Iowa saw one of the biggest increases in students arrested at school of any state between the 2013-14 and 2015-16 school years, according to a new report from the ACLU. While arrests of students at schools increased 3 percent nationwide during that period, Iowa saw an increase of 105 percent, going from 601 arrests in […]
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Poll: Midwesterners favor marijuana legalization more strongly than other Americans
People in the Midwest favor legalizing marijuana more strongly than people in any other part of the country, according to a new national opinion survey. The General Social Survey (GSS), conducted biennially by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, has been tracking public opinion on marijuana since 1973.
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State Senate approves multi-million dollar program to promote ‘Iowa work ethic’ among Medicaid recipients
The Republican-led Iowa Senate passed a bill imposing work requirements on Medicaid recipients on a party line vote on Tuesday. SF538 would require Iowans determined to be “able-bodied” to work at least 20 hours a week at a job or as a community volunteer, or to attend school for that amount of time, in order […]
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Iowa Attorney General sues two animal rescue groups for fraud
Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller has filed a lawsuit to shut down two nonprofits claiming to be dog rescue groups that he says have engaged in fraud. Miller claims Hobo K9 Rescue in the north central Iowa town of Britt, and Rescue Pets Iowa of Ottumwa, are part of a national “puppy laundering” ring. “Puppy […]
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Dark money group steps up support for new fee on solar panels
A dark money group has increased its efforts to support a bill (SF583) that would let utility companies impose new fees on homeowners and businesses that install solar panels. The REAL Coalition of Iowa was incorporated as a nonprofit on Jan. 23, apparently to support the House and Senate versions of the bill. A dark money group is a nonprofit that engages in political activity but does not disclose its funders.
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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 […]
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Poll: Iowa Democrats want a candidate who favors the Green New Deal and other strong progressive policies
Iowa Democrats overwhelming favor strong progressive policies, according to a new poll published by the Des Moines Register on Saturday. The Iowa Poll found 91 percent of respondents want a candidate who supports the Green New Deal, with 65 percent preferring a quick implementation of those environmental policies rather than doing it in steps.
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Iowa Supreme Court strikes down state’s ban on Medicaid paying for gender affirmation procedures
In a unanimous decision issued on Friday, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled the state’s prohibition on the use of Medicaid funds to pay for sex reassignment procedures deemed medically necessary by doctors violates the Iowa Civil Rights Act. The decision confirms a district court judge’s ruling in June 2018, striking down the Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) rule against paying for such procedures.
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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 […]
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Matt Whitaker has left the Justice Department
Matt Whitaker, the University of Iowa graduate who served as acting attorney general of the United States for the Trump administration, quietly exited the Justice Department on Saturday, Del Quentin Wilber of the Los Angeles Times reported on Monday. NBC News has confirmed Wilber’s report. Some DOJ News: Matthew Whitaker, former acting attorney general, has […]
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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, […]
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Matt Whitaker to testify before Congress again, because his previous testimony was ‘unsatisfactory, incomplete, or contradicted by other evidence’
Matt Whitaker, the former acting attorney general of the United States, will testify for a second time before the House Judiciary Committee, it was announced on Tuesday. That news has been overshadowed by the Congressional testimony of Donald Trump’s former personal attorney Michael Cohen (“[Trump] is a racist. He is a conman. He is a […]
