a 16-year-old boy. The Iowa Democratic Party has elected former state Senator Rita Hart as its new party chair. Plus, IPR’s Katarina Sostaric previews the week ahead in the Iowa legislature.
Two large school districts in Iowa have selected new school superintendents. The Iowa Democratic Party will elect a new chairperson this weekend. Plus, IPR's Katie Peikes looks into whether labels on genetically modified foods get noticed or make a difference in what consumers buy.
A bill advancing in the Iowa House would ask the state’s three public universities to report to lawmakers with definitions for certain topics found in teacher training courses. Payouts to Iowans who win medical malpractice lawsuits would be limited under a bill advanced by Senate Republicans. Plus, can storytelling help eliminate the stigma surrounding addiction?
Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law creating one of the most expansive school choice programs in the U.S. A bill limiting SNAP benefits likely won’t include restrictions on fresh meat. Plus, Des Moines police have identified the two teenage victims of a shooting that took place at an alternative education program on Monday.
Des Moines police say they have charged an 18-year-old with the shooting deaths of two teens at an alternative education program. The Republican-controlled House and Senate have passed Governor Kim Reynolds’ signature school choice bill. Plus, there’s a labor organizing effort underway at Tyson Foods’ plant in Columbus Junction.
Governor Kim Reynolds’ plan to create taxpayer-funded Education Savings Accounts for students in private schools is expected to come up for a vote in the Iowa legislature early this week. Union workers at two large eastern Iowa plants have ratified new contracts. Plus, a long-awaited court decision over the Iowa DNR’s approval of a massive cattle feedlot’s manure management plan in northeast Iowa could come soon.
Gov. Kim Reynolds says state funding for small, rural schools will stay stable or even increase under her school choice plan. A long-running strike in Cedar Rapids could be over by next week. And Iowa says the invasive emerald ash borer is in three more counties – leaving only three of the state’s 99 counties without an EAB infestation.
Senate and House Republicans continued fast action on Governor Reynolds’ voucher-style school choice plan on Wednesday. A bill that aims to prevent future funding shortfalls for Iowa veterans’ emergency assistance got first-round approval. Plus, the Iowa Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in a case involving the state’s ability to deny Medicaid funding for transgender surgery.
A winter storm will affect many Iowans’ evening commutes on Wednesday when travel conditions will deteriorate quickly. Supporters and opponents of Gov. Kim Reynolds’ school choice plan lined up to speak Tuesday night at a public hearing at the Iowa Capitol. Plus, the former Sioux City school superintendent is suing the school district and several board members for allegedly violating the state’s open meetings laws.
The public has another chance to comment on Governor Kim Reynolds school voucher-style “Education Savings Account” plan on Tuesday. The leader of the Clay County Fair in Spencer is the next leader of the Iowa State Fair. Plus, the Army Corps of Engineers is predicting no relief for dry conditions in the Missouri River Basin this year.
Governor Kim Reynolds is proposing merging Iowa’s 37 state agencies into 16 agencies. The FBI says it is continuing the investigation of alleged voter fraud by the wife of Woodbury County Supervisor Jeremy Taylor. Plus, Congress faces the huge task of reworking farm and food assistance programs this year when it reauthorizes the Farm Bill.
Governor Kim Reynolds’ plan to create taxpayer-funded accounts to help families pay their way at private schools has crossed its first hurdle in the Iowa Senate. The head of the Iowa National Guard told lawmakers the Guard has been having trouble recruiting new members. Plus, the wife of a Woodbury County supervisor was arrested for allegedly committing voter fraud during the 2020 election cycle.
Republicans in the Iowa House have introduced a bill that would ban public schools from offering any instruction related to gender identity or sexual orientation to students. Governor Kim Reynolds has signed an executive order that prohibits state agencies from creating new regulations. Plus, we hear about plans for a charter school in Des Moines and how it ties into the ongoing debate over school choice in Iowa.
Governor Kim Reynolds is proposing a voucher-style education plan that would make state-funded scholarships available to any student in the state, even if they already go to a private or religious school. The office of U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley says the 89-year-old will have surgery this week after hurting his hip. Plus, the state’s largest school district remains closed Wednesday following a cyberattack.
The top Republicans in the Iowa Legislature say they support making state-funded private school scholarships available to Iowans regardless of a family’s income. Des Moines Public Schools has cancelled classes after a possible cyberattack caused the school system to shut down its computer networks. Plus, the governing board of Iowa’s public universities will conduct midyear performance reviews on Tuesday of their university presidents.
The four Republicans from Iowa who were elected to serve in the U.S. House were finally sworn into office over the weekend after fifteen votes to decide who would be speaker. In Iowa, the 2023 legislative session begins on Monday. Plus, striking auto workers in southeast Iowa have voted down a proposal from Case New Holland.
Republican U.S. Senator Joni Ernst says failure of U.S. House Republicans to elect a Speaker could be sending the wrong message to foreign adversaries. 400 striking workers at the Case New Holland plant in Burlington will get a first look at a new contract on Saturday. Plus, why some are welcoming Confined Animal Feeding Operations and others are fighting against them.
States, local governments and internet providers have until January 13 to challenge the Federal Communications Commission’s National Broadband Map. Anti-human trafficking advocates are discussing steps they want lawmakers to take to prevent human trafficking and help survivors. Plus, it will take significantly more precipitation to break Iowa's long-running drought.
Iowa’s four Republican representatives in the U-S House all support Kevin McCarthy as House Speaker. Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice Susan Christensen has been elected to another term. Plus, there could be a resolution to the strike at Case New Holland Industrial plants in Burlington and Racine, Wisconsin.
The incoming, recently elected Iowa attorney general has asked for the resignations of 19 current staffers. The top Republicans and Democrats at the Iowa Capitol say lawmakers will discuss proposed carbon capture pipelines during the upcoming legislative session. Plus, the state’s most populous county is swearing in a new county attorney on Tuesday who wants to make big changes in Polk County.
The fire at Marengo’s C6-Zero facility may be out. But there’s still some question over who will pay damages and for the clean-up. In the nearly six months since Iowa launched 988, advocates say call volume to the new easy to remember suicide prevention hotline has doubled. Just a few months after completing one expansion in Clinton, Nestle Purina PetCare has announced another. This week the company said it’ll build a warehouse that'll create 15 more jobs. Plus, another invasive species of carp in North America has established itself in the Mississippi River basin.
A new study has found nearly half of Iowa drivers involved in a crash tested positive for at least one drug. The U-S Department of Agriculture expects national farm income to increase nearly 14% from last year, to a record $160 billion dollars. Even adjusted for inflation, that’s the highest it’s been since 1973. Iowa's Attorney General has announced a settlement with an electronic cigarette maker over the company's advertising. Plus, COVID-19 hospitalizations and reported positive tests have dropped in the past week.
Investors make up a larger share of those buying farmland in Iowa than in years past. IPR’s Katie Peikes reports, that’s according to an Iowa land values survey released this month. A bill that would create a legal pathway to citizenship for Afghan evacuees in the U-S did not make it into an end of the year spending bill passed by Congress. Iowa resettlement agencies are worried about what this means for the hundreds of Afghans now living in the state. Plus, Brenna Bird will take over Monday as Iowa's attorney general, the first Republican to hold the office in 40 years. She plans to review the state's Crime Victim Assistance program.
Iowa legislative leaders say they have no plans to change the state law that says the Iowa caucuses have to go first in the nation – despite the national Democrats’ plans to put other states ahead of Iowa in 2024. Communities in central Iowa are wrapping up negotiations on creating a regional water authority. And leaving for work a little later in the morning could mean a safer drive on bad-weather mornings.
The Iowa Department of Transportation is reporting dangerous road conditions because of freezing temperatures and blowing snow across the state. Health care facilities and pharmacies are reporting shortages of antibiotic medication like amoxicillin. Plus, we listen back to a Harvest Public Media story about chestnut farms.
Wind chills are expected to drop as low as 40 below zero starting Thursday and continuing on through Saturday morning. The top Republicans in the Iowa Legislature say they want to wait for a pending court case to be resolved before taking more action to restrict abortion. Plus, an orchestra from Ukraine will be performing in Ames next year.
The Iowa Department of Transportation is preparing for a busy couple days of plowing snow and airport officials in Des Moines are advising travelers to watch for flight updates. The top Republican in the Iowa Senate says “everything’s on the table” when it comes to reducing property taxes in the upcoming legislative session. Plus, why some pediatric sickle cell doctors are concerned.
A major winter storm is projected to start moving through the state later this week. Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a letter with 24 other Republican governors asking President Joe Biden to end the Federal Public Health Emergency. Plus, a company that makes a nasal spray that reverses opioid overdoses is pushing to expand access to the medication in Iowa.
The head of the Iowa Democratic Party plans to step down in the wake of a vote by the national party to kick the Iowa caucuses out of the early window of picking a presidential nominee. Meatpacking plant and farm workers who were exempted from COVID-19 lockdowns can apply for $600 in direct cash assistance. Plus, we learn what Iowans are doing to fight a public health crisis known as Missing and Murdered Indigenous women.
Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley says property tax relief will be a top priority for House Republicans in the upcoming legislative session. Iowa’s unemployment rate increased for the fourth consecutive month. Plus, most states allow bobcat hunting or trapping but despite the cat’s abundant numbers, some conservationists are pushing back on the open season.
Iowa will bring in a bit less state revenue this fiscal year than last year because of tax cuts. The Linn County Board of Supervisors is pressing pause on a pipeline regulation effort after a pipeline developer and anti-pipeline activists came out against it. Plus, a sixth Iowan has been convicted of taking part in storming the U.S. Capitol on January 6th.
Planned Parenthood says Iowa has seen an increase in out-of-state patients seeking abortions following the Dobbs decision last summer. The average value of Iowa farmland this year is more than $11,000 per acre. Plus, many people brought new pets into their houses during the early days of the pandemic, but the number of vets has not kept pace.
Local Republican committees in at least six Iowa counties have voted to censure U.S. Senator Joni Ernst for her vote to have the federal government recognize same-sex marriages. A Polk County District Court judge has denied Governor Kim Reynolds’ request to revive Iowa’s so-called fetal heartbeat abortion law. Plus, health providers are urging Iowans to take extra precautions as Iowa hospitals continue to see high numbers of children with respiratory virus infections.
Ankeny-based Casey's General Stores faces two lawsuits over wages paid to workers. Iowa Republican lawmakers and officials celebrated the ratification of a constitutional amendment that expands gun rights protections last week. Plus, The Waste Commission of Scott County is following early success with trash sorting robots by spending $15 million on three more machines.
An explosion and fire at an agricultural plant in eastern Iowa has caused injuries and an evacuation of people near the operation. Advisory panels in the Iowa Department of Human Rights are planning to recommend reforms to the juvenile detention system. Plus, scientists are grappling with what the future of derechos could look like.
The Adair County Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance that would regulate hazardous liquid pipelines. An Italian company is acquiring the Iowa-based maker of Blue Bunny ice cream. Plus, how Republicans plan to approach the 2024 presidential nominating calendar with Iowa remaining first even as Democrats are kicking the state out of the lineup.
The top Democrat in the Iowa Senate says the new Republican super-majority means all Republicans will have to be in agreement to confirm the governor’s appointments to state agencies and commissions. A suspended Des Moines Public Schools student was arrested with a loaded gun at a middle school. Plus, a new federal licensure designation could be a lifeline for rural hospitals at risk of closing but some are concerned about how it could affect rural healthcare.
The Polk County Auditor has decided Iowa Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver’s voter registration is valid. Representatives of Wolf Carbon Solutions are be hearing from and answering the questions of eastern Iowans in Linn, Cedar, Clinton and Scott counties this week about its proposed carbon capture pipeline. Plus, UnityPoint Health is asking patients to reserve a time slot online instead of walking in for care at its urgent care centers.
National Democrats have removed Iowa from the early window of states to pick presidential nominees. A Muscatine nonprofit will use pandemic relief funds to offer affordable housing to local teachers. Plus, new data show for the first time ever, more than one in five rural residents is over the age of 65.
President Joe Biden has proposed removing Iowa from the early window of the Democrats’ presidential nominating process. State officials have certified most of Iowa’s midterm election results. Plus, we hear how this year’s drought could be nothing compared to the droughts scientists anticipate.
Governor Kim Reynolds is among 21 Republican governors who are asking congress to repeal the COVID vaccine mandate for America's soldiers. The Polk County Auditor heard arguments in a hearing challenging Iowa Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver’s voter registration. Plus, how this year’s drought has changed life across the Midwest and Great Plains.
Democrats gathering to consider shaking up the order of their 2024 presidential primary are waiting on President Joe Biden. An immigrant-led activist group is organizing Congolese residents to pressure Johnson County to reopen its Direct Assistance Program. Plus, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is agreeing to consider changes to levees along the Missouri River in an effort to avoid a repeat of recent major floods.
The Spirit Lake Community School District voted to finalize plans to allow ten non-teaching staff members to be armed in schools. The USDA is predicting the average corn yield in Iowa that’s just a couple of bushels short of last year's record. Plus, members of the DNC meet later this week to decide the 2024 presidential nominating calendar and it might not include Iowa.
The federal government says a deadline is coming up for people who want to apply for health insurance through the ACA. Advocates for improving child care say they hope Iowa lawmakers put state money into improving child care affordability and quality next year. Plus, a working group at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics wants to study how psychedelics could help patients addicted to alcohol.
A key Iowa lawmaker says survivors of sexual assault shouldn’t have to pay restitution to their abusers in criminal cases. Some Iowa school districts are getting federal money to buy electric buses. And Iowa’s food pantries continue to see more people who need help.
Briar Cliff University in Sioux City is hosting a series of workshops devoted to helping Native communities find healing. Iowans have elected the first Arab-American to the State Legislature. Plus, a Quad Cities man known as "Mr. Thanksgiving" and his crew are ready to serve more than 3,000, free turkey dinners.
The Scott County Board of Supervisors has accepted more than 64,000 ballots cast during the General Election, so the results are now official. The USDA crop report shows the 2022 harvest season is done. Plus, how Native communities in western Iowa continue to march every Thanksgiving week to protest the disproportionate number of Indigenous children who were taken from their families and placed into foster care.
The Iowan who is on the panel that will decide if Iowa's Democratic Party Caucuses go first in 2024 says Iowa is key to winning the presidency. Iowa had its second-highest voter turnout ever for a midterm election this year. Plus, University of Iowa researchers have developed a model to detect compromised lung function in long COVID patients using X-rays.
Gov. Kim Reynolds has been elected to lead the Republican Governors Association as she increases her national political profile. The EPA is ordering a chemical manufacturer deal with water wells it has polluted. Plus, how a small Kansas town has changed the way its residents think about water and why more towns might need to do the same in the future.
Iowa’s U.S. Senators split their vote on a bill protecting same-sex and interracial marriages. The Iowa Supreme Court heard arguments on Wednesday in a former state public health spokesperson’s wrongful termination lawsuit against the governor and other officials. Republican leaders in the Iowa House have created a standalone committee that will take up any significant reforms to the state’s education system.
Gov. Reynolds picked a new chief of staff. Iowa will receive nearly $20 million from a settlement with Walmart over the way it handled the dispensing of opioids. Plus, few city governments, schools or nonprofits in Iowa are making use of the state’s cyber security tools.
Iowa is experiencing its first snow event of the season. The city of Sioux City has issued a health advisory, due to dangerous chemicals called PFAs detected in one of the city’s drinking water plants. Plus, a New York-based hedge fund known for gutting newspapers it owns has reportedly abandoned its bid to purchase Lee Enterprises.
Two law libraries have created a website aimed at making Iowa law easier to understand. The Board of Regents have approved the University of Northern Iowa to start a nursing program. Plus, snow is in the forecast.
Democrat Rob Sand appears to have been narrowly reelected to a second term as Iowa state auditor. State officials say they have started the process of overhauling Iowa’s child welfare system. Plus, Iowa agriculture officials are canceling live bird exhibitions again this year.
Republican Zach Nunn is the winner in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District in a close race that will influence control of the U.S. House. Republicans have expanded their majorities in the Iowa House of Representatives and Iowa Senate. Plus, a Board of Supervisors race was left off the ballot in one precinct in rural Linn County.
IPR's Clay Masters talks with University of Northern Iowa Political Science Professor Chris Larimer about Iowa's midterm election results.
It was a good Election night for Republicans in Iowa. Governor Kim Reynolds and U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley were re-elected. Democrat Cindy Axne is trailing Republican challenger Zach Nunn in Iowa’s 3rd congressional district and the AP has not declared a winner. Plus, Iowans have voted to add a right to keep and bear arms into the state constitution.
Today is Election Day, and polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The number of Iowans voting early this year appears to be down across the board just one day before the 2022 midterm election. Plus, Iowa voters will decide whether to add a right to keep and bear arms into the state constitution.
The Iowa chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens is making a final push to get out the vote ahead of Election Day. We take a look back on the last five months of campaigning in Iowa’s U.S. Senate race. Plus, how volunteer firefighters across the Midwest are especially feeling the pressure.
Former president Donald Trump endorsed Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley at his Sioux City rally last night (Thursday). Democratic U-S Senate candidate Mike Franken continues campaigning in the final days before Election Day as he attempts to unseat Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley. Democratic candidate for governor Deidre (DEE-druh) DeJear (duh-ZHEER) is making her final pitch to Iowa voters with just a few days left until Election Day. Plus, top election, law enforcement, and cybersecurity officials in Iowa say they’re preparing to protect Iowa’s election system and voters as they go to the polls through next Tuesday.
Governor Kim Reynolds will appeal a judge's ruling that some Iowa children with serious medical conditions are harmed by the law she signed that bars schools from having mask mandates. Attorneys for one of the Fairfield teenagers accused of killing high school Spanish teacher Nohema Graber are challenging evidence gathered in the murder investigation. Plus, Hy-Vee stores will be closed on Thanksgiving for the first time its 92-year history.
