As the hunger crisis worsens in Iowa and Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds again rejected federal money for summer feeding programs, anti-hunger advocates say they’re not giving up on finding ways to get people help.
Once again, Reynolds has been mum about her priorities for the Legislature. The rough strokes of her plan finally got a public recounting Tuesday with the Condition of the State address.
To a packed Iowa House floor and repeated standing ovations, Gov. Kim Reynolds rattled through childcare and energy, Medicaid regulations and cancer research.
On this episode of Cornhole Champions, host Zachary Oren Smith chats with Iowa Starting Line’s community editor Amie Rivers about important takeaways form the governor’s proposals.
Links
1. Read Gov. Kim Reynolds full speech (Iowa Starting Line): https://iowastartingline.com/2025/01/14/kim-reynolds-condition-state_full/
2. Child care gaps in rural America threaten to undercut small communities (Iowa Capital Dispatch): https://iowacapitaldispatch.com/2024/01/02/child-care-gaps-in-rural-america-threaten-to-undercut-small-communities/
3. March of Dimes report on maternity care deserts in the US (March of Dimes): https://www.marchofdimes.org/peristats/data?reg=99&top=23&stop=641&lev=1&slev=4&obj=9&sreg=19
4. Quad-Cities schools restrict cell phone use to recapture learning time (The Quad-City Times): https://qctimes.com/news/local/education/cell-phones-in-schools-quad-cities-new-policies-restrictions/article_e841cb28-5668-11ef-95e3-1b15b48d8b30.html
Amie Rivers returns to work after taking time off to grieve the death of her spouse.
Des Moines will get a new space to play boardgames and socialize this spring with the opening of the Rook Room Game Lounge & Cafe.
Where can you find the best pizza in Iowa?
Iowa started rolling back protections for child workers in 2023, and new child labor rules were published Wednesday to roll more protections back.
Half a million students are enrolled in Iowa’s public schools. And because Iowa charges students for meals, some rack up lunchroom debt and others go hungry. Studies show hunger impacts academic performance, classroom behavior, as well as overall health and even test scores. But so far, the powers that be in Iowa aren’t interested.
On this episode of Cornhole Champions, host Zachary Oren Smith chats with Sen. Janice Weiner (D-Iowa City) about why year-after-year this policy goes nowhere in the Iowa Legislature which convenes again next week. Also, hear from Democrat Mike Zimmer who is running to flip a Clinton County Senate seat blue.
This week, Chase Seibert guest hosts offering the analysis he’s becoming famous for on TikTok (@burnerlearner) and Insta (@theseibert).
Links
1. Chuck Grassley: Iowa's veteran lawmaker once again third in line for presidency (Iowa Starting Line): https://iowastartingline.com/2022/10/19/chuck-grassleys-political-career-is-older-than-barbie-the-grammys-and-more/
2. Rita Hart reelected to lead Iowa Democrats in 2025 (Iowa Starting Line): https://iowastartingline.com/2025/01/04/rita-hart-chair-democrats/
3. Iowa Republicans want to cut property taxes (The Gazette): https://www.thegazette.com/state-government/iowa-republicans-want-to-cut-property-taxes-heres-what-it-could-mean/
Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative.
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