October 2019
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How Affordable Housing Plans Shape DSM Mayoral Race
Several mayoral candidates with extensive, but different backgrounds dealing with Des Moines’ rising shortage of affordable housing have proposed varied approaches to solve the issue ahead of Nov. 5 elections. Incumbent Mayor Frank Cownie, who has led the city through rapid downtown development during his 16-year tenure, is up against local affordable housing developer Jack…
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What Grand View’s Politically-Active Latino Students Think Of 2020
Grand View University has been a welcoming place for Latinos for a long time, not only for students but also for Latino organizations such as Latina Leadership Initiative, !Al Éxito! and ¿Que Pasa Iowa? to mention a few. So, I was curious to learn more about this educational institution and decided to interview Alex Piedras,…
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Iowa Students Frustrated With Obtaining Voter ID Cards
Guest column from Drake University student Samantha Bayne. I re-registered to vote on Constitution Day, September 17th, 2019. I know that because I registered myself, before an event I led to introduce first-year Drake University students to the world of Iowa politics. Along with almost 30 other forms, I personally turned in my voter registration…
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Pelosi’s Prescription Drug Bill Likely To See House Vote This Month
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s drug pricing bill, H.R.3, has passed three committees and is expected to come to the House floor for a vote before the end of the month. The House Ways and Means Committee approved Pelosi’s bill late on Tuesday, before a “heated” debate broke out amongst key House Democrats, complaining…
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Joni Ernst Faces Big Test On Controversial, Ukraine-Questioned Nominee
Sen. Joni Ernst may finally have to speak or take a vote on the situation involving Donald Trump and Ukraine. Tomorrow, the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on whether to advance the nomination of Steven Menashi. His nomination to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals has faced controversy already, but new issues have arisen in…
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How Al Gore Is Influencing The Climate Conversation In Iowa
Al Gore still cares about climate change — now he’s meeting with Iowa farmers about environmentally-friendly farming practices. The former vice president gained international attention after his documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth,” brought global warming more into focus as a concept into the American psyche. Eastern Iowa cattle farmer Seth Watkins this past week met with…
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New Ads Back Finkenauer’s Stance Against Big Pharma Lobby
A group called Patients for Affordable Drugs Now is supporting Iowa Rep. Abby Finkenauer with a six-figure digital ad buy. Two new ads encouraging voters to thank Finkenauer for her work on several bills that aim to lower prescription drug prices are hitting YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. The ads are titled “Jackie” and “Gail.” In…
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Ep124: Biden Back in Front; Interview w/ Atl. Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms
Pat Rynard interviews Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms about her decision to endorse Joe Biden for president, her trip to Iowa to join office-openings and campaign for him, and the issues she’s working on as a big-city mayor. Paige Godden and Isabella Murray join Josh Cook to talk about Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen.…
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Michael Bennet Adds Polk County Leaders, Builds Up In Iowa
Michael Bennet, the Colorado senator and Democratic presidential candidate, now has a group of Polk County residents dedicated to spreading his message in the key Iowa county. The Polk County steering committee will “offer strategic guidance and lead outreach and organizing efforts” in the area as the Bennet campaign works to expand its presence in…
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I “Don’t Feel Like A Freshman” – Axne’s Eventful First Year
At the time Congresswoman Cindy Axne was sworn in as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, the federal government was in the midst of a partial shutdown. Then, in mid-March, her district was hit with historic flooding. Now, for the first time since the late 1990s, Axne is one of 228 representatives to put…
