Some bills die quietly in the Iowa Legislature. HF 2206 did this year. It attracted minimal attention among lawmakers when it was introduced on Jan. 29, even though the bill had 15 House members as sponsors. It drew even less attention outside the Capitol Building, despite the fact it would have done something polling suggests most Iowans want: legalize the recreational use of marijuana.
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Posted inCommunity/News
A stolen Pride flag was restored and a proclamation challenged this Trans Day of Visibility in Johnson County
Speaking to the crowd gathered at College Green Park in downtown Iowa City for the Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) rally on Tuesday, Katie Freeman began by talking about the sounds — shouts, chants, angry and despairing screams — they heard in protests inside the Iowa State Capitol last year as Republican lawmakers voted to […]
Posted inElection Coverage
Voters can now request an absentee ballot for the June 2 primary; three counties face new districted supervisor elections as a result of GOP law
Registered voters in Iowa can now request absentee ballots for the June 2 primary election from their county auditor’s office. The first day auditors can mail the ballots to voters who have requested them will be May 13, the same day early in-person voting begins. Printable absentee ballot request forms are available on the Iowa […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowans in 61 cities turn out for No Kings the third, protesting fresh Trump horrors at now-routine rallies
There were more than 3,300 “No Kings” rallies across the country on Saturday, including 61 in Iowa. The rallies protesting President Trump and his policies took place across the state, in both Iowa’s largest cities and smaller communities like Onawa and Tipton. National organizers estimated the overall participation across the country at 8 million. It is […]
Posted inCommunity/News
‘It’s clear we need to change’: Report identifies four environmental factors raising cancer risk in Iowa
“Cancer is not an abstract problem in Iowa,” oncologist Richard Denning told the people gathered in the Harkin Institute’s auditorium. “It’s not rare, it’s not declining and it’s not evenly distributed. Cancer affects everybody, but it doesn’t affect everybody equally.” Eighty percent of the 25 counties with highest cancer rates in Iowa are rural, according […]
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Eddie Andrews accuses fellow GOP candidate for governor of threats and attempted sabotage as he qualifies for the primary ballot
State Rep. Eddie Andrews has qualified for the 2026 Republican gubernatorial primary ballot, the State Objection Panel ruled Wednesday. The three-person panel, which hears challenges to candidates’ nominating papers, began their discussion Tuesday on an objection filed challenging aspects of Andrews’ filing. When the panel initially met, staff for the Iowa Secretary of State’s office had found […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowans rally against bill to ban universities hiring H-1B visa holders from China
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 […]
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‘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. […]
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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 […]
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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 inArts & Entertainment
Andre Perry hopes Stop/Time celebrates the ‘spirit of innovation’ Iowa City artists and festival-goers embrace
I first met Perry standing in front of the bar at The Mill (R.I.P.). He was memorable for his manner: he pays attention, asks probing questions, looks you in the eye and seems to actually care about what you say. At the time he had a band, The LonelyHearts, and was working on an MFA in […]
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 […]