Republican Governor Kim Reynolds is making her final pitch to Iowa voters with less than a week left until Election Day. A southwestern Iowa county has voted to establish setbacks for hazardous liquid pipelines. Plus, a look at the congressional race between Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson and Democratic State Senator Liz Mathis.
Election officials are recommending that Iowans return their absentee ballots in person instead of mailing them with about a week left until Election Day. Tuesday marks the first day of open enrollment under the Affordable Care Act marketplace. Plus, In Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District Republican Zach Nunn is looking to unseat Democrat Cindy Axne and a big focus of his campaign is higher prices.
Iowa lands at the bottom of a ranking of state corrections systems because the state has no compassionate release program. Some school districts are having a little less trouble finding substitute teachers. Plus, thousands of buffalo have been restored to tribal lands thanks to a program dedicated to preserving the species.
Federal and state officials say they’ve uncovered a multimillion dollar theft ring from meatpacking plants in Iowa and five other Midwestern states. The Black Student Union at Grinnell College is calling on the campus and community to help create a safer environment for Black students and faculty after incidents of racial harassment. And most public sector unions in Iowa up for recertification this year have voted to recertify.
Iowa hospitals see a surge in respiratory illnesses in children earlier than usual. Thousands of dollars in unemployment benefits were mistakenly paid to people who were dead or in prison in the early stages of the pandemic. Plus, a woman claims her father in western Iowa was a serial killer who murdered more than 50 people.
The Cedar Rapids school board pushed its meeting where members were to choose an interim superintendent to Wednesday. Alcohol-related deaths remain a growing issue in Iowa. Plus, many recently-arrived immigrants to Iowa with visas don’t have access to Medicaid for prenatal care, which leaves them with few options.
The superintendent of Cedar Rapids Community School District has died of cancer. A new Iowa poll shows an overwhelming majority of Iowans want abortion to be legal in the case of rape or incest or to save the pregnant person’s life. Plus, a new report predicts how climate change will affect Midwest crop yields in the next decade and beyond.
Iowa's unemployment rate of two-point-seven percent for September is slightly higher than the previous month. A NASA climate scientist was awarded the World Food Prize in Des Moines Thursday night. Plus, bird flu is back in Iowa.
Iowans across the state took advantage of the first day of early voting on Wednesday. Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds has declined an interview with IPR, so we hear about her re-election campaign from IPR State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric. Plus, Iowans in almost every county can now get instant messages about threatening weather, missing persons, and other emergency situations unfolding nearby.
Today is the first day Iowans can vote in the 2022 election. U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson has been released from a Cedar Rapids hospital after undergoing treatment for a kidney infection. Plus, more than a dozen Iowa environmental groups are calling on the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to more strongly regulate animal confinements and feedlots.
Republican Governor Kim Reynolds and her Democratic opponent Deidre DeJear met for their only debate Monday night. A new study suggests Iowa workers are underpaid by at least $900 million a year. Plus, a look at the race for Iowa’s new first congressional district.
The major party candidates for Governor will meet Monday night for their first and only televised debate and early voting begins on Wednesday in Iowa. The federal Clean Water Act turns 50 years old this week. Plus, a preview of the congressional race in Iowa’s reliably Republican fourth district.
Members of Iowa’s revenue estimating panel say an economic recession isn’t imminent in Iowa. But they’re not sure how long that’ll last. Iowa legal organizations are partnering to address the urgent need to secure a more permanent immigration status for Afghan arrivals. Plus, the entire state of Iowa is abnormally dry or in a state of drought, according to the Iowa Drought monitor.
The state of Iowa is planning to dramatically scale back the routine inspection of restaurants. Bird flu cases are resurfacing in states near Iowa. Plus, the candidates in Iowa's new second congressional district revived their strong disagreements over abortion policy during a TV debate Wednesday night.
Law enforcement leaders in Linn County are asking Iowans to vote NO on a constitutional amendment that could make it harder to pass gun control laws. The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments over a California law that would require breeding pigs be housed with a certain amount of space in order for their pork to be sold in the state. Plus, Sioux City mayor Bob Scott is calling upon the governors of Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota to prevent Tyson Foods from moving more than 500 jobs out of the area.
The Des Moines International Airport was one of at least a dozen around the country whose websites were targeted by pro-Russian hackers. Woodbury County is reporting a decline in requests for absentee ballots, just a week ahead of early voting beginning in Iowa. Plus, the Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday over a California animal cruelty law that could raise the cost of bacon and other pork products nationwide.
A recent report has found the average rate of family premiums for health insurance offered by private employers has increased significantly in Iowa. Climate change is causing warmer and wetter winters in the Midwest. Plus, a look at the history of abortion in Iowa and how it’s become politicized.
There were two debates in Des Moines last night – for the candidates for U.S. Senate, and the 3rd Congressional District. Abortion restrictions came up in both of them. Sioux City hosted a community conversation about Latino and Indigenous experiences last night, and the Sioux City area prepares for the loss of about 500 Tyson Foods corporate jobs, which are moving to Arkansas.
Iowa election officials are in the process of testing vote counting machines ahead of Election Day. A western Iowa county will consider an ordinance that would establish setbacks for carbon capture pipelines. Plus, a recent report has found child poverty rates have fallen dramatically in the past quarter century.
The treated drinking water of Burlington and Davenport are again contaminated by cancer-causing chemicals that persist indefinitely in the environment. A research center at the University of Iowa is focusing attention on the impact trees have on climate. Plus, a conversation with Iowa Democratic Governor candidate Deidre DeJear.
Creighton University’s Mid-America Business Index continues to suggest only slow growth in the region. Iowa’s attorney general says 12 people have died from domestic violence in the state so far this year. And Sheldon says next year could bring mandatory water use restrictions if drought conditions don’t improve.
Republican Governor Kim Reynolds is suggesting that further tax reductions would be part of her agenda if she wins reelection in November. The Dubuque Chamber of Commerce is trying to negotiate a deal to return weekly service to the Dubuque Airport. Plus, there are numerous federal programs aimed at helping low-income communities access food but some employees of those programs are paid so little they've also faced food insecurity or had to work another job.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has joined a lawsuit with five other states seeking to stop the Biden administration’s plan to cancel up to 20-thousand-dollars in student loan debt for many Americans. A man from Sioux City who pleaded guilty to being in the U.S. Capitol on January 6th has been sentenced to 90 days in federal prison. A Woodbury County judge will hear a dispute between Navigator CO2 Ventures and landowners. Plus, The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission is planning to raise the penalty against casinos for underage gambling and violations of the self-ban.
New polling on abortion shows a majority of Americans support abortion access, at least for the first trimester. Crews from MidAmerican Energy left Iowa to help southern states recover from Hurricane Ian. The U.S. Department of Agriculture spent over 7 billion dollars in recent years on two of its largest conservation programs. But very little of that money went to climate-smart practices… according to a new report from the Environmental Working Group. Plus, federal officials are reporting a drop in the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Iowa.
Governor Kim Reynolds has announced the state of Iowa has a nearly $1.9 billion budget surplus. An Iowa man was ordered to serve a total of more than seven years in prison for pleading guilty to attacking a police officer during the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Plus, a new report has found rates of obesity in Iowa continue to increase.
Candidates for Iowa’s newly drawn southeastern Congressional District used a debate Monday night to argue over whose position on abortion was extreme. The Sioux City Community School District is urging eligible families to register for free or reduced lunches because lunch debt is already beginning to rack up. Plus, a federal agency opens a hearing in Washington, DC. Wednesday on the proposed merger of Canadian Pacific Railway and Kansas City Southern.
A Des Moines man has been convicted of charges that he led a crowd of rioters in chasing a U.S. Capitol police officer up a staircase and accosting other officers on Jan. 6, 2021. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is urging Iowans to take steps to protect themselves against election disinformation. Plus, the booming craft beer industry is driving farmers in the Midwest to grow hops for their local beer makers.
Congresswoman Cindy Axne is one of the Democrats who pressed for votes on a package of public safety initiatives that cleared the U.S. House. The Capitol Police officer who diverted a mob of rioters away from the U.S. Senate on January 6th, 2021 has testified at an Iowa man's trial in Washington. Plus, IPR’s Kendall Crawford reports on how small towns are training rural community members on how to spot signs of distress among farmers.
The number of Iowans who have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic has passed 10,000. Talks between Ingredion and the union that represents workers at the company's Cedar Rapids plant have broken down after company officials brought armed guards to a negotiating session this week. Plus, a new mural in Sioux City will celebrate Hispanic heritage in northwest Iowa.
A delegation from Taiwan signed trade agreements valued at $2.6 billion at the Iowa Capitol on Tuesday. A trial is underway in Washington D.C. for a Des Moines man whose confrontation with police created some of the most memorable images from a mob's attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Plus, temperatures soared on Tuesday and record temps were broken.
Health officials are encouraging Iowans to get their flu shots and this year’s flu season is predicted to be severe. The state attorney general’s office has launched a new website with the goal of connecting Iowans with services to treat opioid addiction. Plus, a former campaign staffer stated in a police report that Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Franken kissed her without her permission in March. He denies it.
Statewide candidates from both major political parties spoke to key voting groups this weekend. Anti-hunger advocates in the Midwest are gearing up for the White House conference on hunger, nutrition and health next week. Plus, a report looking at the complicated legal landscape Doctors who provide abortion services via telemedicine have to navigate.
The leaders of Iowa’s three public universities discussed how they would spend the funding increase they plan to request from state lawmakers. A new resource to address the public health crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women is launching in Sioux City this weekend. Plus, a look at the efforts to attract and keep veterinarians to rural areas.
Iowa health officials say the state’s low number of confirmed monkeypox cases means its targeted approach to reducing cases is working. Iowa House Democrats are proposing legalizing recreational marijuana as one of their key priorities ahead of the 2022 election. This year, Iowa expanded the number of kids a childcare worker can oversee but daycares are still wracked with retention issues.
Des Moines teen Pieper Lewis was not sentenced to prison in a case where she admitted to killing a man she says raped her multiple times. Lawyers for Iowa’s largest abortion provider argued in court documents that there's no precedent or legal support for bringing back a law banning most abortions. Plus, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources will treat East Okoboji lake against Eurasian watermilfoil this week.
Gov. Kim Reynolds joined a group of 22 Republican governors opposing President Joe Biden’s plan to forgive student loan debt. Des Moines is going ahead with plans to pay 30 million dollars to buy a downtown office building that was vacated two years ago. Plus, a federal judge will not block the transgender student policy adopted by Linn-Mar schools.
The Republican running for attorney general of Iowa says she would defend abortion restrictions in court if elected after the Democratic attorney general has refused to represent the state in two abortion cases. The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments next month in a farm groups’ case against the state of California. Plus, how some volunteer groups in the Midwest are stepping up to test water quality.
Two of Iowa’s three public universities saw declining enrollment this fall. The Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice and the Drake Legal Clinic are working to help Afghan parolees gain a more permanent legal status in the United States. Plus, IPR Health reporter Natalie Krebs tells us what we need to know about the latest COVID booster shots in Iowa.
The latest test scores from Iowa public schools show that there has been improvement in math and English but there is still some ground to make up to match pre-pandemic results. Many Iowa cities are taking money from Canadian Pacific in exchange for not opposing its 31-billion-dollar merger. Iowans will have a chance to vote on adding gun rights protections to the Iowa Constitution in November.
There will be at least one debate between Iowa Gov Kim Reynolds and Democrat Deidre DeJear before the November election. The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is ending its Eating Disorder Program’s inpatient care this fall. Plus, as more states crack down on abortion, experts say Black Midwesterners are likely to be disproportionately affected.
Labor unions gathered in Des Moines Monday for a Labor Day Parade. Two new charter schools are starting classes this fall and are the first state-funded charters approved under a law passed in 2021. Plus, a group of Iowa State University researchers is studying the challenges facing Ukrainian refugees who resettle in Iowa
A couple of the state’s most populous counties are seeing extraordinarily higher than usual challenges of Iowa voter registrations. A labor strike in Cedar Rapids continues. Plus, IPR’s Kendall Crawford takes us to a bar in northwest Iowa that’s drawing acts and concertgoers from all over the country.
Iowa state officials say a third managed care organization will join the state’s Medicaid program. Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern railroads are pursuing a continental merge that runs right through the Quad-Cities. Plus, a Midwest Newsroom investigation into seed companies favoring a different labor pool for corn detasseling.
The state officially launched a new department on Tuesday with the massive Department of Health and Human Services. Republican U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley and his Democratic opponent Mike Franken have completed tours with stops in each of Iowa's 99 counties. Plus, a case of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease has been found in a domestic rabbit in central Iowa
The number of Iowa prison inmates who're caught commuting another crime after they've been released from prison has been dropping. The last of the four white people charged in relation to the murder of Michael Williams two years ago was sentenced. Plus, former congressional candidate J.D. Scholten has a clear path to his first term in the Iowa Legislature.
Tuesday is the first day Iowans can submit a request for an absentee ballot for this fall’s election. The U.S. Agriculture Department is investing millions of dollars in helping what it calls “underserved producers.” Plus, we spend a day on the campaign trail with Democrat Mike Franken who is running against Republican U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley.
September 1st marks the end of Iowa’s rent and utility assistance program. As college classes resume, universities across the state are ensuring students have access to information about the monkeypox virus and how it spreads. Plus, an update on the skyrocketing cost of farmland in Iowa and the Midwest.
President Biden's move to provide student loan debt relief for Americans with an annual income below $125,000 is getting some strong reactions from Iowa politicians. The Democrat running for Iowa governor has released an education plan proposing bigger increases to public school funding and higher pay for teachers and school staff. Plus, schools across the country are putting together bonus packages to attract the educators they need.
The Woodbury County Board of Supervisors has voted to make it tougher to build wind turbines in that western Iowa county. Ten school districts in Iowa have new grants to help establish therapeutic classrooms. And the CDC says most kids in Iowa have contracted to virus that causes COVID-19.
Linn County officials are rescheduling votes on zoning changes that would allow construction of a large-scale solar farm around the decommissioned nuclear power plant near Palo. Union representatives and managers of the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant in southeast Iowa have reached agreements, avoiding a strike at the facility. Plus, an annual survey shows U-S commercial beekeepers have lost 39 percent of their honeybee colonies this year.
The Iowa State Fair wrapped up Sunday after an 11-day run topping the 1 million mark again. The Democratic candidate for Iowa’s second congressional district and Republican running for state auditor spoke at the state fair over the weekend. Plus, chronic illness patients hope the money being poured into studying long COVID will have a wider benefit.
Experts say the health policy changes passed as part of the Inflation Reduction Act could have a significant impact on older Iowans. The state’s unemployment rate dropped again in July. Plus, we go to Missouri to learn the truth behind the mythology surrounding Doctor Annie Smith.
A Polk County judge has scheduled a hearing in October on the governor’s push to reinstate Iowa’s fetal heartbeat abortion ban. A few Democrats took turns on the political soapbox at the Iowa State Fair on Wednesday. Plus, federal officials are reporting a drop in the number of Iowans hospitalized who have tested positive for COVID-19.
Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate is urging Iowans to apply to be poll workers in this fall’s elections. 900 Iowans who took out federal student loans to attend the now-shuttered for-profit ITT Technical Institute are off the hook for re-payment. Plus, while parts of Iowa saw up to two inches of rain earlier this week, it may be too little, too late for many of the state’s crops.
More political candidates spoke on the soapbox at the Iowa State Fair. The agency considering proposed carbon pipelines in Iowa was ordered to share the names of landowners who could be affected by one of the projects. And school districts are still looking for new teachers with the start of classes just days away.
Lots of State Fair politics over the weekend in Iowa: Democratic candidate for governor Deidre DeJear says she’ll prioritize public schools and mental health if she’s elected, and congressional candidate Zach Nunn says he’ll push for more tax cuts in Washington if he wins in November. Also a federally-funded rental assistance program that’s helped thousands of Iowans during the pandemic will end in a few weeks.
Gov. Kim Reynolds is asking a district court to lift an injunction on a 2018 law that would ban abortions at around six weeks of pregnancy. State health officials say they are actively monitoring the state’s monkeypox cases and are strategically deploying its limited vaccinations. Plus, IPR’s Kendall Crawford will take us to the Loess Hills to find out how Iowans are protecting that natural land.
The chair of the RNC says she stands behind Iowa Republicans leading the presidential nominating process in 2024 with their caucuses. Johnson County and Iowa City are in a fight over pandemic relief funding. Plus, we get an update on where things stand with the COVID-19 pandemic in Iowa.
Woodbury County supervisors are moving ahead with an ordinance that would limit where wind turbines can be built in that western Iowa county. Democratic candidate for governor, Deidre DeJear says Iowa’s education system needs “damage control” as some schools face a teacher shortage. And Dyersville is getting $12.5 million to support construction of a permanent stadium next to the Field of Dreams site.
Federal officials say a southwest Iowa manufacturer has agreed to pay a half a million dollar settlement after a whistleblower claimed the company failed to properly test parts it made for military contractors. A new study says summer nights have been getting warmer by more than 2 degrees since the 1970s. Plus, staying in addiction recovery is difficult when you don’t have a way to get around.
Planned Parenthood and the ACLU say they are no longer pursuing legal action against Iowa’s 24-hour waiting period law for abortion. A new report has ranked Iowa ninth in the nation for child well-being but the high-ranking is misleading. Plus, the USDA has awarded the Iowa Department of Education a $67,000 grant to support its farm-to-school program.
The autopsy results are in for the three family members who were killed last month at Maquoketa Caves State Park. Iowa Democratic leaders say a Kansas vote to uphold abortion rights this week shows the same could happen in Iowa. Plus, how Republicans are making conservation controversial.
Three state agencies are developing guidelines and real-time resources for city and county officials who may have to restrict water usage during a drought emergency. A conservative nonprofit has filed a lawsuit challenging the Linn-Mar school district over a policy that provides confidentiality to transgender students. Plus, state health officials report a slight increase in the number of reported positive COVID-19 tests.
