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 […]
by Jennifer Shutt, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 14, 2025 WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate cleared a stopgap spending bill Friday that will fund the government through the end of September, sending the legislation to President Donald Trump. The White House said on Saturday afternoon that Trump had signed the measure, avoiding a partial government shutdown. […]
by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 14, 2025 Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz told Iowans on his first stop of a national town hall tour that he wanted to give a voice to people who feel unheard by Republicans in Washington. But he said there was another motive for these events: he is “soul-searching” following […]
by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 13, 2025 Members of the Iowa Revenue Estimating Conference said Thursday that although national economic uncertainty is making clear budget projections difficult, the state was still in a sound fiscal position as recently approved tax cuts take effect. The Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) met Thursday to review and […]
by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 11, 2025 Iowa farmers and institutions lost an estimated $11.3 million in federal funding to support the purchase of locally raised foods, following the recent termination of two U.S. Department of Agriculture programs. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship notified partners Monday afternoon that agreements made […]
by Ashley Murray, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 12, 2025 WASHINGTON — The European Union released a lengthy list Wednesday of U.S. goods, from Kentucky bourbon to household appliances, slated for retaliatory tariffs in response to President Donald Trump’s taxes on steel and aluminum imports that went into effect overnight. The 27-nation bloc announced late Tuesday […]
