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Which bills survived, which died as second ‘funnel week’ ends at the Iowa Capitol

The State Capitol in Des Moines. (Photo by Katie Akin/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 14, 2024 As lawmakers ended the second “funnel” deadline of the 2024 legislative session, many of the priorities laid out by Republican leadership at the beginning of the session remain in limbo – while many more were taken out of the running for consideration. Though Republicans hold a […]

D.C. Dispatch: Murder prosecution, child care affordability and veterans’ assistance

U.S. Capitol (Photo by Jane Norman/States Newsroom)

by Jay Waagmeester, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 8, 2024 Both chambers of Congress continued to work toward approving appropriation bills this week, and the Iowa delegation introduced legislation tied to murder prosecution, environmental regulations, affordable child care and more. Iowa’s four congressional delegates voted in favor of the first of two funding packages to avoid […]

Bill to split TikTok from Chinese ownership gets unanimous vote from key U.S. House panel

US Capitol

by Ashley Murray, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 7, 2024 WASHINGTON — Lawmakers on the powerful U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously approved a White House-supported bill that would force TikTok to split from its Chinese parent company or face prohibition from U.S. app stores and web hosting services. Members voted 50-0 Thursday to advance […]

Trump, Biden close in on clinching nominations after broad Super Tuesday victories

Donald Trump stopped in Des Moines this past week in support of his presidential campaign.

by Ashley Murray, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 6, 2024 WASHINGTON — Despite facing 91 felony counts, hefty civil penalties and a packed 2024 legal calendar, Donald Trump emerged on Super Tuesday as the Republican Party’s presumptive choice as its presidential candidate in November. The former president has secured 995 of the necessary 1,215 GOP delegates […]

Bills addressing AI-created porn, misleading content pass Iowa House

The Iowa Capitol

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch March 6, 2024 As concerns grow about the misuse of artificial intelligence in creating images and videos, House lawmakers passed several bills Wednesday adding criminal charges for certain uses of AI — as well as passing legislation requiring minors to receive parental consent to access social media. House File […]

Senate panel advances bill to restrict, but not ban, traffic cameras

Close-up on speed trap surveillance camera along highway to control speeding to reduce speeding related accidents.

by Kathie Obradovich, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 29, 2024 Iowa lawmakers are taking another stab at trying to control traffic cameras with the overhaul of a bill that would restrict the uses and locations of automated law enforcement devices and regulate the revenues generated by them. Legislators have been wrestling for years over issues posed […]

Iowa primed for potentially ‘epic’ increase in stream pollution

The North Raccoon River routinely has elevated levels of nitrate contamination. (Photo by Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

by Jared Strong, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 29, 2024 A buildup of nitrate in farm fields that has likely resulted from Iowa’s longest-running drought in 70 years has set the stage for a potentially massive uptick in stream pollution, state water-quality observers say. Research has shown that nitrogen fertilizer that goes unused by crops can […]

McConnell to step down as U.S. Senate GOP leader

US Capitol

by Ariana Figueroa, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 28, 2024 WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky will step down as the Senate Republican leader in November, he said on the Senate floor Wednesday, announcing the end of a run as party leader that broke records for its length and shaped American politics over nearly […]

Millions of gallons of manure have languished at former swine site for years

Pig (file photo)

by Jared Strong, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 27, 2024 The operators of a defunct hog confinement in southern Iowa have failed for more than five years to dispose of its leftover manure, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. The department recently ordered Raul Flores-Castillo and Virginia Flores to remove all manure from the […]

Supreme Court justices, governors weigh how to ‘disagree better’ in a polarized U.S.

U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justices Amy Coney Barrett, left, and Sonia Sotomayor, center, speak about the state of political discourse during a panel at the National Governors Association’s winter meeting in Washington, D.C., on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. Thomas Griffith, lecturer on law at Harvard and retired D. C. Circuit Court judge, right, moderated the panel. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)

by Jennifer Shutt, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 23, 2024 WASHINGTON — U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Sonia Sotomayor spoke to the nation’s governors Friday about how they disagree on cases of major import without resorting to the rancor that often marks modern politics. Their rare public remarks inside a Washington, D.C., […]

           

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