Iowa’s three congressional Democrats — Rep. Cindy Axne, Rep. Abby Finkenauer and Rep. Dave Loebsack — joined 242 fellow members of the U.S. House of Representatives in voting for a resolution to nullify President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency at the southern border. All 232 House Democrat participating in the vote approved the bill, […]
Iowa News
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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 […]
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Iowa appeals federal judge’s ruling that its ‘ag gag’ law is unconstitutional
Iowa is appealing a federal district judge’s ruling that it’s “ag gag” law is unconstitutional. On Thursday, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller filed a notice of appeal and motion asking the district court to allow the law to remain in effect during the appeal. In his Jan. 9 decision striking down the law for violating […]
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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 […]
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Joni Ernst solicited donations off her support for an NRA bill less than 72 hours after Parkland anniversary, Aurora shooting
Three days after the first anniversary of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 and wounded 14, and two days after a workplace shooting in Aurora, Illinois, that killed five and wounded five police officers, Sen. Joni Ernst launched a fundraising effort based on her support for a top NRA legislative priority. On […]
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Iowa jury sides with transgender worker in landmark discrimination case
In a history-making decision, a Polk County jury found on Wednesday that the Iowa Department of Corrections (IDOC) and the Iowa Department of Administrative Services (IDAS) engaged in sex discrimination and gender identity discrimination against Jesse Vroegh, a transgender man and former IDOC employee. The lawsuit, filed in August 2017, was the first discrimination lawsuit […]
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Footnotes on the 2020 Caucus: What will Cory Booker eat at the Iowa State Fair?
Footnotes on the 2020 Caucus is an occasional series observing some of the traditions, rituals and oddities of the Iowa presidential caucuses. Sen. Cory Booker officially announced his candidacy for president on Friday. The announcement, which he made on Twitter and in an email to supporters, probably only surprised people who thought the New Jersey […]
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USPS cancels Wednesday mail delivery in Iowa
There will be no mail delivery or pick-up in Iowa on Wednesday, Jan. 30, the United States Postal Service announced Tuesday afternoon. Normal service was cancelled because of the extreme wind chill mail carriers would face on their routes. In addition to Iowa, mail service will canceled in Minnesota, western Illinois and western Wisconsin. Normal […]
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RAGBRAI 2019 route announced
RAGBRAI will feature a twist this year. Instead of arriving at the Mississippi on the final day of the week-long ride across Iowa, cyclists will have the chance to dip their wheels in the river on Friday night in Burlington, before following the river the next day to the ride’s final destination, Keokuk.
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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 […]
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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 […]
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Sen. Joni Ernst (or an Ernst staffer) tweets about Steve King and white supremacy (Updated)
On Saturday morning, Sen. Joni Ernst’s official Twitter account posted two tweets addressing the New York Times profile of fellow Iowa Republican Steve King published Jan. 10, which featured the congressman asking, “White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization — how did that language become offensive?” I condemn Rep. Steve King’s comments on white supremacy; they […]