Friends and neighbors of the three people killed while camping last month gathered in a Cedar Falls park Tuesday night to honor three members of a family killed while camping last month. Small towns used last week’s RAGBRAI as an opportunity to fundraise for town projects. Plus, the synthetic opioid fentanyl is extremely deadly and dealers have been mixing it into other drugs, unknown to buyers.
The U.S. Senate could be on track to advance a bill as soon as Tuesday that would provide veterans exposed to toxic substances overseas with health care and benefits. Employees of a Cedar Rapids grain processer are on strike. Plus, state Fairs around the Midwest are hoping to see pre pandemic attendance levels this summer.
The Iowa Democratic Party will have to wait until AFTER the midterm election to learn the fate of the Iowa caucuses. Iowa State University will launch a new major this fall focusing on climate science. Plus, the winning ticket for this weekend's massive Mega Millions jackpot was sold in Illinois, but five tickets purchased in Iowa came within one number of the jackpot combination and are also prize-winners.
The Iowa Attorney General’s Office is accusing major tobacco companies of illegally withholding millions from the state. Iowa’s public health funding increased by 9 percent during the pandemic. That’s according to a new report by the non-profit Trust for America’s Health. Plus, Refugee organizations in western Iowa are helping Afghan refugees reach an important milestone: passing their driver’s license exams.
Gov. Kim Reynolds has appointed Judge David May to the Iowa Supreme Court. The Board of Regents voted to increase tuition for all three state universities in Iowa. State officials have confirmed the presence of a rare so-called brain-eating amoeba at a lake in southern Iowa. Plus, Maquoketa (Mah-COE-keh-tah) Caves State Park reopens for day use following closure last week after three family members were shot to death while camping there.
An opioid manufacturer is willing to pay up billions to settle thousands of legal claims, including one filed by the State of Iowa. A one year experiment in a Davenport junior high school will probably expand this fall to three more. Plus, an invasive bug that could threaten many of Iowa’s fruit crops and trees has been found in the state.
Many questions remain as to why a man killed three family members at a state park in eastern Iowa last week. The Iowa Environmental Council is calling for improvements to the state’s water quality monitoring initiatives. Plus, the University of Iowa Athletics has announced two new diversity-related hires.
A 9-year-old boy who was camping at an Iowa state park with his parents and 6-year-old sister survived a shooting that killed the rest of his family. As cases of monkeypox increase across the country, Iowa infectious disease specialists say the risk to the public remains low. Plus, physicians are sounding the alarm about the consequences of abortion restrictions on pregnant people in rural areas.
Employees who work at 28 Planned Parenthood clinics in five states, including Iowa, have voted to form a union. Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller and several law enforcement agencies are calling on lawmakers to take legislative action to reduce the number of fentanyl-related deaths. Plus, people from towns along this year’s RAGBRAI route are using it as an opportunity for some fundraising.
The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Iowa continue to trend upwards. The Planned Parenthood clinic in Sioux City is seeing an increase of patients from South Dakota. Plus, the trial for one of the two teens charged in the beating death of a Fairfield High School teacher last November will be held in Scott County.
Three of Iowa’s four U.S. House Representatives voted to approve legislation on Tuesday to protect same-sex and interracial marriages. Iowa restaurants say they’re still struggling to find enough workers more than two years after the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Plus, Hy-Vee has started offering the COVID-19 antiviral drug paxlovid to qualifying patients at its pharmacies.
Iowa health officials have announced Dr. Robert Kruse will serve as the new state medical director. State Auditor Rob Sand is encouraging Iowa schools to make the most of a federal program aimed at replacing old buses with new ones that have lower or zero tailpipe emissions. Plus, Sioux City officials believe the development of a regional trail system in western Iowa could help attract more workers.
Cedar Rapids has another mask mandate in place for city buildings to slow spread of COVID-19. Governor Kim Reynolds celebrated the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade on Friday. Plus, an $8 million upgrade is planned for a lakeside park in Des Moines to make outdoor recreation universally accessible to people with disabilities.
Iowans needing mental health support will have a new number to call, 988, starting Saturday. Attorneys for one of the two teens charged in the beating death of a Fairfield high school teacher last November have asked that his trial be moved out of Jefferson County. Plus, a look at how one small watershed was taken off the state’s list of impaired waters.
Iowa’s Republican U.S. Senators did not express support for a nationwide ban on abortions when asked about that possibility on Wednesday. Rural households are being disproportionately impacted by rising inflation. Plus, a new analysis finds military sites in Iowa and around the country have “forever chemicals” in their groundwater that exceed new health guidelines the EPA set in June.
As state officials are seeing a rise in opioid overdose deaths, they’re warning Iowans about the dangers of counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl. An assistant attorney general in Iowa is suing the city of Des Moines and its police chief over his arrest during a June 2020 racial justice protest. Plus, farmers and landowners fighting three proposed carbon capture pipelines in Iowa gathered in Des Moines on Tuesday.
Cedar Rapids Community Schools will start the new year with five uniformed police officers each assigned to their own school under an amended contract. Another case of monkeypox has been reported in Iowa. Plus, IPR’s Katarina Sostaric reports on what Iowans are doing to preserve abortion access in the state.
Thousands of Iowans gathered outside the Iowa Capitol on Sunday to protest against attempts to restrict abortion. A 24-hour abortion waiting period is now being enforced in Iowa. Plus, Davenport is one of three cities in North America selected to participate in the Marine Litter Pilot Project.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced five Iowa airports are splitting $27 million in grants to improve passenger terminals. Iowa Workforce Development is looking to bridge labor shortages by training businesses on how to hire refugees. Plus, wheat has been in high demand since Russia invaded Ukraine and choked off the global supply and while prices have skyrocketed, farmers in the Great Plains may miss out.
Iowa’s only Democratic member of Congress says Democrats are working at the federal level to protect abortion rights following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade. Iowa Republicans came out of the June primary elections with a big advantage in registered voters. Plus, a Northwestern Iowa farmer faces thousands of dollars in fines after a manure digester located on his farm leaked wastewater into tributaries of the Rock River.
The Iowa Supreme Court has declined the governor’s request to rehear an abortion case it decided less than a month ago. Residents of Linn, Johnson, Cedar, Clinton and Scott counties will have a chance in September to share their thoughts about another proposed CO2 pipeline. Plus, on July 16, Iowans in need of mental health services and support will have a new number to call but some worry about how prepared the state is to launch the new line.
Monkeypox has been detected in Iowa. More men are seeking vasectomies since the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. And Gov. Kim Reynolds says she is willing to wait to see if another network picks up the “Field of Dreams” television series that received state funding.
A new law taking effect shortens the time laid off workers in Iowa can receive unemployment assistance. The Iowa Supreme Court has reversed a long-standing precedent that allowed landowners to sue for damages when a neighboring hog farm causes water pollution or odor problems. Plus, the year-old American Rescue Plan included four billion dollars worth of debt relief for farmers of color and those farmers are still waiting.
Governor Kim Reynolds says she won’t call a special legislative session on abortion while she pursues court action to restrict abortion. Federal health officials are reporting the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Iowa has dropped in the past week. Plus, research shows that some farmers in the LGBTQ community take a different approach to farming.
Governor Kim Reynolds is asking Iowa courts to allow a law to take effect that would ban most abortions after about six weeks into a pregnancy. At a stop in Sioux City on Tuesday, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Deidre DeJear said she would fight for abortion access in Iowa. Plus, the record-setting housing market has slowed some but it is far from hitting a full stop.
An Iowa man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for fatally shooting an Iowa State Patrol trooper last year during a standoff and shootout with police. A list of three Iowa Supreme Court nominees is now with Governor Kim Reynolds. Plus, some companies with large Iowa presences will cover travel expenses for employees seeking abortions in the wake of Friday's U.S. Supreme Court ruling that gave states the ability to ban the procedure.
Crowds gathered in many Iowa cities over the past three days to protest the end of nationwide abortion rights. Democratic Congresswoman Cindy Axne of West Des Moines and Republican Senator Joni Ernst voted for the bipartisan gun bill President Biden signed into law this weekend. Plus, work will begin Monday on the final portion of a long-awaited bridge that will benefit thousands of fans on football game days in Ames.
Iowa Democrats made their case to their national party to keep the Iowa caucuses in the early presidential nominating calendar. Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley voted no and Senator Joni Ernst voted yes on the bipartisan gun bill that passed the U.S. Senate. A western Iowa town will hold its very first Immigrant Heritage Festival tomorrow. Plus, Iowa State University is suspending its men’s hockey club from competition next year in response to allegations of hazing.
Federal officials signed off on the use of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for children as young as six months late last week. But Iowa health care providers say parents may have to be patient when seeking out an appointment for the new pediatric dose. Iowa’s new law that protects older residents will go into effect on July 1st, and advocates say it’s been in the works for 10 years. Plus, a new study by Iowa State University economists says there’s not enough evidence to show fertilizer companies are taking advantage of inflation to raise their prices.
Federal health officials have recently given the go ahead to vaccinate children ages six months to four years using either the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccinations. Governor Kim Reynolds recently signed a law that eliminates a test requirement for new teachers from Iowa colleges and universities. It’s part of an effort to ease a statewide teacher shortage. Plus, Iowa deer hunters will be allowed to use semi-automatic weapons including AR-15 rifles to kill deer in more parts of the state during a newly created antlerless season in January under a bill signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds.
Students at Iowa’s three public universities may be paying more for tuition starting in the fall. The leader of the group pushing for a casino license for Cedar Rapids says they aren't giving up. Plus, three lower court judges and two attorneys have applied for the upcoming vacancy on the Iowa Supreme Court.
Abortion rights supporters say Friday’s decision from the Iowa Supreme Court’s decision to overturn a 2018 abortion ruling is a “devastating reversal.” Food banks across Iowa are struggling to keep up with increased demand as pandemic aid ends. Plus, Side Effects Public Media explores how sickle cell disease can affect both fertility, in both men and women, yet many find they are unable to access fertility treatments to be able to have children.
The Iowa Supreme Court is expected to release a decision today on a case that could affect the future of abortion access for Iowans. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has signed a bill into law cutting unemployment benefits. Plus, The city of Hornick broke ground on a flood-protection project yesterday. The small western Iowa town of a little more than 250 people is beginning construction on a berm to prevent future floods.
The family of Michael Williams is calling for reform of Iowa’s hate crime laws. In 2020, Williams, a Black man, was murdered and his remains were set on fire by Steve Vogel, a white man. Almost two years later, his loved ones still are fighting for his death to be recognized as a lynching. There are now stronger penalties for elder abuse under a bill Governor Kim Reynolds has signed into law. Plus, The Board of Regents will meet Monday and consider an increase in tuition and fees at the three state universities.
Governor Kim Reynolds has approved a law that prohibits state-licensed child care centers, K-through-12 schools and Iowa colleges and universities from having Covid-19 vaccination mandates for enrollment. Gov. Reynolds will use federal COVID-relief funds to create a new school safety bureau at the Iowa Department of Public Safety. Plus, Iowa’s largest abortion provider has condemned a recent attack on a crisis pregnancy center by abortion rights activists.
Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a couple of bills aimed at improving access to mental health services in Iowa. Drake University is partnering with a local hospital on a new clinic that will serve students and the community around its campus. And the Iowa owners of the Belmont Stakes’ winning horse are celebrating with free ice cream for kids in downtown Des Moines this afternoon.
Governor Kim Reynolds told her party convention over the weekend she will try again to give state support to parents who want to send their kids to private schools. The Cedar Rapids School Board later today considers a new contract for police in schools. And, Iowa nonprofits are getting $20 million to help expand their services.
Iowa’s largest drinking water utility says it has started operation of its nitrate removal facility this week. That’s because nitrate levels in raw water sources have increased. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was seen in student achievement, according to figures shared today (Thursday) with the State Board of Education. Plus, a handful of protest marches calling for action on gun related legislation in Iowa is taking place in six cities across the state.
Iowa health officials are reporting today (Wednesday) a jump in the number of positive COVID-19 tests confirmed in the past week. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds ousted four Republican state lawmakers in last night’s (Tuesday’s) primary elections after they didn’t support her plan to create state-funded scholarships for private school expenses. Iowa hasn’t seen a new avian flu case in more than a month. Iowa’s top agriculture official says recovery will take some time as producers get the go-ahead to bring in new birds.
The 2022 Primary Election results are in for Iowa. Retired Navy admiral Mike Franken has defeated former congresswoman Abby Finkenauer and western Iowa physician Glenn Hurst to win the Democratic senate primary. In Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, State Senator Zach Nunn of Bondurant has won the Republican nomination with about 66 percent of the vote.
Iowa’s Primary Election Day is Tuesday and polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Democrats will select a nominee to likely face U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley in the fall. UnityPoint Health says shortages stemming from COVID-19 shutdowns in China may delay diagnostic imaging scans for some patients. Plus, Lee County is studying the needs of children and families in the region and is finding out that the lack of child care is a big issue.
The Iowa National Guard has confirmed the gunman who killed two women outside an Ames church last week was a sergeant in the Guard and one of his victims had been in the Guard since 2019. Candidates running in Tuesday’s U.S. Senate primary elections are making their final pitch to voters. IPR’s Natalie Krebs reports how alcohol use has soared during the pandemic.
Three people are dead following a shooting outside a church in Ames Thursday evening. Elections officials say hand-deliver your absentee ballots to your county elections office, rather than mail it for Tuesday’s primary. And, the demand for food pantries is on the rise again.
The Board of Regents yesterday approved a 6% patient rate hike. An Iowa man who pleaded guilty to charging police in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021 will serve jail time. Plus, more than 100 Afghan refugees have moved to Sioux City to work at the Tyson meat processing plant across the border in Nebraska but the resources they needed to resettle in Iowa weren’t always quick to follow.
Republican U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley says he's hopeful to hear of efforts to reach compromise on gun control legislation, especially if it includes his bill. The Republican leader in the Iowa Senate says there is gaming fatigue in the state Capitol and that's why a temporary moratorium on new casino licenses was quickly passed last week before lawmakers adjourned the session. Plus, Iowa’s corn crop is nearly all planted.
Health experts are encouraging Iowans to make sure their children are up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations before summer vacation starts. The Johnson County Auditor’s office is putting the call out for poll workers for the June 7th primary. Plus, IPR’s Grant Gerlock introduces us to the three Republicans who want to face Iowa’s only Democratic member of Congress.
As we head into the holiday weekend, Iowa boaters are being cautioned to watch for too much water on the Mississippi River, and too little in western Iowa. The IDOT is urging drivers to slow down and pay attention, and Des Moines hosts the state’s largest celebration of Asian heritage this weekend.
Forecasters anticipate drought will expand throughout Iowa this summer. Polk County health officials are urging residents to consider visiting their doctor or an urgent care facility instead of the emergency room. Plus, the national sport of Mexico has new representation in Iowa, but IPR’s Kassidy Arena reports that the team looks a little different than others.
Iowa’s 2022 legislative session ended shortly after midnight. Senate Democrats have refused to confirm Republican Governor Kim Reynolds’ appointees to the panel that helps select Iowa Supreme Court justices. Plus, In November, Polk County voters will choose a new county attorney for the first time in 30 years.
Iowa lawmakers pick up momentum toward wrapping up this legislative session. They’re not going to pass the governor’s proposal for private school scholarships, they are passing an overhaul of the bottle and can redemption law, and they’re putting the brakes on new casinos in the state for at least two years.
State lawmakers are headed back to the Iowa Statehouse to talk about the budget, and perhaps wrap up the legislative session. A farm study shows promising results for water quality when wetlands are restored at the edges of farm fields. Plus, Briar Cliff students ‘rewild’ an urban prairie in Sioux City.
The three Democrats running for the party’s U.S. Senate nomination see a larger role for the government in health care, but disagree on how far that should go. As government officials say they’re working to ramp up the production of baby formula, one expert warns it could still be weeks before Iowans see shelves fully restocked. Plus, park rangers would have to move out of government-owned housing in 23 Iowa state parks by the end of next year under a budget bill advancing in the legislature.
Iowa Republican lawmakers have revived a proposal that would give the governor more influence on commissions that help select district judges. Senators are scrapping a moratorium that would have prevented developers from seeking eminent domain authority to seize property for carbon pipelines before next February. Plus, Black farmers in the U.S. lost more than 300 billion dollars’ worth of land in the 20th century, according to a new study.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law today (Tuesday) establishing a state mandate for gas stations to sell fuel with higher blends of ethanol. The Des Moines City Council is considering creating a police community advisory board. But council members disagree on how much authority the board should have to review disciplinary actions taken against officers accused of misconduct. Plus, the city of Council Bluffs is receiving money from the E-P-A to clean up a former factory site.
A federal appeals court has cleared the way for state officials to enforce Iowa’s ban on school mask mandates. Governor Kim Reynolds is expected to sign a bill into law that will establish a state mandate for many gas stations to sell fuel with higher blends of ethanol Plus, a jury has convicted a man of first-degree murder in the fatal shooting of an Iowa State Patrol trooper last year.
A new study has found a program aimed at Hispanic families with Mexican roots is linked to an increase in healthy food consumption. The Sioux City Human Rights Commission is hosting a workshop on fair housing. Plus, a conversation with Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Glenn Hurst.
A new Congressional report says that at the height of the pandemic, the meat processing industry worked closely with political appointees in the Trump administration to stave off health restrictions. Native communities marched throughout Sioux City Thursday to bring awareness to missing and murdered Indigenous women. Plus, IPR’s Kassidy Arena reports on some of Iowa’s Latina entrepreneurs who started businesses during the pandemic.
Both of Iowa's U.S. Senators, as expected, joined with their Republican colleagues in defeating the bill Democrats sponsored to guarantee access to abortion nationwide. A 17-year-old Iowa boy accused of helping a classmate kill their high school Spanish teacher last year will be tried as an adult. Plus, Iowa’s COVID-19 hospitalizations are increasing.
