Shaely Odean is one year post-grad from the University of Iowa, working as Starting Line’s 2026 summer intern. She earned her bachelor’s in journalism and mass communication and a certificate in sustainability sciences. Reporting tangible, reliable, and hard-hitting news to Iowans is not only her job but her favorite pastime.
Shaely Odean
Latest from Shaely Odean
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Miller-Meeks’ voting record under review heading into midterms
The state’s 1st Congressional District face-off between Republican incumbent US Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Democratic challenger Christina Bohannan is among the most closely watched House races.
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Iowa’s 3rd District candidates pitch contrasting plans on affordability
As the anticipated midterm election approaches, affordability has become one of the focuses of the campaign trail for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District. Trone Garriott argued on the podcast “blind cuts” to federal programs are pushing necessary goods out of reach for many families.
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Where Nunn and Trone Garriott stand on key issues in Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District
Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District covers 21 counties in central and southeastern Iowa, anchored by Des Moines and Polk County. Rated as a competitive toss-up race by various election forecasters, incumbent Republican Representative Zach Nunn faces Democratic nominee Sarah Trone Garriott in a high-stakes campaign for the seat.
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Trone Garriott centers economic relief in tight 3rd District Congressional race
Sarah Trone Garriott, an ordained minister and nonprofit leader, frames her plan around the financial pressures facing households, linking higher costs to broader systemic issues.
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What Supreme Court’s mail-in ballot ruling means for Iowa’s elections
The US Supreme Court ruled to leave in place a lower court injunction halting President Donald Trump’s executive order restricting mail-in voting. Here’s what the president of the Iowa Postal Workers Union wants Iowans to know.
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How Iowa’s midterm candidates plan to address the state’s rising cancer rate
With Iowa facing the second-highest and fastest-growing cancer rate in the nation, midterm candidates lay out competing strategies to take it on.
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Nate Willems doubles down on attack ad despite POET legal threat
POET Biorefining threatened legal action this week and is alleging Willems’ commercial falsely implies its CEO bribed Republican Attorney General Brenna Bird, Willems’ opponent.
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Iowa doctor attributes decline in health care access to Rep. Miller-Meeks’ votes
During a press conference organized by the Committee to Protect Healthcare, doctors urged constituents to evaluate lawmakers on their legislative voting record rather than their professional backgrounds. The conference highlighted legislative decisions by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-Virginia), and Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa).
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ACLU warns Iowa voter privacy at risk after Paul Pate shares data with DOJ
Civil liberties advocates and Democratic challenger Ryan Peterman are sounding the alarm over the Iowa Secretary of State’s decision to surrender sensitive voter data to federal authorities.
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Nunn, Trone Garriott face off in pivotal Iowa 3rd Congressional District race
Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District stretches from Des Moines’ suburbs to the Missouri border, and this year it’s again one of the state’s most competitive races. Incumbent Zach Nunn and challenger Sarah Trone Garriott have raised a combined $10.1 million — here’s what to know about both candidates.
