Tom Barton

A march by hundreds of people in Iowa City was among more than 1,000 that unfolded across the state, nation, and world Saturday against President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and “the most brazen power grab in modern history.”

Republican leaders in the Iowa House and Senate said they are carefully monitoring the impact of sweeping tariffs on U.S. imports announced this week by President Donald Trump as they draft the state's budget.

The issues illustrate the legislative divide between Republican leaders in the Iowa House and Senate, which was apparent Thursday as legislation neared the second “funnel” deadline of the 2025 session.

Iowans raised concerns over record-high egg prices, sweeping reciprocal tariffs on U.S. imports and cuts to the Social Security Administration during a telephone town hall Wednesday evening hosted by Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson.

Iowa will join 30 other states that passed laws making it illegal to handle a cellphone while driving, starting July 1. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the new law Wednesday, surrounded by people who have lost loved ones to distracted driving.

Hinson announced the town hall Tuesday on her official Facebook page, and said she will provide an update on her work in Congress and answer questions.

In her first visit to Iowa, U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins on Monday said the administration may provide emergency aid to farmers — as it did during Trump’s first term — to offset losses from retaliatory tariffs on agriculture exports imposed by America’s trading partners.

Iowa local governments and business groups say they generally support getting rid of the state’s complicated property tax rollback system, but continue to explore the fiscal toll they would face from statehouse Republican’s proposed “reboot” and overhaul the state’s property tax system.

Dozens of stakeholders representing Iowa businesses, pork producers, builders and local taxing entities — from cites, counties and schools to hospitals and regional transit services — said they remain “undecided” on the 52-page proposal as they continue to study and analyze potential impacts from the myriad changes proposed.

Drivers in Iowa will be prohibited from operating cell phones and other devices with their hands once Reynolds signs it into law as expected

Schools in Iowa would be required to install new or modify existing door systems to prevent an active shooter from blocking exit doors, along with a video surveillance system that is accessible to law enforcement during an emergency under legislation advanced by lawmakers Tuesday.

However, due to federal restrictions, 18- to 20-year-olds would still be prohibited from buying a handgun from a federally licensed firearm dealer in Iowa, but would be allowed to purchase pistols and revolvers through a private sale.

Jodi Schafer started in January as the new talent attraction director hired by the Collaborative Growth Initiative — a partnership of the cities of Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha and Marion and the Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance.

A couple hundred people gathered Saturday on the downtown Pedestrian Mall to protest terminations of federal workers who serve Iowa veterans, seniors and farmers, and called on the district’s congresswoman, Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, to stand up for them.

Iowans’ anger over funding cuts and mass firings of federal employees led by billionaire Elon Musk as part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to slash the federal government boiled over during a raucous town hall Friday hosted by Republican Iowa U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley.