Erin Murphy

The state education board would be required adopt standards for a public high school course on the Bible, which schools would then have the option to offer as a social studies elective, under legislation advanced Wednesday by two Iowa House Republicans.

The proposal passed through a streamlined legislative process Tuesday in the Iowa Senate, leaving it just a few legislative steps away from the governor’s pen.

The U.S. defense secretary said in a letter to Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds the federal defense department has the authority to require all service members --including those in the Iowa National Guard -- to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Eight Iowa school districts are violating a judicial order by not reinstating face mask requirements, says a letter sent Friday from the ACLU’s state chapter to those district.

Against the backdrop of debates over billions of dollars being planned for tax cuts for Iowa workers and businesses, state lawmakers are now beginning their work on setting state funding for K-12 public schools for the next school year.

K-12 education policy was front and center via myriad proposals that were considered Wednesday at the Iowa Capitol.

Gov. Kim Reynolds said Wednesday that “everything is on the table” when it comes to three competing tax plans that will ultimately have to become one.

The feedback from various business groups, conservative tax policy organizations, and water quality and environmental advocates was not unanimous, but certainly largely in support of Republican state legislators’ varied proposals to lower the state tax on income to a single rate; reduce the state tax on businesses; and create a shift in taxes that provides funding for the long-starved state fund for conservation and water quality projects.

Abby Finkenauer raised just shy of $2 million in 2021 in her bid to challenge Iowa’s longtime U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, her campaign reported Monday.

Individuals with a bachelor’s degree and three years of work experience would have a faster route to a teacher’s license under a proposal introduced by Republicans in the Iowa House.

The Iowa-based gasoline and convenience store company has proposed legislation that would make it legal for 16- and 17-year-old workers to operate dough rollers.

Sen. Jack Whitver said he thinks the topic of books some consider vulgar should be addressed through transparency and having review process.

Republican leaders in both the Senate and House have said they expect to move quickly on the legislative process for their respective plans, likely starting each next week.

Jack Whitver, the Republican Senate majority leader from Ankeny, said he believes the proposal aligns with the tax plan that Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds’ proposed earlier this month.

Among the proposals this year are bills that would require cities to prove there is a public safety need for where they place traffic cameras, and limit enforcement to speeding violations of 20 miles per hour or more over the speed limit and cap the amount of revenue an agency can generate from tickets.