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The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

The independent newspaper of the University of Iowa community since 1868

The Daily Iowan

Colleen Elin a sepcial education specialist at Northwest Junior High in Coralville guides a student through an interactive book on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024.

Iowa Legislature split on governor’s AEA overhaul bill

Liam Halawith, Politics Editor January 31, 2024

Iowa House lawmakers tabled Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds' proposal to overhaul Iowa’s nine Area Education Agencies following a hearing on the bill Wednesday. The two Republican lawmakers on the panel...

Jessie looks back toward her camp in the early evening on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. Jessie hails from Georgia and said she faced trauma in her upbringing there.

As fall and winter weather brings colder days to Iowa City, individuals living outside can be put at risk. Iowa City’s homeless population must navigate a set of difficulties which includes food insecurity, exposure to the elements and often personal traumas and or addiction. Despite the hardship, individuals have become increasingly resourceful and have built community-like networks as well as intricate encampments.

Proposed Iowa bills could reduce advocacy for people experiencing homelessness

Roxy Ekberg, Politics Reporter January 30, 2024

Advocates for Iowans experiencing homelessness say recent and proposed state policies that would reduce resources available for unhoused people threaten the growing population. Amid an increase in people...

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds speaks during Reynolds’ annual Harvest Festival at the Elwell Family Food Center on the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023.

Reynolds pushes amended bill as hearing on AEA overhaul scheduled

Liam Halawith, Politics Editor January 30, 2024

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has doubled down on her proposal to overhaul Iowa’s Area Education Agencies despite concerns from Iowans that benefit from Iowa’s nine AEAs.  Reynolds pledged to amend...

Iowa Sen. Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, speaks at the March for Our Lives Demonstration during the first day of the 2024 Iowa legislative session at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024. The demonstration was held to callout lawmakers on the topic of gun violence following the school shooting in Perry, Iowa on Jan. 4. Jochum has served in the senate since 2009 and prior to that was in the house from 1993-2007.

Iowa Senate Democrats propose reproductive rights amendment

Roxy Ekberg, Politics Reporter January 30, 2024

Iowa Senate Democrats introduced a bill Tuesday to amend the Iowa state constitution guaranteeing reproductive freedom and access to abortion care. Restrictions of reproductive freedom imposed by the...

The Iowa State Capitol is seen in Des Moines on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024.

Iowa lawmakers advance bill requiring citizenship, legal status for public assistance

Alejandro Rojas, News Editor January 30, 2024

Speakers overwhelmingly opposed a proposed bill that would require citizenship or legal residency status verification for those seeking public assistance during a hearing on the bill Tuesday.  A panel...

Colleen Elin a sepcial education specialist at Northwest Junior High in Coralville guides a student through an interactive book on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024.

Iowa agencies delivering services for children who have disabilities face ‘full-blown overhaul’ under governor’s plan

Natalie Miller, Politics Reporter January 30, 2024

Michelle Elgin doesn’t know what she would have done without the services from the Grant Wood Area Education Agency in Cedar Rapids that her now-18-year-old son has relied on since he was six months...

The Iowa State Capitol is seen in Des Moines on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024.

Iowa lawmakers advance bill requiring proof of U.S. citizenship to receive in-state tuition

Roxy Ekberg, Politics Reporter January 29, 2024

A panel of Iowa lawmakers advanced a bill Monday requiring students to prove their U.S. citizenship to receive in-state tuition and fees despite protest from the lone Democrat on the panel and advocates...

Attendees listen to Sen. Zach Wahls speak during a conversation with local legislators about Area Education Agencies at the North Liberty public library on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024. Representatives and senators including Sen.  Zach Wahls and Iowa Rep. Elinor Levin listened to public forum from over 150 community members about how Area education agencies have influenced their lives. This meeting comes after a recent proposal by Kim Reynolds to limit and reform Area Education Agencies around Iowa.

JoCo residents speak out over AEA Reform at Sunday forum

Natalie Miller, Politics Reporter January 28, 2024

A crowd of more than 150 people filed into the meeting room of the North Liberty Public Library during a legislative forum Sunday to discuss Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ plan to reform the state’s Area...

Iowa Sen. Janice Weiner, D-Iowa City, speaks at a public forum hosted by the League of Women’s Voters of Johnson County in the Iowa City Senior Center on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. The forum is the first of three scheduled during the 2024 Legislative session and the topic of discussion is education.

JoCo legislators discuss gun reform at public forum

Roxy Ekberg, Politics Reporter January 27, 2024

Johnson County legislators discussed universal background checks, red flag laws, and safe gun storage at a public forum following the Perry School shooting earlier this month.  The League of Women...

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds talks with supporters after the 2023 Thanksgiving Family Forum hosted by The FAMiLY Leader, an organization dedicated to advancing the role of religious values in government, at the Marriott hotel in downtown Des Moines on Friday, Nov. 17, 2023. Ramaswamy sat with his son, who ran onto the stage earlier in the event. The event began at 3:30 p.m. with a round table discussion, and was followed by meet-and-greet events with each of the candidates, which included Vivek Ramaswamy, Ron DeSantis, and Nikki Haley.

State reports almost 17,000 students used vouchers for private school in 2023

Liam Halawith, Politics Editor January 26, 2024

According to enrollment data released by the Iowa Department of Education on Friday, 16,757 students used Iowa’s new Educational Savings Accounts to pay for private school during the current school...

Lawmakers stand over the Rotunda during the first day of the 2024 Iowa legislative session at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024. The Republicans hold the majority in both the house and the senate.

Iowa lawmakers advance hefty fines for open meetings law violations

Liam Halawith, Politics Editor January 24, 2024

A panel of Iowa lawmakers unanimously agreed to advance a bill on Wednesday to drastically increase the fines for violating Iowa’s open meeting laws. Under the bill, violating Iowa’s open meeting...

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds speaks during Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' Caucus Night Watch Party at the Sheraton in West Des Moines on Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. Republican voters assembled statewide to participate in the caucuses despite the cold and extreme winter weather across the state. Former President Donald Trump won the caucuses in a dominant and early fashion with 51 percent support from Republicans while DeSantis trailed in second with 21 percent as of 11:15 p.m. Around 250 people showed up to listen to DeSantis. (Ayrton Breckenridge/The Daily Iowan)

Gov. Reynolds introduces bill to strengthen rules against foreign ownership of Iowa farmland

Liam Halawith, Politics Editor January 24, 2024

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds introduced three bills Wednesday aimed at banning foreign land ownership, requiring a review of all administrative rules every five years, and blocking public funds from going...