Week in Iowa, May 5, 2024: Recap of news from across the state

Immigrant groups sue Iowa: Civil rights groups and the U.S. Department of Justice sued Iowa over a law signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds that allows state officials to arrest and deport a person who does not have legal residence. One lawsuit, led by the ACLU and immigrant rights groups, is on behalf of residents who have legal status but would still be eligible to be arrested under the new law.

Iowa Republicans have accused President Joe Biden of failing to secure the U.S.-Mexico border and said they had to act to address the record number of illegal border crossings in recent years. Immigrant groups warned the law will hurt their communities, and law enforcement officials have said they do not have the guidance or resources to enforce the law.

AG sues Biden over Title IX: Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird joined a multistate lawsuit suing President Joe Biden's administration to stop new Title IX rules that protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The GOP-led states argue the rule oversteps the agency's authority and should be blocked.

Postpartum care extended: Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law extending coverage of postpartum care for new moms under Medicaid to 12 months, but lowering the eligibility level to cover fewer people. The law will change the threshold for pregnant women to qualify for Medicaid from 375 percent of the federal poverty line to 215 percent.

Reynolds happy with session: Gov. Kim Reynolds said she was happy with the results of this year's legislative session, in which a number of her top legislative priorities were passed by large Republican majorities. Reynolds pitched a massive overhaul of the state's area education agencies and a tax cut, both of which were changed significantly before she signed them into law.

Other Reynolds policy proposals that passed include a redesign of the state's behavioral health system, an extension of postpartum Medicaid coverage, higher scrutiny on foreign owners of farmland, and new requirements for elementary literacy. Democrats supported some of those measures, but they criticized Reynolds' education agenda for threatening special education and public schools.

They said ...

“As Governor, I have a responsibility to protect the citizens of Iowa. Since President Biden refuses to enforce our nation’s immigration laws – threatening the safety of our citizens – Iowa will step in.” -- Gov. Kim Reynolds on lawsuits against illegal immigration law

"This ugly law is deeply harmful to Iowa families and communities. Iowa lawmakers knowingly targeted people who are protected by federal immigration laws and who are legally allowed to be here, like people granted asylum, or special visas given to survivors of domestic violence or other crimes." -- ACLU of Iowa legal director Rita Bettis Austen on illegal immigration law

Odds and ends

Nursing home scrutiny: Three more Iowa nursing homes have been added to a federal list of the worst in the nation. Nursing homes in Des Moines, West Des Moines and Dunlap were added to the federal government's “Special-Focus Facilities” list, joining seven other Iowa facilities on the list.

Roast and Ride guest: Texas U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt will be a featured speaker at Iowa U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst’s annual “Roast and Ride” fundraiser in June, Ernst’s campaign announced Thursday. The nonprofit Iowa Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation will be the beneficiary for this year's event.

Water cooler

Hy-Vee closing: A highly sought Hy-Vee grocery store in a low-income Cedar Rapids neighborhood will close next month, the company confirmed Thursday. The Hy-Vee on First Avenue NE will close June 23. The Cedar Rapids location and another in Waterloo will close because they “have not consistently met our financial expectations and sales goals over the past several years,” a company official said.

Regents weigh tuition hike: Tuition at Iowa's public universities may increase by 2 to 3 percent in the coming academic year. The Iowa Board of Regents considered the proposed tuition increases at a meeting Friday.