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Iowa Board of Regents approves tuition increase for state universities
Students at Iowa’s public universities will pay more this fall after the Board of Regents unanimously passed tuition increases on Wednesday. The regents approved a 3.5% increase in tuition for both the University of Iowa and Iowa State University’s in-state students. The University of Northern Iowa’s residential undergraduates will see a 1.5% increase. Nonresidential students […]
Hundreds apply for parent-taught driver’s education under new law
Parent-taught driver’s education applications are skyrocketing in Iowa after a bill that expanded the option was enacted earlier this month. The Iowa Department of Transportation has seen an exponential increase in inquiries about parent-taught options and applications to begin driver’s education from home, said Driver Education Program Coordinator Steve Stonehocker. “Before the law changed, we […]
Iowa businesses see delayed start to home alcohol delivery
Iowans might be waiting for to-go alcohol by delivery apps for a little while longer. The Iowa Legislature this year approved House File 766, a bill that creates more opportunities for third-party delivery of alcohol in Iowa. As of July 1, retailers and grocery stores can use food delivery apps to deliver products to customers […]
Des Moines, Polk County help more households with emergency rent than state-run program
The City of Des Moines and Polk County have assisted more households with emergency rental aid so far this year than a state-run program serving Iowa’s other 98 counties combined. The city and county have received more than 3,500 applications for the federally funded Emergency Rental Assistance program. According to data from the U.S. Department […]
Iowa broadband expansion brings accuracy, affordability questions
Iowa’s new broadband expansion program is already generating interest from providers, but the mapping of broadband and affordability of the service remain in question as the process moves forward. Gov. Kim Reynolds signed House File 848 into law in April, a bill that appropriates $100 million for grants to companies to provide high-speed broadband services […]
Iowa colleges, universities prepare students for student loan freeze end
With the federal student loan freeze coming to an end soon, Iowa’s universities and colleges are educating their students on what the next steps are to pay back their loans. The U.S. Department of Education suspended federal student loan payments in March 2020. Both former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden have extended the […]
Iowa sees 20% increase in drug overdoses in 2020
Iowa saw a nearly 20% increase in drug overdose deaths in the past year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Vital Statistic System reported 419 cases of drug overdoses in the state in 2020, compared to 350 reported in 2019. In the United States overall, there was a 29.6% increase. Midwestern states saw […]
New president seeks to raise University of Iowa’s national profile
The University of Iowa’s new president, who started Thursday, said she wants to raise the university’s national profile. Barbara Wilson is the 22nd person and the third woman to hold the position. In a video from the University of Iowa, she said she sees the most important role as president to facilitate people’s goals, dreams, […]
Harkin discusses bipartisanship, future of Iowa Democrats
Former U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin said Tuesday he does not believe the Americans with Disabilities Act could pass in today’s political climate and he held little hope for a compromise approach to the filibuster. Harkin, during an interview on Iowa Public Radio’s “River to River” program, said he doesn’t think there’s enough bipartisanship in Congress […]
Iowa counties could see changes in property taxes to assist EMS departments
Before this month, some rural Iowans were facing the prospect of calling for an ambulance and having no one show up, emergency services officials said. That may change now that counties can ask voters to increase property taxes to support their emergency medical services departments. Gov. Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 615, which now allows […]
D.C. Dispatch: Grassley opposes marijuana, Hinson works on disaster recovery bills
After the holiday weekend, Iowa’s representatives in D.C. focused on a range of different things, from flood preparedness to drug policy to flags. Here’s the latest: Axne plugs child care tax credits in Des Moines U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne, Iowa’s only Democrat in the congressional delegation, was in Des Moines Thursday to promote the expanded […]
City of Dubuque to help some residents pay for solar technology
A few Dubuque residents could get help to install solar panels on their homes through a city-funded pilot program approved this week. The program, Renew DBQ, comes a few months after Iowa lawmakers ended solar tax credits in the state. The Dubuque City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved contributions of $3,285 for each participant. The […]