Iowa National Guard soldiers will deploy to provide support for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in September, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Tuesday. The deployment, set to begin Sept. 8, will involve 20 National Guard soldiers providing “administrative and logistical support” to ICE officials based in Iowa who are enforcing immigration laws, according to […]
Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa AG leads letter questioning legality of net-zero, saying it’s part of a ‘radical green scheme’
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird led a multistate letter Friday questioning whether a new net-zero carbon emissions standard for businesses is illegal under state and federal law. The letter was sent to David Kennedy, CEO of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a group that recently released its Financial Institutions Net-Zero standard. This standard is meant […]
Posted inCommunity/News
State worker groups oppose suggested IPERS cuts, performance-based teacher pay model
As Iowa’s DOGE task force considers recommending cuts to public employee compensation and tying school staff pay to student achievement, public workers organizations are rallying for Iowans to speak out against these proposals. The DOGE task force members met Wednesday to discuss some of the recommendations they plan to include in the report submitted to […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Le Mars school district bars religious groups from holding events on school grounds
A northwest Iowa school district has agreed to prohibit religious organizations from holding events at schools after receiving a complaint about a Christian group holding National Day of Prayer celebrations on school grounds. The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), a nonprofit organization advocating for the separation of church and state and for nonreligious people, sent […]
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Sen. Joni Ernst speaks in support of cuts to USAID, public broadcasting
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst praised the cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) included in the bill passed in the early hours of Thursday to cancel $9 billion in federal funding for foreign aid efforts and public broadcasting. Ernst spoke in support of the cuts made through the rescissions bill, requested by President […]
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Democrat Kathy Dolter launches bid for 2nd Congressional District; Rep. Lindsay James mulls a run
Democratic hopefuls are launching — or moving toward — bids to compete for the party’s nomination in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District for the 2026 election. State Rep. Lindsay James, D-Dubuque, said Tuesday she is considering a run for the 2nd District. The 44-year-old Presbyterian pastor, currently serving her fourth term in the Iowa House, said […]
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Bill requiring Iowa schools show material from anti-abortion groups depicting ‘humanity of the unborn child’ at fertilization heads to governor’s desk
Iowa schools would have to show ultrasound videos and computer-generated graphics on fetal development in Iowa classrooms under legislation sent to the governor’s desk Monday. SF 175, approved 33-16, would require human growth and development classes for Iowa students in grades 5-12 to include ultrasound video and computer-generated renderings or animations depicting “the humanity of the […]
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Proposed constitutional amendment would require supermajority to raise income tax
A Senate subcommittee moved forward with the second step in amending the state constitution Wednesday to require a two-thirds majority vote of the Legislature for income tax increases. SSB 1221 is a follow-up from HJR 2006, passed in 2024 with the same language. To amend the Iowa Constitution, lawmakers must pass the amendment language in […]
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Sen. Chuck Grassley will hold Judiciary Committee hearing on courts blocking Trump actions
U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley is set to play a top role as the Senate Judiciary Committee chair in hearings next week on courts blocking President Donald Trump’s actions. Members of Iowa’s congressional delegation also introduced legislation to make English the official language of the nation and to address a shortage of truck drivers. The Senate […]
Posted inStatewide
Bill shuts Iowa’s largest counties out of economic development funds for three years
Iowa’s four most populous counties would not be able to access state economic development programs and their funds for three years under a bill advanced Wednesday by an Iowa House subcommittee. The legislation, HSB 310, would impose a three-year moratorium, from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2028, on all programs administered by the Iowa […]
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Gov. Tim Walz says at Iowa town hall he is ‘soul-searching’ after 2024
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz told Iowans on his first stop of a national town hall tour that he wanted to give a voice to people who feel unheard by Republicans in Washington. But he said there was another motive for these events: he is “soul-searching” following the 2024 general election, when he and Vice President […]
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Bill cutting state funds for libraries belonging to the American Library Association and the Iowa Library Association advances
The Iowa House Education Committee voted 14-9 Tuesday to advance legislation removing state funding from public libraries that pay dues to state or national nonprofit organizations involved in government lobbying, like the Iowa Library Association or American Library Association. The legislation, HF 284, proposes changes for eligibility to receive Enrich Iowa funds through the State […]
