Zachary Oren Smith is your friendly neighborhood reporter. He leads Starting Line’s political coverage where he investigates corruption, housing affordability and the future of work. For nearly a decade, he’s written award-winning stories for Iowa Public Radio, The Des Moines Register and Iowa City Press-Citizen. Send your tips on hard news and good food to zach@iowastartingline.com.
Zachary Oren Smith
Latest from Zachary Oren Smith
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Miller-Meeks, Zaun pile onto Trump’s suit against Register pollster
In 2024, Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks encored her razor-thin margin from 2020. Despite winning, she’s calling foul and blaming a poll that didn’t mention her name. No one is more aware of her elections’ tight margins than US Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks. Her district’s ambivalence toward her in 2024 was only matched by its ambivalence in…
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Heartland AEA begins dramatic restructuring following Republican’s AEA changes and cuts
A state agency that supports students from kindergarten to age 21 with special needs is anticipating major restructuring and reductions in the coming year. This after Iowa Republicans’ law redirecting their funding and scope of service. Heartland Area Education Agency (AEA) is bracing staff for even larger reductions in staff and services in response to…
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Auditor Sand uncovers $430,000 fraud scheme in Iowa Workforce Development funded program
Embezzled federal funds paid a family member’s cell phone bills and non-existent daycare services. Auditor Rob Sand says the state needs to prioritize oversight in light of investigation. A special investigation by Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand found evidence of $426,000 in embezzled federal funds by an agency overseen by Iowa Workforce Development. The case…
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Zimmer flips seat for Democrats in state Senate
A local school board president who ran on supporting public education flipped a Republican state Senate seat blue. Democrat Mike Zimmer of DeWitt, 64, won a special election to fill a senate seat north of Davenport. The seat which was vacated by Republican Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer will now be represented by Democrat. His term…
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Special election is Tuesday for Clinton state Senate seat
Tuesday’s special election will decide who fills the vacancy left by Lieutenant Gov. Chris Cournoyer. The special election for the vacant state Senate seat in District 35 will be held on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. Polling places will be open on Election Day from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Two candidates are on the ballot:…
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Medical CBD expansion bill passes first hurdle
Iowa has one of the most restrictive medical cannabis programs in the country. There’s a push in the Iowa Legislature to double the number of cannabidiol dispensaries that can operate in the state. Iowa license plates have become a common site at weed dispensaries across state lines. The state only allows cannabis preparations in medical…
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🌽Cornhole Champions #8 – Best seats for the billionaires (with Rep. J. D. Scholten, Sen. Zach Wahls, and Austin Frerick)
Toss some bags and complain with us about the country’s political alignment with the richest people on earth. Bright ideas: campaign finance reform and lots of it. 🌽Cornhole Champions #8 – Best seats for the billionaires (with Rep. J. D. Scholten, Sen. Zach Wahls, and Austin Frerick) by Zachary Oren Smith Toss some bags and…
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‘Best seats’ for billionaires at Trump’s inauguration
If Trump’s inauguration is any indication, the 47th President is readying for more of the same with mega-donors at the center of the action. K.V. Dahl III made the trip to DC all the way from LeClaire, Iowa. But didn’t get to see the inauguration. He was just a few blocks from Capitol Hill when…
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Rep. Nunn says disaster aid should be conditional for California
Strings for thee, but not for me. The deadly Los Angeles blazes have upended lives and destroyed thousands of acres. To the calls for federal aid, US Rep. Zach Nunn of Iowa went on TV saying he wants to make disaster aid conditional. This less than a year after the Biden Administration extended unconditional aid…
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🌽Cornhole Champions #7 – Condition of the State (with Gov. Kim Reynolds)
Toss some bags and talk through the governor’s priorities for new Iowa laws. Bright ideas: Iowa DOGE, paying childcare workers more, banning cell phones, and pots of beans. 🌽Cornhole Champions #7 – Condition of the State (with Gov. Kim Reynolds) by Zachary Oren Smith Toss some bags and talk through the governor’s priorities for new…
