2021
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Iowa Dems: Getting Vaccine Shouldn’t Be Like “Hunger Games”
Iowa Democratic leaders on Thursday criticized a “leadership vacuum” in the Republican-run state as desperate residents search for COVID-19 vaccinations and relief with little to no government help. During their weekly press conference on Thursday, Senate Democratic Leader Zach Wahls, House Democratic Leader Todd Prichard, and House Democratic Whip Jennifer Konfrst addressed Republican Gov. Kim…
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Useful New Tools For Finding Iowa COVID Vaccines
As Iowa’s supply of vaccines continue to increase from the federal government, many Iowans are searching everywhere they can online to find out where to acquire them. Last week, the state opened up vaccines to those under 65 years of age with a certain medical or health condition. Just today, Polk County announced that they…
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Report: Grassley Starts Fundraising For 2022 Race
Sen. Chuck Grassley has begun fundraising for a possible Senate reelection campaign that some are still skeptical will actually happen. Punchbowl News reported this afternoon the longtime senator had started fundraising for his 8th term in office. Grassley would be 89 upon swearing in for his next term if he does run and win reelection.…
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Local Teachers Union Reminds Hinson They Are Back In School
The Iowa State Education Association on Thursday called out Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson for making a political statement far from the realities of her district. The teachers union took to social media in response to a photo circulating of Iowa’s 1st District congresswoman wearing a mask demanding, “OPEN SCHOOLS NOW! Follow the science, not the…
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Thousands Of Iowans Rejected COVID Contact Tracers’ Calls, KCRG Finds
About 30% of COVID-19 positive Iowans rejected state attempts to contact trace during a virus surge last fall, new data shows. KCRG-obtained findings through a public records request from the state reveals that 24,166 Iowans either refused or ignored contact tracers’ attempts to perform case investigations in November while 52,876 completed interviews. Contact tracers attempted…
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Open Enrollment Bill Advances To Override Diversity Plan Concerns
A bill that would stop five Iowa school districts from pointing to voluntary diversity plans as a reason to deny student transfers advanced Thursday through another legislative subcommittee. Under current law, Des Moines, Davenport, Postville, Waterloo and West Liberty superintendents can deny requests for open enrollment of a student from one district to another if…
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Polk County Needs A New County Attorney
The trial this week of Des Moines Register reporter Andrea Sahouri was a disgrace. It never should have happened, but it could occur again as long as John Sarcone remains the Polk County Attorney. The prosecution of a reporter for simply doing her job during a Black Lives Matter protest drew international attention, outrage and…
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Axne’s Efforts On COVID Bill Will Save Many Iowans Money On Taxes
Included in the COVID-19 relief bill passed by the U.S. Senate on Saturday was a provision first proposed by Rep. Cindy Axne and Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin. The measure would waive the first $10,200 of unemployment benefits earned in 2020 from taxes for households earning less than $150,000 this season. It seemed last month unlikely…
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Love Is Love In Any Language: A Look At Iowa Interracial Marriages
It is going to be 25 years since I married my Iowan husband. We had a beautiful ceremony on an island off the coast of Mexico. Unfortunately, my husband’s family was not able to attend our wedding, but I always pictured that if they joined mine, it would resemble a scene from the movie My…
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Iowa Sued By Top Dem Election Attorney, LULAC Over New Voting Law
A top Democratic elections lawyer filed a lawsuit Tuesday morning against Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate and Attorney General Tom Miller, challenging the voter suppression bill signed into law Monday afternoon. The rapid response case, filed by voting rights attorney Marc Elias and the League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa, comes after…
