Chuck Grassley will not cancel public meetings in Iowa amid novel coronavirus
Julia Shanahan, Politics Editor
March 11, 2020
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, told reporters in a conference call on Wednesday that he will not be taking self-isolation measures or canceling public meetings in Iowa at this time, amid a rising number of novel coronavirus cases in the state. "As leaders, we in the Congress need to continue to do the...
Patients face roadblocks in medical marijuana program
Caleb McCullough, Assistant Politics Editor
March 11, 2020
When he first joined Iowa’s medical marijuana program, 61-year-old Navy veteran John Fenner tried to treat the nerve damage in his left leg with the most potent THC product he could obtain. But the product wasn’t effective, he said. Iowa’s medical cannabidiol program, which began in Decem...
Gov. Kim Reynolds announces three presumptive positive coronavirus cases in Iowa
Charles Peckman, Marissa Payne, and Sarah Watson
March 8, 2020
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Sunday announced three presumptive positive cases of novel coronavirus in Johnson County. The Iowa Department of Public Health reported that one of the individuals is between ages 41 and 60, and two are between ages 61 and 80. All three individuals were part of a cru...
Appointment of DHS spokesman to public records board under fire
Jason Clayworth, Des Moines Register investigative reporter
March 6, 2020
Originally published in the Des Moines Register, the Register has made this story available for other media outlets, including The Daily Iowan. Gov. Kim Reynolds on Wednesday appointed the spokesman for the Iowa Department of Human Services to the board that enforces the state’s public records la...
Iowa Senate passes a bill to raise minimum age to purchase tobacco
Julia Shanahan and Rylee Wilson
March 4, 2020
The Iowa Senate passed a bill 43-6 on Wednesday that would make the minimum age to buy tobacco and tobacco products to 21, while placing misdemeanor penalties on retailers who violate this provision. The current minimum age to purchase tobacco products in the state is 18. The bill, SF2268, which...
LGBTQ bills fail to advance in Iowa Legislature
Rylee Wilson, Politics Reporter
February 28, 2020
Most LGBTQ-related bills in the Iowa Legislature failed to advance through the funnel deadline, including bills aimed at banning conversion therapy as well as bills placing regulations on LGBTQ topics in public schools. Leaders of the community said the number of unsupportive LGBTQ bills that did ...
Johnson County sheriff launches bid for Iowa House District 73 seat
Rin Swann, News Reporter
February 27, 2020
After 35 years in law enforcement, Johnson County Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek announced Thursday he will run for the Iowa House District 73 seat, which encompasses all of Cedar County and eastern Johnson County. The chair is currently held by Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton, the son of Jeff Kaufmann, Iowa...
Final caucus results: Pete Buttigieg holds on to lead after caucus recount
Caleb McCullough, Politics Reporter
February 27, 2020
The Iowa Democratic Party announced the results of the recount of 23 precincts in a press release on Thursday, solidifying and strengthening Pete Buttigieg’s slight lead over Bernie Sanders in state delegate equivalents. Delegate counts were corrected at 19 precincts, putting Buttigieg’s final sta...
Iowa House passes a bill to implement in-state admission requirements at University of Iowa Colleges of Medicine and Dentistry
Julia Shanahan, Politics Editor
February 25, 2020
The Iowa House of Representatives voted Tuesday to advance a bill that would require the University of Iowa medicine and dentistry schools to allocate at least 75 percent of its admissions to Iowa residents or to people who attended an Iowa community college or state college or university. Th...
Which prominent bills survived the first legislative funnel?
Caleb McCullough, Politics Reporter
February 24, 2020
The first “funnel” deadline in the Iowa Legislature passed Feb. 21, winnowing the number of bills lawmakers in Des Moines can consider. Bills had to be reported out of a committee by Feb. 21 in order to survive the legislative funnel, and committees hurried to pass key legislation ahead of th...
How would a proposed constitutional amendment affect abortion laws in Iowa?
Rylee Wilson, Politics Reporter
February 23, 2020
The proposed amendment to specify the Iowa constitution doesn't grant the right to an abortion is two years away from passage at the earliest — and the effects of the resolution passing are not totally clear to lawmakers. Senate Joint Resolution 2001 passed the Iowa Senate on Feb. 13 along party lines, meaning the bill hurdled past the Feb....
Iowa Democratic Party corrects 29 precinct results after recanvass
Caleb McCullough, Politics Reporter
February 19, 2020
The Iowa Democratic Party announced the correction of 29 precinct caucus results after a recanvass that concluded Tuesday, the party said in a press release. Twenty-six results were changed because the precinct didn’t properly apply the rules of the delegate selection plan, and three precincts were ...