Chanting again filled and echoed the halls Monday of the Iowa Capitol for a third straight week as transgender Iowans and civil rights and LGBTQ advocates decried a bill that would define "man" and "woman" in state law.
Also, lawmakers advance a bill that would require district-level elections of supervisors in large counties
Large cities in Iowa, led by Davenport, are pushing for a bill that would allow cities to file suit in court against strip clubs if the city or county attorney deem them to be a danger to public safety.
Previous attempts to pass the bill have met with resistance in the Iowa House, which held this year’s first hearing on Gov. Kim Reynolds’ proposal.
Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen reversed course Monday and announced that the state will accept roughly $18 million in federal funding to help feed hungry children over the summer break.
The legislation also would require Iowa’s 11 largest school districts — among them Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Council Bluffs, Iowa City, and Sioux City — to have at least one private security guard or school resource officer in each district high school.
After 11 months without a permanent police chief and a nationwide search, David Dostal — the only finalist from within the Cedar Rapids Police Department — is slated to be appointed as the local police force’s next leader at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
Also, after months of closure to facilitate structural work, the domes at Taft Middle School in Cedar Rapids have been reopened.
Three of the four candidates for Cedar Rapids Police Chief spoke with reporters Wednesday before a community meet-and-greet event. Here’s a look at some of the topics that were covered.
Zaun, a Republican from Urbandale, has been working for years to ban the use of traffic cameras in Iowa; this year he has combined his legislative proposal with a hands-free device use while driving.
To keep vulnerable, high-need populations housed, residents need wraparound services. Housing alone isn’t always enough. As need grows, local governments and service providers are creatively using resources to build facilities and create staff roles to meet these needs.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, in her annual Condition of the State address last month, said Iowa needs to increase reading outcomes for elementary students. Last year, state test scores reported 34 percent of third-graders are not proficient in reading and writing skills. Under a proposed bill, Iowa colleges and universities would be required to train teachers in the “science of reading.” But what is it?
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