Government & Politics

The Cedar Rapids City Council in a 7-2 vote advanced proposed policy changes in an effort to hold absentee landlords accountable for nuisance properties, but some landlords feared the changes are “harsh” and allow little room for human error.

Republican Mike Naig is finishing his first full term as secretary. He was elected in November 2018 after earlier that year being named interim leader.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Mary Chicchelly was appointed to the Iowa Court of Appeals after being a finalist for the fifth time.

The Democrat was elected auditor in 2018, when he unseated a Republican incumbent. This year he weighed a run for governor in 2022.

Monday, States Newsroom announced plans to nearly double its presence -- which already includes Iowa -- from its current 25 states to about 40 over the next two and a half years.

The books that have come under fire vary, but they typically feature characters or authors who are lesbian, gay, transgender or queer, and typically the person demanding the book be removed takes issue with passages that describe sexual acts.

Runoff elections -- like city voters have seen in the last two election cycles -- cost more money to administer and typically diminish voter engagement. Rent Cedar Rapids candidates have voiced support for identifying alternatives to the system.

Republicans have been eager to blame rising prices on President Joe Biden and a new animated video Sen. Joni Ernst tweeted Nov. 23 does just that.