Two weeks after contract negotiations began, union workers at Arconic have decided to vote on whether to authorize a strike. Iowa is launching a new ad campaign bringing awareness to children’s mental health. Plus, people in many Midwestern states could lose access to abortion if the Supreme Court rules to overturn Roe v. Wade.
The trial for a man accused in the shooting death of an Iowa State Patrol Sergeant opened Monday in Webster City. The Des Moines City Council is moving ahead with plans to discuss a third-party review of police department policies and how the DMPD uses data. Plus, IPR’s Kendall Crawford reports on how the rising cost of fuel and food is stretching the budgets of Iowa’s rural schools.
Des Moines was one of dozens of U-S cities where people demonstrated over the weekend to support abortion rights. Four weeks before the Primary Election, Iowa Republicans have established a campaign office in central Iowa in preparation for the General Election. Plus, talking about climate change is typically off the table in the farming country. Find out about a program that’s making farms more climate-friendly anyway.
Another Iowan has pleaded guilty to charges from the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds says she hopes the U.S. Supreme Court will follow through with its leaked draft opinion and strike down nationwide abortion rights, and A NASA climate scientist has been named the 2022 World Food Prize Laureate.
A crowd of people marched in the streets of downtown Des Moines Wednesday night to protest the potential end of nationwide abortion rights. The Iowa City Foreign Relations Council hosted a discussion on how communities can work to include immigrants and refugees in policy-making. Plus, a conversation with former Iowa congresswoman Abby Finkenauer about her bid for U.S. Senate.
The future of abortion rights in Iowa is still uncertain after a leaked draft opinion showed a majority of U.S. Supreme Court justices appear ready to overturn Roe v. Wade. Three Republicans competing for their party’s nomination in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District all say that, if elected, restricting crossings at the U.S. border with Mexico would be a priority. Plus, a conversation with Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Mike Franken.
Republican lawmakers sent a bill to the governor’s desk that would allow child care centers to collect additional money from some low-income families who agree to pay more. More than 1,000 workers at CNH Industrial plants in Iowa and Wisconsin went on strike Monday in search of a better deal with the company that makes agriculture and construction equipment. Plus, a race horse with an Iowa connection is one of the top contenders in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.
Democratic Senate candidate Abby Finkenauer is responding to concerns expressed by a prominent Democrat over remarks she made about a district court judge last month. U.S Rep. Ashley Hinson says the federal homeland security secretary isn’t properly securing the southern U.S. border. And, Iowa’s Department of Corrections is working to improve relations with Native communities in western Iowa.
Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand says it was inappropriate for U.S. Senate candidate Abby Finkenauer — a fellow Democrat — to criticize a judge who ruled against her bid to stay on the June primary ballot. Des Moines Public Schools is starting a series of community conversations following a fatal shooting outside East High. Plus, a bipartisan group of Midwestern governors lobby the EPA on ethanol policy.
State and federal officials are reporting COVID-19 hospitalizations and positive tests have increased in the past week. A new report has ranked Dallas County as the healthiest county in Iowa. Plus, there’s already a shortage of services for Iowans with autism and now one of the few education programs to train providers might be going away.
Iowa Republican lawmakers sent a bill to the governor’s desk that would make cuts to unemployment benefits. With the Glenwood Resource Center slated to close in 2024, local officials are concerned about the gap it will leave in their community. Plus, residents in northeast Iowa spoke out against a controversial cattle feedlot that they say would use more water than outlined under a permit that is now up for renewal.
An Iowa senate committee voted to advance a bill that would require Iowa gas stations to sell fuel with higher blends of ethanol. Hundreds of people attended the weekend ribbon-cutting and open house for a new hospital Marshalltown. Plus, home health aides are vital to allowing elderly and disabled Iowans stay in their homes but recruiting and retaining these workers is getting more challenging.
Former Vice President Mike Pence rallied with Iowa Republican activists over the weekend. A coalition of economic development organizations working on diversity, equity and inclusion in the Cedar Rapids- Iowa City corridor is offering a free assessment tool for area businesses. Plus, University of Iowa researchers have created a map to show which of Iowa’s farmlands are most at risk for floods.
A lead advocate for protecting Iowans who live in mobile homes says a bill aimed at addressing their concerns over fair housing won’t help them. A new case of bird flu has surfaced in Iowa and it comes after the state hadn’t seen any new cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza for two weeks. Plus, Iowa State University is leaving the Association of American Universities, an organization that includes the most prestigious research universities in the U.S.
Federal officials are reporting a slight drop in COVID-19 hospitalizations in Iowa from last week’s number. A coalition of underrepresented groups throughout Iowa is hosting its first climate justice summit that starts Thursday evening in Des Moines. Plus, Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids is rolling out a pilot program this summer to close campus offices on Fridays.
Michigan-based nonprofit Trinity Health has announced it has signed an agreement to acquire all MercyOne health care facilities in Iowa. The Iowa Senate passed a bill to add protections for mobile home owners, sending it to the governor’s desk. Plus, the Des Moines school board is considering renaming a south side school for a different historical figure with the same last name.
Masks to curb COVID-19 are now optional for patients, visitors, and fully vaccinated staff members at UnityPoint Health hospitals in eastern Iowa. At the statehouse, Republicans in the Senate have approved a bill to relax some restrictions on the child care workforce. Plus, one of Iowa’s community colleges is closing in on a federal designation that would open grant opportunities to provide more student services.
Tuesday marks the 100th day of Iowa’s legislative session, which is the target date to end the session but it’s not likely to happen as lawmakers still have a lot of budget and policy work to do. On Friday, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled that Democrat Abby Finkenauer can appear on the U.S. Senate primary ballot after all. Plus, Ford is electrifying its F-150 pickup trucks and Harvest Public Media examines how the pitch to go electric will play out in the Midwest.
The Republican National Committee voted unanimously on Thursday to maintain Iowa’s status as first in the nation for the presidential nominating calendar for the GOP. A top state official says the state is closing the Glenwood Resource Center because it could not comply with federal requirements. Plus, COVID has taken a huge toll on children’s mental health and the children of healthcare workers had a unique front row seat to the pandemic’s scariest moments.
The Iowa caucuses will not be guaranteed a spot at the front of the Democratic National Committee’s presidential nominating calendar. The future of Democrat Abby Finkenauer’s U.S. Senate campaign is now up to the Iowa Supreme Court. Plus, Neil Hamilton was the longtime Director of the Drake Agricultural Law Center and makes the case for listening to the land in Iowa in his new book.
President Joe Biden announced in Iowa on Tuesday that he will allow a higher blend of corn-based ethanol gasoline to be sold this summer. Strong storms that produced tornadoes moved through Iowa last night. Plus, by an overwhelming margin of 73-to-17, the Iowa House of Representatives has voted to make changes in Iowa's popular Bottle Bill.
President Joe Biden is visiting Iowa on Tuesday to announce he’ll suspend a federal rule preventing the sale of higher ethanol blend gasoline in the summer. Advocates for people who were sexually abused as children are continuing to ask Iowa lawmakers to give survivors more time to bring lawsuits against their abusers. Plus, scientists say even small amounts of lead can cause developmental delays and learning difficulties in children.
A judge has ruled that U.S. Senate candidate Abby Finkenauer cannot appear on the June Iowa Democratic primary ballot. Dozens of Iowa school districts are offering bonuses to teachers and other staff members not covered by a program announced by Governor Kim Reynolds earlier this year. Plus, an update from IPR’s Katarina Sostaric on the Iowa legislative session.
The state plans to shut down the Glenwood Resource Center for Iowans with severe disabilities in 2024. Domestic violence fatalities in Iowa have reached their highest level in a decade. Plus, a University of Iowa student from western Ukraine is starting a Ukrainian Conversation Hour to help teach about her language and her culture amidst violence in her home country.
Federal officials report the lowest number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Iowa since March 2020. Several refugee and immigrant-led groups in Iowa have teamed up to address health inequities that have been exacerbated by the pandemic. Plus, a Polk County judge will be the next to weigh in on whether petition signatures gathered by Democrat Abby Finkenauer’s U.S. Senate campaign should be counted.
Both of Iowa’s U.S. Senators will vote against President Joe Biden’s pick for the U.S. Supreme Court. State and federal agriculture officials have confirmed deadly bird flu in another Hamilton County turkey flock. Plus, Iowa landowners are pushing back against the use of eminent domain for three proposed carbon capture pipelines but IPR’s Kendall Crawford reports on how many don’t feel the legislature is listening.
Iowa U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley voted "no" in the Senate Judiciary Committee on President Biden's nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court. Two key Republican lawmakers say they may consider getting rid of Iowa’s bottle and can deposit program if they can’t agree on how to fix it this year. Plus, the Storm Lake Times Company recently purchased the Pilot-Tribune and will be merged into a single, twice-a-week publication.
A crowd of Iowans gathered on the capitol steps on Sunday to show their support for trans rights. State and federal agriculture officials confirmed two more cases of bird flu in Iowa over the weekend. Plus, IPR’s Clay Masters takes a look at the concerns landowners and environmentalists have about three carbon-capture pipelines that have been proposed in the state.
Thousands of Iowans will see a reduction in their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits beginning Friday. Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley says he’s holding off on passing bottle bill changes. Plus, Congress rejected pleas from the White House to pump more money into programs that ensure COVID-19 tests and treatments are free for everyone and Side Effects Public Media details how those funding cuts will likely worsen health disparities.
Iowa is sending 146 helmets and 714 bulletproof vests to try to help protect Ukrainians who are fighting against the Russian invasion. The Iowa Senate has followed the House in passing an education bill that includes some of Governor Kim Reynolds’ priorities on education. Plus, the number of Iowans hospitalized with COVID-19 is up slightly from last week but hospitalizations are still nearing record lows since the start of the pandemic.
There are two more cases of bird flu reported in Iowa. The Iowa House of Representatives has passed a bill that includes parts of Governor Kim Reynolds’s priority education bill. Plus, landowners gathered at the Capitol last night to oppose carbon capture pipelines running through their land.
President Joe Biden has announced the US would be accepting up to 100,000 refugees from Ukraine and refugee resettlement organizations in Iowa are trying to prepare amid challenges. At the statehouse, House lawmakers are proposing a pay bump for home caregivers for Iowans with disabilities. Plus, a state panel will meet to review challenges to the nominating forms for candidates for primary elections in June.
An immigrant advocacy organization is offering a post-citizenship class for the first time this week. Certified professional midwives who specialize in home births say they could better help Iowa’s growing maternal care provider shortage if they are properly licensed. Plus, IPR State Government reporter goes over what happened last week at the Iowa statehouse.
Two new charter schools had applications approved by the Iowa State Board of Education this week. The Iowa House of Representatives voted to prevent carbon pipeline companies from requesting eminent domain rights before February first of next year. Plus, a nonprofit in Des Moines is creating opportunities for girls, transgender and nonbinary youth to get involved in every aspect of music.
A bill to cut the maximum duration of unemployment benefits from 26 weeks to 16 weeks passed in the Iowa House and Senate. The Iowa Department of Agriculture is canceling all live bird exhibitions for the time being because of bird flu. Plus, IPR’s Kassidy Arena reports on how the war in Ukraine hits closer to home for one community in rural southern Iowa.
Democratic lawmakers criticized House Republicans today (Tuesday) for proposing no budget increase for Iowa’s public universities for the third year in a row. A bill that would make changes to Iowa’s bottle deposit law is advancing the House. Plus, IPR Agriculture reporter Katie Peikes explains how bird flu is affecting commercial and backyard flocks in the Midwest.
U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley says the confirmation hearing for U.S. Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson was off to a good start. Grassley is the top Republican on the committee. At the statehouse, House Republicans are proposing a new $12 million scholarship program at Iowa’s public universities. Plus, the Mason City School Board approved the Student Senate's recommendation to rename its mascot the “River Hawks.”
The June primaries appear are set for the Republican and Democratic parties in Iowa. This week a group of Black law students from the University of Iowa are setting aside their studies for a few days to witness Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation process in person. Plus, IPR State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric goes over what survived the second so-called “funnel” deadline at the Iowa statehouse.
Iowa Republicans have used procedural moves to keep some bills alive now that the second legislative deadline has passed. Gov. Kim Reynolds says she’s working with lawmakers to get her unemployment benefits changes passed this session. And if snow’s not your thing, Sioux City was the place to be this winter. It got way less snow than usual this season.
Governor Kim Reynolds blamed schools when asked on Wednesday about calls for stricter gun laws following a recent shooting outside of East High School in Des Moines. A bill that would ban COVID-19 vaccine mandates from employers, schools, businesses and government entities failed to pass the Iowa House of Representatives. Plus, Iowa’s eight commercial airports will receive $100 million of federal American Rescue Plan funding.
A Senate subcommittee has advanced a bill that would create a state-sponsored program to provide women with alternatives to abortion. Democrat Deidre DeJear officially filed with the secretary of state’s office to run for governor of Iowa. Plus, guns in the hands of children remains on the top of some lawmakers and community members’ minds after a deadly shooting on a Des Moines high school campus.
Months after a divided federal appeals court partially upheld the first of Iowa's "ag-gag" laws, a judge has ruled the state's second such law is unconstitutional. Many rural towns across Iowa struggle with access to childcare and for some small communities, it can limit their ability to grow. Plus, IPR Health reporter Natalie Krebs looks at COVID-19 impacts on the state two years since the first cases were confirmed in Iowa.
National Democrats who set the presidential primary calendar have officially started conversations that could knock Iowa from its first-in-the-nation position or add other early states. Meanwhile, former Secretary of State Mike Pomopeo was in Davenport on Friday night for a Republican Party of Iowa Fundraiser raising speculation he may run for president in 2024. Plus, IPR State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric goes over some of the issues before state lawmakers ahead of a deadline at the statehouse this week.
Iowa should bring in more tax revenue than expected this year – but revenue forecasters say that revenue will decrease over the next two fiscal years. Don’t count on Iowa to join the states proposing a “gas tax holiday” as prices at the pump surge. And, an organization in Sioux City hopes to improve the city’s Native American graduation rate with cash.
Iowa Republican Governor Kim Reynolds officially announced she’s running for re-election this year. A new report has ranked Iowa in the top tier when it comes to emergency preparedness. Plus, Federal officials are reporting Iowa’s COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to drop.
Six Des Moines teenagers have been charged in connection with a shooting outside the city’s East High School. Gov. Kim Reynolds complete education bill is advancing in the Iowa legislature. Plus, how high school students who speak multiple languages are getting the word out about vaccines in the Midwest.
A teenage boy died after being shot outside of a Des Moines high school. A disaster recovery fund was set up to take donations to support families impacted by the deadly EF4 tornado that hit Madison County over the weekend. Plus, public health advocates have worked for years to close the gaps in cancer mortality rates between Black and white Iowans but some worry the pandemic may have set back some of their progress.
Crews outside of Winterset are continuing their work to clean up from after Saturday’s deadly tornado. As predicted by energy companies last fall, higher natural gas prices have meant higher heating bills for Iowans this winter. Plus, after two years of living in the COVID-19 pandemic, one community still struggles with information access.
Governor Kim Reynolds has signed law that bans transgender girls and women from competing in female sports in Iowa K-12 schools, and at the college level. The man accused of killing an Iowa State Patrol trooper during a standoff in Grundy Center last year will go to trial for murder this spring in Hamilton County. Plus, in increasingly dry southwest Kansas, replacing some crops with cotton could help farmers conserve water and weather drought.
The Iowa Senate has voted to send Governor Kim Reynolds a bill that would prohibit transgender women and girls from competing in female sports. The Iowa House has passed two bills aimed at expanding access to child care. Plus, Bird flu has reached Iowa for the first time since 2015.
Governor Kim Reynold took to the national political stage to give the official Republican response to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address. The governor gave the speech hours after she signed a major tax cut package into law Tuesday surrounded by a crowd of Republican lawmakers. Plus, a new monthly survey suggests that worries about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, soaring inflation and rising interest rates combined to undermine the confidence of business leaders.
Schools, child care centers and colleges could not require students to receive COVID-19 vaccines under a bill passed Monday in the Iowa House. The superintendent of Iowa’s largest school district says he is stepping down at the end of this school year. Plus, Iowa Public Radio’s board of directors has approved a plan to take ownership of the network’s broadcasting licenses from the Iowa Board of Regents.
The city of Cedar Rapids and Linn County are lifting requirements that staff and visitors use face coverings to curb the spread of COVID-19 in municipal facilities. A judge has cleared the way for newspaper publisher Lee Enterprises to use a voting system that will ensure two longtime directors are reelected at next month’s annual meeting. Plus, IPR’s Katarina Sostaric discusses latest happenings at the Iowa statehouse.
The Iowa Legislature has passed a sweeping tax cut bill, sending it to the governor’s desk for her signature. Iowa’s attorney general is looking into why fertilizer prices are increasing. Plus, landowners are uniting to defend themselves against the use of eminent domain.
Lawyers for the state argued before the Iowa Supreme Court that the Court’s 2018 ruling establishing strong abortion rights protections was wrong. The family of a correctional officer killed at the Anamosa State Penitentiary is calling on Iowa lawmakers to pass two bills aimed at improving safety conditions for prison staff. Plus, the Des Moines Area Religious Council is paying Iowans who have experienced hunger and food insecurity to share their stories.
Governor Kim Reynolds has been chosen to deliver the official Republican response to President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech next week. The Iowa Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments Wednesday in a case that could erode the state’s strong legal protections for abortion rights. Plus, a southeast Iowa school board has approved a shift to a four-day school week, starting in August.
Republican leaders have developed rough outlines of how much of Iowans’ tax dollars they want to spend on state services in the next fiscal year. The Republican-controlled Iowa House has passed a bill that would prohibit transgender girls and women from playing sports with other women and girls. Plus, investigators in Cedar Rapids are working to determine what sparked a fire at an apartment tower that left two people with serious injuries.
Governor Kim Reynolds’s plan to provide state scholarships to parents who start sending their kids to a private school is being changed to try to gain more votes. As the number of Iowans hospitalized with COVID-19 continues to drop, experts say it remains vital that more parents get their kids vaccinated against COVID-19. Plus, as the pandemic continues to make it difficult for schools to keep teachers in the classroom, Iowa’s dual-language programs find it a particular challenge.
