Iowa Capital Dispatch
Lawyers battle over witnesses, documents in human trafficking lawsuits
Two civil lawsuits involving an Iowa community college accused of human trafficking are moving toward trial amid ongoing legal disputes over access to witnesses and information. The two federal lawsuits against Western Iowa Tech Community College were filed more than three years ago. One lawsuit was filed on behalf of 14 students from Chile and is […] The post Lawyers battle over witnesses, documents in human trafficking lawsuits appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Biden administration to issue rule expanding DACA health care access
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration will publish a final rule Friday that will allow about 100,000 uninsured people in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to enroll in state-run or private health insurance plans provided under the Affordable Care Act, administration officials said. The new rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human […] The post Biden administration to issue rule expanding DACA health care access appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
UpLift to continue despite new law banning local government funding
Although Iowa has a new law preventing local governments from funding guaranteed income programs, the UpLift program in Iowa plans to continue through outside support. Gov. Kim Reynolds signed House File 2319 into law Wednesday. The measure prevents cities and counties from implementing programs that support supplemental incomes to residents with no work requirements or […] The post UpLift to continue despite new law banning local government funding appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Bird flu virus is abundant in the milk of sick cows
Dairy cattle infected by avian influenza in recent months have surprisingly large amounts of the virus in their milk but little in other bodily fluids, according to tests by the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. That makes it easy to confirm whether a lactating cow is infected but makes testing more difficult for other […] The post Bird flu virus is abundant in the milk of sick cows appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Doctors plead with Congress to help improve U.S. maternal mortality rates
WASHINGTON — Doctors on Thursday urged Congress to pass legislation addressing the disproportionately high rates of maternal mortality throughout the country and to lower barriers that have hindered people of color from becoming medical professionals. During a hearing in the U.S. Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, a panel of five medical professionals detailed […] The post Doctors plead with Congress to help improve U.S. maternal mortality rates appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
U.S. Senate Dems Smith, Markey to push warehouse worker safety bill
WASHINGTON — Two Democratic U.S. senators announced Thursday they plan to introduce legislation that would require large companies to disclose quota practices to workers and prevent those quotas from interfering with a worker’s health. “The Warehouse Worker Protection Act would put an end to the most dangerous quotas that plague warehouses,” Democratic Sen. Ed Markey […] The post U.S. Senate Dems Smith, Markey to push warehouse worker safety bill appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Less than half of Iowa is suffering from drought
Drought conditions in the state continue to retreat amid abundant rainfall, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. A Thursday report shows the biggest moisture gains in western and southern Iowa. Less than half of the state now has drought for the first time since June 2023. That’s down from about 96% of the state in […] The post Less than half of Iowa is suffering from drought appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Biden backs peaceful protest, denounces campus ‘chaos’ over Gaza
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden responded Thursday to weeks of protest on college campuses calling for a ceasefire in Gaza with a brief statement that the right to protest should be protected, but “not the right to cause chaos.” “We are not an authoritarian nation where we silence people or squash dissent,” Biden said from […] The post Biden backs peaceful protest, denounces campus ‘chaos’ over Gaza appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
New dairy promises Iowa industry growth but who will milk all those cows?
