2021

Ross Wilburn knows he has two targets on his back at all times: He’s a high-profile public official and he’s Black. Wilburn, a state representative and chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, is used to being on the receiving end of racist remarks; however, three incidents earlier this month, including a threat of lynching, caused…

When the Waukee Community School District implemented an equity standard last year, it passed with little pushback. This year, however, it has become a target as part of a national wave of anti-critical race theory (CRT) candidates’ runs for school board. In Waukee, Morgan Hughes, Andrea Lawrence, Vin Thaker, and Jeff Rubino are running on…

MidAmerican Energy Co. announced last week that heating prices going into the cold, Iowa winter will be significantly increased—likely by 46 to 96%. The Des Moines-based utility has 774,000 natural gas customers in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, and South Dakota. According to MidAmerican, the reason for the hike is not because of inflation or any government…

Water quality has been a top concern for residents of Des Moines in recent years, and the topic was highlighted often at a recent Des Moines City Council candidate forum earlier this week. Ward Three Incumbent Josh Mandelbaum raised the issue with one of the other candidates, Cory McAnelly, in a back-and-forth section 0f the…

Gov. Kim Reynolds and Iowa Republicans rallied against President Joe Biden’s signature COVID relief package, but are now championing a $200 million investment in broadband for the state, which was made possible by the federal American Rescue Plan. “Broadband has never been more important for our future,” Reynolds said in a press release on Monday.…

A month ago, Gov. Kim Reynolds launched the first advertisement for her “This is Iowa” campaign meant to attract people to visit, live, and work in the state. Reynolds is using federal COVID-19 relief funds to air the ads. The commercial shows lush landscapes, water recreation, and scenic shots of Iowa’s urban and rural areas.…

Manape LaMere came home to Sioux City to make a difference. The son of the late Native American activist Frank LaMere, Manape is an activist in his own right. The 42-year-old spent five years living in South Dakota fighting for indigenous people’s rights, including participating in the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s fight against the Dakota…