Congresswoman Cindy Axne is calling on the U.S. Treasury Department to approve additional rental assistance funds to help Polk County residents who have been impacted by the pandemic. The Iowa Senate Education Committee is advancing its own version of a bill that would forbid transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports. Plus, a new program is launching in Council Bluffs that will work to connect the Latino community to careers in tech.
A House panel has advanced a bill that would change Iowa’s election recount procedures and bar election officials from receiving private donations to help run elections. Republicans on an Iowa House committee have approved a wide-ranging bill to ban vaccine and mask mandates. Plus, a proposal that targets books that some parents find obscene has advanced in the Iowa Senate ahead of a legislative deadline this week.
Governor Kim Reynolds visited a Catholic school in Des Moines on Tuesday to promote her plan to create state-funded scholarships that could help pay private school tuition. An Iowa House panel has advanced a bill that would give election officials more time to mail absentee ballots to voters after passing a law last year to give them less time. Plus, Iowa Public Radio is working on an agreement to take ownership of its broadcast licenses from the state’s three public universities.
The Iowa Senate has passed a school funding plan from the House that increases state aid by 2.5% and it’s headed to Governor Kim Reynolds who is expected to sign it. A House panel has advanced a bipartisan bill to change Iowa’s process for considering commutation requests from Iowans serving life sentences without parole. Plus, a highly contagious pig disease has been found in the Caribbean and if African Swine Fever spreads to the Midwest it could have a devastating impact on pork producers.
Iowa's top court official says masks will no longer be required in Iowa courtrooms as a statewide policy beginning on Monday. A group of Latino volunteers in central Iowa spent a year gathering data and stories from their communities to offer a resource for the state. Plus, farmers are going into the growing season looking at fertilizer prices that have gone up as much as 200 percent over last year.
The Iowa House has passed a school funding proposal for next year, but House and Senate Republicans have not reached a compromise on a final plan. A bill that would prohibit Iowa schools from allowing transgender girls to participate in girls’ sports is advancing in the Iowa House. Plus, free money from the federal government turned into more of a headache than some towns could handle. Small communities in Iowa collectively turned down more than $1 million.
Iowa health officials report COVID-19 hospitalizations and test positivity rates continue to trend downwards. Lawmakers who have been working for years on legislation to protect mobile home residents say they’ve reached a compromise. Plus, a bill in the Iowa House that would have required live-streaming cameras in public school classrooms will not advance this year.
The Iowa House and Senate are advancing competing plans that would increase state funding for K-12 schools but public school advocates say neither package provides enough to keep up with inflation. House Republicans are getting ready to open an investigation into a north-central Iowa judge. Plus, IPR’s Kendall Crawford reports on mental health providers struggling to bring timely care to patients.
Iowa’s Democrats and Republicans caucused last night – without the crowds and fanfare of a presidential election year. Iowa has new laws aimed at improving mental health services to kids and adults, but delivering those services isn’t always easy. And a woman in Marshalltown discovered her home was being sold without her knowledge, because of a state law she knew nothing about.
The Iowa Republican Party chairman says a national panel he leads is unanimously backing a report that would secure First-In-The-Nation status for the Iowa Republican Party's caucuses in 2024. We check in with IPR State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric about the 2022 legislative session. Plus, a Sioux City refugee resettlement agency is hosting an event Monday night that will allow Afghan refugees to share their experiences with the community.
Governor Kim Reynolds says her public health disaster emergency proclamation will expire later this month and the state will scale back the reporting of COVID-19 data. A refugee support organization is collecting donations for new arrivals in central Iowa. Plus, how Iowa Democrats are responding to its national party signaling it may be ready to knock the Iowa caucuses out of its place at the front of the line for nominating presidents.
Governor Kim Reynolds is calling on Republican statehouse leaders to support her plan for corporate tax cuts. Under a bill advancing in the Iowa Senate, high-schoolers would have to pass a civics test to graduate and public schools would be required to list all of the books in their libraries online. Plus, vertical farming is gaining steam in some urban areas but IPR’s Katie Peikes explains that those farms contribute to climate change more than food grown outdoors.
House Republicans advanced a bill that would reduce the maximum time Iowans can receive unemployment benefits from 26 weeks to 16. Republican lawmakers in the Iowa legislature are proposing ideas to fill a shortage of teachers across the state but Democrats argue that a larger increase in state funding is what would help schools attract more educators. Plus, a Madison County music and camping festival has expanded its days in August.
A new report by the state auditor has analyzed how accurately Iowa reported COVID-19 data during the first part of the pandemic. Iowa lawmakers are preparing to work though several proposals aimed at easing the state’s teacher shortage. Plus, a bill advanced by an Iowa Senate panel would remove the time limit on child sex abuse survivors’ ability to sue their abuser.
Tuesday is the deadline for education groups hoping to launch new state-funded charter schools to apply with the Iowa Department of Education. National Democrats who set the rules for the presidential nominating calendar took aim at the Iowa caucuses over the weekend. Plus, IPR State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric runs down the differences in the House, Senate and Governor's tax plans.
Some school districts have stopped requiring masks in response to an appeals court ruling on Iowa’s ban on school mask mandates. But attorneys for the families that challenged the law say that’s the wrong response. Iowa House Republicans have released their tax cut plan that mirrors Governor Kim Reynolds’ call for phasing in a 4% flat personal income tax. Plus, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics has named Kimberly Hunter to be its interim CEO.
Iowa health officials are reporting COVID-19 hospitalizations have once again dropped as test positivity rates remain high. Iowa Senate Republicans have released a tax plan. The state is searching for solutions for the workforce shortage. IPR’s Catherine Wheeler brings us the voices of Iowans talking about what they’re looking for in their next gig.
A federal appeals court has allowed the state to enforce a law that prevents local schools from imposing mask mandates in districts where no disabled students need masks to protect them. A House subcommittee has advanced a bill along party lines that would allow FDA approved drugs for off-label use on patients who are terminally ill or on life support. Plus, IPR’s Grant Gerlock explains how utilities across the Des Moines metro area could soon begin negotiations to change how decisions are made about the region’s water supply.
State health officials have report COVID-19 hospitalizations have dropped, as test positivity rates remain high. Republicans in the Iowa Senate have advanced a bill that would remove the chief district judge from local judicial nominating commissions. Plus, refugee resettlement agencies have been tasked with helping more than 600 Afghan refugees find homes in Iowa and finding affordable housing has been a challenge for many.
Iowa U.S. Senator Joni Ernst says now is the time for the U.S. to impose sanctions on Russia, to try to prevent an invasion of Ukraine. The Sioux City school board votes on Monday on a proposal to give the district superintendent the authority to implement a temporary mask requirement in classrooms. Plus, IPR State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric gives an update on the legislative session.
Governor Kim Reynolds released the details of her tax cut plan this week. Health experts say they’re alarmed by an increasing number of fentanyl-related overdose deaths in Iowa. Plus, Sioux City school officials are considering giving their district’s superintendent the authority to institute a temporary mask mandate for schools.
Iowa health officials are reporting COVID-19 hospitalizations are nearing one thousand. A bill moving through the Iowa Senate would allow families to continue to claim medical and religious exemptions to school vaccinations during a public health emergency. Plus, the Iowa Utilities Board hosted a virtual public meeting Wednesday night on a Texas company’s proposal to build a carbon capture pipeline through 36 Iowa counties.
The head of the University of Iowa’s hospital system is leaving. Suresh Gunasekaran will leave his position at the end of February to head the University of California, San Francisco health system. A key Iowa lawmaker is proposing four bills that would increase the number of mental health beds and try to keep more psychiatrists working in the state. Two Democratic state senators have announced they’re staying away from the Iowa Capitol this week because they have COVID-19.
A couple of communities in southwest Iowa are waiting for levee certification so that they can prepare for future floods. High school students in Dubuque have a new resource to help with mental health needs. And, new inductees are announced for Iowa’s Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame.
Iowa head football coach Kirk Ferentz has disbanded an alumni advisory committee that was created after a 2020 investigation found evidence of racial bias against Black players in his program. While many researchers have studied what leads young people to leave rural areas, ISU researchers are focusing on what brings them back. Plus, IPR’s Kassidy Arena brings the story on Latinos in small town Iowa flexing their political muscle.
A winter storm is moving through Iowa on Friday and it will make travel conditions hazardous. Governor Kim Reynolds reacted to the U.S. Supreme Court blocking the COVID-19 vaccine-or-test mandate for large companies from taking effect. Plus, IPR’s Grant Gerlock tells us about a bill moving through the Iowa legislature that would require low-income Iowans applying for food assistance or Medicaid to take extra steps to prove their identity.
Iowa health officials are reporting COVID-19 hospitalizations and test positivity rates continue to surge. The Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court said during her Condition of the Judiciary speech on Wednesday that some of the changes made to cope with the pandemic have improved access to the courts overall. Plus, a panel of state representatives has advanced the first pair of bills to come out of the governor’s child care task force.
Governor Kim Reynolds set out her priorities for the year in her condition of the state speech on Tuesday evening where she called for a flat tax and for schools would to share more information about the books teachers are using. Iowa’s nursing homes and assisted living facilities continue to face dire staffing shortages. Plus, another company has announced its intention to build a carbon capture and sequestration pipeline in Iowa.
Iowa lawmakers gathered in Des Moines on Monday for the first day of the 2022 legislative session. Governor Kim Reynolds gives her annual Condition of the State address Tuesday night. Plus, COVID-19 test positivity rates and hospitalizations remain high in Iowa.
Iowa Labor Commissioner Rod Roberts says employers don’t have to follow the federal government’s vaccine-or-test mandate for businesses with 100 or more employees that’s set to take effect on Monday. It’s the first day of the 2022 Iowa legislative session. Plus, the pandemic has made finding homes for children harder for many Iowa foster care organizations.
Several Iowa Democratic candidates running for governor and U.S. Senate this year outlined their plans to address the state’s growing mental health needs at a local forum on Thursday. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club during a virtual court hearing. Plus, IPR Health reporter Natalie Krebs gives an update on the omicron variant of COVID-19 surging in Iowa.
Iowa health officials are reporting large increases in COVID-19 hospitalizations and new infections this week. U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne was in the Des Moines area on Wednesday encouraging local leaders to take advantage of federal infrastructure funding passed last year. Plus, how the federal congressional delegation from Iowa has been careful how they talk about the insurrection at the U.S Capitol since it happened a year ago.
Republican leaders in Iowa say they want to wait for the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on federal vaccine mandates before passing more laws to limit them. Nearly one year after the U.S. Capitol insurrection, one of the six Iowans charged with federal crimes has pleaded guilty. Plus, Nebraska’s plans to construct casinos along Iowa’s western border could lead to a significant loss in revenue for Iowa’s gaming industry.
State public health data indicates Iowa is beginning the new year with a large surge in coronavirus cases. Tiffany O’Donnell was officially sworn into office on Monday as the new mayor of Cedar Rapids. Plus, Iowa State University researchers have figured out a way to convert a powerful greenhouse gas into chemicals used to make plastic bags and milk cartons and keep methane out of the atmosphere.
Health experts are urging Iowans to think twice about going to the emergency room for non-emergencies as COVID-19 hospitalizations across the state remain high. More Iowa schools are lifting their mask mandates when classes restart this week. Plus, a project from Iowa State University is working on solutions for the affordable housing crisis.
Local public health officials say they’re asking the public to report positive test results from rapid at-home COVID-19 tests. An Iowa school district is adding a dual language program for next year’s kindergarteners. Plus, a California law banning the sale of pork from pigs confined in small spaces takes effect on Saturday and IPR’s Katie Peikes reports that Iowa pork producers say the law creates some challenges.
A father and son accused of taking part in the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol are expected to plead guilty to federal charges in a hearing next week. Iowa health officials are reporting COVID-19 hospitalizations have dropped for the second week in a row. Plus, trace amounts of the toxic compounds known as PFAS were detected in well water and drinking water in West Des Moines as part of statewide monitoring by the Iowa DNR.
The chair of the Iowa Board of Parole says he's working on a bill to establish a compassionate release policy for incarcerated people. A California law banning the sale of pork from pigs confined in small spaces will take effect on January 1st. But Iowa's senior U.S. Senator says a related appeal could soon reach the U.S. Supreme Court. Plus, conservation experts say fewer farmers are implementing environmentally-friendly techniques on their land due to the current farm economy.
Iowa lawmakers are working on ideas for attracting and retaining teachers from more diverse backgrounds. Downtown Sioux City is seeing growth after the completion of four major construction and renovation projects. And, Happy Birthday, Iowa! Our state joined the Union 175 years ago today.
As Iowa continues to experience a more severe flu season this year, University of Iowa researchers have developed an online game to teach kids about influenza. The family of a retired Iowa school superintendent believes he was an indirect victim of the COVID-19 pandemic. Plus, the number of hungry families across the Midwest has gone down over the past year but they’re not out of the woods yet.
Iowa health officials are reporting COVID-19 hospitalizations and test positivity rates have dropped but experts are still warning Iowans to be cautious over the holidays. A review by the Iowa attorney general's office finds that two Iowa State Patrol troopers were justified in an Iowa Falls shooting that left one man dead. Plus, a University of Iowa researcher is eager to see what NASA’s new space telescope is able to find at the edges of the universe.
A federal watchdog says the Trump administration overpaid corn farmers by about $3 billion in federal aid in 2019. The top Democrat in the Iowa House of Representatives says her number one priority for the upcoming legislative session is addressing the state’s workforce crisis. Plus, the Des Moines Water Works board has approved plans to negotiate with neighboring communities to create a regional water system.
Iowa is going into Christmas week with continued high levels of coronavirus activity and no significant gains in vaccination. An outside review of Iowa corrections facilities finds security has improved in Iowa prisons but staffing and overcrowding are still serious issues. Plus, Woodbury County law enforcement is encouraging parents to monitor students’ social media after threats of school violence.
U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller Meeks says she expects a tough bid for re-election in Iowa’s new First Congressional District. Iowa State Extension plans meetings in the new years to find ways to help cow and calf producers who took a hit from this year’s drought. And, poinsettias might not be as toxic as you think.
Three media organizations and their reporters are suing Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, alleging she has repeatedly violated the state's open records laws. The COVID-19 outbreaks at meat processing facilities affected more than just workers. They also affected the communities they live in. Plus, IPR’s Kate Payne reports on social justice advocates calling for prison reform in Iowa.
Tens of thousands of Alliant and Mid-American Energy customers are without power Thursday morning after a rare December thunderstorm blasted across Iowa. Davenport-based Lee Enterprises is being sued by the New York-based hedge fund that attempted to buy the company. Lee owns 10 newspapers in Iowa and dozens more across the country. Plus, IPR’s Natalie Krebs reports on how the COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected the meatpacking industry’s diverse workforce.
High winds and the potential for severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are expected across Iowa. The top Republican in the Iowa Senate says tax changes are his number one priority for the legislative session that starts next month. Plus, IPR Health reporter Natalie Krebs begins a three-part series on the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the meatpacking industry.
Tuesday marks one year since the first group of Iowans started getting vaccinated against COVID-19. State Republican leaders say they’ll pursue “significant tax cuts” after a state panel of financial experts predicted Iowa will continue to see revenue growth. Plus, Sioux City Council has voted to reallocate federal coronavirus relief funds to provide city employees with a $300 bonus.
A representative of the 19 state-licensed casinos in Iowa says lawmakers may debate legalizing online casino gambling, but not during the 2022 legislative session. Large farms increased their dominance over the past ten years. Plus, how shaky research studies overseas have wreaked havoc across the U.S. during the pandemic.
State health officials say they have confirmed the first case of the omicron COVID-19 variant in Iowa. Disability Rights Iowa held a town hall in Sioux City this week to hear residents’ concerns on accessibility issues in the area. Plus, Davenport-based Lee Enterprises has rejected a bid from a New York- based hedge fund to take over its newspapers.
Iowa state health officials have confirmed more than 13 thousand new COVID-19 infections in the past week. That’s as hospitalizations continue to hit record highs for this year. A federal investigation has concluded there is reasonable cause to believe the state violated the Americans with Disabilities Act at the Woodward and Glenwood Resource Centers. Plus, more counties in Iowa are pushing local leaders to adopt a pandemic relief fund for excluded workers.
State Auditor Rob Sand announced Tuesday that he is running for re-election, putting an end to speculation the he might run for governor in 2022. The top Democrat in the Iowa Senate says Republicans’ desire to get rid of the state income tax could be “catastrophic” for the state. Plus, masks are no longer required at Ankeny schools.
Masks to slow the spread of COVID-19 will continue to be required in Iowa courtrooms and some proceedings may continue to be held via teleconference under orders issued by the Iowa Supreme Court chief justice. The University of Iowa has been ordered to pay out nearly $2 million for unfairly discriminating against two Christian student organizations. Plus, the Des Moines City Council has approved funding for a program that looks to settle conflicts in the community before they lead to gun violence.
A group of Iowa lawmakers is meeting Monday to consider the potential for a statewide Brady List system. That’s a list of law enforcement officers whose credibility is in question because they lied or committed crimes. A state wildlife area in western Iowa is shifting its approach to forest conservation. Plus, 1988 and 1996 Republican Iowa caucus winner Bob Dole has died.
Iowa is getting $110.7 million from the federal government to upgrade water systems and improve water quality. The top Democrat in the Iowa House expects Republicans will propose new abortion restrictions during the 2022 Iowa Legislature session. Plus, Ottumwa High School will soon add a new program to its curriculum.
Iowa state health officials are reporting statewide COVID-19 hospitalizations and infections continue to rise. An Iowa infectious disease doctor who has been a prominent critic of the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic is again running for an Iowa House of Representatives seat. Plus, as the gift-giving season begins, one Latino nonprofit says they have fewer sponsors for its “Adopt a Family” program.
