Eli Lilly, Sanofi, and Novo Nordisk’s price cuts are expected to benefit many Iowans who need insulin to survive. The companies first announced the moves last year, as a response to an American Rescue Plan provision that threatened to penalize them if they kept prices high.
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Iowa’s Unemployment Services Get Upgrade, Thanks to American Rescue Plan Grants
Iowa is one of five states that will receive new money to upgrade software, reduce backlogs, identify fraud and increase training at their state employment offices, thanks to a round of grants courtesy of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Iowa Workforce Development...
American Rescue Plan Dollars To Boost Iowa Tourism
The Iowa tourism industry is getting a big boost from President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan, which also includes funding for outdoor recreation and tourism industries so states can rebuild. Monday, the Iowa Economic Development Authority and Gov. Kim Reynolds...
How the American Rescue Plan Has Helped Marshall County
Marshall County was among several in Iowa to receive millions in American Rescue Plan funding. Specifically, the funding went to UnityPoint Health-Marshalltown and Mid-Iowa Community Action (MICA), both based in Marshalltown, to help them meet community needs and...
How One Iowa County Is Using Its American Rescue Plan Funding
As Iowa communities have received federal money through the American Rescue Plan, possibilities have opened up for counties to pursue necessary development or repair projects to boost their cities and towns. The Rescue Plan was passed by congressional Democrats and...
Fed Rescue Plan ‘Funding Was A Lifeline’ Says Coralville Mayor
During the thick of the pandemic, among the issues that troubled Coralville Mayor Meghann Foster and other community leaders was figuring out how to make up for lost revenue while also trying to maintain city services many residents relied on. “We were very concerned...
White House Announces New Plan To Lower Child Care Costs, Support Child Care Providers
Many American families could soon get some much-needed help with the unaffordable cost of child care, thanks to a new proposal from the Biden administration. On Tuesday, the White House proposed new actions that would lower the cost of child care and strengthen the...
Eastern Iowa Meatpacking Plant Workers Are Organizing And Winning
Ninoska Campos is a force to be reckoned with. She speaks little English, but is a native Spanish speaker—a language spoken by many immigrant meatpacking and farm workers in many southeastern Iowa manufacturing towns. Over the past year and a half, she has rallied...
Iowa Egg Plant Gets First Crack At New USDA Loan Thanks To Axne, Vilsack
Small, rural food processors just got another big boost of support from the Biden Administration with the Friday announcement of a new loan program to increase production capacity. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an $11.1 million loan for Crystal...
Explainer: How Biden’s Rescue Plan Protects Union Members’ Pensions
During a stop in Cleveland on Wednesday, President Joe Biden delivered remarks on an aspect of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) specifically tailored to protect union pensions. ARPA’s Special Financial Assistance program is a provision that bolsters protections for...
Biden’s Rescue Plan Will Fund Major Iowa School Safety Push
Federal money from President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan will make it possible for an Iowa school safety program to get off the ground after two years of going unfunded. The state is investing $100 million from the American Rescue Plan and Elementary and...
Biden’s Rescue Plan Funding Could Help Iowa’s Teacher Shortage
Once again, the Biden Administration's American Rescue Plan is coming through for Iowa. Nineteen Iowa schools were selected for awards under the Teacher and Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship Pilot Grant Program, according to an announcement made by Gov. Kim...
Senate GOP’s Tax, Social Security Plan Widely Unpopular… If People Know About It
Did you know that the Republican senator in charge of winning back control of the Senate for his party introduced a plan to increase taxes on one-third of Iowans and put Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and the Affordable Care Act in jeopardy? If you answered...
Questions Surround Pott. County’s Use Of Rescue Plan Funds For Ski Hill
Pottawattamie County residents want a bigger say in how the county uses federal COVID relief dollars after the board of supervisors used $2 million to purchase a ski hill without public input. Calling themselves the Concerned Citizens of Pottawattamie County, the...
Nine New Ways Biden’s Rescue Plan Is Helping Iowa Communities
A little more than a year after it was passed, more Iowa communities are starting to approve the use of American Rescue Plan money for projects Some of these projects aim to solve problems related to water, public safety, and other social services. In many cases, this...
