First responders have done a lot in the last year, and it’s taken as much from them as anyone else working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. To give back, and to keep them running, the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan include money specifically for...
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Want Iowans Back To Work? Help With Child Care.
Josie Farley, a young mom who works as a para-educator at Sioux City Schools, likely wouldn't be able to work without child care. "The amount of daycare, how much it costs for daycare ... I would have no money to live after paying daycare [if I didn't work]," she...
What Iowans Can Get Out Of The New Child Tax Credit
The effort to help Americans (and Iowans) recover from the COVID-19 pandemic continues. In addition to an extended filing deadline for taxes and the waiving of unemployment taxes, Americans will also receive an increased tax credit for dependent children for 2021. The...
Get Unemployment Benefits In 2020? Here’s Why You’ll Save Money On Taxes
If at any time last year you received unemployment benefits, a portion or all of those benefits will not be taxed. Iowa’s Democratic Rep. Cindy Axne worked with Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin (D) to add a provision to President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan, the...
Axne: Infrastructure Means Jobs, Road Safety Improvements
Iowa Representative Cindy Axne spoke for over an hour on Monday with Iowans about major legislation out of Washington aimed at boosting the state’s economy during the pandemic– help that is not supported by any of her fellow Iowa members of Congress. Over 600 people...
Sand: Reynolds Is Holding Back Much-Needed Help From Iowans
Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand on Friday told Iowa Press that he was considering a run for Governor or U.S. Senate, as well as reelection to the Auditor job, and spoke critically on the state’s GOP-controlled pandemic response. Sand, one of the only statewide Democratic...
House Dems Warn About Backroom GOP Budget Deals
Iowa House Democrats say they’re concerned with little communication between House and Senate Republicans, a lack of public input and early adjournment in the chambers during the weeks leading up to Iowa’s $8 billion budget allocation. On Tuesday during an Iowa House...
What Iowa Gets Out Of The New COVID Relief Law
Two million Iowa adults and 800,000 children are slated to receive $1,400 stimulus checks, new data from the Biden administration finds. The sweeping COVID-19 relief package that President Joe Biden signed last week also includes extended unemployment benefits,...
Iowans Pleased With How Joe Biden Handling COVID Pandemic
President Joe Biden's competent handling of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout is earning him high marks in a state that supported his opponent in the 2020 election. A new Des Moines Reigster/Mediacom Iowa Poll released today showed that 57% of Iowans approve of the job...
Dems Target Ernst, Grassley COVID Relief Opposition With New Billboard
The Democratic National Committee is taking aim at Iowa’s Senate Republicans on Monday, unveiling a new Des Moines billboard highlighting Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley’s no votes on the sweeping $1.9 trillion COVID-19 economic relief package. Displayed on 14th Street...
How To See When Your Stimulus Check Is Coming
Iowans are eager to receive the latest round of COVID relief stimulus checks following the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act by congressional Democrats and President Joe Biden. Fortunately for them, disbursement of those payments have come very quickly, some...
Here’s What Iowans Can Get Out Of Biden’s COVID Relief Law
In the new $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act signed on Thursday by President Joe Biden are far-reaching, rapid-impact economic benefits for Iowans. The bill, which includes extended unemployment benefits, direct payment stimulus checks, increased child tax...
Feeling charitable? Donate to an Iowa nonprofit that’s Iowan-approved.
It had to be the most popular question we’ve ever asked:
Which charity helping Iowans should folks donate to this year?
Hundreds of worthy causes across the state were mentioned.
What ‘Bidenomics’ Actually Means for Workers in Iowa
US Department of Labor Chief Economist Joelle Gamble explains what “Bidenomics” means and how the president’s investments are helping workers and the economy.
Starting Line’s Most ‘WTF’ Stories Of 2022
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...
Iowa Workers Asked To Sacrifice For Italian Billionaire Owner
As union workers at Case New Holland plants in Burlington, Iowa and Racine, Wisconsin continue their labor strike, it's worth considering how easily the company could give workers everything they wanted—and more. That's because the company is raking in healthy, even...
Axne Introduces Legislation To Combat Iowa’s Puppy Mill Problem
Puppy mills have been in the news for months as one Wayne County operator was fined, surrendered more than 500 dogs, had his business shut down, and his license suspended. Maple Hill Puppies was owned by Daniel Gingerich who was a licensed breeder through the US...
Maria’s Story: From Migrant To College Grad, Using Soccer To Build Community
The end of the year has a way of stirring things in your memory, from family to heroes, to all kinds of inspiration. I have been inspired by books and by movies, and more importantly, I am always inspired by unique individuals who have struggled and came through to...
2020 Dems Join United Auto Workers At The Picket Line
Seven Democratic presidential candidates have shown up at picket lines over the last nine days to express their support for members of the United Auto Workers union on strike against General Motors. Joe Biden, Amy Klobuchar, Beto O'Rourke, Steve Bullock, Tim Ryan,...