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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
DES MOINES— Today, Governor Kim Reynolds introduced legislation to incentivize continuum of care partnerships between child care centers and preschool providers to the Iowa House and Senate. Iowa currently ranks fifth in the nation (67%) for access to four-year-old preschool—nearly double the national average (35%). While preschool is widely available, some working families cannot participate […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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% […]
by Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch January 30, 2025 Iowa Auditor of State Rob Sand issued a report Thursday that says more than $400,000 in taxpayer money was improperly spent through a program run by Iowa Workforce Development. At a press conference Thursday, Sand characterized the matter as a case of “embezzlement” that involves programs […]
