2021
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Hytrek: My Favorite Stories I Wrote in 2021
With 2021 coming to a close, the Starting Line team is taking a look back at some of our favorite stories and accomplishments from this year. The following are my favorite pieces I wrote this year—not ranked in any way, just the order in which I thought of them. https://iowastartingline.com/local/seven-haunted-places-in-iowa-to-visit/ I’ve explained on Twitter and…
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Rushing: Some of my Favorite Stories of 2021
This year was unique because I spent half of it working outside of journalism. I got back in the game full time in July and was able to write some pretty good stuff ranging from ridiculous—honestly, some of my favorite kind of stories—to serious deep dives on political races and narratives surrounding issues in the…
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Hytrek: Hey Joni, Christmas Isn’t Only About Presents
According to Sen. Joni Ernst throughout the past two months, Christmas this year has been ruined. #Bidenomics is causing Iowans’ Christmas gifts to be: ❌ backordered❌ delayed❌ unavailable❌ just plain unaffordable D.C. Democrats need to stop this reckless tax-and-spending spree & address these issues for hardworking Americans. pic.twitter.com/r8buH6Fcur — Joni Ernst (@SenJoniErnst) December 8, 2021…
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GOP Quickly Shoots Down Senate Dems Legal Marijuana Proposal
Support for legalized marijuana is only getting higher in Iowa as Democratic legislators want to give voters the chance to make it happen.
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Impossible Expectations: Iowa Educators Share Why There’s A Teacher Shortage
Miranda Bratland is blunt about why Iowa is experiencing a teacher shortage: “It’s a sinking ship.” “I love teaching,” said Bratland, a third-grade teacher in Newton. “I love working with kids. I’m sick of the red tape. We’ve been asked to do the impossible during COVID.” Bratland has taught in Iowa’s public schools since 2004…
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Axne’s Infrastructure Vote Boosts Iowa’s Manufacturing Economy, Jobs
When the infrastructure bill passed the House of Representatives in November, it did so with only one House vote from Iowa: Rep. Cindy Axne (D). However, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act made it to President Joe Biden’s desk and became law Nov. 15. And while part of the focus afterwards has been placed on…
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Iowa’s December COVID Numbers Keep Climbing
December continues to set COVID records for 2021 in Iowa. Hospitalizations are up, the average age of a hospitalized person with COVID is down, and the number of cases is steadily at a high number, according to state data. Unsurprisingly, the majority of COVID patients in hospitals—82.7%—are unvaccinated. As of Tuesday, 823 patients in the…
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Iowa GOP Candidate Says COVID ‘Was the Best Thing That Ever Happened to Our Country’
Nicole Hasso, a Republican candidate for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, said she thinks the pandemic was a good thing for the United States because of the increased political activism it caused. “When COVID hit, I think that was the best thing that ever happened to our country,” she told Breitbart News on Dec. 11. The…
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School Meeting Drama Continues, But Books Survive Challenges
In the Johnston Community School District, the conversation about diverse books keeps going. At Monday evening’s school board meeting, the board voted 4-3 to support the recommendation that the challenged book, “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexei,” remain part of the curriculum, provided parents are given the option to choose…
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GOP Lawmakers May Expand Push For Legal Discrimination Against LGBTQ Iowans In 2022
In recent years, some Republicans in the Iowa Legislature have set their sights on legalizing discrimination against LGBTQ Iowans by removing parts of the Iowa Civil Rights Act. LGBTQ advocates and Republican officials themselves have hinted these efforts may go even further in the 2022 legislative session. Nine GOP lawmakers generated national headlines last year…
