by Tik Root, Grist, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 30, 2025 This story was produced by Grist and co-published with States Newsroom Rows of dead batteries stretch across some 30 acres of high desert, organized in piles and boxes that are covered to shield them from the western Nevada sun. This vast field is where Redwood Materials stores […]
by Jennifer Shutt, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 22, 2025 WASHINGTON — Americans living in rural communities throughout the country could see their access to health care diminish if Congress changes eligibility for Medicaid or significantly reduces its federal funding. While rural residents who depend on the state-federal program for lower income people would experience the most […]
by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 21, 2025 Members of Iowa’s congressional delegation have introduced legislation they say will help lower drug costs. U.S. Congress has largely not met this week, with most of the attention in national politics centering on President Donald Trump’s moves to close the U.S. Department of Education and militarize […]
by Ashley Murray, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 20, 2025 WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is gearing up to militarize a stretch of the southern border, according to a Washington Post report Thursday, raising concerns from experts that the move would put U.S. military members in direct contact with migrants, a possible violation of federal law. […]
by Shauneen Miranda, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 20, 2025 WASHINGTON — In a sweeping executive order signed Thursday, President Donald Trump called on Education Secretary Linda McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure” of the U.S. Education Department. Trump signed the order at a major White House ceremony, flanked by children seated at desks. […]
by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 19, 2025 A bill passed the Iowa House Wednesday that would require schools to forgo federal nutrition standards to instead prioritize Iowa-specific guidelines. House Democrats, who opposed the bill, said in floor debate it makes Iowa students “guinea pigs” for unproven nutrition practices, while failing to address the […]
by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 19, 2025 Iowa’s four most populous counties would not be able to access state economic development programs and their funds for three years under a bill advanced Wednesday by an Iowa House subcommittee. The legislation, House Study Bill 310, would impose a three-year moratorium, from July 1, 2025 […]
by Kathie Obradovich, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 18, 2025 The Iowa Senate voted Tuesday to ban the use of handheld cellphones and other devices behind the wheel, while turning down an effort to extend the ban to drivers of farm implements. A few minutes later, senators also voted to raise the state’s “default” speed limit […]
by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 17, 2025 Iowa local governments would not be able to have citizen police review boards under legislation passed by the Iowa Senate 37-9 Monday. Senate File 311 prohibits cities with a civil service commission — any city with a population over 8,000 — from adopting or establishing citizens’ […]
by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 14, 2025 Peregrine falcons, once nonexistent in Iowa, hatched and raised at least 36 young falcons in 2024 out of the 17 nests monitored in the state. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources relies on Iowa volunteers, and some power plant employees, to monitor the nests to ensure […]
