On Thursday, the Iowa House approved a bill that prohibits local governments from having any civil rights ordinances that provide greater protections for rights than state law does. Eliminating the power of local governments to protect the rights of transgender and nonbinary people is one of Gov. Kim Reynolds’ stated priorities for her final legislative session as governor.
Statewide
Posted inCommunity/News
Conversion therapy, affirmative action bills pass Iowa House
The Iowa House passed two measures Wednesday that Democrats and opponents said would harm marginalized populations, including transgender Iowans, throughout the state. HF 2557 creates exemptions to the definitions of “child abuse” and “child endangerment” in Iowa Code for a parent’s response to a child whose gender identity does not align with their sex assigned […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Plain Spoken: Poems to stop a flop in the reeking koi pond of Christian nationalism
Recent events in Minneapolis have demonstrated the by-now-obvious entrenchment of American Christianity in the nation’s fascist movement. Demonstrators at Cities Church were right to see David Easterwood — simultaneously a pastor at the church and the director of an ICE field office — as a potent symbol of fascist and evangelical lamination. Given the breadth […]
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Private college officials say they’re being threatened by Rep. Taylor Collins, House education chair
Iowa private college officials say a key lawmaker is threatening funding to a state tuition grant program over their opposition to allowing community colleges to offer four-year degrees. Gary Steinke, president of the Iowa Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, said lobbyists for the association received a call last week from Rep. Taylor Collins, chair […]
Posted inElection Coverage
‘God bless the president’ for attacking Iran: Iowa Senators, Senate candidates react to Operation Epic Fury
Hours after President Trump announced early on Saturday morning that the United States and Israel were attacking Iran, Sen. Joni Ernst appeared on Newsmax to praise Trump for launching the attack. “God bless the president for executing this mission,” Ernst said. “Because this is not just changing for today, this is world-changing for years to […]
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Iowa House votes to make driver’s license exams English-only
The Iowa House approved a bill on Thursday that will make driver’s license exams in the state English-only. The Iowa Department of Transportation currently offers written exams in 21 languages besides English. There are only six states in the country that restrict their driver’s license exams to just English. HF 2102 passed on an almost […]
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Iowa House passes tuition freeze, penalties for private schools with DEI programs, continuing education limits
Iowa House lawmakers passed legislation Tuesday to freeze tuition and restrict some nonresident enrollment at public universities; penalize private colleges with diversity, equity and inclusion offices; and make changes to continuing education and career and technical education. Career, continuing education courses HF 2547 would expand career and technical education (CTE) credit transfers and establish a […]
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‘Remember what Iowa is really about’: Advocates stress solidarity, condemn anti-immigrant attacks from lawmakers at State Capitol rally
About 100 people were chanting “Immigrants are welcome here,” as a rally by the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice (Iowa MMJ) began in the rotunda of the Iowa State Capitol on Wednesday afternoon. The rally was the culmination of Iowa MMJ’s annual advocacy day at the Capitol. The Des Moines-based nonprofit advocates on behalf of […]
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Iowa Senate committee approves bill forcing medical training programs to accommodate unvaccinated students
On Wednesday, Republicans on the Iowa Senate Education Committee approved a bill that would require public and private colleges and universities that offer “a medical, nursing, or other health care-related degree” to permit unvaccinated students to complete courses requiring clinical rotations that would bring them into contact with medically vulnerable patients. SF 2095 requires a […]
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More than 700 Iowa water segments are impaired, according to a new state report
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources released a draft version of its 2026 biennial integrated report Tuesday, which listed more than 700 segments of rivers, lakes or wetlands in the state as impaired. The impaired list looks at retroactive data and determines if a water segment meets, or fails to meet, designated criteria for uses […]
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One day after exiting the Senate race, Nathan Sage endorses Josh Turek, calls Zach Wahls ‘not authentic’
One day after ending his own run for the U.S. Senate, Nathan Sage endorsed Josh Turek for the Democratic nomination for Senate. In a statement on Monday, Sage said that both he and Turek come from working-class families “and it’s time we have more folks like us in Washington.” Sage, a veteran who served in […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa House bill would impose new restrictions on minors at public libraries, create criminal penalties for librarians
Despite some librarians and advocates’ warnings that a bill passed by a House subcommittee Thursday would endanger the continued existence of public libraries across the state, supporters said the measure is needed to prevent minors from accessing “harmful” materials. HF 2309 prohibits public libraries from disseminating “material harmful to minors,” unless the library has gained […]
