Des Moines
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Iowa Republicans rush anti-apprenticeship, anti-union contracting bill, raising safety concerns
In 24 hours, Republicans in both chambers passed a bill that takes away an Iowa city’s ability to prefer contracts with established training programs for taxpayer funded projects. Iowa Republicans passed a controversial bill this week stopping local governments from requiring workforce training standards for contractors on public projects, a major blow to union and…
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VoteVets targets Rep. Zach Nunn on Veterans Affairs cuts
A veterans voter education group is going after US. Rep. Zach Nunn in a new campaign over the Trump administration’s sweeping cuts to the US Department of Veterans Affairs. Progressive veterans group VoteVets is launching an ad campaign calling on Republican US Rep. Zach Nunn to oppose the mounting cuts and layoffs at the US…
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Drake University president, dean stand up for trans students despite Iowa law
An Iowa private college president and the college’s law school dean are standing up for their trans and nonbinary students in the wake of an Iowa law taking away trans civil rights. The law, passed by Iowa Republicans and signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds, takes away civil rights protections from trans and nonbinary Iowans. It…
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11 places to get pie in the Des Moines metro in celebration of Pi Day
You don’t even have to love math to get in on the fun! Check out this list of bakeries and restaurants, created in no particular order, and start your hunt for the best slice in Des Moines to enjoy this National Pi Day (or any day of the year!).
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Iowa Republicans advance bill to strip trans civil rights
Iowa House Republicans advanced a bill to remove gender identity from the list of protected classes under the Iowa Civil Rights Act. This has wide-ranging impacts on protections from discrimination in housing, education and more. The bill became the subject of the largest Iowa Capitol protest all session. Since passing in 2007, transgender Iowans have…
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VA shifts explanation as agency dismisses over 1,000 employees; Iowa cuts unclear
The US Department of Veterans Affairs has dismissed more than 1,000 probationary employees just weeks after assuring stakeholders that a federal hiring freeze would not impact operations, raising questions about consistency in the agency’s messaging. Iowa has two major VA health systems in Des Moines and Iowa City. The Veterans Affairs department claimed in January…
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It’s bald eagle spotting season in Iowa: Here’s how to find them, even around Des Moines
It’s the most majestic time of the year: bald eagle season! The impressive raptors are in town and can be seen soaring all around the waterways of the Des Moines area. Read on for some tips on how to spot them and to learn more about our nation’s most revered bird.
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Seneca in Des Moines drops lawsuits against workers
Remember the 14+ Seneca workers in Des Moines who left their jobs after their company switched the equipment they knew how to service, and then got sued by Seneca over their noncompete agreements? The company has now dropped lawsuits against at least two of those workers. Both lawsuits, against Seneca workers Darien Berg and Jeffrey…
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Confident Republicans promise more of the same in 2025 legislative session, target local government
Republican legislators swaggered back to Des Moines with deeper ranks. Despite eight years of one-party rule, Iowa legislative Republicans say there’s more cuts to be made. The Iowa Capitol buzzed Monday morning, crowded with freshmen legislators jockeying for seat selections and bored family members waiting around for the swearing-in ceremony. With the sound of the…
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Rook Room, new board game lounge and cafe, to open in Des Moines
Des Moines will get a new space to play boardgames and socialize this spring with the opening of the Rook Room Game Lounge & Cafe.
