WATCH: Iowa’s youth mental health crisis
The kids are... not alright in Iowa.
May
2025
3
EXCO-Player
May
2025
2
WATCH: Iowa House approves medical misinformation in schools
But books with LGBTQ+ families aren't age appropriate, riiiiight
May
2025
2
WATCH: Waterloo, Iowa rally for immigrants
A few hundred marched through downtown Waterloo on May 1, or International Workers Day, in support of immigrants in the community—and against state and federal policies deporting and harassing law-abiding residents.
May
2025
1
WATCH: What do Iowans want in a governor?
Now that we know Gov Reynolds wont be seeking reelection weve got a second to come together around what we actually want to see in Iowa's gubernatorial candidates. Here's Liz's take.
Apr
2025
30
WATCH: Trump’s impact in the first 100 days
Trump's first 100 days, as seen from Iowa.
Apr
2025
30
WATCH: Iowa Workers Memorial Day events
Labor organizations across the state, including in Waterloo, held Workers Memorial Day events on April 28, remembering those who died on the job for any reason in 2024.
Apr
2025
30
🌽 Cornhole Champions #22 – But her emails!!!
Gov. Kim Reynolds was unsure when asked before Congress whether the Lutheran Services of Iowa was a money laundering scheme. At a later press conference, she clarified that she doesn’t think that the church was up to no good. Now she’s suing the Des Moines Register hoping to withhold the media prep that guided the exchange.
On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Iowa Starting Line’s Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers and Avery Staker discuss the governor’s lawsuit.
Also hear about a growing youth mental health crisis in Iowa. Despite a 15% surge in demand since 2018, funding hasn't kept pace, leaving families describing the search for care as "a full-time job."
The team also explores why the Iowa Legislature is extending beyond Friday's deadline.
Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line where we throw bags at the state's biggest stories. This show is created by Zachary Oren Smith with music by Avery Mossman. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative.
Links:
1st Story - More Iowa youth need mental health support. Has funding kept up with the demand? (Des Moines Register) - https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/health/2025/04/28/iowa-youth-mental-health-support-has-spending-kept-up/80496274007/
2nd Story - Iowa Legislature Set to Extend Session Past Friday Deadline (Iowa Public Radio) - https://www.iowapublicradio.org/state-government-news/2025-04-28/2025-legislative-session-budget-bills
3rd Story - Governor Reynolds Sues Des Moines Register Over Email Disclosure (Associated Press) - https://apnews.com/article/iowa-governor-reynolds-des-moines-register-foia-b274e4f47a4d205565caa6e1bdd8b6f1
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Apr
2025
29
WATCH: Why isn’t there money for kids in Iowa’s public schools?
“I think it’s really, really embarrassing.”
Senator Sarah Trone Garriott (D-West Des Moines) normally takes great pride in the Iowa education system. But today she’s calling the lack of funding for students “shameful.”
A bill that gives school districts a 2% increase per pupil has been sent to Gov. Kim Reynolds’ desk, where she’s expected to sign it.
Trone Garriott says she and other Democrats argued with the state’s Republican majority that funding for Iowa’s public schools isn’t keeping up with inflation, and that half of the state’s districts will be under a “budget guarantee process” if the 2% is passed—which means property taxes will have to go up to help schools maintain their budgets.
Meanwhile, a cap has been lifted on income requirements for families at any level of wealth to use taxpayer dollars to pay for their kids’ private school tuition.
“Anybody can apply. Even the richest, the richest Iowans who are already sending their kids to private school, they basically get this huge tax windfall, and it doesn't provide any good for doing it,” says Trone Garriott.
✏️: Salina Heller
Apr
2025
23
🌽 Cornhole Champions #21 – Reynolds’ Surprise Exit (w/ Liz Fleming)
Governor Kim Reynolds stunned us with her bombshell decision not to seek reelection in 2026, creating the first wide-open Republican primary since 2010.
On this episode of Cornhole Champions, host Zachary Oren Smith is joined by Iowa Starting Line's Amy Rivers and special guest Liz Fleming (a.k.a @LizfromIowa) to discuss how this political earthquake is reshaping races across the ballot. They examine potential Republican candidates including Attorney General Brenna Bird, House Speaker Pat Grassley, state Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, and state Sen. Mike Bousselot.
The team also discusses how federal funding cuts are creating a crisis for Iowa museums and libraries, with rural communities taking the hardest hit.
Plus, conversations with Angel Ramirez, running to be the first Latina in the Iowa Legislature in a special election for House District 78, as well as Democrat Kevin Techau, the former US Attorney challenging Ashley Hinson for Congress.
Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line where we throw bags at the state’s biggest stories. This show is created by Zachary Oren Smith with music by Avery Mossman. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative.
Guests:
Liz Fleming, best known as Liz from Iowa, is a correspondent for Iowa Starting Line and Courier Newsroom.
Angel Ramirez is a Democrat running in the special election for Iowa House District 78.
Kevin Techau has career spanning military service (Air Force and Iowa National Guard), law enforcement (Iowa Commissioner for Public Safety), and legal work (US Attorney for northern Iowa). He plans to take on Republican incumbent Ashley Hinson in 2026.
*LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS:*
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... and everywhere you listen to podcasts
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Apr
2025
22
WATCH: Rep. JD Scholten is eyeing candidacy for Joni Ernst’s senate seat
Rep. JD Scholten is eyeing candidacy for Joni Ernst's senate seat. He says corporate consolidation and regional agricultural systems are issues he'd run on.
Listen to the full conversation on our podcast, Cornhole Champions: https://bit.ly/3RXyuDA
