State Government

Local governments across the state would be limited in restricting firework usage under legislation advanced by Iowa House lawmakers Monday. The bill would prohibit cities and counties from banning the use of fireworks on July 3 and 4 and Dec. 31.

Wearing a hand-embroidered blazer from Mexico, designed by a friend, with the message “Tu lucha es mi lucha” — your fight is my fight — Democrat Angel Ramirez raised her right hand and swore to faithfully discharge the duties of office. Ramirez was elected by southeast Cedar Rapids voters in a special election last month.

Debate and lawmakers’ votes in the Iowa Senate once again revealed a divide among statehouse Republicans over landowner rights, eminent domain and infrastructure projects

While supporters say it will help struggling rural pharmacies, opponents say it drives up costs for Iowans by tens of millions a year.

Iowa 4th District U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra, a three-term Republican from Hull, Iowa, filed paperwork Monday to run for governor. He is the second Republican to file paperwork to seek the office.

Representatives send IDALS policy bill to governor

The Iowa DOGE and Iowa Anti-Semitism task forces, created by Gov. Kim Reynolds and Attorney General Brenna Bird, have begun meeting and conducting their work, albeit with scant public notice

Rep. Brian Meyer said he wants to hear from people in Iowa on what issues are important to them, and plans to travel to more events like the one held Saturday in Davenport.

Activists yelled from the Iowa Senate Gallery on Friday after lawmakers declined to debate legislation that would address eminent domain and carbon capture pipelines

Also in the Capitol Notebook, the Senate advanced a ban on DEI funding for local governments and community colleges

The Iowa Supreme Court has reversed a district court decision that cleared the way for election officials to distribute voter materials in languages other than English.

Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx is asking a judge to dismiss an Iowa Attorney General Office’s petition against him for not cooperating with federal authorities to enforce immigration laws because his Facebook post that sparked the dispute has been removed -- so there’s no “ongoing violation.”.