The ACLU of Iowa filed a lawsuit in state court on Wednesday seeking to overturn sections of the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) budget bill that were designed to prevent Planned Parenthood from receiving government grants to provide sex education programs.
Gov. Kim Reynolds
Posted inCommunity/News
Gov. Kim Reynolds signs bill that cuts off Medicaid funds for gender confirmation procedures
Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill on Friday that contained a provision overturning a March ruling by the Iowa Supreme Court striking down the state’s ban on the use of Medicaid funds to pay for sex reassignment procedures deemed medically necessary by doctors. The justices ruled unanimously that the ban violated the Iowa Civil Rights Act
Posted inCommunity/News
ACLU of Iowa challenges ‘ag gag’ law it says puts ‘the PR interests of one industry above the constitutional rights of its critics’
In March, just two months after a federal judge struck down Iowa’s “ag gag” law as unconstitutional, the Iowa legislature passed a new, almost identical version of the law. “So we’re doing another bill pretty similar to the last one which is going to end up … costing taxpayers more money [to defend in court],” Democratic Rep. Sharon Stockman from Mason City said during the Iowa House floor debate on Agricultural Facility Trespass Act.
Posted inCommunity/News
President Trump said wind turbines cause cancer, Gov. Reynolds said it’s ‘not my place’ to disagree with Trump
During a televised speech to the National Republican Congressional Committee, President Donald Trump made the bizarre and unfounded claim that sounds made by wind turbines cause cancer. Multiple news organizations asked the White House what evidence on which the president was relying, but the Trump administration has so far not responded. TRUMP during NRCC speech: […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa legislature passes new ‘ag gag’ law
Two months after a federal judge struck down Iowa’s “ag gag” law as unconstitutional, the Iowa legislature passed a new, similar law on Tuesday. The Agricultural Facility Trespass Act makes it a crime for a person to use “deception” to gain access to an agriculture production facility, or apply for a job at one, “with […]
Posted inCommunity/News
The man charged with murdering Mollie Tibbetts has requested a change of venue for trial (Updated)
Update: On March 27, the Poweshiek County District Court granted Cristhian Bahena Rivera’s request for a change of venue. His trial for the murder of Mollie Tibbetts has been moved to Woodbury County. Bahena Rivera’s attorneys had asked the case be moved to a community “where a minority population is substantially represented.” Latinos make up […]
Posted inCommunity/News
State bypassed standard procedures to settle sexual harassment case just days before last November’s election
Shortly before last November’s election, state government officials bypassed normal procedures and quickly agreed to a multi-million dollar settlement of sexual harassment claims against a longtime friend and political ally of Gov. Kim Reynolds, the Associated Press’ Ryan J. Foley reported on Thursday. Foley obtained correspondence between Iowa Solicitor General Jeff Thompson and Paige Fielder, […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Poll: Iowans evenly split on marijuana legalization
Iowans are evenly split on legalizing recreational marijuana, according to a new poll published by the Des Moines Register. The Iowa Poll found 48 percent of respondents favored legalization, 48 percent opposed it and 4 percent were unsure. This is a significant change from the results of the last Iowa Poll on the topic. In […]
Posted inCommunity/News
New poll finds record high approval ratings for Gov. Reynolds and Sen. Ernst
Gov. Kim Reynolds and Sen. Joni Ernst both have record high job approval ratings, according to a new Iowa poll published by the Des Moines Register on Wednesday. Fifty-nine percent of poll respondents approved of the job Reynolds is doing, while 57 percent approved of what Ernst has done in office. The poll also found […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa won’t appeal court decision that struck down the ‘fetal heartbeat bill’ as unconstitutional
The state of Iowa will not appeal a Polk County District judge’s decision ruling that the state’s so-called “fetal heartbeat law” violates the Iowa Constitution, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced on Monday. “This was an extremely difficult decision, however it is the right one for the pro-life movement and the state of Iowa,” Reynolds said in […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Judge strikes down Iowa’s ‘fetal heartbeat’ law
A district court judge in Polk County struck down Iowa’s so-called “fetal heartbeat” law on Tuesday. Judge Michael Huppert ruled the law, which banned almost all abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected at six weeks, violates the state’s constitution. “We are grateful the Court blocked Gov. Reynolds’ egregious attempt to ban safe, legal […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Gov. Reynolds proposes constitutional amendment to eliminate voting restrictions for ex-convicts
Gov. Kim Reynolds said in her Condition of the State address on Tuesday that she’s ready to take action to advance her priorities. Reynolds told the assembled legislators, “the future I see isn’t around the corner, or after the next election. The future is now.” Except, it seems, for the one policy area where Reynolds […]