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear a case Wednesday that could lead to a reversal of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision and open the door to more abortion restrictions. For a Roe v. Wade overturn to affect Iowa, there would have to be a new state Supreme Court decision or voters would have to approve a constitutional amendment. Former TV journalist and nonprofit leader Tiffany O’Donnell will be the next mayor of Cedar Rapids. Plus, Iowa law enforcement leaders say they have cleared a backlog of thousands of untested sexual assault kits.
A federal judge has temporarily blocked a national vaccine mandate for health care workers. Iowa is one of the 10 states where the mandate can’t be enforced because of the court order. Tuesday is Election Day for the Cedar Rapids runoff mayoral race. Plus, the Iowa Utilities Board hosted the first of many public hearings regarding a proposed carbon pipeline that would run through 36 Iowa counties in Rock Rapids.
The two teenagers charged with the murder of a high school Spanish teacher in Fairfield are scheduled to be back in court on Monday. Iowans will get a chance to weigh in on a proposal to build a carbon dioxide pipeline that would run the length of the state. Dozens of public meetings begin Monday on the Heartland Greenway project. Plus, a University of Iowa study has found people with Alzheimer’s disease are more likely to die from COVID-19.
As Iowa’s COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have been increasing going into Thanksgiving, Governor Kim Reynolds is highlighting that Iowa is in a better position than last year. The two teenagers charged with killing a high school Spanish teacher in Fairfield were back in court asking to be released ahead of trial. Plus, a conversation with IPR’s Kate Payne about the runoff mayor’s race in Cedar Rapids.
A Polk County judge has ruled the state can no longer block Medicaid coverage for transgender Iowans seeking medically necessary gender-affirming surgeries. An Iowa-based newspaper chain is facing a buyout bid from a hedge fund that has a history of cutting jobs at other newspapers it has acquired. Plus, health experts in the state are warning Iowans that this year’s flu season could be severe.
Iowa’s COVID-19 hospitalizations and community transmission rates remain high heading into the Thanksgiving weekend. The Midwest has seen a rise in the number of agricultural guest workers this year helping out on farms, in meatpacking plants and with landscaping companies. Plus, a look at how water quality issues in the Midwest are exacerbated by a changing climate.
State attorneys are asking a panel of federal judges to overturn a court ruling from September that blocked enforcement of Iowa’s ban on school mask mandates. Shipping containers are in high demand and in short supply and supply chain shortages are posing a unique problem for Iowa’s dairy industry. Plus, IPR’s Katie Peikes reports on how many universities are turning to agribusinesses to help fund new facilities.
John Deere workers have ended a five-week long strike and are back on the job after approving a new contract with the company. A new review commissioned after the 2020 derecho says local and state emergency managers need more ways to share information and stay in contact during widespread and long-term power outages. Plus, in September, a federal judge ruled that Iowa schools must be allowed to require masks. Now state attorneys are appealing that decision, arguing the judge went too far.
A jury has convicted Steven Vogel, a white man, of first degree murder and abuse of a corpse, in the killing of Michael Williams. The Des Moines area’s public transportation system has begun a new pilot program serving parts of Ankeny. Plus, employers in the state are trying to figure out if they’ll have to fire unvaccinated workers to comply with federal mandates, or if they should waive the requirements under a new Iowa law.
Iowa’s only Democrat in Congress is celebrating the bipartisan infrastructure plan signed Monday by President Joe Biden. A new report has found Iowa has scored below the national average in several categories relating to lung cancer rates. Plus, the Mason City School Board Monday night approved beginning the process of retiring “Mohawks” as the district’s mascot and nickname.
Governor Kim Reynolds is offering a narrow interpretation of the bill she signed into law last month about COVID-19 vaccination requirements for private sector workers. The Iowa Department of Corrections is continuing to struggle with recruiting and retaining its workers. Plus, a refugee resettlement agency has won the bid to create the statewide plan for English Language Learners through the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement.
Absentee voting begins Friday in the runoff election for Cedar Rapids’ mayor’s race. Iowa’s governor is taking the rare step of rejecting two nominees for an open judgeship, saying a judge who chaired the nominating commission tainted the process by favoring one candidate and opposing others. Plus, Sioux City residents had the opportunity to share their feedback to the city’s police department.
State public health officials say Iowa’s overall vaccination rate keeps inching up but certain parts of the state are lagging behind. Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks will move from her home in Ottumwa to run in Iowa’s newly redrawn 1st Congressional District. Plus, the Iowa Department of Public Health has recently started its search for a new state medical director.
The Iowa-Nebraska NAACP is joining the fight against a plan to use pandemic relief funds to build a new juvenile detention center in Scott County. A group of U.S. Senators, including Iowa’s Chuck Grassley, has reached a deal they hope will make cattle markets more fair to independent producers. Plus, after major flooding in 2019, a small town in western Iowa is steadily making progress towards building a protective flood barrier.
Now that Congress has passed a $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan, Third District Representative Cindy Axne says Democrats have the momentum to pass an even larger package of social programs. National Latino leaders are expressing concern about changes in Iowa’s voting laws. Plus, a shelter in Des Moines held a ribbon-cutting on Monday for new apartments that’ll provide long-term supportive housing to Iowans experiencing homelessness.
Fairfield residents held a vigil over the weekend for a beloved Spanish teacher who police believe was killed by two students. Iowa health care providers have started giving Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to kids age 5 to 11. Plus, there are concerning levels of contamination in public water systems across Iowa, according to an environmental group that sets its own health standards.
The state Board of Regents voted unanimously on Thursday to give the board President the authority to make it easier for Regents institutions to implement COVID-19 vaccine mandates. For the fifth year in a row, enrollment numbers at Iowa’s public universities are shrinking. Plus, an Iowa refugee resettlement agency is planning a series of events to raise awareness about the large number of Afghan refugees it’s expecting to work with in the coming weeks.
Deere and Company says the second tentative agreement just rejected by union workers is its "best and final offer." IPR Health reporter Natalie Krebs details what Iowa parents need to do to get their kids, ages 5 to 11, vaccinated against COVID-19 since the CDC signed off on the shots. Plus, we remember former Iowa Congressman Neal Smith who died on Tuesday at 101.
The Cedar Rapids mayor’s race is headed to a runoff, voters in Linn County have passed a referendum allowing gambling in the community and a political newcomer has defeated an incumbent for the Des Moines City Council. Plus, most workers at Deere & Co. have rejected a contract offer that would have given them 10 percent raises. Tuesday’s union vote means workers will remain on strike in the hopes of securing a better deal.
Tuesday is Election Day in Iowa. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for city and school board races across the state. Former Vice President Mike Pence was back in Iowa on Monday, apparently laying the groundwork for another potential run for office where he defended his actions on January 6. Plus, officials in Clinton are urging more property owners to apply for a free program that removes lead from homes.
Union workers at farm-equipment maker Deere & Co. would get wage increases of 10 percent if they ratify a tentative contract reached over the weekend. The mayor of Des Moines is at the global climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland this week where he’ll urge heads-of-state to make more ambitious commitments to address climate change. Plus, Linn County voters will get another chance in Tuesday's election to weigh in on whether there should be gambling in the community.
The Iowa Legislature voted almost unanimously to approve new boundaries for congressional and legislative districts. The Iowa House and Senate also passed a bill with bipartisan support that attempts to make it easier for employees to get exemptions from workplace COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Plus, the traditional Mexican holiday Day of the Dead is a time to honor lost loved ones and many have been lost due to COVID-19. IPR’s Kassidy Arena reports about one Iowa man making sure their memories live on.
The Iowa Legislature reconvenes on Thursday in a special session to vote on new maps that change the boundaries for Iowa congressional and legislative districts. University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics experts say young Iowa children could start getting vaccinated against COVID-19 as early as next Thursday. Plus, a look at the competitive Cedar Rapids race for mayor.
County election officials are urging Iowa voters to return their absentee ballots quickly because it’s too late to put them in the mail in some parts of the state. While voting is underway across Iowa to elect candidates to non-partisan offices like city council and school board, IPR’s Grant Gerlock explains some of the most partisan issues dividing the country are playing into campaigns. Plus, Iowans now have a new option for reproductive health.
Even as the Iowa Department of Natural Resources begins testing for “forever chemicals” in more than 50 public water systems across the state, the agency currently has no plans to test private wells. An Iowa organization will bring culturally-specific training for the first time to Latino service providers in the state. Plus, Iowans should book their year-end holiday travel plans as soon as possible.
Lawmakers return to the Iowa Capitol this week to consider new legislative and congressional district maps – and maybe action against workplace COVID vaccine mandates. A new report says the federal SNAP program is a bigger help to rural parts of the country than it is to people in cities. And an Iowan is getting ready to rocket into space early Halloween morning.
Iowa’s nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency released its second proposal on Thursday for new political boundaries. A factory that makes blades for wind turbines in Newton will stop production at the end of the year and economists say it’s a setback for the community but not a sign that the wind industry is on the decline. Plus, An Iowa organization that works to end domestic violence is hosting a Día de los Muertos event this weekend to honor the lives of victims who died as a result of abuse.
The second set of maps proposing new boundaries for Iowa's four congressional districts and all state legislative districts will be released Thursday morning. Governor Kim Reynolds announced on Wednesday that she plans to increase work search requirements for Iowans receiving unemployment benefits. Plus, a conversation about the city council races on the ballot in Des Moines.
Authorities are investigating threatening messages directed at Iowa Democratic Party chairman Ross Wilburn after The Des Moines Register published an editorial from Wilburn that criticized former President Trump. Law enforcement officers executed a federal search warrant in New Sharon on Tuesday that is linked to the Xavior Harrelson case. Plus, the state’s top health official is encouraging all Iowans to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and the flu.
Representatives of the United Auto Workers and John Deere say contract talks have resumed amidst their factory workers striking in Iowa and other states. Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development will join U-S Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in Iowa this week. Plus, Wind blade turbine manufacturer TPI Composites in Newton will lay off more than 700 workers by the end of the year.
The Iowa Medical Examiner's Office has confirmed that remains found in September are those of a boy who disappeared in May. The racial disparities in Iowa’s prisons continue to rank among the worst in the country, according to the latest analysis by the advocacy group The Sentencing Project. Plus, a prosecutor has ruled that a police officer who shot and paralyzed a man in Waterloo in April acted legally because the target appeared to be chasing a deputy with a shotgun.
Politicians are reacting to the thousands of John Deere factory workers who went on strike Thursday. Iowa’s Latino Hall of Fame induction ceremony this weekend will be completely virtual for the first time. Plus, at one small southwest Iowa school district, students take care of chickens, pigs, sheep and goats. IPR’s Katie Peikes reports on what having a small farm at school teaches kids.
Thousands of John Deere and Company workers, including in Iowa, are officially on strike for the first time in 35 years. The state Attorney General’s office has announced it is partnering with the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to launch a new opioid treatment program. Plus, the latest Iowa Climate Statement says Iowa needs targeted investments to strengthen and expand its electrical grid, in order to prepare for extreme weather events brought on by climate change.
Early voting for city and school board elections begins in Iowa on Wednesday. Republican Jon Dunwell won a special election Tuesday night for the Iowa House of Representatives district that covers Newton and other parts of Jasper County. Plus, a plan to build a carbon dioxide pipeline through 30 Iowa counties is raising concerns among farmers and environmentalists.
The Iowa Department of Education hasn’t rescheduled an equity conference for teachers after saying in the spring that it would be postponed to the fall. The city of Cedar Rapids is allocating $10 million in federal pandemic relief funds to help pay for its Flood Control System. Plus, the Iowa Democratic Party yesterday (Monday) asked the Office of Congressional Ethics to investigate U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks' 2020 financial disclosure.
Former President Donald Trump endorsed U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley over the weekend at a campaign-style rally at the state fairgrounds. The US Department of Agriculture is putting another $100 million into a program designed to improve supply chains for meat and poultry processing. Plus, IPR’s Natalie Krebs visited a hospital in Des Moines as the number of Iowans who are hospitalized with COVID-19 remains high across the state.
Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak at a rally on the State Fairgrounds in Des Moines Saturday night. Iowa Democratic leaders say Republican leaders should promise they won’t draw their own political boundaries. Plus, tractor accidents are the leading cause of death and serious injuries on farms.
Iowa’s Legislative Services Agency announced Wednesday it will finish drawing a second set of redistricting maps by October 21. State health officials have announced they are making changes to the state’s COVID-19 testing program due to the increasing demand for testing across the state. Plus, a deal has been made for the purchase of Des Moines-based Meredith Corporation.
Iowa Senate Republicans have voted to reject the state’s first proposed redistricting plan. Immigrants in central Iowa have a new option to help them prepare for the U.S. citizenship test. Plus, students of a University of Northern Iowa professor who was sanctioned for mandating masks in his classroom are defending their teacher.
The vaccination rate for incarcerated Iowans is far higher than the Iowa Department of Corrections employees who oversee them. A biology professor who was disciplined for requiring masks in his classroom says his students were okay with his policy. And state lawmakers are headed back to the Iowa Statehouse for a special session on redistricting.
Iowa lawmakers will be in Des Moines tomorrow to vote on new legislative and congressional district maps. The price of farmland in Iowa and much of the Midwest skyrocketed last year. And supply chain experts recommend you start holiday shopping a little earlier than usual this year.
State investigators will try to determine if human remains found Thursday a few miles outside Montezuma are those of Xavior Harrelson. Iowa’s Congressional delegation voted on party lines on a funding bill aimed at avoiding a shutdown of the federal government. Plus, Polk County health officials are urging more residents to get vaccinated as the county continues to see a surge of new COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations.
Early voting for Iowa’s city and school elections begins in about two weeks, and some deadlines and procedures for voting by mail are different this year because of new voting laws. For the third week in a row, Iowa health officials are reporting the state’s new coronavirus infections have topped 10 thousand over the past week. Plus, soccer attracts kids of all backgrounds in Iowa, but IPR’s Kassidy Arena reports the sport isn’t equally accessible to all of them.
Iowa’s rate of new coronavirus infections remains on the rise as the infection rate nationwide is dropping. A leaked proposal for the federal biofuels mandate is getting criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Plus, an Iowa State University professor is joining the ranks of 25 people who're getting a prestigious MacArthur Fellowship this year.
Iowa school districts can still require students and teachers to wear masks after a federal court order was extended on Monday. New research shows the number of days Iowans are dealing with wildfire smoke has increased as more fires have raged across the western U.S. Plus, an Illinois man unexpectedly won the Quad Cities Marathon this weekend.
Health officials are urging Iowans to get their annual flu shot amid an increasing number of COVID-19 hospitalizations. House Speaker Pat Grassley suggests Plan 1 outlining new congressional and legislative district borders will be the sole focus of the October 5 special legislative session. Plus, we hear some of the sounds of the 2021 Iowa Latino Heritage Festival that returned to Des Moines this year after being cancelled last year because of the pandemic.
U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley has announced he plans to run for an 8th term in 2022. The Iowa chapter of the Sierra Club has filed a lawsuit against the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Plus, Iowans had the chance to weigh in on new redistricted maps of Iowa congressional and legislative districts during virtual public hearings this week. IPR State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric has a recap.
Iowa health officials have announced State Medical Director Caitlin Pedati will be stepping down in late October. As the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations reported statewide reaches record highs for this year, Iowa’s largest hospital says it’s facing staffing shortages. Plus, the public hearing and comment period for new proposed political boundaries for Iowa has ended.
Two more suburban Des Moines school districts will require masks starting on Thursday. Iowans have expressed support at two public hearings for new proposed political boundaries drawn by the Legislative Services Agency. Plus, the state is testing out a new program to help racial and ethnic minorities in Iowa buy homes.
Five people spoke Monday night at the first virtual public hearing about new proposed political boundaries for Iowa. The lawyer representing Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds in a federal lawsuit over mandatory mask use in schools has asked the judge to allow a temporary order that has allowed schools to implement mask mandates to expire next week. Plus, a ransomware attack has forced a cooperative of Iowa corn and soy farmers to take their computer systems offline.
The first of three public hearings about new proposed boundaries for Iowa’s legislative and congressional districts is scheduled for Monday evening. IPR State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric breaks down what it means. Hospitals across the country are seeing a spike in unvaccinated pregnant women with COVID-19 including in Iowa. Plus, two Democrats have announced they’re running to unseat Republican Secretary of State Paul Pate in 2022.
Iowa’s nonpartisan legislative services agency has released new proposed boundaries for the state’s legislative and congressional districts. Three more Iowa school districts will begin to require masks in response to this week’s ruling by a federal judge temporarily blocking enforcement of the state’s school mandate ban. Plus, community colleges in Iowa are preparing for a more diverse student body.
The number of new COVID-19 infections remains on the rise in Iowa as state health officials are reporting more than 11 thousand new cases have been confirmed in the past week. First Lady Jill Biden was in Des Moines Wednesday calling for Congress to approve infrastructure spending that goes beyond roads and bridges. Plus, the second inmate convicted of killing two staff members at the Anamosa State Penitentiary will spend the rest of his life in prison.
Governor Kim Reynolds scheduled a special legislative session starting October 5 for lawmakers to consider new boundaries for legislative and congressional districts. Students and staff in the Iowa City school district are once again required to wear masks in schools. Some of the state’s largest districts have taken the same step. Plus, Republican Mike Bousselot won a special election for a state House of Representatives seat that covers part of Ankeny and a northern section of Polk County.
A federal judge has blocked enforcement of Iowa’s ban on school mask mandates, for the time being. The ruling puts the decision of whether to require masks back in the hands of local school districts. There’s a special election today for an Iowa state house seat in Ankeny and rural Polk City. Plus, as the spread of COVID-19 remains at a high level in Iowa, IPR's Natalie Krebs explains some health care facilities are concerned about issuing vaccine mandates due to staffing shortages.
