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Members of Congress blast TikTok CEO as bipartisan support for U.S. ban looks possible

US Capitol

by Jacob Fischler, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 23, 2023 A U.S. House panel grilled TikTok’s CEO for more than five hours Thursday over the social media giant’s ties to China, and indicated there may be bipartisan consensus for a national ban on the platform. Members of both parties showed an unusual level of agreement during […]

Iowa Senate passes asset, income tests for SNAP eligibility

Some fresh produce that was available Tuesday at the Oskaloosa Farmers Market

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 22, 2023 Iowans receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits would have to go through an asset test to continue receiving benefits under a bill passed by the Iowa Senate Wednesday. Senate File 494 would require Iowa families on SNAP to match federal asset test guidelines, meaning recipients […]

House passes bill to restrict eminent domain for pipelines

The Iowa Capitol

by Jared Strong, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 22, 2023 Legislation that would restrict carbon dioxide pipeline companies’ ability to use eminent domain was overwhelmingly approved by the Iowa House on Wednesday. “I believe that the issue before us today — and the vote that we will take on this issue — is indeed historic,” said […]

U.S. Senate moves toward repealing authority for military force against Iraq

United States Capitol (photo by Austin Harris/Oskaloosa News)

by Jennifer Shutt, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 16, 2023 WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate took a broadly bipartisan vote Thursday to advance legislation that would end the 32-year-old and the 20-year-old Authorizations for Use of Military Force against Iraq. The 68-27 vote moves the measure past the chamber’s 60-vote legislative filibuster and towards a final passage vote […]

Public lands bill stalls in the Iowa House

One last big weekend for the summer season at Lake Keomah State Park.

by Jared Strong, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 16, 2023 Legislation that might limit the acquisition of new public lands — and was approved by the Iowa Senate on Tuesday — did not advance from a House subcommittee on Thursday amid significant public opposition. Senate File 516 was tabled by an environmental protection subcommittee because only […]

New federal rule would require several Iowa cities to fix ‘forever chemical’ contamination

Fire hydrants are used for flushing out city water lines.

by Jared Strong, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 14, 2023 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will require all water utilities to test their treated drinking water for toxic “forever chemicals” and — if they are detected in certain concentrations that have been found in Iowa cities — find a way to remove them or obtain a […]

State’s new drought plan seeks to increase monitoring and proactive mitigation

Indications of stress to crops continues as the moderate drought continues

by Jared Strong, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 13, 2023 State agencies have developed Iowa’s first-ever comprehensive plan to mitigate the effects of future droughts that have the potential to affect the availability of water for drinking and for agricultural and industrial uses. It includes a proposal to install monitoring stations in every county and to […]

Congress unanimously votes to require declassified information on COVID-19 origins

Rapid COVID Test (FDA Photo)

by Jennifer Shutt, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 10, 2023 WASHINGTON — The divided 118th Congress approved its first bill Friday, after lawmakers in both the House and Senate voted unanimously to send President Joe Biden legislation that would require declassification of intelligence on the origins of COVID-19. The four-page bill, which the House voted 419-0 to clear, […]

Presidential candidate Nikki Haley: Hold China accountable for COVID-19

Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, right, a GOP candidate for president, talked about U.S. foreign policy with U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst at a Bastion Institute forum March 10, 2023. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 10, 2023 Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley told Iowans Friday that China needs to be held accountable by the international community for the spread of COVID-19. “I think we need to go and look at the damages, the financial damages that happened, the life loss that happened, and […]

After people on Medicaid die, some states aggressively seek repayment from their estates

Jen Coghlan outside the modest home where she grew up in Perry, Iowa. Her father, Henry Ruhl, plans to leave the home to her, but Coghlan expects she’ll have to sell it after he dies to help settle a large bill from Medicaid for the care of her mother, Fran, who died in January 2022. Coghlan says the family didn’t realize that her mother was on Medicaid and that they are responsible to pay the program back for her care. (Photo by KC McGinnis for KHN)

by Tony Leys ǀ Kaiser Health News, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 3, 2023 PERRY, Iowa — Fran Ruhl’s family received a startling letter from the Iowa Department of Human Services four weeks after she died in January 2022. “Dear FAMILY OF FRANCES RUHL,” the letter began. “We have been informed of the death of the […]

           

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