After the arrest of former Des Moines schools superintendent Ian Roberts over questions about his immigration and work authorization status, Gov. Kim Reynolds ordered all state agencies to use federal verification systems to confirm employment and licensing eligibility. The move has reignited debate over whether Iowa should mandate E-Verify statewide — and how reliable the system really is.
Claire Brown, a Harvard/MIT M.D.-Ph.D. student from Iowa, was diagnosed with cancer just as she began med school. Now, she’s urging lawmakers not to jeopardize future breakthroughs by cutting research funding.
This week on the podcast, we’ll discuss the Des Moines Superintendent situation, the federal government shutdown, and Mariannette Miller-Meeks talking town halls.
The federal government shutdown hasn’t affected food aid yet, but Iowa’s contingency funding for WIC could run out if the standoff in Washington drags on.
Gov. Kim Reynolds on Wednesday ordered all state agencies to use E-Verify and SAVE to confirm employment and immigration eligibility for new hires and professional licenses. The move follows the arrest of former Des Moines schools superintendent Ian Roberts, which exposed verification gaps and reignited debate over whether Iowa should mandate E-Verify statewide.
Leif Olson and David Waterman were confirmed by the Senate to serve as U.S. Attorneys in Iowa
The ruling is a victory for three Planned Parenthood affiliates — in California, Iowa and New York — that sued to try to block enforcement of a U.S. Department of Human Services policy document issued in July that they contend contradict the requirements of the grants as established by Congress.
Hundreds of Iowa National Guard workers furloughed as shutdown drags on; troops may soon miss paychecks.
Amid government funding cuts and hyper partisan politics, Iowa leaders in nonprofit and social service organizations say they must remain true to their missions. They made those comments during panel discussions that were part of The Gazette’s annual Iowa Ideas conference on Thursday.
Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks on Friday blamed Democrats for the ongoing federal government shutdown, criticized efforts to extend Affordable Care Act tax subsidies, and expressed cautious support for President Donald Trump’s tariff-and-trade approach to aid struggling farmers.
Iowa farm leaders and Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley are pressing President Donald Trump’s administration to take urgent action after China cut off purchases of American soybeans, threatening one of the state’s most important export markets.
The jail roster for the Woodbury County Law Enforcement Center no longer lists former Des Moines Superintendent Ian Roberts as a detainee. He had been jailed there, by the federal government, since last Friday.
Iowa’s leaders are clashing over who’s to blame for the partial federal government shutdown. Iowa’s Republican U.S. House members say Democrats forced it; Democrats argue Republicans walked away from compromise, risking higher health costs for thousands of Iowans.
The federal government officially entered a shutdown at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. From Social Security checks and SNAP benefits to TSA lines, national parks and veterans’ services — here’s what stays open, what stops, and what’s at risk during a shutdown.
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