A total of 91,501 Iowans, including 9,411 residents of Johnson County and 6,797 residents of Linn County, had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine as of Monday, according to the Iowa Department of Public Health. The department has said it will now publish updates on the number of people vaccinated, at both […]
Iowa Legislature
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Iowa surpasses 200,000 COVID cases; Republican lawmakers talk about relaxing restrictions
During her news conference on Thursday morning, Gov. Kim Reynolds said the number of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities with COVID-19 outbreaks was about to spike by 20; but as of Friday afternoon, the Iowa Department of Public Health has added 25, pushing the number of ongoing outbreaks in long-term care facilities to […]
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Iowa Republican leaders join President Trump in trying to pressure the Big 10 into resuming fall football season
The Republican leaders of the Iowa Legislature sent a letter to Big 10 Commissioner Kevin Warren, asking him to restore the conference’s fall football system, which was canceled due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19. “Just last month, under your leadership, the Big Ten released updated and enhanced testing, quarantine and isolation policies,” Speaker […]
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Gov. Kim Reynolds orders schools to prioritize in-person class, throwing a wrench in some districts’ plans
Gov. Kim Reynolds emphasized the importance of bringing kids back to school in the fall during her press conference Friday morning, shortly before she signed a new public health proclamation that says Iowa schools must prioritize in-person learning. The proclamation comes on the same day Iowa reported its highest single-day increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases. […]
Posted inCOVID-19
Linn County Auditor’s Office will mail absentee ballot request forms to every voter for November’s election
The Linn County Auditor’s Office will mail absentee ballot request forms with a postage-paid return envelope to all voters in the county ahead of the November general election. The office is encouraging Linn County residents to vote by mail due to COVID-19, just as they did for the June primary. The Auditor’s Office will mail […]
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Johnson County Auditor will mail an absentee ballot request form to every voter before November election
The Johnson County Auditor’s Office announced on Thursday it will “mail every voter in the county a postage paid absentee ballot request form” for the November general election. “Due to public health concerns raised from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Johnson County Auditor’s Office strongly encourages you to vote from home for the November 3, […]
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Iowa-Nebraska NAACP and the Iowa Police Chiefs Association launch a task force to examine police-community issues
The Iowa-Nebraska NAACP and the Iowa Police Chiefs Association (IPCA) announced the creation of a new statewide task force to work on improving relations between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. “It is undeniable that now is the time for improving law enforcement and community relationships. Those relationships are authenticated by transparent practices […]
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Planned Parenthood and ACLU of Iowa file a lawsuit challenging new abortion restriction passed by Iowa lawmakers
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland and the ACLU of Iowa filed a lawsuit seeking to stop a new restriction on abortion passed by the Iowa legislature earlier this month. A bill fast-tracked by Republican leaders in the legislature and passed only hours after it was introduced would mandate a 24-hour waiting period by requiring a […]
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Republicans push through new abortion restriction in Iowa legislature’s last session of 2020
Republicans in the Iowa legislature fast-tracked a bill imposing a 24-hour waiting period on women seeking an abortion. The bill was passed just hours after the new waiting period was first introduced. The quick series of votes came during the final session of the year for both the Iowa House of Representatives and the Iowa […]
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Iowa lawmakers unanimously pass a bill to address police violence
The Iowa legislature passed a major bill aimed at limiting violent police behavior, little more than two hours after it was introduced on Thursday evening. The bill was unanimously approved by committees and in floor votes in both the Iowa House of Representatives and Senate. “Too long have black mothers waited for their sons to […]
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The Iowa Legislature reconvenes, will consider protecting businesses from COVID-19 lawsuits
On Wednesday, the Iowa Legislature reconvened for the first time since March 16, when it went into emergency recess in response to the spread of COVID-19 in the state. And issues related to the virus will loom large in the coming weeks.
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Two lawmakers call for an oversight committee investigation of Test Iowa, as the Iowa legislature prepares to reconvene
When the Iowa legislature reconvenes this week, the House of Representatives’ Government Oversight Committee will have to consider a request from two lawmakers to investigate Test Iowa. The legislature suspended its 2020 session on March 16 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Lawmakers will return to the capitol on Wednesday, June 3 to complete work left […]
