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Iowa House passes public school funding with 2.25% per-pupil spending increase

Rep. Dan Gehlbach, R-Urbandale, spoke on funding Iowa’s public K-12 schools on the House floor Feb. 13, 2025. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 13, 2025 The Iowa House passed a bill Thursday with a 2.25% per-pupil funding increase alongside other funding changes for Iowa’s public K-12 schools. The move sends the legislation back to the Senate, which proposed a 2% rate. The House voted 58-35 to pass an amended version of […]

Iowa lawmakers try again to pass anti-SLAPP bill expediting First Amendment cases

The Iowa Capitol on Dec. 20, 2024. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 11, 2025 Rep. Steven Holt, R-Denison, said Tuesday he has high hopes for the Iowa Legislature to pass an anti-SLAPP bill this session after several years of the measure stalling. SLAPP, or “strategic lawsuits against public participation,” is a term used for civil lawsuits filed to intimidate a […]

Iowa updates its strategy to reduce nutrient runoff

Corn planted into no-till corn residue in 2008 near Minden, Iowa. (Photo courtesy of USDA)

by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 7, 2025 The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy has been updated to reflect increased access to data and new practices, including a precision ag-tool to optimize nitrogen application. The nutrient reduction strategy was developed by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources […]

Gov. Kim Reynolds signs executive order launching state DOGE task force

Gov. Kim Reynolds, right, signed an executive order Feb. 10, 2025 establishing the state DOGE task force, joined by Emily Schmitt, general counsel for Sukup Manufacturing Co. who she chose to lead the initiative. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 10, 2025 Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed an executive order Monday officially creating the state Department of Government Efficiency task force. Reynolds said at a news conference the initiative, based on the federal DOGE headed by Elon Musk, will make recommendations to further her administration’s existing efforts to […]

Oskaloosa Freshman Mia Luck Battles at Girls State Wrestling Tournament, Earns First State Win

Oskaloosa freshman Mia Luck took to the mat at the Iowa High School Girls State Tournament this past Thursday, February 6th at the Xtream Arena in Coralville. (photo by Clint Dye)

by Clint Dye Oskaloosa freshman Mia Luck took to the mat at the Iowa High School Girls State Tournament this past Thursday, February 6th at the Xtream Arena in Coralville. Luck entered the Iowa Class 1A 135 bracket with an overall record of 33-1 and was the number three seed. In her first round, she […]

House Republicans announce education spending package with 2.25% per-pupil increase

The Iowa Capitol on Dec. 20, 2024. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 6, 2025 House Speaker Pat Grassley said House Republicans are pursuing a slightly higher increase in state funding package for the public K-12 system than the governor and GOP senators. Speaking with reporters Thursday, Grassley said the House GOP caucus is proposing legislation that sets the State Supplemental […]

Gov. Kim Reynolds testifies at U.S. House government efficiency hearing

Gov. Kim Reynolds testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Feb. 5, 2025 about government efficiency efforts in Iowa. (Photo courtesy of CSPAN)

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 5, 2025 House Republicans praised Gov. Kim Reynolds’ state government realignment efforts in Iowa as she testified at the U.S. House Oversight Hearing on Government Efficiency Wednesday while Democrats drew comparisons between Iowa’s actions and President Donald Trump’s moves to make the federal government more efficient. Reynolds was […]

Pharmacists ask for lawmakers to pass bill regulating pharmacy benefit managers

Dozens of pharmacists, students and pharmacy owners attended the Senate subcommittee meeting Feb. 5, where Sens. Annette Sweeney, left, Mike Klimesh and Sarah Trone Garriott heard public comments on a bill related to pharmacy benefits managers. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 5, 2025 Iowa pharmacists and advocates said Wednesday lawmakers need to pass legislation regulating pharmacy benefit  managers, the third-party companies that negotiate prescription prices between health insurance companies, drug manufacturers and pharmacies, in order to keep small businesses and rural pharmacies in business. Subcommittees were held in both […]

Senate panel votes to require school cellphone policies

The Iowa Capitol on Dec. 20, 2024. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 5, 2025 A Senate subcommittee gave initial approval Wednesday to Gov. Kim Reynolds’ proposal to set a statewide minimum policy restricting students’ cellphone use in schools. The bill, Senate Study Bill 1065, would require school boards to adopt policies that, at minimum, ban use of personal electronic devices […]

Iowa osprey population continues to grow, DNR reports

Osprey populations are growing in Iowa years after a restoration program. (Photo by Ron Holmes/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 1, 2025 Data from the 2024 osprey nesting report from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources shows the bird population is well established and continuing to grow in the state. Last year, volunteers across the state monitored 50 osprey nests, and according to the 2024 report, saw 64% […]

               

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