Republican Zach Lahn has been spending a lot of time in Kansas, where he has a home, over the last seven months as he campaigns for governor as the “Iowa First” candidate, the Des Moines Register reported on Thursday. “I’m in Iowa the majority of the time, a tremendous amount of time,” Lahn told the […]
Statewide
Posted inElection Coverage
Early voting has begun in the June 2 primary. Here’s where and when to cast a ballot
Early voting in the June 2 primary election started on Wednesday. County auditors’ offices have started mailing out absentee ballots requested by voters and are opening their doors for early in-person voting. Early in-person voting will run through Monday, June 1, the day before the primary election, and all mail-in absentee ballots must be received […]
Posted inStatewide
State will pay $125,000 to settle lawsuit filed by employee fired for social media post about Charlie Kirk
The state of Iowa will pay $125,000 to settle a lawsuit by an attorney in the State Public Defender’s Office who was fired because of a social media post following the killing of rightwing activist and media figure Charlie Kirk. The payment was approved last week by the State Appeals Board as part of a […]
Posted inCommunity/News
How bald eagles came back from the brink to dominate Iowa’s skies
Ask anyone how long the bald eagle has been the official bird of the United States, and the answer is likely to be 200 years or more. In reality, the bald eagle has been the official bird for less than two years. In December 2024, President Joe Biden signed into law a bill designating the […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa’s most important water monitoring network still has no state funding
Advocates of the state’s widest-spread and fastest-with-data water quality monitoring system are feeling frustrated by a lack of state support, and say appropriations that did make it through the legislative process won’t help every Iowan. The Iowa Legislature went back and forth on funding for water quality during the final days and hours of its […]
Posted inCommunity/News
New poll shows AG Brenna Bird just 2 points ahead of Democratic challenger Nate Willems
On Wednesday, the Democratic Attorney Generals Association (DAGA) endorsed Nate Willems, the Democrat challenging incumbent Republican Iowa AG Brenna Bird in this year’s election. The endorsement isn’t a surprise since Willems is the only Democrat in the AG’s race. But what was more noteworthy were the results of a new poll that DAGA published along […]
Posted inCommunity/News
A ‘skyscraper of risk factors’ are giving Iowans cancer
For the third year in a row, Iowa has the second-highest rate of new cancers in the country, according to the annual report from the Iowa Cancer Register (ICR) published in March. It’s also one of only three states where the rate of new cancers is rising, according to data from the National Cancer Institute. […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Rep. Jeff Shipley is on a crusade. If you’re not with him, you might be a ‘fagtard’
Content warning: Homophobic and ableist slurs. On March 3, state representative Jeff Shipley posted a photo from the Iowa House floor holding up a box of ivermectin. Specifically, the Republican from Fairfield was holding a box of apple-flavored IverCare paste. The label showed a horse silhouette and a feeding syringe. “OTC ivermectin now being debated […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Republicans defend ‘freedom milk,’ the Big Lie as Iowa Legislature passes final bills of the session
Iowa legislators held a marathon session Saturday and Sunday to finish up the 2026 session, ending with a property tax deal and measures on warrant resolution clinics and abortion medication, as well as a budget compromise. The Iowa House began its final session at 8:31 a.m. Saturday, and gaveled out at 6:11 p.m. Sunday. In […]
Posted inAstrology
Astrology forecast — May 2026
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): May is Free Thinking Month for you Tauruses. It’s also Free Feeling, Free Wheeling and Free Healing Month. Wow! To observe this festive grace period, indulge in any of the following jubilant acts: 1. Declare your independence from anyone who tries to tell you how you should live your life or […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Republican candidates for governor talk cancer, water quality, school vouchers and Rob Sand at Iowa PBS forum
Who wasn’t there was almost as important as who was at the Iowa PBS forum of Republican candidates for governor on Tuesday night. Frontrunner Randy Feenstra skipped it, as he has skipped other forums where his fellow Republicans running for the nomination appear, but he still loomed over the three Republicans who did show up […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa Senate sends ‘MAHA bill’ with SNAP restrictions, over-the-counter ivermectin to governor’s desk
The Iowa Senate sent Gov. Kim Reynolds’ “Make America Healthy Again” legislation to her desk Monday, a package that includes SNAP restrictions, over-the-counter ivermectin and several school health and nutrition policies. HF 2676, passed 30-16, seeks to make permanent the state’s currently implemented waivers restricting the purchase of unhealthy foods through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance […]
