Ty Rushing is the former Chief Political Correspondent for Iowa Starting Line. He is a trail-blazing veteran Iowa journalist, an Emmy-nominated filmmaker, and co-founder and president of the Iowa Association of Black Journalists.
Ty Rushing
Latest from Ty Rushing
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Iowa Teacher Bonus Checks Will Be Taxed
Iowa teachers are being taxed on their $1,000 “thank you” bonuses from Gov. Kim Reynolds. “Those are subject to state and federal tax withholding,” confirmed Tim Bloom, Newton Community School District director of business services. Bloom said this was based on guidance from the Iowa Department of Education, which Reynolds delegated to handle distribution of…
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Where Education Bills Stand In The Iowa Legislature
This year’s Iowa Legislative session—which started Jan. 10 and is still going—saw the introduction of more than 50 education bills. These bills covered a wide swath of proposals, everything from jailing teachers and librarians to banning the use of indigenous mascots in public schools. As of Friday, a number of those education bills are dead…
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Gov. Reynolds Criticized For Blaming Shooting On Iowa Schools
Gov. Kim Reynolds said the “real tragedy” behind the March 7 fatal shooting outside of East High School in Des Moines was the educational system letting those kids down. Reynolds made those remarks to the media during a Wednesday press conference at the Des Moines International Airport. She was there to announce that $100 million…
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One Year Later, How Biden’s Rescue Plan Is Helping Northeast Iowa
Thanks to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), a nonprofit daycare center in Decorah is closer to its $7 million goal to build a new facility that will allow it to serve an additional 250 children. The Sunflower Child Development and Discovery Center is able to leverage a $500,000 contribution from the Winneshiek County Board…
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GOP Curriculum Approval Law Would Cost Iowa Schools Tens Millions of Dollars
A proposed stringent approval system of every piece of material used in all Iowa public school classrooms could cost those schools, at minimum, about $27.4 million a year, according to one state agency. The nonpartisan Iowa Legislative Services Agency (LSA) drafted the estimate based on SF 2369, the Iowa Senate’s version of Iowa House Study…
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Ankeny Approves Bonuses for Teachers Excluded From Reynolds’ Plan
The Ankeny School School Board approved on Monday evening allocating $131,333 to 122 certified staff members who will not receive a $1,000 bonus via Gov. Kim Reynolds’ teacher retention initiative. According to Ankeny’s latest annual progress report, the district has 863 certified teachers. In her Condition of the State address, Reynolds announced she was giving…
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WDM Chamber Offers Minority-Owned Businesses a Chance to win Cash Prizes
Entrepreneurs of color across the country have a chance to win part of a $40,000 cash prize through a business pitch competition being held in West Des Moines and supported by one of the country’s largest banks. The West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce will accept applications until 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, for business…
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Fed Up: How Educators in Kim Reynolds’ Iowa Feel After Nonstop GOP Attacks
There were more than 50 education bills introduced during this year’s Iowa legislative session, including proposals to place surveillance cameras in public school classrooms, ban books, jail teachers, and take funding away from public schools to support private institutions. Republican lawmakers, who have introduced the bulk of these policies, have done so under the guises…
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State, National Groups Condemn Iowa’s Girls, Women Trans Sports Ban
Democratic elected officials and LGBTQ advocates widely criticized Gov. Kim Reynolds for signing a bill that bars trans girls and women from competing in school-sanctioned athletic events designated as being for females, girls, or women. Reynolds, a Republican, signed HF 2416 on Thursday, a day after the bill passed in the Iowa Senate along party…
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Reynolds Uses National Spotlight to Highlight GOP School ‘Revolution’
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds was given a national platform Tuesday and she used a portion of it to elevate the parental rights argument Republicans nationwide are using to remake public schools more to their liking. Reynolds, who is expected to announce her intention to run for a second full term as governor, was chosen by…
