Lead Story
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Rob Sand unveils healthcare plan targeting Iowa’s cancer crisis, Medicaid privatization
Iowa’s cancer rate is the fastest-rising in the nation—Rob Sand says his plan would do something about it.
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MercyOne to close two South Des Moines clinics, citing expected Medicaid cuts
MercyOne is closing two South Des Moines clinics in June, and the health system is pointing to expected Medicaid cuts—the same cuts US Rep. Zach Nunn voted for—as part of the reason why.
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JD Vance’s Iowa visit canceled as Trump’s embattled farm bill is ‘in big trouble’
JD Vance has nixed a planned Iowa visit this week, rescheduling his campaign stop with Rep. Zach Nunn to May 4.
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EXCLUSIVE: House Majority PAC makes huge Iowa ad buy as Democrats go on offense
A Democratic Party-aligned super PAC is dropping hundreds of millions in media markets across the country, including three of Iowa’s biggest metros.
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Photos show Iowa legislative pages stuffing campaign mailers for Dubuque Republican Rep. Jennifer Smith
As the Iowa Legislature heads for overtime, one member of the Iowa House is already gearing up for her reelection. And photos shared with Iowa Starting Line show she’s putting pages to work stuffing mailers. Iowa Starting Line obtained photographs that appear to show Iowa legislative pages stuffing reelection campaign mailers for state Rep. Jennifer…
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Iowa voters say clean water is a top issue. Ashley Hinson has voted to limit clean water protections
Iowa voters say clean water is a top priority. As US Rep. Ashley Hinson campaigns for Iowa’s open US Senate seat, her voting record shows a consistent pattern of opposing federal clean water protections. It was billed as a common-sense fix for bureaucratic red tape. When US Rep. Ashley Hinson voted for the PERMIT Act…
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Opinion: How Rob Sand flipped two key advantages Republicans held in Iowa
Iowa Starting Line founder Pat Rynard breaks down how Rob Sand spent years taking two of Iowa Republicans’ biggest political advantages away from them — and why that is pivotal in his race for governor. Five years ago, I invited Iowa’s top Democratic leaders and candidates to a presentation to raise the alarm on the…
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Iowa stoners: Here are the best cross-border deals at dispensaries for 4/20
Recreational weed isn’t legal in Iowa, so check out these dispensaries offering 4/20 deals in our border states, from Missouri to Illinois and Minnesota.
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Ashley Hinson, Iowa GOP accepted donations from megadonor accused in 2019 sex trafficking sting
Billionaire John W. Childs is back to seeding Republican campaigns with large checks after his 2019 solicitation charges related to a sex trafficking sting were dropped. Records show his deep pockets are helping Iowa’s Congressional delegation as they prepare for the 2026 midterms. [Update: After publication, a reader pointed out that John Childs of Vero…
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Rep. Miller-Meeks spent as much as $26,000 in taxpayer funds to rent DC apartment from pharma lobbyists
While sitting on a House subcommittee that oversees drug pricing, Iowa Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks was renting her DC apartment from lobbyists paid millions to fight prescription drug cost reforms on behalf of the pharmaceutical industry. Iowa Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks rented a Washington, D.C. apartment from two lobbyists whose firm was paid $1.8 million to lobby…
