Here First

President Joe Biden announced in Iowa on Tuesday that he will allow a higher blend of corn-based ethanol gasoline to be sold this summer. Strong storms that produced tornadoes moved through Iowa last night. Plus, by an overwhelming margin of 73-to-17, the Iowa House of Representatives has voted to make changes in Iowa's popular Bottle Bill.

President Joe Biden is visiting Iowa on Tuesday to announce he’ll suspend a federal rule preventing the sale of higher ethanol blend gasoline in the summer. Advocates for people who were sexually abused as children are continuing to ask Iowa lawmakers to give survivors more time to bring lawsuits against their abusers. Plus, scientists say even small amounts of lead can cause developmental delays and learning difficulties in children.

A judge has ruled that U.S. Senate candidate Abby Finkenauer cannot appear on the June Iowa Democratic primary ballot. Dozens of Iowa school districts are offering bonuses to teachers and other staff members not covered by a program announced by Governor Kim Reynolds earlier this year. Plus, an update from IPR’s Katarina Sostaric on the Iowa legislative session.

The state plans to shut down the Glenwood Resource Center for Iowans with severe disabilities in 2024. Domestic violence fatalities in Iowa have reached their highest level in a decade. Plus, a University of Iowa student from western Ukraine is starting a Ukrainian Conversation Hour to help teach about her language and her culture amidst violence in her home country.

Federal officials report the lowest number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Iowa since March 2020. Several refugee and immigrant-led groups in Iowa have teamed up to address health inequities that have been exacerbated by the pandemic. Plus, a Polk County judge will be the next to weigh in on whether petition signatures gathered by Democrat Abby Finkenauer’s U.S. Senate campaign should be counted.

Both of Iowa’s U.S. Senators will vote against President Joe Biden’s pick for the U.S. Supreme Court. State and federal agriculture officials have confirmed deadly bird flu in another Hamilton County turkey flock. Plus, Iowa landowners are pushing back against the use of eminent domain for three proposed carbon capture pipelines but IPR’s Kendall Crawford reports on how many don’t feel the legislature is listening.

Iowa U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley voted "no" in the Senate Judiciary Committee on President Biden's nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court. Two key Republican lawmakers say they may consider getting rid of Iowa’s bottle and can deposit program if they can’t agree on how to fix it this year. Plus, the Storm Lake Times Company recently purchased the Pilot-Tribune and will be merged into a single, twice-a-week publication.

A crowd of Iowans gathered on the capitol steps on Sunday to show their support for trans rights. State and federal agriculture officials confirmed two more cases of bird flu in Iowa over the weekend. Plus, IPR’s Clay Masters takes a look at the concerns landowners and environmentalists have about three carbon-capture pipelines that have been proposed in the state.

Thousands of Iowans will see a reduction in their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits beginning Friday. Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley says he’s holding off on passing bottle bill changes. Plus, Congress rejected pleas from the White House to pump more money into programs that ensure COVID-19 tests and treatments are free for everyone and Side Effects Public Media details how those funding cuts will likely worsen health disparities.

Iowa is sending 146 helmets and 714 bulletproof vests to try to help protect Ukrainians who are fighting against the Russian invasion. The Iowa Senate has followed the House in passing an education bill that includes some of Governor Kim Reynolds’ priorities on education. Plus, the number of Iowans hospitalized with COVID-19 is up slightly from last week but hospitalizations are still nearing record lows since the start of the pandemic.