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...
Federal Rescue Plan Funds Boost Iowa Water Infrastructure Projects
Federal dollars continue to flow into Iowa as Gov. Kim Reynolds announced $38 million in funding for three water infrastructure projects Friday morning, including up to $15 million toward the Iowa Confluence (ICON) Water Trails Project in Des Moines. The money comes...
Woodbury Co. Residents Criticize Using Rescue Plans Funds On Jail Cost Over-Runs
You could call Tuesday’s Woodbury County Board of Supervisors meeting an airing of grievances as activists, community members, and union officials clashed with board members over the use of American Rescue Plan funds. The reason for the conflict is the upcoming...
How Cedar Rapids Plans To Use Its Rescue Plan Funding
Cedar Rapids Mayor Brad Hart announced Thursday how the city will spend its share of the American Rescue Plan funding. According to the National League of Cities, Cedar Rapids is expected to receive about $28 million. The funds are meant to be used for cities and...
Iowa Still Hasn’t Requested Rescue Plan Funds For Small Towns
Though the money has been going out since May, Iowa has yet to request American Rescue Plan money for the state’s small towns. According to the Treasury Department, the total allocation would be $221,737,821, with the first half delivered this year. Only 11 other...
With No State Vaccine Incentives Planned, Polk County Kicks Off Its Own Lottery
Though Gov. Kim Reynolds has no plans to incentivize vaccination in Iowa, the state’s counties and municipalities do. Today Polk County announced a lottery running from today to Aug. 22. To register, individuals have to be at least 18 and must have at least one dose...
Biden’s Rescue Plan Gets More Iowans Health Insurance Coverage
Thursday’s implementation of President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan will be the largest expansion of Iowa health care benefits since the ACA was introduced in 2013, said an Iowa Affordable Care Act specialist. Jeremy Smith of Iowa Navigator, a non-profit health...
GOP Worried COVID Relief Will Stop Plan For Tax Breaks For Wealthy
Iowa Republican legislators are frustrated that money for Iowa in the COVID-19 relief bill could interfere with their plan to provide big tax breaks for the wealthy. In a press conference with Statehouse reporters today, Speaker Pat Grassley said that provisions in...
Opinion: Johnson Co. supervisor: We’re still committed to affordable housing
This column, by Johnson County Supervisor Jon Green, is in response to a previous column by leaders from Escucha Mi Voz. On March 3, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors decided to shift funding in support of affordable housing from our American Rescue Plan Act...
Kim Reynolds finally decides to help feed some kids, but there’s a big catch
Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Wednesday that Iowa will start a competitive $900,000 grant program to feed Iowa children over the summer—this comes months after she declined $29 million in federal funds to feed kids via a different summer program. The new Summer Meal...
Biden’s 2025 budget prioritizes lowering costs for families, taxing the rich
The president’s budget includes proposals to lower childcare costs, create a paid family leave program, lower drug costs, and strengthen Social Security and Medicare—all by raising taxes on the wealthy and corporations.
Op-ed: Trump’s journey from hosting The Apprentice to being the biggest loser
Leading up to the 2016 campaign, Donald Trump honed a carefully crafted image of himself as a successful businessman and a winner. But in reality, Trump has a long record of failure, according to Chris Edelson, a professor and author of two books on US presidential power.
Iowa Senate bill would expand postpartum coverage, but limit participants
A bill that would increase postpartum Medicaid coverage for a full year, but restrict the number of people eligible for the program continues to work its way through the Iowa Senate. The limit is currently at 60 days and Iowa is one of only three states that hasn’t...
One Year In, Here’s How the Inflation Reduction Act Has Helped Iowa
One year ago today, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed into law. The legislation represented the largest-ever investment in fighting climate change, lowered health care and prescription drug costs, raised taxes on corporations, and boosted funding for the...
White House Thanks Reynolds For Her Support Of ‘Bidenomics’
Gov. Kim Reynolds announced another $148 million in funding for broadband expansion on Monday, but neglected to note it was only made possible by a Biden administration policy she once ridiculed. However, White House Regional Communications Director Haris Talwar...