Ty Rushing

Iowa Democratic Party Chair Ross Wilburn will not be seeking a second term as head of the state party. Wilburn announced that decision this morning during the party’s State Central Committee (SCC) meeting in Ankeny. “As the leader of the party, I have worked to stem external threats, listened to those who have felt left…

C. J. Petersen described his experience at the White House on Tuesday as a “full circle” moment. The Templeton, Iowa, resident and his husband, Luke, were in Washington, DC, to see President Joe Biden sign the Respect for Marriage Act today, a bipartisan bill that protected gay and interracial marriages. “This law and the love…

As 2022 comes to a close, there were more than a few stories the Starting Line team covered that collectively made us and readers go “WTF.” A lot of those stories revolved around attacks on public education, the LGBTQ community, and other marginalized groups. Some of them involved public officials being bad at their jobs…

According to a decision by Polk County Auditor Jamie Fitzgerald, Iowa Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver is a legal resident of a Grimes apartment where there has been scarce water usage for months and where his family does not reside. Fitzgerald announced his decision in a Monday press release a few days after a hearing…

Several key witnesses attended and spoke at a hearing to determine the validity of Iowa Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver’s voter registration with one notable exception: Jack Whitver. A hearing was conducted at the Polk County Election Office in downtown Des Moines on Wednesday to determine whether or not Whitver’s voter registration was valid to…

Concerned parents hope to get the Spirit Lake School District to reconsider its plan to arm and provide firearms training to 10 non-classroom staff members—although new information indicates teachers are being trained as well—as a deterrent to school shootings. A review of the final draft plan will happen the Monday following Thanksgiving. “It came as…

Iowa Republicans appear to planning major reforms to the state’s education system in the next legislative session. Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley (R-New Hartford) announced on Wednesday the formation of a new, five-person Education Reform Committee, which is in addition to the House’s original Education Committee. The purpose of the new committee is to deal…

A longtime Republican Iowa House member that Gov. Kim Reynolds helped defeat in a GOP primary against a pro-voucher Republican has returned the favor by endorsing Reynolds’ Democratic opponent. Rep. Dave Maxwell (R-Gibson) endorsed gubernatorial candidate Deidre DeJear and House candidate Sarah Smith, both Democrats Smith is running against Rep. Dean Fisher for Iowa House…