About 150 people rallied at the Iowa State Capitol on Saturday to protest a bill that would stop Iowa universities and community colleges from hiring people on H-1B visas if they come from one of seven countries. HF 2513’s prohibition applies to any H-1B visa holder “who is also a citizen of a nation designated […]
Community/News
Posted inCommunity/News
‘No Kings’ returns on Saturday, and more Iowa cities will be protesting Trump policies than ever
“No Kings” protests return on Saturday, with more than 3,000 events scheduled nationwide. Organizers say they anticipate the March 28 events to be the biggest day of protest in American history. In Iowa, the number of communities participating in No Kings has grown with every protest, from 33 last June to 40 in October 2025. […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Linzi Murray and her West Des Moines bookstore/cafe are hitting their stride
Linzi Murray, owner of Reading in Public Bookstore and Cafe, lifted her pants leg, pointing to a tattoo on her left ankle. Although her dad, Keith, died of lung cancer 10 years ago, “he still jokes with me,” she said with a chuckle. They had a special bond, despite his drinking, her trauma as an […]
Posted inCommunity/News
To cover Medicaid funding gap left by Congress, Iowa House passes bill to raise tax on HMOs; Democrats warn health insurance premiums will spike
The Iowa House passed a bill Thursday retroactively raising the premium tax rate for health maintenance organizations (HMOs) to make up for a Medicaid budget shortfall — a move Democrats and insurers said would raise healthcare costs for all Iowans, but Republicans argued was needed to draw down federal funding. HF 2739, approved on a […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Terry Branstad endorses Randy Feenstra for governor, The Family Leader endorses Adam Steen
Two of the five Republicans running for governor received major endorsements on Tuesday. The Family Leader, a rightwing Christian political organization that plays a prominent role in Iowa Republican politics, endorsed former Department of Administrative Services director Adam Steen. Shortly afterwards, Rep. Randy Feenstra’s campaign published an endorsement from former governor Terry Branstad, who was […]
Posted inEastern Iowa
Iowa City warns about email scam targeting residents
An old scam is spreading again in the Iowa City area, the city warned residents on Tuesday. Scammers are sending authentic-looking emails that appear to be from city employees trying to collect fees or payments for city services, according to a news release. In a recent incident, a resident received an email containing what appeared […]
Posted inElection Coverage
Rob Sand is the only Democrat running for governor after Julie Stauch fails to qualify for the primary ballot
Julie Stauch’s longshot campaign to win the Democratic nomination for governor came to an abrupt halt on Friday afternoon. “This afternoon I had a call from the Iowa Secretary of State’s election office telling me that my petitions did not meet the requirements during their review,” Staunch posted Friday evening on Facebook. “Two counties had […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa House Republicans pass bills giving them, the board of regents and the attorney general more control over universities
Iowa House lawmakers approved legislation Thursday to alter university presidential searches, tuition options and general education requirements. General education review HF 2361, passed by the Iowa House Higher Education Committee more than one month ago alongside other legislation, would require state universities to include courses in American history and government in general education requirements. The […]
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Democrat Wade Dooley ends his campaign for Secretary of Ag, leaving Chris Jones to face incumbent Mike Naig in November
Two months after announcing his run for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Democrat Wade Dooley ended his campaign on Wednesday. “This is my first foray into statewide campaigning, and it’s been an eye-opener,” Dooley said in a written statement. “The amount of time, staff and money that it takes is truly daunting. And at this point […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Gov. Kim Reynolds kicks off her ‘Legacy Tour’ just days after signing bill undermining the rights of trans Iowans
The “Governor Kim Reynolds Legacy Tour” kicks off in Cedar Rapids on Thursday at the Hotel at Kirkwood Center. The 90-minute event starts at 6 p.m. “Hors D’oeuvres will be served,” according to the Iowa Republican Party’s ticket page for the event. “Do not miss your chance to show Governor Reynolds our appreciation for her […]
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On supply runs to Minneapolis, Iowa City local Charlie Morris saw ICE terror, mass resistance efforts firsthand
On Sunday, Feb. 15, a van with tinted windows sat in the median of an expressway 10 minutes outside Minneapolis. It idled in a Michigan left usually reserved for law enforcement personnel, one that allows for quick pull-outs and pull-overs. But unlike police cars, this van didn’t have any lights or sirens — it was […]
Posted inCommunity/News
With a losing record and low ticket sales, the Iowa Heartlanders will skip the 2026-27 hockey season
The Iowa Heartlanders will not be on the ice for the 2026-27 season, the team’s ownership group announced on Monday, after the ECHL Board of Governors approved the group’s request for “a voluntary suspension of operations.” “This was an incredibly difficult decision that followed months of careful evaluation,” Michael Devlin, the team’s majority owner, said […]
