Government & Politics

Under a continued partnership with the city of Cedar Rapids, second-graders in the Cedar Rapids Community School District have an opportunity to learn how to swim for free. Approximately 157 students from Johnson STEAM Academy, Garfield Elementary and Cedar River Academy are participating this spring.

The proposal backed would restrict vape sales in the state and, opponents say, leave Big Tobacco stronger.

Advocates hope the governor’s plan to combine mental health and substance use treatment networks will improve access for Iowans. But some worry that until other funding issues are addressed — like low Medicaid reimbursement rates — “We're just rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.”

Despite worries that the transformation of the historic Marion Methodist Church into Belltower Lofts apartments would worsen Uptown parking, the Marion City Council unanimously approved the site plan for the project this week.

Political reporters from across Iowa talk about this week in politics.

Proposal to increase penalties for non-consensual termination of a pregnancy could have chilling impact on in vitro fertilization, Democrats argued

The bill also creates a new state crime of human smuggling for undocumented immigrants.

State Republican lawmakers this week advanced a bill that would dismantle citizen review boards that probe alleged police misconduct like those established in Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Coralville, University Heights and Dubuque.