Ever wonder what’s keeping this whole thing—you know, America—from just totally falling apart?
It’s not the folks yelling on TV or trolling online: It’s the quiet work happening in local communities like ours.
Watch our latest Civics 101 video, written by COURIER Newsroom's Ryan Pitkin, and follow Iowa Starting Line for more.
Iowa saw huge turnouts in local voting districts last week, and the results give reason for hope.
At a Monday town hall in Keosauqua, US Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) told constituents she supports the release of the Epstein files.
She said in a July statement that she supports President Trump "in his efforts to ensure transparency into Jeffrey Epstein’s heinous crimes."
🎥: Jon Green via Bluesky
The family of Daniel Angel Melendez, an Iowa man arrested by ICE on Nov. 4 at his yearly check-in, pleads with US Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa) to help bring him home. They spoke at a press conference hosted by Escucha Mi Voz outside of a town hall Rep. Miller-Meeks was hosting on Monday in Keosauqua.
Daniel's wife Maria said Daniel's mother was a police officer in El Salvador, so his family immigrated to the US in 2017 to escape threats of violence. She said she has not heard from her husband since Sunday night, when she was told he is awaiting deportation in Louisiana.
🎥: Escucha Mi Voz
Thousands of Iowans are left wondering if they can get food on their table while the state government gives flimsy match donations and Washington refuses to budge.
Here's how you can help your neighbors.
There are 55 bond measures on the ballot for Iowa’s Nov. 4 election. Of those, 41 come from school districts that need improvements and renovations beyond what the state education budget can cover. It’s one of the largest bond cycles in state history—but what’s driving it?
Former Iowa House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst has spent a lot of time talking to Iowa farmers during her campaign for US Rep. Zach Nunn's seat. And the farmers have largely agreed: Trump's tariffs are bad for business.
Check out the full interview here: https://youtu.be/TiceT99viFY?si=_FRhgWxDqYmp1ip_
The Affordable Care Act marketplace opened Nov. 1, but enrollees face skyrocketing premiums thanks to Republicans' refusal to extend tax credits. Small business owners and self-employed professionals are feeling the pressure.
Watch the latest episode of Cornhole Champions here: https://youtu.be/bl2tg-yBP8o?si=jgcIG3JvNkR6c-8m
Iowa, welcome to one of the largest bond cycles in state history.
The good news? It’s one thing voters can control.
The bad news? You’ll need to do a little extra reading at the polls. There are 55 separate bond measures on the ballot for the Nov. 4 election, totaling $1.6 million in new debt. Of those, 41 are from school districts that need improvements and renovations they can’t get funded with the state’s education budget.
The success of a bond measure depends on local community support—not the party in power at the state legislature.
✏️: Salina Heller
In case you missed it: Iowa's city and school elections are on Nov. 4.
