Here First

U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley has announced he plans to run for an 8th term in 2022. The Iowa chapter of the Sierra Club has filed a lawsuit against the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Plus, Iowans had the chance to weigh in on new redistricted maps of Iowa congressional and legislative districts during virtual public hearings this week. IPR State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric has a recap.

Iowa health officials have announced State Medical Director Caitlin Pedati will be stepping down in late October. As the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations reported statewide reaches record highs for this year, Iowa’s largest hospital says it’s facing staffing shortages. Plus, the public hearing and comment period for new proposed political boundaries for Iowa has ended.

Two more suburban Des Moines school districts will require masks starting on Thursday. Iowans have expressed support at two public hearings for new proposed political boundaries drawn by the Legislative Services Agency. Plus, the state is testing out a new program to help racial and ethnic minorities in Iowa buy homes.

Five people spoke Monday night at the first virtual public hearing about new proposed political boundaries for Iowa. The lawyer representing Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds in a federal lawsuit over mandatory mask use in schools has asked the judge to allow a temporary order that has allowed schools to implement mask mandates to expire next week. Plus, a ransomware attack has forced a cooperative of Iowa corn and soy farmers to take their computer systems offline.

The first of three public hearings about new proposed boundaries for Iowa’s legislative and congressional districts is scheduled for Monday evening. IPR State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric breaks down what it means. Hospitals across the country are seeing a spike in unvaccinated pregnant women with COVID-19 including in Iowa. Plus, two Democrats have announced they’re running to unseat Republican Secretary of State Paul Pate in 2022.

Iowa’s nonpartisan legislative services agency has released new proposed boundaries for the state’s legislative and congressional districts. Three more Iowa school districts will begin to require masks in response to this week’s ruling by a federal judge temporarily blocking enforcement of the state’s school mandate ban. Plus, community colleges in Iowa are preparing for a more diverse student body.

The number of new COVID-19 infections remains on the rise in Iowa as state health officials are reporting more than 11 thousand new cases have been confirmed in the past week. First Lady Jill Biden was in Des Moines Wednesday calling for Congress to approve infrastructure spending that goes beyond roads and bridges. Plus, the second inmate convicted of killing two staff members at the Anamosa State Penitentiary will spend the rest of his life in prison.

Governor Kim Reynolds scheduled a special legislative session starting October 5 for lawmakers to consider new boundaries for legislative and congressional districts. Students and staff in the Iowa City school district are once again required to wear masks in schools. Some of the state’s largest districts have taken the same step. Plus, Republican Mike Bousselot won a special election for a state House of Representatives seat that covers part of Ankeny and a northern section of Polk County.

A federal judge has blocked enforcement of Iowa’s ban on school mask mandates, for the time being. The ruling puts the decision of whether to require masks back in the hands of local school districts. There’s a special election today for an Iowa state house seat in Ankeny and rural Polk City. Plus, as the spread of COVID-19 remains at a high level in Iowa, IPR's Natalie Krebs explains some health care facilities are concerned about issuing vaccine mandates due to staffing shortages.

Enrollment at Iowa's three state universities are down this year. IPR's Grant Gerlock reports on the Iowa Supreme Court returning to oral arguments this week by revisiting a case where a jury found the Iowa Department of Corrections discriminated against a transgender employee. Plus, The Iowa Department of Corrections has paused a new policy requiring legal mail sent to inmates to first be photocopied.