The Daily Iowan

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, answers questions during a visit to the County Materials Corporation in Iowa City as part of Grassley’s Johnson County stop on his 99 County Tour. “Weve appropriated money every year for infrastructure,” Grassley said while talking about infrastructure improvements since 1956. “The only thing is we never used the word infrastructure, we always said highway,” Grassley joked.

Grassley calls for investigation into Ottumwa Regional Center after assault allegations

Liam Halawith , Politics Editor • March 20, 2023

U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, asked private investors in the Ottumwa Regional Health Center Monday to review their financial transactions with the hospital. Grassley wrote a letter to the investors of the 217-bed hospital in Wapello County asking for an independent...

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis waves during a Republican-hosted event in Davenport, Iowa, on Friday. DeSantis receives a standing ovation. (Cody Blissett/The Daily Iowan)

Gov. Ron DeSantis touts record in first Iowa visit

Alejandro Rojas, News Reporter • March 10, 2023

In a packed convention hall at a Davenport casino Friday morning, the potential GOP Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis marked his first trip to Iowa. DeSantis was one of two featured speakers for the event, called “The Freedom Blueprint.” During...

Former Iowa state senator Rita Hart speaks at a campaign event for democratic candidates Liz Mathis and Christina Bohannan at the Sutliff Farm & Cider House in Lisbon, Iowa on Sept. 9, 2022. Hart represented the 49th District from 2013 to 2019. Hart lost to current U.S. House Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks by six votes in 2019. Speaking about Mathis, Hart said, Nobody worked harder in the state legislature than Liz Mathis.

Hart: Iowans and Americans cannot afford the extreme GOP agenda

Liam Halawith , Politics Editor • March 9, 2023

Ahead of Iowa visits from former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart denounced their extreme agendas Thursday during a press conference. DeSantis will visit Davenport on Friday with Gov. Kim Reynolds to talk about the...

Gov. Kim Reynolds delivers her 2023 Condition of the State speech at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines on Jan. 10, 2023.

Reynolds signs anti-trans bills into law Wednesday afternoon

Liam Halawith, Politics Editor • March 22, 2023

Gov. Kim Reynolds signed the “bathroom bill” and a ban on gender-affirming care for minors into law Wednesday afternoon. Reynolds signed Senate File 482 that bans transgender students from using restrooms at public schools that don’t match their sex assigned at...

A gun owner fires a gun at the Hawkeye Wildlife Shooting Range in Amana, Iowa on March 20, 2023.

Iowa Republicans continue push to loosen gun restrictions

Emily Delgado, Politics Reporter • March 21, 2023

Legislation that would strengthen gun rights in Iowa was introduced during this year’s legislative session, but relaxing gun restrictions isn’t anything new for the state. One of the current active bills during this year’s legislative session is Senate File 543 which...

Temple Hiatt poses for a portrait by Edward Jones in Coralville on March 21, 2023. (Matt Sindt/The Daily Iowan)

Gun violence continues while gun control restrictions loosen in Iowa

Lauren White, Politics Reporter • March 21, 2023

Temple Hiatt’s nephew showed signs of mental illness the day of his death. A Red flag gun safety law could have saved his life. Hiatt, a volunteer with Iowa Moms Demand Action, said legislation should be put in place to minimize harm from firearms. But until that...

PolitiFact Iowa is a partnership of The Daily Iowan and PolitiFact to help you find the truth in Iowa politics. Reporters and researchers from PolitiFact Iowa examine statements by Iowa elected officials and candidates and anyone else who speaks up on matters of public importance.

The Iowa State Capitol is seen before the opening of the 2022 Legislative Session in Des Moines, Iowa, on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022. At the State Capitol, legislative leaders spoke in their chambers while rally members congregated in the rotunda in support of freedom. The 2022 Legislative Session started today and will end in April.

Legislative Roundup | Iowa Senate passed a bill that would limit the access of the State Auditor

Liam Halawith, Politics Editor • March 9, 2023

A bill passed by the Iowa Senate on Tuesday would limit the types of information available to the State Auditor’s office during the course of an audit of any state agency or other state entity. Sen. Mike Bousselot, a Republican from Ankenny, introduced an amendment to...

Candidates for the Johnson County Board of Supervisors speaks at the Miller Learning Center, Iowa City, on Wednesday, March 8, 2023.

Liz Tovar joins JOCO Republicans to discuss DEI

Lauren White, Politics Reporter • March 9, 2023

The Johnson County Republicans hosted the University of Iowa’s top DEI official Thursday at its weekly meeting amid pending legislation in the Iowa Legislature whether to defund the regent universities’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusions departments. Liz Tovar, UI DEI executive...

Protestors stand in front of the Old Capital on Mar. 1, 2023.

Students across Iowa walk out in protest of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation

Emily Delgado, Politics Reporter • March 1, 2023

Iowa City High School students left class Wednesday to march toward the University of Iowa Old Capitol in a statewide protest of several anti-LGBTQ+ bills recently introduced in the Iowa Legislature. Some students, and several state and Johnson County officials, voiced...