Bernie Sanders is bringing his national speaking tour back to Iowa next week. The Vermont senator’s “Fighting Oligarchy: Where We Go From Here” event will be held at the River Center, South Building in Davenport on Friday, Aug. 22. Doors open at 4:30 p.m., and the first speaker is scheduled to take the stage at 7 […]
Community/News
Posted inCommunity/News
‘We clearly have a problem’: Des Moines Water Works opposes EPA decision to rescind impaired water designations
Officials from Des Moines Water Works said Thursday a decision from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency pertaining to water quality did “not align” with the “operational and financial” challenges the utility has faced in providing safe drinking water to Iowans. EPA previously designated seven river segments, including two connected to Des Moines’ source waters, as […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Trump EPA rescinds Biden-era decision to expand Iowa’s impaired water list
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has rescinded its previous decision to add seven segments to Iowa’s list of impaired waters due to their high nitrate concentrations. In November the agency decided the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ list of impaired waters only “partially” met the requirements of the Clean Water Act to identify waterways with identified pollutants […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Rep. Josh Turek, Democrat from Council Bluffs, launches campaign for Ernst’s Senate seat
On Tuesday, State Rep. Josh Turek entered the race for the 2026 Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. In his announcement video, the Council Bluffs native and Paralympic gold medalist centers his status as an “underdog” — in sports, politics and life.
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa National Guard soldiers deployed to assist ICE
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 […]
Posted inCommunity/News
UI announces end to Iowa Summer Writing Festival, Iowa Youth Writing Project
Months after the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program was forced to make drastic cuts following the loss of its federal funding, two other writing programs on the UI campus are coming to an end. The UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) announced Monday the Iowa Summer Writing Festival and the Iowa Youth […]
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
These bike-riding burrito slingers are some of Des Moines’ most trusted aid workers
They’re affectionately called “the burrito people.” Or sometimes “the burrito slingers.” They’re easily recognizable by their bright yellow bicycle jerseys, T-shirts and welcoming smiles. Every Thursday evening, you can find them in the basement of the Capitol Hill Lutheran Church in the Des Moines East Village neighborhood. They’re volunteers for the Urban Bicycle Food Ministry […]
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
Democrat Jackie Norris, Des Moines School Board chair and Michelle Obama’s former chief of staff, is running for U.S. Senate
Jackie Norris, chair of the Des Moines School Board, is running for U.S. Senate. Norris hasn’t run for federal or statewide office before, but she’s been active in Iowa politics for almost 30 years. “Red versus blue isn’t fixing anything. Iowa needs a Senator who doesn’t just talk tough but rolls up their sleeves, and […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Hundreds gather for presentation on Polk County water quality report; researchers, crowd call for regulation
More than 500 individuals gathered Monday to hear what comes next following the release of an in-depth water quality report commissioned by Polk County. Another 500 watched online to hear years’ worth of research on water pollutants and key steps forward at the individual, watershed and state levels. One speaker said it was the first […]
Posted inCommunity/News
FilmScene begins two-year process to buy their Ped Mall building after Moen foreclosures
In April, GreenState Credit Union surprised Iowa City by foreclosing on some of the city’s best-known buildings, properties owned by real estate developer Marc Moen and business associates. When news broke, one of the questions that immediately lit up social media was, “What will happen to FilmScene?” FilmScene, the state’s oldest and largest year-round nonprofit […]
