Tom Barton

The bill would remove the most senior judge in the district from the judicial nominating commission. Instead, the governor would be allowed to appoint an additional member. With the addition, the governor would be able to appoint six — or a majority — of the members to each judicial nominating commission.

Dr. Vivek Murthy has said the youth mental health crisis is the “defining public health issue of our time” and called on Congress to put in place safety standards to minimize the harms of social media platforms on children.

Senate lawmakers advanced a bill Wednesday that would lift Iowa’s statute of limitations on civil claims on sexual abuse to allow survivors of sexual abuse in the Boy Scouts of America to take full advantage of bankruptcy proceedings against the organization.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Tuesday signed into law the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The signing took place during a closed-door event hosted by the Christian conservative group The Family Leader.

The bill’s supporters say it is needed to close a legal loophole and help pesticide manufacturers manage the costs of weed killers, while critics say Iowans who get sick from pesticides should have legal recourse, including over labeling.

Bill, which heads next to the Senate, would merge Iowa’s treatment networks for mental health and substance use issues into a unified behavioral health system. Currently, the networks are made up of 32 regions in the state — 13 for mental health care and 19 for substance use issues.

Instead of immediately waiving charges and lease restrictions on pets, Iowa landlords could evaluate requests and must respond promptly.

Unless legislators take action this year to change Iowa law, the estimated roughly 300 to 350 Iowans involved in the settlement will receive a fraction of the awards they would be entitled to.

15 college leaders would decide how state aid is distributed to campuses

A bill in the Iowa Legislature would expand the state’s “dram shop” laws, which impose civil liability for selling alcohol to a visibly intoxicated or underage persons, to apply to consumable hemp products.

State auditor condemns AG for using unfinished audit to justify halting payments

Iowa’s Ashley Hinson said she opposes raising retirement age, supports IVF

Cedar Rapids' police chief joined other law enforcement officials in the state in advocating support for proposed legislation that would regulate the use of automated traffic enforcement cameras on interstates and highways across the state.

The Iowa House has passed bills the last two sessions limiting the scope of eminent domain for carbon capture pipeline projects, but they have not received hearings in the Senate. The latest attempt in the House advanced out of a committee Tuesday on a 23-0 bipartisan vote.

Women across income levels and generations are more likely to give — and give more, says local author and retired chief executive officer of the United Way of East Central Iowa Lois Buntz.