Ty Rushing

A dozen Iowa House Democrats want to prohibit book-banning in Iowa’s schools and establish a “right to read” in the Iowa Constitution. HJ 2001 was introduced Jan. 14 and proposes creating an amendment to the Iowa Constitution that prevents the Iowa Legislature from restricting books or other written materials being available to students in the…

Iowa Rep. Sandy Salmon wants history and social study teachers to teach both sides of any issue deemed controversial—or, just don’t teach it at all. The Republican from Janesville introduced a bill Thursday she thinks will provide Iowa students a “nonpartisan education.” Under Salmon’s proposal, teachers can’t be asked by any state agency, school district,…

The Iowa Department of Education would have to sign off on every textbook, article, video or other educational material used in a public school’s social studies class, with a public review process for each following it, under a new proposal from a group of Iowa House Republicans introduced today. Ten GOP lawmakers introduced HF 2060…

A Fairfield city official went on a conspiracy-theory fueled tangent at Monday’s city council meeting after the city was asked to approve a statement of intent supporting diversity and equity. The statement would not be legally enforceable and was drafted by the city’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) committee; however, councilperson Judy Ham opposed it…

I live the kind of life in which a simple tubing trip with friends turns into a life-or-death excursion on a river, so it’s no surprise my engagement story is, well, a story. I spent 10 days with my girlfriend-turned-fiancee, her parents, her brother, and his girlfriend exploring Mexico. My now-fiancee, Adriana, and her family…

Iowa’s proposed flat tax rate will have a major winner: The Rich. Gov. Kim Reynolds’ proposal to create a 4% flat tax rate over four years would benefit higher earners, according to longtime Iowa State University economist Dave Swenson. “You’re going to get a shifting of the tax burden away from the wealthy, towards the…

Gov. Kim Reynolds is using books as the latest excuse to defund public schools. Reynolds used Tuesday’s 2022 Condition of the State address to hitch her wagon to state Sen. Jake Chapman’s crusade against books he finds objectionable being placed in public schools. Presiding over a joint session of the Iowa Legislature, Reynolds echoed talking…

This year was unique because I spent half of it working outside of journalism. I got back in the game full time in July and was able to write some pretty good stuff ranging from ridiculous—honestly, some of my favorite kind of stories—to serious deep dives on political races and narratives surrounding issues in the…

Miranda Bratland is blunt about why Iowa is experiencing a teacher shortage: “It’s a sinking ship.” “I love teaching,” said Bratland, a third-grade teacher in Newton. “I love working with kids. I’m sick of the red tape. We’ve been asked to do the impossible during COVID.” Bratland has taught in Iowa’s public schools since 2004…