Stories written by Freelance Writer

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch April 19, 2023 Both the Iowa House and Senate passed separate bills on property tax relief Wednesday as the chambers try to find a compromise on the best way to limit costs for property owners. Senate File 569 and House File 718 both passed out of their respective chambers […]
Apr 20 2023 | Posted in
State News |
Read More »

by Luke Clausen, Iowa Capital Dispatch April 11, 2023 Former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad said Tuesday that current tax legislation wouldn’t have been possible without the economic restructuring that happened in Iowa after the farm crisis. “The state of Iowa is in the best financial position it’s ever been in history, I think over $3 […]
Apr 12 2023 | Posted in
State News |
Read More »

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch April 11, 2023 Three state senators have submitted open records requests for all subpoenas State Auditor Rob Sand has issued since taking office. The request comes in response to the Iowa Supreme Court ruling against the auditor’s subpoena of information from a municipal insurance risk pool. Sens. Mike Bousselot, […]

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch April 10, 2023 Minors would have to get parental permission to create accounts on TikTok, Instagram and other social media platforms under an amended bill that passed the House Ways and Means Committee Monday. The original version of House File 712 would have barred people under age 18 from […]

by Casey Quinlan, Iowa Capital Dispatch April 10, 2023 Barb Anderson, director of Haven House in Jeffersonville, Indiana, works with homeless people to place them into housing. It’s a job that has shown her firsthand the severe health issues facing unhoused people in southern Indiana, where many people live in tents in the woods and […]
Apr 11 2023 | Posted in
National News |
Read More »

by Art Cullen, Iowa Capital Dispatch April 7, 2023 Gene Jackson hated to part with his 10-year-old mule Jackie. He had to put his best saddle on her for show at Valley Livestock Auction near Monte Verde, Colo. The 19-year-old cattleman can’t justify feeding her in this drought, where water-intensive alfalfa is a precious commodity […]

by Jared Strong, Iowa Capital Dispatch April 6, 2023 AMES, Iowa — Two newly announced federal grants will benefit the research and implementation of farming practices that create healthier soil, less waterway pollution and a potential new source of revenue for Iowa farmers. “It’s tough to ask farmers to do this, because oftentimes it requires […]

by Jacob Fischler, Iowa Capital Dispatch April 4, 2023 Former President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty Tuesday to 34 New York state felony offenses related to what prosecutors say were hush money payments to an adult film star. In a brief but historic appearance in a Manhattan trial court, Trump, the first former president to […]

by Jacob Fischler, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 30, 2023 WASHINGTON — A New York criminal grand jury has indicted former President Donald Trump, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office confirmed following news reports. A former president has never been indicted before. Trump is also a Republican candidate in the 2024 race for the presidency. “This evening […]

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 31, 2023 Many major bills survived the second “funnel” deadline this week at the Iowa Capitol, but Republicans in the Iowa House and Senate hit points of contention on issues like education and liability limits. Republicans came together to pass priority legislation like private school scholarships, a ban […]