Enrollment at Iowa's three state universities are down this year. IPR's Grant Gerlock reports on the Iowa Supreme Court returning to oral arguments this week by revisiting a case where a jury found the Iowa Department of Corrections discriminated against a transgender employee. Plus, The Iowa Department of Corrections has paused a new policy requiring legal mail sent to inmates to first be photocopied.
A Polk County judge heard arguments Thursday on whether to block Iowa’s ban on school mask mandates. Republican Governor Kim Reynolds is criticizing Democratic President Joe Biden’s announcement of new COVID-19 vaccine requirements. Plus, there will be heightened security at the annual Cy-Hawk game in Ames this weekend.
As the rate of new COVID-19 infections remains high in Iowa, the state’s top health official says they are working on more rapid testing options. Gov. Kim Reynolds has announced that $100 million of the nearly $1.5 billion in federal coronavirus relief funds allocated to the state will go to build new homes. Plus, IPR’s Clay Masters reports on how misinformation about the outcome of the 2020 presidential election is already hanging over next year’s midterm in Iowa.
The Iowa Board of Regents approved a plan on Tuesday for the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to build a new hospital in North Liberty. A funeral has been set for the Iowa native who was among the 13 soldiers killed following a suicide bombing in Kabul. Plus, former President Donald Trump is planning an October rally in Iowa.
A Polk County judge will hear arguments later this week on whether to suspend a state law banning school mask mandates while a lawsuit works through the courts. Under a new law, Iowa’s county election officials no longer get to choose where to set up additional early voting sites outside of their offices. Plus, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is making progress on testing every public water supply system in the state for a metal that can contaminate drinking water.
Many Labor Day celebrations have been cancelled for the second year in a row because of the coronavirus pandemic and the rise of the delta variant. Five Iowans have filed ethics complaints against Republican state senators who voted to ban mask mandates in schools. Plus, Tyson and Perdue Farms agreed to pay a total of $35.75 million to broiler chicken farmers to settle a class action lawsuit.
State officials say they’ll start updating Iowa’s coronavirus data website three times a week, instead of once a week. One of the Iowans arrested for alleged involvement in the January 6th riot at the U.S. Capitol is going back to jail after violating the terms of his release. Plus, The USDA and conservationists say planting cover crops play a big role in preserving the soil. Harvest Public Media’s Seth Bodine reports on how some farmers in drier regions think differently.
More than 40% of confirmed coronavirus cases in Iowa were among children and people in their 20s. The Linn County Board of Health has sent a letter to its school districts strongly urging them to consider face coverings for students. Plus, sixty Iowa legislators are asking the Iowa Supreme Court to overturn a 2018 ruling that declared abortion a fundamental right under the Iowa Constitution.
The State Health Facilities Council has reversed its vote of six months ago and approved a plan for the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to build a $230 million hospital in North Liberty. An organization founded in Iowa City has been working to help the people in Haiti still recovering from a major earthquake. Plus, the Farm Progress Show opened in-person this on Tuesday in Decatur, Illinois, despite the rise in COVID-19 infections.
The U.S. Department of Education has started investigating Iowa and four other states, citing concerns that banning mask mandates in schools may violate the civil rights of students with disabilities. Cristhian Bahena Rivera has been sentenced to life in prison for the 2018 murder of University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts. Plus, parts of northeast Iowa are dealing with flooding from rivers that swelled because of last week’s heavy rains.
Housing experts fear Iowa may see a spike in homelessness now that there is no more federal eviction moratorium. Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson kicked off her bid for a second term in the U-S House with a fundraising rally over the weekend. Plus, a full year after last August’s derecho, service providers say some Iowans are still living in unlivable conditions. IPR’s Kate Payne explains that residents say the struggle to rebuild their homes has been a nightmare.
A top health official for the Biden administration visited Polk County on Thursday to urge more people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Inmate Thomas Woodard will spend the rest of his life in prison for the murders of two employees at the Anamosa State Penitentiary. Plus, a check-in with IPR Health reporter Natalie Krebs about COVID-19 testing in Iowa.
Public health officials in Iowa’s largest county are sounding alarms that too few people are wearing masks and getting vaccinated as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations climb in the state to levels not seen since January. A Council Bluffs parents is challenging a state law that bans mask mandates in schools. Plus, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst is defending her stance on accepting some Afghan refugees to Iowa.
The number of COVID-19 cases in the Cedar Rapids area is increasing significantly. Eight Linn County residents have died of COVID complications this month, compared to one in July. An Iowa City law professor and state representative becomes the first Democrat to jump into the 2022 2nd Congressional District race. And, a judge has dismissed Iowa pork producers’ challenge of a new California animal confinement law.
Iowa’s temporary redistricting advisory committee is planning to hold once-a-decade public hearings on proposed political boundaries virtually for the first time instead of in-person. Tuesday is the last day that the Cedar Rapids Gazette will be printed locally. Plus, attendance at this year’s Iowa State Fair was down about six percent from the total in 2019 when it was held last.
A lot of students, from kindergarten to college, are heading back to school in Iowa this week. The return to campuses comes as public K-12 schools and colleges are unable to implement mask and vaccine mandates while the delta variant of the coronavirus continues to sweep the state. Plus, IPR’s Kassidy Arena reports on Sioux City schools. There are new school attendance boundaries there and a new Iowa law the teachers have to consider.
Iowa City's mayor issued an emergency order requiring masks in all classrooms and other gathering spots in the city. This order defies state law and the Board of Regents. Republican Governor Kim Reynolds is criticizing Democratic President Joe Biden for pressuring states like Iowa to reverse policies banning school mask mandates. Plus, a year ago this month, a derecho devastated communities across Iowa. IPR’s Kate Payne explains that the hardest hit were refugee families in Cedar Rapids.
President Biden has ordered the U.S. Education Secretary to explore whether a civil rights law gives the federal government authority to overturn state bans on mask mandates, like the one in Iowa, in schools. As COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to rise again in Iowa, Iowa’s nurses face an increased risk for burnout. Plus, a conversation with IPR State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric about new census data and the redistricting process in Iowa.
Iowans can expect to see the first set of new legislative and congressional district maps in mid-September. Officials at the largest school district in Iowa say they plan to create a culture that follows CDC guidelines on wearing masks in classrooms but state law stops them from being required. Plus, some Iowa leaders say the state is open to accepting certain Afghan refugees.
Iowa’s largest school district holds an online town hall meeting tonight to answer questions about returning to school amid another wave of coronavirus infections. And, some Afghans living in Iowa say they’re worried about friends and family members still living in Afghanistan as the Taliban seizes control.
As Iowa’s kids prepare to head back to school, the state is experiencing a fourth wave of new coronavirus infections and hospitalizations. The 2020 Census results for Iowa made history as the state has become more racially and ethnically diverse than ever. Plus, last year’s powerful derecho devastated generations-old forests in a matter of minutes, downing millions of trees. IPR’s Kate Payne reports that only a small fraction of the trees has been replanted.
Iowa’s population has grown in pockets around its largest cities over the past decade while 68 counties in rural areas lost population. Thousands of baseball fans flocked to Dyersville on Thursday for the first Major League Baseball game played in Iowa at the “Field of Dreams” site. Plus, a look into broadband internet expansion in the state with IPR’s Katarina Sostaric.
Demonstrators gathered at the Iowa Capitol on Wednesday to urge Gov. Kim Reynolds to rescind the state’s ban on mask mandates. Advocates took to the streets of Iowa City urging officials in Johnson County to give pandemic relief funds to undocumented immigrants and low-wage workers. Plus, IPR’s Grant Gerlock talks about the return of the state fair and concerns surrounding COVID-19.
A year to the day after last August’s powerful derecho, city officials in Cedar Rapids say the hard-hit community is “coming back strong”. All eight hospitals in the Des Moines area are now requiring employees to get vaccinated against the coronavirus. Plus, climate change has been shown to more seriously impact communities of color. IPR’s Kassidy Arena reports that some of Iowa’s Latino leaders are making sure the state’s communities are doing what they can to protect their environment.
It’s been exactly one year since a powerful derecho raked across Iowa. IPR’s Kate Payne looks back one year after. The Waukee school board Monday night approved a revised set of standards for teaching racial and gender equity over the objection of two board members.
The Iowa State Fair returns this week after it was cancelled last year because of the coronavirus pandemic. But local health officials say they’re concerned crowded exhibit halls could help spread the highly-contagious Delta variant. Plus, a federal report on the "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico finds it's much larger than initially forecast earlier this year.
Some parents who are upset about a state law barring schools from requiring masks took their concerns to the State Board of Education on Thursday. Iowa-based UnityPoint Health announced that all employees will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by November 1. Plus, Iowa Finance Authority Director Debi Durham says there’s not a need for all of the $195 million in rental assistance that came from the federal government.
Iowa reported an uptick in Iowans hospitalized for COVID-19 since last week. Iowa housing advocates say a new eviction moratorium from the CDC provides a temporary reprieve for many people with unpaid rent. Plus, it’s been one year since Governor Kim Reynolds signed an executive order restoring voting rights to an estimated 40-thousand Iowans with felony convictions.
Des Moines Public Schools is creating an online option for young students most at risk of a COVID-19 infection. An annual central Iowa music festival that attracts thousands of concertgoers begins on Friday. Plus, Tyson Foods announced Tuesday that it will require all employees to be vaccinated for COVID-19 by November 1.
A total of 75 of the state’s 99 counties now have a substantial or high level of spread of COVID-19. The man convicted of killing Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts will not get a new trial. Plus, advocates are raising concerns about restrictions put in place in Iowa prisons, after two staffers were killed on the job, allegedly by two inmates. IPR’s Kate Payne explains that some loved ones are worried the conditions may lead to more violence.
Air quality alerts were posted on Sunday for numerous areas of the U.S. including in Iowa because of wildfires. IPR’s Katie Peikes explains that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is helping beef up research at 19 Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Plus, an Iowa casino has re-imposed a mask mandate for its guests to slow the spread of COVID-19.
COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to increase in Iowa. Gov. Reynolds is joining other Republican governors in calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn previous rulings on abortion. And Republican state Rep. John Landon of Ankeny has died at the age of 71.
Tuition’s going up this fall at Iowa’s public universities. Gov. Reynolds says Iowa state troopers deployed along the U.S.-Mexico border are back in Iowa. She says it was the “right thing to do.” And the very longtime mayor of Manchester, Iowa, says this will be his last term.
Gov. Kim Reynolds is rejecting new face mask recommendations from the CDC – even though nearly half of Iowa’s counties have substantial or high transmission of COVID-19. The man convicted of killing Mollie Tibbetts in 2018 was back in court yesterday, asking for a new trial. And lawmakers in Washington hold a hearing today on a lack of competition in the cattle market.
Many Iowa school districts are spending at least part of the summer revising policies around diversity and inclusion to comply with a new state law. House Democrats want Gov. Kim Reynolds to fill vacancies on the state board of health. And, Des Moines is joining a national effort to track the spread of COVID-19 by testing wastewater.
Wednesday is the deadline to apply for grants to support broadband expansion in Iowa. Community members in Montezuma say they won’t give up looking for Xavior Harrelson, two months after the 11-year-old disappeared. And roughly 70 percent of Iowa is still in some form of drought, with no significant rain in the forecast.
Iowa could get up to $170 million from a nationwide opioid lawsuit settlement. Former 1st District Democratic U.S. Rep. Abby Finkenauer will try to unseat longtime Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley. And thousands of cyclists are headed to LeMars for the start of RAGBRAI. The annual bike ride across Iowa gets underway Sunday.
Seventeen Iowa Republican lawmakers want a health care company to explain why it’s requiring workers at seven Iowa hospitals to get a COVID-19 vaccine. In Washington, U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks delivered remarks urging Iowans to get vaccinated. And an organization that works against human trafficking says cases in the U.S. increased during the pandemic.
The University of Iowa’s new president says she believes academic freedom is critical to the institution’s success. Many Iowa Latinos’ future status is in limbo after a judge in Texas last week ruled the DACA program unconstitutional. And Sen. Chuck Grassley is among lawmakers calling on the Biden administration to create a national strategy to address the country’s overdose crisis.
At least three people were arrested at last night’s Des Moines City Council meeting, after the council voted not to take public comment on requests to separate police funding from the rest of the council agenda. And, the EPA is tearing down buildings at a long-vacant Superfund site near downtown Des Moines. A development company hopes to build a professional soccer stadium on the site.
Thirty-thousand Iowans say they fear evictions when a federal moratorium expires at the end of the month. Former Vice President Mike Pence in Des Moines late last week said Republicans have a “winning message.” And a Cedar Rapids organization that helps homeless people will be on the receiving end of a big volunteer effort this week.
Some high-profile Republicans who might run for president in 2024 are in Des Moines today to speak to Christian conservatives. Defense attorneys for the man convicted of killing an Iowa college student say her death might actually be linked to sex trafficking and other abductions in eastern Iowa. And, the drought has eased enough for the Des Moines water works to lift water use restrictions.
The National Weather Service will send survey teams to at least four counties today, after several dozen tornadoes were reported across the state Wednesday afternoon and evening. A judge has delayed today’s scheduled sentencing of the man accused of killing Mollie Tibbetts in 2018. And, it’s the first day on the job for the University of Iowa’s new president.
A judge has freed an Iowa man who participated in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Incarcerated Iowans can have visitors for the first time in more than a year. And J.D. Scholten, who came within 3 points of defeating then-Rep. Steve King in 2018, says he won’t run for office in 2022.
The man convicted of killing an Iowa college student three years ago is asking for a new trial. Help is available for thousands of Iowans facing eviction when a moratorium ends at the end of the month. And, Gov. Reynolds says Iowa will pay the cost of keeping more than two dozen state troopers along the U.S.-Mexico border this month.
A survey of Iowa’s largest businesses suggests there continues to be a lot of optimism about the state’s economy. A new effort getting underway this week is aimed at supporting small businesses as they recover from the pandemic. And an environmental group is calling for more rural wells in the Midwest to be rested for nitrate levels.
Many Iowa families with kids will start getting a temporary payment from the federal government next week. Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks says voters can trust Iowa’s elections, even though she recently claimed she was “cheated” during her 2020 victory. And, people who work at one of several MercyOne medical centers in Iowa will be required to get a COVID-19 vaccination.
Amazon is building a warehouse that will bring 1,000 jobs to Davenport once it opens. Iowa’s DNR is adding protections to a stream in northeast Iowa where it recently approved plans for a large cattle operation nearby. And, an Iowa team of refugees and immigrants under age 13 is headed to Minnesota for an international soccer tournament this weekend.
The state has told Adventureland Park not to restart a water ride where an accident killed an 11-year-old boy and injured several others on Saturday. A new study suggests lottery-based incentives don’t do much to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates. And, the organization that supplies blood to dozens of hospitals in Iowa and nearby states says a staffing shortage is affecting blood supplies.
High speed internet providers can now apply for a new round of state funding to expand service to underserved areas of Iowa. Iowans were advised not to swim in eight lakes this past holiday weekend, because of elevated E. coli levels and toxic algae blooms. And, the town or Lytton says it wants to stage the world’s largest goat yoga class when thousands of RAGBRAI cyclists past through town later this month.
COVID-19 daily hospitalizations in Iowa have remained below 100 for the past two months, but they’ve been increasing lately. Cattle producers are hoping a new processing plant planned for southwest Iowa in a couple of years could mean better prices for them. And one of the four people injured on a ride at Adventureland Park over the weekend has died.
One University of Iowa basketball player is already cashing in on new name, image, and likeness rules, FEMA is looking at how officials handled an emergency preparedness drill at a nuclear plant near the Quad Cities, and despite last week’s rain, most of Iowa is still either abnormally dry or in drought.
Today marks the start of a new fiscal year and a few changes to Iowa law: Iowans no longer need a permit to buy or carry a handgun, and health care providers in the state are no longer required to receive the same reimbursement to telemedicine visits as they would for in-person visits.
There are still disparities in access to full-time, in-person learning for students of color in Iowa. That’s according to research recently released from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We hear more about the findings from IPR’s Kassidy Arena. The first Black female mayor elected in the state of Iowa has died. Plus, massive protests against police brutality got most of the headlines last spring. IPR’s Katarina Sostaric reports on how organizers in Iowa were also starting to come together to help people in need and are continuing their efforts.
The Des Moines City Council passed a resolution Monday night praising the city manager and police chief’s work to reduce racial bias in policing and city services. IPR’s Grant Gerlock explains the vote of confidence came as social justice demonstrators at the meeting criticized the city’s work on racial inequality. Iowa State University will be a part of a test site of research and development to boost rural broadband connectivity in central Iowa. IPR’s Katie Peikes tells us that the university hopes to bridge the rural-urban divide on internet access. Plus, Republicans eyeing a presidential run in 2024 are already descending on Iowa.
As demand for the COVID-19 vaccine continues to decline in Iowa, just 45 percent of the state’s total population has been fully vaccinated for the virus. IPR Health reporter Natalie Krebs tells us that one expert says this means the state is unlikely to reach President Biden’s July 4 goal of 70%. Increasingly, states in the Midwest are allowing their COVID-19 emergency declarations to expire. Harvest Public Media’s Dana Cronin explains that means additional assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, has gone away. Plus, the Iowa Supreme Court has ruled that employers cannot subject all warehouse employees to random drug testing by designating them as having “safety sensitive” jobs.
The Iowa Board of Regents held its first meeting on Thursday regarding proposed tuition hikes for all three state universities. IPR’s Kate Payne has the details about the meeting. Former ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley addressed fellow Republicans in Des Moines Thursday night. IPR’s Grant Gerlock reports on the message she brought Iowa Republicans. Plus, IPR Agriculture reporter Katie Peikes reports on how the ethanol industry is working to be a bigger player in helping slow climate change.
Governor Kim Reynolds announced Wednesday; the state is putting a total of $30 million dollars in federal relief money into three new education initiatives. IPR State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric has the details. Allegations of racial discrimination in the University of Iowa football program are a factor for some recruits considering joining the team. Former players have brought a federal civil rights suit against Hawkeye coaches and administrators, claiming a culture of harassment and a pattern of mistreatment against Black players. Plus, the housing market is experiencing a boom right now and some entrepreneurs are looking at it as an opportunity to grow their own businesses.
