Iowa’s changing headlines: Then and now

Diane Duncan-Goldsmith

Feb. 27, 2021 12:00 am

Once Iowa news included stories about our wonderful state universities with excellence in education and research; our outstanding K-12 public education where local control was valued; how in 2009 Iowa became the first Midwest state to legalize same-sex marriages; record voter turnout and stories of Century and Heritage Family Farms.

Headlines now include Iowa as a COVID-19 hot spot; our governor ignoring COVID health protocols; where expanding Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, with hogs outnumbering residents 8 to 1, are a priority over addressing Iowa's polluted waters, especially when Iowa DNR's Impaired Waters List 'contained 584 waterbodies with a total of 773 impairments.” Do not forget our Republican governor and legislators have decided taxpayers need to help fund private K-12 schools, with the Iowa Legislative Service Agency's report projecting public schools will lose millions of dollars in funding over the next few years and how this session GOP Senators introduced the so called 'bathroom bill” along with a renewed attack on a woman's right to choose.

Then of course is the bill to change Iowa's voting laws including numerous measures to limit voting including cutting back the number of early voting days and limiting county auditors' ability to facilitate early voting. Why are Republicans afraid to let Iowans vote? Do Iowa Republicans really believe the debunked conspiracy theories and lies of voter fraud? Are these really the headlines we want written about our state?

Diane Duncan-Goldsmith

Iowa City