Lead Story
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Amid pressure, Ernst says she’ll ‘support’ Hegseth through nomination process
After a tough week, Sen. Joni Ernst is suddenly warming to Trump’s nomination of Pete Hegseth as US Secretary of Defense. This after intensive public campaign pressuring her to say ‘yes’ to the Fox News host. Since November, US Sen. Joni Ernst has been in the hot seat. For weeks, she’s been among the few…
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Iowa Republicans rage over Sen. Joni Ernst
Despite her popularity over the years, Sen. Joni Ernst is taking heat over holding up the confirmation of Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for top Pentagon position. Things aren’t going well for US Sen. Joni Ernst. She’s cultivated clout through her experience both in combat and as a military policymaker. But Republicans are going…
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Iowa’s food policies negatively impacting the people who live here
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds last week announced she would again ask for a waiver to not have to administer a federal program that ensures children don’t go hungry in the summer when school is out. The Summer EBT, or SUN Bucks, program gives low-income families with children who already receive free and reduced school meals…
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Wolf Carbon Solutions withdrawals bid for eastern Iowa CO2 pipeline
A proposed 95-mile carbon capture pipeline project has grinded to a stop. Wolf Carbon Solutions—at least for now—has ended its bid for regulatory approval. Wolf Carbon Solutions told Iowa regulators that it is pulling its application for a pipeline project in eastern Iowa. The project would transport as much as 12 million tons of carbon…
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After USDA rejection, anti-hunger advocates urge Gov. Reynolds to apply for Summer EBT
The Iowa Hunger Coalition and other anti-hunger advocates called on Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds to apply for Summer EBT after the federal government rejected her alternate program.
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Recount confirms Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott keeps seat
A recount confirmed Democratic state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott’s victory over Republican challenger Mark Hanson. The votes are tallied, and incumbent state Sen. Garriott of West Des Moines is safe. Hanson, of Waukee, challenged her 24-ballot lead to a recount following election night. But the recount boards found the original results hold up. Trone Garriott…
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House Republicans plan ‘comprehensive review’ of Iowa higher ed
After banning DEI programming in higher ed last year, the Iowa Legislature prepares to take more swipes at regulating the state’s regent universities which add an estimated $15 billion to Iowa’s gross state product, supporting one out of every ten jobs. House Republicans plan to continue their regulation focus on higher education in the state.…
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How to keep family, friends from falling into extremism
People never fall into extremism or violent viewpoints all at once. There are things you (yes, you!) can do to help your friends from succumbing.
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Christina Bohannan calls for recount of ‘razor-thin’ Iowa congressional race
Democrat Christina Bohannan is calling for a recount of all 20 counties in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District. There is an 800-vote margin that separates Republican US Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa and Democrat Christina Bohannan of Iowa City. Over 414,000 people voted in the election. And a 0.2 percentage point margin sets the two apart. …
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Iowa competes with Florida for most book bans
Rightwing activists are going after books across the country. And in Iowa, the number of bans is near the top of the country. An analysis of book bans in the US over the last three years found 10,000 books were banned. And nearly 36% were in Iowa. From Adel DeSoto Minburn to Woodward-Granger Community School…
