Tom Barton

The Iowa Capitol will be ground zero for state abortion policy debate. Advocates on both sides of the issue plan to fill the Capitol in Des Moines as lawmakers consider legislation to severely restrict abortion access in the state.

Iowa Republicans will consider a similar bill to that so-called “fetal heartbeat” bill that passed in 2018 but was blocked by the courts. The new bill, which was introduced on Friday, would ban abortions after cardiac activity is detected in a fetus, with some exceptions.

The biggest threat facing U.S. elections is not voter fraud, but disinformation and misinformation undermining the public’s perception of voting security, a top U.S. election official said.

The state said Thursday it has approved more than 17,500 applications. The majority of those approved applications have come from students who already attend a private school.

Starting today, Iowa teens ages 14 to 17 can work more jobs at longer hours, low-income families will face new requirements for receiving public benefits such as food assistance, and more Iowa parents will qualify for child care assistance, but will have to work more hours to remain eligible.

Interest among Iowa families for a new state-funded private school financial assistance program continues to grow -- as does the potential cost to the state.

As drifting smoke from ongoing wildfires across Canada create curtains of haze causing unhealthy air quality throughout Iowa and the Midwest, environmental activists and Democratic lawmakers worry local efforts to regulate and improve air quality could be at risk under a state law taking effect Saturday.

Iowa will participate in a federal program to help provide food for Iowa school children during summer break. The announcement comes after anti-hunger groups implored state officials to apply for the federal assistance.

The governor’s office agreed to allow a state District Court to resolve any future open records disputes with three plaintiffs that may arise over the next year.

Cedar Falls native and NASA astronaut Raja Chari was joined by Iowa Republican U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst and Rep. Ashley Hinson, of Marion, at Grinnell College Monday for a round table discussion about the agriculture research that’s being done in space.

While an Iowa Supreme Court decision this month means abortion remains legal in Iowa until roughly 20 weeks of pregnancy, lawmakers and activists on both sides of the issue are gearing up for another protracted battle.

Iowa state transportation officials recently gave the green light to proceed with plans to widen Interstate 380 and rebuild the interchange with Wright Brothers Boulevard in Cedar Rapids.

Iowa Democratic lawmakers have implored Republican Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds to apply for federal assistance to help provide food for Iowa school children during summer break. For the summer, families in participating states with children eligible for free or reduced lunch during the 2022-23 school year will receive up to $120 per child.

While increasing blending volumes overall by raising the level for advanced biofuels, the new rule includes lower mandates for corn-based ethanol in 2024 and 2025 than the EPA had initially proposed.

Iowa's health and human services agency has hired a consulting firm to study ways to boost service delivery following the merger of the state’s former public health and human services departments.