I’m delighted Daisy Brand, LLC will be building a 750,000 square foot manufacturing plant in Boone, Iowa. A total of 255 new jobs will be created, and in return, Daisy will receive $67 million in state and local incentives. It’s a feather in the cap of newly elected Mayor Elijah Stines. Daisy, a family-owned company […] The post New dairy promises Iowa industry growth but who will milk all those cows? appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Immigrants, advocates rally against law making illegal immigration a state crime
Immigrant advocacy groups held five events in cities across the state Wednesday to oppose a new law that makes illegal immigration a state crime in Iowa. In Des Moines, more than 70 people gathered under umbrellas and canopies on the terrace of the Iowa State Capitol, holding signs and listening to speakers with Latinx Immigrants […] The post Immigrants, advocates rally against law making illegal immigration a state crime appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
U.S. House splits on GOP-led Alaska and mining industry bills aimed at Biden agenda
The U.S. House passed a bill Wednesday to counter an Interior Department order canceling oil and gas leases in a section of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, taking aim at the Biden administration’s conservation agenda that Republicans say weighs environmental concerns too heavily at the expense of economic opportunity. But the Republican majority also suffered […] The post U.S. House splits on GOP-led Alaska and mining industry bills aimed at Biden agenda appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Governor says state will not allow pro-Palestine campus protests to go ‘too far’
As pro-Palestine protests on college campuses sweep the country and Iowans prepare for protests of their own, state officials are warning that unlawful activities will not be allowed. Iowa City Students for Justice in Palestine will hold a three-day event on the University of Iowa’s campus to stand in solidarity with student encampments at other […] The post Governor says state will not allow pro-Palestine campus protests to go ‘too far’ appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Iowa care facilities cited for resident abuse, lack of safe environment
Several Iowa nursing homes are facing fines for resident abuse or failing to provide a safe environment. The state has proposed a $9,000 state fine against the Happy Siesta Health Care Center for the lack of a safe environment and tripled that penalty to $27,000 due to the violation being a serious, repeat offense. The […] The post Iowa care facilities cited for resident abuse, lack of safe environment appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
U.S. Senate Dems launch renewed push for full marijuana legalization
Leading U.S. Senate Democrats reintroduced a bill Wednesday to remove marijuana from the list of federal controlled substances, following the Biden administration’s move a day earlier to significantly ease regulations on the drug. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, Senate Finance Chairman Ron Wyden of Oregon and Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, […] The post U.S. Senate Dems launch renewed push for full marijuana legalization appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
U.S. House approves definition of antisemitism as campus protests continue
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Republicans Wednesday passed a bill, with heavy support from Democrats, that would define antisemitism for the Department of Education, amid nationwide college campus protests in which students are calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. The 320-91 vote would codify the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism in Title VI of the Civil Rights […] The post U.S. House approves definition of antisemitism as campus protests continue appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Gov. Kim Reynolds signs law lowering individual income tax rate to 3.8% in 2025
Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law a measure speeding up income tax cuts, lowering Iowa’s individual income tax to a 3.8% single tax rate beginning in 2025. Reynolds signed Senate File 2442 into law Wednesday, a measure speeding up the cut made in 2022 to decrease Iowa’s individual income tax rate to a 3.9% single […] The post Gov. Kim Reynolds signs law lowering individual income tax rate to 3.8% in 2025 appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Grain fund bill had support but ran out of time
There is consensus among state lawmakers to update a fund that protects farmers when corn and soybean buyers go bankrupt, but a bill related to that goal failed this year because others took priority, according to a lawmaker who managed it. “We ran a little bit short of time,” said Rep. Dave Deyoe, R-Nevada, who […] The post Grain fund bill had support but ran out of time appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
UnitedHealth CEO savaged for failings in massive cyberattack that’s crippled health care
WASHINGTON — Capitol Hill lawmakers from both parties on Wednesday grilled UnitedHealth Group’s CEO over the largest-ever cyberattack on the U.S. health care industry, which has crippled payments to providers and pharmacies and left millions of patients clueless about whether their information is now on the dark web. A Russia-linked cybercrime organization dubbed “BlackCat” infiltrated a vulnerable […] The post UnitedHealth CEO savaged for failings in massive cyberattack that’s crippled health care appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Judge: Iowa woman stole from and abused her disabled clients
A worker at a Davenport home for people with disabilities cannot collect jobless benefits after being fired for abusing and stealing from the home’s residents, a judge has ruled. State records indicate Tavita Smith-Williams, 56, of Bettendorf, was employed by REM Iowa Community Services of Davenport as a full-time direct support professional from 2020 until […] The post Judge: Iowa woman stole from and abused her disabled clients appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Marjorie Taylor Greene to force vote next week on ousting U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson
WASHINGTON — Two U.S. House Republicans, aggrieved by Speaker Mike Johnson’s bipartisanship amid divided government, said Wednesday they plan to force a vote next week on removing him from the leadership office — despite the extremely long odds of success. Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie held a press conference just […] The post Marjorie Taylor Greene to force vote next week on ousting U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Iowa Capital Dispatch
6K+
Posts
72M+
Views
Iowa has long enjoyed a reputation for clean government. But what would happen if nobody was watching? The Iowa Capital Dispatch is a hard-hitting, independent news organization dedicated to connecting Iowans to their state government and its impact on their lives. The Capital Dispatch combines state government coverage with relentless investigative journalism, deep dives into the consequences of policy, political insight, and principled commentary. We deeply believe in sharing the stories of people outside the halls of power, connecting the actions of state leaders to their impacts on Iowans. We also believe that without strong community journalism, Iowans risk losing the government integrity and accountability they have long valued. The Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers. The Iowa Capital Dispatch retains editorial independence.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.