Iowa has a well-documented problem with child care, particularly the availability of care and the cost of it—leading to impacts on Iowa’s workforce.
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Results for "American Rescue Plan"
Sioux City Jail Almost 40% More Expensive Than Voters Agreed To
The initial estimate for the new Woodbury County Jail has gone up by 40%. If costs keep going up like they are, “we could be the most expensive jail in the United States.”
Highest-Paying Jobs With No Formal Education Requirements
While advanced education typically leads to higher pay, there are some jobs with no formal education requirements that pay well.
Here’s How the Biden Administration Has Tackled The Mental Health Crisis
May was Mental Health Awareness Month, and for the past few weeks, the Biden administration has announced a series of efforts to address the nation’s growing mental health crisis. Those come on top of the administration’s legislative achievements on mental health,...
5 New Iowa Laws You Should Pay Attention To
The 2023 Iowa Legislative wrapped up in early May, but the ramifications of what one Democratic lawmaker called “the most harmful and destructive” session ever will be felt for a while. The opening days of the session were all about rushing through Gov. Kim Reynolds’...
Biden Announces 2024 Presidential Re-Election Run
President Joe Biden announced Tuesday morning that he’ll be running for re-election in 2024. He made the announcement in a three-minute video that centered around the concept of “freedom,” and laid out how his administration has expanded freedom for Americans while...
Biden’s Budget Would Tax Billionaires, Corporations to Strengthen Medicare, Expand Child Care, and Help Families
President Joe Biden on Thursday released his budget plan, which would raise taxes on the very rich and corporations in order to strengthen Medicare, invest in education and childcare, and lower drug prices—all while cutting $3 trillion from the federal deficit over...
Cresco’s Country Winds Manor Closing, 48 Workers Laid Off
A facility specifically for those with dementia will close Friday, while an assisted living facility associated with it is set to close next month, leaving 26 residents and their families with one less option and 48 workers out of a job. The board of Country Winds...
Missed Grant Could Have Helped Iowa Pay And Recruit Daycare Workers
Higher wages for daycare workers. Improved childcare facilities. Additional care for underserved communities, infants and toddlers, and children with disabilities are all items a federal grant would have helped Iowa pay for. However, Iowa missed its latest chance to...
Iowans React To State Losing Out On Millions In Daycare Funding
The state of Iowa will lose an opportunity to receive $3o million in federal funding for child care because Gov. Kim Reynolds' office didn't want to commit $3 million in matching state funds despite Iowa having a $1.91 billion surplus. State Sen. Claire Celsi (D-Des...
How ARPA Funds Will Help This Northwest Iowa City Build A New Water Tower
If all goes well, the city of Sheldon will have a new $3.5 million water tower up and running by June 2024, almost a decade after Public Works Director Todd Uhl first mentioned the need to the city council. For years, the new water tower was a mainstay on Sheldon’s...
For Kim Reynolds, Spending Causes Inflation, Except When She Does It
Gov. Kim Reynolds blasted President Joe Biden’s plan to forgive small amounts of federal student loans for individual borrowers—$20,000 is the highest amount that can be forgiven for certain borrowers—and tied it to inflation. “At a time of skyrocketing inflation,...
Iowa GOP Parties At Field Of Dreams After Voting Against, Opposing Funds For Its Expansion
Gov. Kim Reyolds and nearly all the top Iowa Republicans were over the moon after Thursday’s Major League Baseball (MLB) held at the “Field of Dreams” movie site outside Dyersville. “Such a fun time at the Field of Dreams last night. Incredibly proud to see Iowa shine...
Biden Is Coming Back To Iowa. Here’s What He’s Done For The State, So Far
President Joe Biden is set to visit Menlo, a Guthrie County town about 45 minutes west of Des Moines, to tout his infrastructure investments in rural Iowa, according to the Des Moines Register. Since entering office, the Biden Administration has placed a large...
