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Here’s why Iowa Capital Dispatch is suing the governor
Iowa Capital Dispatch and our deputy editor, Clark Kauffman, joined other media organizations in a lawsuit filed last week by ACLU of Iowa seeking enforcement of the Iowa Open Meetings and Records Act. The lawsuit names Gov. Kim Reynolds, her office, a staff attorney and the office’s current and former communications directors as plaintiffs. As […]
Book banning isn’t about protecting children; it’s adult political posturing
I was an early reader as a child, and we always had a lot of books in our home. Even so, it was a big day when I got to bring home my very own library card. We visited the Ames Public Library often, and my brother and I would later ride our bikes to […]
With or without omicron, Iowa lacks the will to overcome COVID
News of the omicron variant of COVID-19 was like a bucket of ice water in the face after a refreshingly normal Thanksgiving weekend marked by in-person gatherings with family and friends. The variant, first identified in South Africa, had already been confirmed as close as Minnesota by middle of last week. Chances are, it’ll show […]
Reynolds celebrates ‘getting back to normal’ with traditional turkey pardoning
Squash and Stuffing, two turkeys raised near Ellsworth, will not be on the menu for Thanksgiving Day. Gov. Kim Reynolds “pardoned” the two birds Tuesday as part of an annual tradition that also recognizes Iowa’s role as a major turkey producer. Iowa ranks seventh in U.S. turkey production with about 12 million birds raised a […]
Reynolds ‘confident’ U.S. Treasury will approve her use of COVID-19 aid for staff salaries
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said Tuesday she is “very, very confident” her use of nearly $450,000 in federal coronavirus relief funds for staff salaries will be approved by the U.S. Treasury. A state audit released Nov. 15 found that the governor’s office had not provided documentation necessary to show the employees were “substantially dedicated” to […]
Dispute over Reynolds’ use of COVID cash highlights budget shell game
Republicans work hard to sell the idea their party is the one that stands for fiscal responsibility. They are leaning heavily on that message on the federal level as Democrats approach a vote on the second of two multitrillion-dollar spending bills. Here in Iowa, Republicans in the Legislature have for decades espoused the principle of […]
Clark Kauffman honored as a press freedom champion
Iowa Capital Dispatch Deputy Editor Clark Kauffman has been named the 2021 Stephen Berry Press Freedom Champion by the Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism. The award was announced Friday at virtual storytelling event sponsored by the center, which publishes the website IowaWatch.org. The Berry award is named for the center’s co-founder, a Pulitzer Prize-winning […]
High turnout does not mean there’s no voter suppression
Iowans turned out in better-than-usual numbers for last week’s city and school board elections. It’s always encouraging to see improvements in voter participation. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, a Republican, attributed the higher turnout to increased voter engagement in local issues. “People are much more engaged and I don’t know if that’s just COVID […]
GOP says unemployment benefits hurt Iowa, except when they’re for the unvaccinated
Remember way back in June, when unemployment benefits were killing Iowa’s economy? Gov. Kim Reynolds couldn’t wait until extended federal benefits expired in September, so she ended them three months early. She blamed unemployment benefits for the fact that employers were having trouble filling open positions. “Federal pandemic-related unemployment benefit programs initially provided displaced Iowans […]
Senator barked up the wrong tree in defending kennel owner
State Sen. Roby Smith’s conduct in bullying Iowa Department of Agriculture staff on behalf of a constituent and raising the possibility of gun violence was beyond disturbing. If you missed Clark Kauffman’s story in Iowa Capital Dispatch, you can read it here. The constituent, Davenport kennel owner Robert Burns, couldn’t have been more pleased that […]
Vaccine passports and the freedom to travel
I have traveled internationally numerous times in my adult life, and I always experience something new. My husband and I just got back from 12 days in Italy and Poland, with a wealth of “first times.” We attended a friend’s ordination in St. Peter’s Basilica, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Although we have visited the Vatican and […]
Iowa is failing our vulnerable elderly. Who will keep them safe?
When a beloved, elderly relative suffering from a degenerative brain disease had to move into a nursing home a few years ago, we were grateful she was able to secure a room in one of the best facilities in her town. It’s a lovely place, clean and comfortable, with kind and attentive staff. Even so, […]