This is the week after the 2nd legislative funnel deadline, which means that the picture is starting to become more clear about which bills are still alive. I continue to champion the Maternity Home / Strong Families Tax Credit, which continues to be eligible in the Ways & Means Committee. ...
If there’s one topic I hear about the most from residents, it’s streets – and for good reason. Streets are something we all use every day. When they’re in poor condition, you feel it every time you drive, bike, or walk through our community. Here’s where we are right now, what you ...
It’s time to ask some serious questions. As spring travel ramps up, a record 171 million Americans are expected to take to the skies. Airports will be crowded, security lines long, and for many travelers, a fundamental question will linger: Are we safe? That question extends far beyond the airport terminal. It surfaces at the southern border, in major American cities, and in the wake of tragedies like the killing of 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman in Chicago. Gorman, a student at Loyola University, was shot and killed while walking with friends along a pier in Rogers Park. According ...
What does it mean to graduate not only bilingual, but biliterate? In today’s world, that distinction opens doors and our Bobcat students are rising to meet the opportunity. The Iowa Seal of Biliteracy is an official recognition awarded to high school graduates who demonstrate proficiency in English and at least one additional language. Students earn the Seal by meeting rigorous criteria, including strong performance in English coursework and nationally recognized language proficiency assessments. It is a signal to colleges, employers, and the community that these graduates are ...
Enough is enough. For years, Iowa’s libraries have faced a steady stream of legislative attacks, which are often driven by special interests and advanced through processes that avoid full transparency. The latest example, the library amendment attached to SF 2432, is not just concerning for what it does, but how it was done: quietly bundled into an unrelated health bill, limiting debate and obscuring accountability. Libraries are not a problem to be solved. They are essential infrastructure. At a time when communities are navigating an increasingly complex digital world, ...
Last summer, all six members of Iowa’s congressional delegation voted for President Trump’s so-called One Big Beautiful Bill, which cut $1 trillion from Medicaid. As the Des Moines Register reported at the time, the cuts will result in an estimated 11.8 million people losing health coverage. The bill also cut food stamps by $300 billion, resulting in over 100,000 Iowans losing food benefits. To hear our Republican representatives tell it, these cuts were a necessary evil. For example, Representative Randy Feenstra said he voted for the bill to “make sure that we reduce our ...
