by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch April 8, 2025 Gov. Kim Reynolds said Tuesday she intends to sign a bill setting a statewide ban on public school students using cellphones during class time. The Iowa House passed the bill, which the governor introduced in January, on a 92-4 vote Tuesday and sent it to her […]
by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch April 7, 2025 Iowa K-12 public schools would receive a 2% increase in state per-pupil funding next year under legislation the Iowa Senate approved Monday on 32-15 vote. Senate File 167 sets the State Supplemental Aid (SSA) rate for the upcoming fiscal year. SSA is the growth rate for […]
DES MOINES, Iowa (April 7, 2025) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this […]
by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch April 4, 2025 As the Iowa Legislature advanced past the second major deadline of the 2025 session, conversations on pipelines, Medicaid work requirements and new higher education requirements are continuing through surviving bills — though agreements have not necessarily been reached between the two Republican-controlled chambers. The session’s second […]
by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch April 2, 2025 Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law Wednesday a measure banning drivers from using cellphones behind the wheel outside of hands-free or voice-activated modes. Reynolds was joined by more than 50 people in her office Wednesday, many of whom were related to people who had died […]
By Sonya Sellmeyer, Consumer Advocacy Officer for the Iowa Insurance Division Hailstorms can cause significant damage to homes, vehicles, and other property, leading to costly repairs. Understanding how to handle an insurance claim after a hail storm can make the process smoother. Taking preventive measures can help mitigate future damage and reduce potential losses. After […]
by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 31, 2025 COLFAX– As U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins toured Iowa agricultural facilities Monday, she said the U.S. Department of Agriculture is prepared to support farmers while tariffs go into place. President Donald Trump announced plans Sunday to impose “reciprocal tariffs” on countries that have their own […]
by Jennifer Shutt, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 22, 2025 WASHINGTON — Americans living in rural communities throughout the country could see their access to health care diminish if Congress changes eligibility for Medicaid or significantly reduces its federal funding. While rural residents who depend on the state-federal program for lower income people would experience the most […]
by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 21, 2025 Members of Iowa’s congressional delegation have introduced legislation they say will help lower drug costs. U.S. Congress has largely not met this week, with most of the attention in national politics centering on President Donald Trump’s moves to close the U.S. Department of Education and militarize […]
by Shauneen Miranda, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 20, 2025 WASHINGTON — In a sweeping executive order signed Thursday, President Donald Trump called on Education Secretary Linda McMahon to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure” of the U.S. Education Department. Trump signed the order at a major White House ceremony, flanked by children seated at desks. […]
