2023
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Celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day With These Must-Read Books
We asked our colleagues across Courier Newsroom, Iowa Starting Line’s parent company, to share recommendations for books by Indigenous authors. Here’s what they said. Monday, October 9, is Indigenous Peoples’ Day—a holiday to honor, celebrate, and recognize the accomplishments of the Native American, First Nation, and Indigenous peoples. It’s also a day for visibility for…
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We went to Vivek Ramaswamy’s ‘Vektoberfest.’ Here’s what we saw
As I sat on a park bench eating a bacon-grilled cheese sandwich, drinking an Exile Ruthie straight from the tap, and chit-chatting with a few folks, I almost forgot I was at a campaign event, which might have been the point. Ohio businessman turned rising GOP star Vivek Ramaswamy hosted “Vektoberfest” on Thursday at the…
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Iowans get financial relief as Biden cancels more student debt
The Biden administration on Wednesday announced it was providing student debt relief to 125,000 Americans, including individuals who’ve worked in public service or nonprofit positions, those who’ve been making payments for decades, and those with permanent disabilities. This round of debt relief totals $9 billion and will eliminate the debt of 53,000 who’ve participated in…
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It’s Banned Books Week. Iowans told us their forbidden faves
In honor of National Banned Books Week, which takes on even more importance this year in Iowa, we asked you for your favorite banned books. Starting Line readers put 48+ books on this list. But a few rose to the top of the pile.
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Tim Scott says kids need more exposure to conservatism
While many Republicans across the country have spent the last few years arguing that public schools are being used to indoctrinate kids into leftist viewpoints and that politics should kept out of schools, US Sen. Tim Scott suggests conservatives should get their own political philosophies into those spaces. “Protecting our kids and encouraging our kids…
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Iowa seniors to see lower drug costs as Medicare price negotiations advance
The Biden administration announced Tuesday that all 10 drug companies whose medicines were selected for Medicare price negotiations in August have agreed to participate in negotiations. Now, these drugmakers will negotiate directly with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to lower the cost of 10 commonly-used drugs, thanks to a provision in Biden’s…
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Iowa native celebrates new deal after 5-month writers’ strike
After 148 days on strike, Hollywood writers—including Iowa native Romen Borsellino—reached a tentative agreement with the major studios last week that Borsellino told Starting Line was “an incredible deal” for Writers Guild of America members.
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How to celebrate Banned Books Week in Des Moines, Iowa City
Banned Books Week seems especially relevant in Iowa this year. Here are a couple events to help you celebrate this week, both free and open to all:
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Trump Went On Bizarre Rant About Sharks, Lights In Latest Iowa Event
Would you rather get fatally electrocuted at sea or be eaten by a shark? Former President Donald Trump asked thousands of people attending his Ottumwa rally on Sunday to contemplate this thought-provoking question in the midst of a winding rant about electric vehicles. The Republican presidential primary front-runner and defendant in four criminal indictments spanning…
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How Ashley Hinson made her kids’ school public enemy Number One
The students and staff of the Linn-Mar School District are once again being used as a political punching bag by Republicans thanks to a local issue elevated to the national stage by Rep. Ashley Hinson. Hinson, whose two sons attend school in the district, has actively used her office and power to shine a negative…