Low Wages For Workers Are A Big Reason for Iowa’s Child-Care Struggles
Everyone knows Iowa has a child-care problem and yet, little progress has been made to solve it. Rep. Tracy Ehlert (D-Cedar Rapids), an early childhood educator for about 15 years, said the crisis has existed for her whole career. She said it took parents leaving the...
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...
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...
Federal Funds to Bolster Health Care, Child Services in Ottumwa Area
Wapello County was among several in Iowa to receive millions in American Rescue Plan funding. Specifically, the funding went to the River Hills Health Center and the Southern Iowa Economic Development Association (SIEDA), both based in Ottumwa, to help them meet...
Iowa Child Care Providers Warn GOP Proposal Could put Kids at Risk
Iowa child care providers are speaking out against a new proposal that they say could decrease the quality of care, cause more teachers to quit, and possibly even harm children. House Study Bill 511 would increase the number of children each child care worker could be...
By the Numbers: Biden’s First-Year Impact on Iowans
Thursday marked the one-year anniversary of President Joe Biden’s inauguration. Biden’s first year in office was a difficult one, as the coronavirus pandemic continued to wreak havoc on the nation. There are real problems facing Americans today–rising prices, a...
Reynolds Touts Broadband Investment She Opposed As ‘Blue-State Bailout’
Gov. Kim Reynolds and Iowa Republicans rallied against President Joe Biden's signature COVID relief package, but are now championing a $200 million investment in broadband for the state, which was made possible by the federal American Rescue Plan. “Broadband has never...
Iowa Continues To Lag In Broadband Internet
Broadband internet is one of the few issues that garner bipartisan support, which is good news for Iowa but also highlights the state's struggles in that sector. Iowa has the second-slowest internet speeds in the country trailing only Alaska. The Hawkeye State also...
Jill Biden and Cindy Axne Tout Child Tax Credit Help in Des Moines
Dr. Jill Biden joined Rep. Cindy Axne for events in Des Moines on Wednesday to promote the third child tax credit payments being delivered today. President Joe Biden’s expanded child tax credit includes higher payments for every child parents have. For families with...
Biden Picks a Fight With Reynolds on COVID Safety Measures
President Joe Biden and his administration are stepping in to correct inaction from Republican governors such as Iowa's Kim Reynolds as the Delta variant spreads and presents a larger threat. Wednesday, Biden directed US Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to find out...
Thousands of Iowans Face Eviction Saturday as Moratorium Ends
More than 30,000 Iowans think they will be evicted within two months. The federal eviction moratorium, put in place to help renters who have struggled to make rent and utility payments, ends on Saturday. It was originally set to expire on June 30 but was extended one...
Answers to Common Questions, Concerns on the Child Tax Credit
Here are some answers to common questions Iowans might have about the new, expanded child tax credit, payments for which began hitting bank accounts last week. What is the child tax credit? A federal tax benefit to help families who are raising children. How long has...
Thrane: Child Tax Credits Will Help, but Some Choosing to Wait
While opening my mail a few days ago, I noticed a letter from the White House signed by President Joe Biden explaining the American Rescue Plan that was passed on March 11. This plan is intended to help millions of American families fight public health and economic...
Axne, Families Tout What Coming Child Tax Credit Can Do For Iowans
Four out of five Iowans with children will start seeing more money in their bank accounts as the first payments of a new child tax credit go out July 15. To showcase the benefit, U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne, Iowa state Sen. Zach Wahls and Iowa state Rep. Jennifer Konfrst,...
Miller-Meeks Votes Against Local Projects She Requested Funds For
A bill to provide billions for infrastructure projects across the country passed the House of Representatives this past week. Iowa Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks voted no. Nonetheless, the projects Miller-Meeks requested money for will still get it. Some of those...
How Can Relief Funds Help Iowans? Debate Is On In City Councils, Municipal Elections.
To help the country rebound from the economic and human devastation caused by COVID-19, President Joe Biden and Congress have allocated significant funding support from the federal government. The American Rescue Plan includes money for states and local governments to...