A district court judge has ruled Iowa’s law requiring a 24-hour abortion waiting period is unconstitutional and can’t be enforced. IPR State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric explains that Republican lawmakers passed it last June, even though the Iowa Supreme Court had previously determined a 72-hour waiting period is unconstitutional. University of Iowa Football Coach Kirk Ferentz says the shift towards compensating student athletes for playing is a “positive” development. IPR’s Kate Payne has reaction from the Hawkeye head coach to the U.S. Supreme Court overturning a NCAA rule limiting education-related compensation for college players. Plus, the Department of Corrections is staffing up.
The Board of Regents will consider a proposal for tuition increases at the three state universities in a meeting later this week. State lawmakers denied the board’s request for an increase in funding in 2021. The number of travelers at Iowa airports is rebounding from the impact of the pandemic, but IPR’s Grant Gerlock tells us it is not yet back to normal. Plus, demand for the COVID-19 vaccine in Iowa has dropped sharply and the state hasn’t yet reached the level of herd immunity. IPR Health reporter Natalie Krebs has an update on the state’s vaccination campaign.
An annual report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation has ranked Iowa ninth overall for child well-being. IPR Health reporter Natalie Krebs explains that The Kids Count report ranks states on economic well-being, education, health as well as family and community. Entrepreneurs and artists lined the streets of downtown Des Moines Saturday to celebrate Juneteenth as well as Pride Month. IPR’s Kassidy Arena tells us they were taking part in the very first 515 Manifestival. Plus, the CEO of Iowa's largest water utility says Friday’s Iowa Supreme Court's dismissal of a lawsuit that was seeking mandatory regulation of farm fertilizer in the Raccoon River watershed is a setback.
Governor Kim Reynolds signed a law that raises penalties for protest-related offenses and expands some police protections. IPR’s Katarina Sostaric tells us that Black Democratic leaders in Iowa say the governor’s signing of a policing bill on Thursday is a step backward for the state. Organizers for a first-of-its-kind Juneteenth event in Des Moines say this year’s celebration holds special meaning. Plus, many people learn about farming by growing up on a farm or in school. Some people learn by playing and watching video games. Harvest Public Media’s Jonathan Ahl reports on the growing world of the game Farming Simulator.
Governor Kim Reynolds signed a wide-ranging tax bill into law on Wednesday. IPR State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric explains that it allows more income tax cuts to kick in, phases out backfill payments to local governments, and shifts mental health funding from local property taxes to the state. IPR’s Kate Payne tells us about an Iowa advocacy group that is providing support to teachers who feel targeted by a new state law that limits certain teachings and trainings dealing with racism and sexism. Plus, Iowa is ending its coronavirus testing program next month saying demand has fallen for testing at the state-funded drive-thru and clinic sites.
Democrat Ras Smith formally launched his campaign for governor at an event in his hometown of Waterloo on Tuesday. IPR’s Kate Payne has the details from his campaign kickoff. The new minority leader in the Iowa House of Representatives spoke with reporters for the first time following her election to lead the Democrats in that chamber. Plus, the Polk County Board of Supervisors has approved a lottery to incentivize residents to get the COVID-19 vaccine. IPR Health reporter Natalie Krebs explains that officials hope to get 75% of that county’s eligible residents vaccinated by the end of the State Fair on August 22.
The largest water utility is asking its customers to cut its water usage back by 25% because of low river levels. Iowa House Democrats voted yesterday (Monday) to elect Representative Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights as the new House Minority leader. Another Iowan has been arrested and charged for their alleged role in the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Plus, IPR’s Kassidy Arena says many Iowa music venues are still waiting for federal funding to help them keep their doors open during the pandemic.
Demand for COVID-19 vaccines continues to lag in Iowa, especially in the state’s rural counties. IPR’s Kate Payne tells us that vaccination rates in southern and northwestern Iowa trail those in more urban areas. The former head of the Iowa Department of Human Services is suing Governor Kim Reynolds over his ouster in 2019. Plus, this week is the first week Iowans will no longer receive an additional 300 dollars in weekly federal unemployment benefits. IPR Health reporter Natalie Krebs says Iowa is one of the first four states to end the federal pandemic-related benefit.
Governor Kim Reynolds demands a congressional hearing after migrant children were brought to Iowa in April for unification with their sponsors without notification. Two Democratic candidates have already announced they’re running to replace longtime Polk County Attorney John Sarcone just a day after he said he would not seek re-election. IPR’s Kate Payne tells us one of the declared candidates formerly ran for U.S. Senate in Iowa. The Midwest region has some of the highest rates of rented farmland in the country and that can have environmental consequences. Harvest Public Media offers an analysis of the environmental impact of tenant farming.
Demand for vaccines in Iowa continues is continuing to decline. Iowa counties can now recognize emergency medical services as “essential”, under a bill signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds on Wednesday. IPR’s Kate Payne says that unlike fire and police services, local governments in Iowa have not been required to provide EMS. Plus, we get a report from Side Effects Public Media about Black Lives Matter and how it’s more than a movement to fight violence against Black people. It’s also involved in health and feeding programs.
Governor Kim Reynolds signed a lot of bills into law on Tuesday including budget bills, one that restricts who can help Iowa voters return their absentee ballot and another one that puts limits on government agency diversity trainings and school lessons related to racism and sexism. Plus, IPR’s Health reporter Natalie Krebs gives the details of a new report which finds Iowa’s seniors are at low risk for social isolation as compared to the rest of the nation.
State health officials announced on Monday that they have launched a multi-media marketing campaign to encourage more Iowans to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Iowa Congresswoman Cindy Axne (D-West Des Moines) says this is a make-or-break moment for the country and now is not the time to give up on election reform legislation that cleared the U.S. House earlier this year and stalling in the Senate. She spoke at a townhall on Monday in West Des Moines. Plus, IPR’s Kassidy Arena reports on an Iowa State University project that is working to highlight Latino experiences as the pandemic subsides.
Iowa prison officials plan to resume in-person visits with incarcerated individuals beginning next month. But IPR’s Kate Payne explains that the department will limit visits to only those inmates who have been vaccinated against COVID-19. A new facility for barge traffic has opened along the Missouri River in western Iowa. IPR’s Katie Peikes tells us about NEW Cooperative that’s built an $11 million port near Blencoe in Monona County. Plus, The Red Cross is reminding Iowans they can still give blood donations if they’re vaccinated against COVID-19.
The two major political parties in Iowa are standing united behind keeping the Iowa caucuses as the first-in-the-nation for picking presidential nominees. This after Nevada lawmakers passed a state law this week that would move that state to the beginning of the calendar. State Auditor Rob Sand and Governor Kim Reynolds are sparring over the legality of Public Service Announcements she appeared in. Plus, IPR’s Kate Payne and Kassidy Arena have the final two installments in the Iowa Public Radio series this week on what’s changed in Iowa in the last year following the death of George Floyd in neighboring Minnesota.
JBS says it has made “significant progress” bringing meat processing back online after a cyber attack interrupted work at plants across the U.S. this week, including pork processors in Ottumwa and Marshalltown. We get the latest from IPR’s Grant Gerlock. Iowa House Minority Leader Todd Prichard of Charles City has announced he’s stepping down from the post. Plus, IPR State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric reports on how the state legislature has responded to calls for racial justice over the last year since the death of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.
A cyberattack on the world’s largest meat producer has interrupted work at several processing plants in the U.S. IPR’s Grant Gerlock details how it impacts the JBS Foods facilities in Iowa. Some advocates in the state say they will be celebrating for two reasons during this year’s Pride Month. Plus, after George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis, Sioux City formed a diverse committee to advise the city council on equity and inclusion. But IPR’s Katie Peikes explains that some people still feel left out.
Governor Kim Reynolds has set a goal of getting 75% of Iowans vaccinated against Covid by the end of June. Iowa did not reach her goal of getting 65% of Iowans vaccinated by the end of May. The state's coronavirus website shows just under half of eligible Iowans have gotten at least one shot. Starting Tuesday, city buildings in Des Moines are back open to the public for the first time since being closed because of the coronavirus. Plus, in the wake of George Floyd’s death, Des Moines passed an ordinance against biased policing. But IPR’s Grant Gerlock explains racial justice activists say that a year later the job of carrying it out is incomplete.
Several hundred volunteers joined law enforcement officials in searching for a missing 10-year-old east-central Iowa boy. The push for diversity and inclusion in the marketplace is well intentioned, but there are still barriers to achieving it. We hear about international research about the subject from IPR’s Kassidy Arena that included a professor from Iowa State University. Plus, a jury found Cristhian Bahena Rivera guilty of first degree murder in the 2018 death of Mollie Tibbetts on Friday. IPR’s Kate Payne discussed the verdict and the trial, which lasted two weeks.
Jurors have begun their deliberations in the case of Cristhian Bahena Rivera. He faces a first degree murder charge for the killing of Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts, who went missing in 2018. We get an update from IPR’s Kate Payne. Former Iowa Congresswoman Abby Finkenauer, the Democrat who lost her bid for a second term in the U.S. House last year, is reportedly considering a run for the U.S. Senate. Plus, tens of thousands of meatpacking workers have contracted COVID-19 in the last year but Harvest Public Media’s Chrstina Stella explains some people are already thinking about how to protect employees from the next pandemic.
Testifying in court on Wednesday, Cristhian Bahena Rivera denied killing Mollie Tibbetts in 2018, saying instead that two armed men forced him to drive them around as they abducted her. IPR’s Kate Payne explains that he said he didn’t tell officers the truth because the men threatened his family. An annual report on local health has found nearly one in five Iowa households do not have access to broadband. We get details on the report from IPR Health reporter Natalie Krebs. Plus, the Des Moines International Airport is seeing a spike in travelers for the Memorial Day holiday weekend that looks more similar to a pre-pandemic level of travel.
Demonstrators commemorated the one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder in downtown Des Moines on Tuesday evening. IPR’s Kassidy Arena tells us that speakers touched on how people can protect themselves in encounters with the police and how Floyd’s legacy has instilled calls for racial justice around the world. As demand for the COVID-19 vaccine continues to drop, Iowa health officials say they’ve accepted just 12 percent of its vaccine allocation from the federal government this week. Plus, defense attorneys for Cristhian Bahena Rivera again sought to cast doubt on others for the killing of Mollie Tibbetts at trial. We get an update from IPR’s Kate Payne.
The state has rested its case against Cristhian Bahena Rivera, who faces a first degree murder charge in the killing of Mollie Tibbetts. IPR’s Kate Payne says prosecutors have worked to clear other men who were investigated for any connections to her death. The first Democrat has announced his candidacy to run for U.S. Senate in Iowa in 2022. Dave Muhlbauer is a former Crawford County supervisor who raises cattle and hogs on a farm near Manilla. Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley has not said whether he’ll seek an eighth term. Plus, the city of Des Moines will hire a third party to run its future de-escalation training sessions.
Authorities found a household substance in an inmate’s cell at Anamosa State Penitentiary over the weekend that could be used to make explosives. The trial of the man accused of killing Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts in 2018 could conclude as soon as this week. Plus, IPR’s Natalie Krebs explains that University of Iowa researchers are working with a local non-profit to figure out the best way to gather and communicate health information to the state’s 7,000 migrant workers.
A police officer testified Thursday that Cristhian Bahena Rivera admitted to killing Mollie Tibbetts in 2018. We get the latest from that trial in Scott County. The COVID-19 pandemic has been hard on children’s mental health and IPR’s Health reporter Natalie Krebs reports that some say Iowa’s services are still falling short, just as kids need them more. Plus, Spring festivals are back after the pandemic canceled them last year. IPR’s Katie Peikes explains that these festivals bring tourism and lots of money into small towns and their businesses.
The Iowa Legislature wrapped up the 2021 session late Wednesday night. Lawmakers shortened the time allowed for voting, rolled back gun restrictions, funded broadband expansion and made it so schools cannot issue mask mandates. IPR State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric gets us up to date on what happened. In opening statements on Wednesday, prosecutors said that DNA evidence will play a key role in connecting Cristhian Bahena Rivera to the killing of Mollie Tibbetts in 2018. Plus, Republican Congresswomen Mariannette Miller-Meeks, a Republican from Ottumwa, and Cindy Axne, a Democrat from West Des Moines, voted to establish a commission to investigate the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
There was a lot of action at the Iowa statehouse on Tuesday evening. IPR’s Katarina Sostaric tells us that Iowa House Republicans voted to approve amending the Iowa Constitution that says it doesn’t protect abortion rights. IPR’s Grant Gerlock lays out what’s in a billion-dollar education funding bill. Plus, IPR’s Clay Masters looks into what public health experts are saying about the return of RAGBRAI in two months and how organizers of this staple of Iowa summers hope to pull off the bicycle ride across the state safely.
The Iowa legislature was busy on Monday. Lawmakers sent a $2 billion health and human services budget to the governor’s desk. Leaders also have agreed to a wide-ranging tax bill that’ll shift mental health funding from counties to the state. Many school districts plan to keep mask requirements in place at least until classes dismiss for the summer. IPR’s Grant Gerlock explains this is after the Iowa Department of Public Health recommended late last week that schools make face coverings optional. Plus, jury selection began in the trial of Cristhian Bahena Rivera. He faces a first degree murder charge in the death of Mollie Tibbetts, who disappeared while on a run in 2018.
A Union Pacific train derailed in northwest Iowa early Sunday afternoon, some of the cars caught fire and residents and businesses in Sibley were evacuated. 6,000 Iowans are known to have died from COVID-19 since the pandemic began. A proposal to shift Iowa’s mental health funding from counties to the state is one topic that’s been holding up the end of the legislative session. IPR State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric gives us an update. Plus, jury selection for the trial of Cristhian Bahena Rivera begins in Davenport Monday. IPR’s Kate Payne gives us a preview of the trial for the man accused of killing University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbetts in 2018.
Now that Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine has been authorized for children 12 and older, some Iowa doctors say some parents still have questions. We hear about it from IPR’s Kassidy Arena. Activists in Des Moines are calling on state leaders to improve conditions in Iowa’s prisons. Organizers say they’ve been in contact with inmates and are sharing their concerns. Plus, estimates suggest there may be thousands of COVID “long-haulers” in Iowa. IPR’s Kate Payne brings us the story of health care providers offering a range of therapies to help treat the condition, which for some is debilitating.
Governor Kim Reynolds has signed a bill into law removing Iowa’s time limit on filing criminal charges against people accused of sexually abusing children. It takes effect immediately. IPR State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric tells us that Reynolds is also defending her decision to end additional federal unemployment benefits as part of a push to “lean further into normal.” Plus, state health officials say they are shifting their strategy for distributing COVID-19 vaccinations as demand continues to decrease. IPR Health reporter Natalie Krebs reports that counties have largely stopped mass vaccination clinics because attendance is so low.
Next month, Iowans will stop receiving federal unemployment benefits put in place because of the coronavirus pandemic. Governor Kim Reynolds claims they are keeping businesses from filling open jobs. A majority of the Iowa City City Council made clear Tuesday they are opposed to the possibility of abolishing the police. IPR’s Kate Payne explains that the discussion came during a meeting focused on recommendations for how the city could restructure its police department. Plus, IPR’s Katie Peikes reports that the Iowa Flood Center is creating technology that will forecast Missouri River flooding and provide information on how it could affect individual homes, businesses and farms.
Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law Monday ending limits on open enrollment in five Iowa school districts. The voluntary diversity plans were meant to preserve diversity based on socioeconomic status and English language proficiency. An Iowa Senate panel has advanced a wide-ranging tax plan proposed by Governor Reynolds. It would ensure income tax cuts take effect sooner, shift mental health funding from counties to the state, and phase out “backfill” payments to local governments. Plus, IPR’s Kate Payne explains that a coalition of environmental advocates is asking a state board to overturn a decision to approve a large cattle feeding operation near a prized creek in northeast Iowa.
Graduation ceremonies at many Iowa colleges and universities are closer to normal this year, with many holding events in-person. But there are still precautions related to COVID-19. The Des Moines City Council will vote Monday evening on whether to extend the time for public comment during council meetings. But IPR’s Grant Gerlock explains that the proposal would also limit the number of people who can speak. Plus, we hear from Harvest Public Media’s Seth Bodine how higher commodity prices and record levels of government aid have boosted farmland values.
A bill that would ban certain topics from Iowa government diversity trainings and school lessons is on its way to the governor’s desk. House Republicans gave it final approval on Thursday. The Scott County Attorney’s Office has decided that the deadly shooting of a Black man by a police officer in Bettendorf in February was legally justified. IPR’s Kate Payne explains that the county has released body cam footage and a 911 call of the incident, in which Scott’s ex-girlfriend says he threatened to kill her and himself. Plus, Black and Hispanic emergency room patients are less likely than whites to receive imaging tests like X-rays or C-T scans. Side Effects Public Media’s Farah Yousry reports that doctors worry that disparity could spill over to other areas of care.
Governor Kim Reynolds and House Republicans are proposing different wide-ranging tax plans as legislative leaders are still trying to come to an agreement to end the session. The governor also says the state is increasing outreach to encourage more Iowans to get the COVID-19 vaccines. Scott County prosecutors have charged a man in the death of a 10-year-old girl nine months after she disappeared. Plus, residents and officials of the southwest Iowa town of Hamburg are celebrating a levee groundbreaking that will help protect them from flooding.
State health officials have confirmed two cases of the commonly called India COVID-19 variant in Iowa. The cases were identified in two adults in Jefferson County. This month, the City of Des Moines is expected to take final ownership of a downtown Superfund site from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. IPR’s Grant Gerlock has details on the transition. A new analysis from the Environmental Working Group says Iowa needs to monitor more bodies of water for a toxin that’s produced by a microscopic organism called blue-green algae. Plus, Central College in Pella will no longer require students to submit ACT or SAT scores in order to apply.