Week in Iowa: Recap of news from across the state

One dead in Perry school shooting: A sixth-grader was killed and five other people were injured in a shooting at Perry High School in Perry, Iowa, on Thursday. The shooter, Dylan Butler, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was armed with a pump-action shotgun and small-caliber handgun, police said.

Butler made a number of social media posts online around the time of the shooting, police said. Police also said they found an improvised explosive device at the school. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said the “senseless tragedy has shaken our entire state to its core.”

Democrats push for food assistance: Iowa Democrats said they will push to reverse the decision made by Gov. Kim Reynolds and state officials to reject millions of dollars in food assistance for low-income kids during the summer months. Reynolds announced the decision last week to opt out of the program, which would provide low-income children with $40 per month to supplement food costs.

Republicans pursue tax cuts: Iowa Republicans will pursue steeper income tax cuts in this year's legislative session, which begins Monday. Majority Republicans in 2022 passed a tax overhaul that set the state's income tax on the road to a flat rate of 3.9 percent. Legislative leaders now say they want to accelerate those cuts, while some push for eliminating the income tax entirely. Democrats warn that tax cuts are rewarding the highest earners and not sufficiently helping working Iowans.

Competing GOP events before caucuses: Three competing presidential candidate media events will be held Wednesday in the last days before the Jan. 15 caucuses. Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley will face off in a CNN debate in Des Moines at 8 p.m. The fifth debate of the 2024 cycle will be the smallest stage so far.

At the same time, former President Donald Trump will take the stage for a Fox News town hall, also in Des Moines, moderated by Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum.

And Vivek Ramaswamy, who did not qualify for the CNN debate, will participate in a town hall with podcaster Tim Pool at the same time. Fox also will host town halls with Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis this week.

Judge temporarily blocks book ban law: A federal judge imposed a temporary injunction on a state law that bans books with sexual content from school libraries. Multiple groups, including the ACLU of Iowa, sued over the law and said it violated the First Amendment rights of students and school staff.

Nikki Haley says New Hampshire “corrects” Iowa: Iowa Republican supporters of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis pounced on his presidential primary opponent Nikki Haley this week when she said New Hampshire "corrects" the results from the Iowa caucuses held just days before the New Hampshire primary. Haley is polling well ahead of DeSantis for second place in New Hampshire, but the race for second in Iowa is much closer, with DeSantis maintaining an edge in many polls.

They said …

“Our hearts are heavy today, and our prayers are with everyone in the Perry community. This senseless tragedy has shaken our entire state to its core. I want this community to know that every Iowan stands with you”” — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds after Perry shooting

“We think that Iowans are feeling the pinch of the economy, and that tax cuts are not a magic wand solution that will address all of the cost issues that Iowans are facing. So we’re going to introduce several pieces of legislation as well to address costs for Iowans, and that does include some affordable housing and child care, but other things as well.” — Iowa House Democratic leader Jennifer Konfrst on proposed Republican tax cuts

Odds and ends

King endorses Ramaswamy: Former U.S. Rep. Steve King put his support behind presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy with a formal endorsement this week. King fell out of favor with the GOP while in Congress because of a series of incendiary remarks that appeared to defend white supremacy.

Caucuses are coming: Iowa's Republican and Democratic caucuses will take place Monday, Jan. 15. Both parties have lists of caucus locations online and guides to participate. Republicans will hold their presidential selection process in person — the first-in-the-nation test of candidate strength — while Democrats will indicate their preferences by mail, with results to be announced in March.

Water cooler

Higher ed review: Iowa Republicans will institute a “broad review” of the state's higher education system during this legislative session. Lawmakers last year considered bills to defund the state universities' diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, but the Board of Regents instead underwent a voluntary review of the programs.

Abortion rules: Iowa physicians argued during a hearing this week that proposed rules to implement a state ban on abortions early in pregnancy are too vague and restrictive. Lawmakers passed the law this summer, which bans abortions once cardiac activity is detected in a fetus, usually around six weeks, before many women realize they are pregnant. The law is blocked from taking effect until the state Supreme Court rules on its constitutionality.