State Government

On this week’s edition of the On Iowa Politics podcast: Grassley and Ernst on abortion … again, the ACLU gets involved in the fetal heartbeat case, the status on debates in the 4th District, and a day on the trail with Deidre DeJear.

Policy agenda also includes legalizing marijuana

Foundation 2 is pursuing a more than $3 million renovation of the historic Witwer Building in downtown Cedar Rapids, largely supported by local and state American Rescue Plan funds, to serve as its new headquarters. The move will consolidate five existing Foundation 2 buildings into one hub for training and services.

Kelly Garcia heads the newly formed Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, which combines the Department of Human Services and Department of Public Health

State grant funding will create hundreds of child care spots in Eastern Iowa. Among recipients of the grants are TrueNorth and To the Rescue in Cedar Rapids. The Vinton-Shellsburg schools and West Liberty Foods also will receive funding.

The group filed the brief as Gov. Kim Reynolds is asking the courts to lift an injunction on a so-called fetal heartbeat law

But the state’s insurance commissioner worries the plans are becoming increasingly reliant on subsidies to remain affordable

Also, the state workforce agency has created a new division for working with businesses on employment issues

The bird flu destroyed 13 million Iowa birds this spring, but was far less devastating than the 2015 round.

Democratic incumbent Tom Miller and Republican challenger Brenna Bird spoke side-by-side at an Iowa PBS program

On this week’s edition of the On Iowa Politics podcast: campaign ad wars, U.S. Senate Republicans’ unity issues, train trials, and Iowa’s attorney general candidates ‘debate.’

Also, another $1 million winning lottery ticket was sold recently in Iowa