Here First

Food processing workers at Tyson plants in Waterloo and Perry will get their COVID-19 vaccines later today. Lawmakers in Des Moines are advancing Gov. Reynold’s school choice priorities. And police in Ankeny says it was a live pipe bomb that closed a rental facility where voting was underway for a school district special election yesterday. The location was evacuated for two hours. Officials say they don’t know yet how long the device had been there.

Iowa will receive more than 25,000 doses of the single-dose Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. It was granted emergency authorization by the FDA on Sunday. At the statehouse, Republicans on an Iowa House panel advanced a bill Monday that would allow Iowans to acquire or carry handguns without a permit. Plus, IPR’s Kassidy Arena reports on mobile home residents are asking Iowa lawmakers to approve a bill that would offer them more protections from some forms of eviction and rent increases.

Iowa will receive more than 25,000 doses of the single-dose Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. It was granted emergency authorization by the FDA on Sunday. At the statehouse, Republicans on an Iowa House panel advanced a bill Monday that would allow Iowans to acquire or carry handguns without a permit. Plus, IPR’s Kassidy Arena reports on mobile home residents are asking Iowa lawmakers to approve a bill that would offer them more protections from some forms of eviction and rent increases.

Experts say increased financial pressure from the COVID-19 pandemic has put farmers at a higher risk for mental health challenges. Meatpacking plants across the country have struggled to contain coronavirus outbreaks. We hear a report from Harvest Public Media about how some meat plant workers could end up waiting months for their turn to get vaccinated. Plus, IPR’s State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric talks about some of the big issues that are under consideration in the Iowa legislature this week, including the wide-ranging election bill that awaits Governor Kim Reynolds’s signature.

Experts say increased financial pressure from the COVID-19 pandemic has put farmers at a higher risk for mental health challenges. Meatpacking plants across the country have struggled to contain coronavirus outbreaks. We hear a report from Harvest Public Media about how some meat plant workers could end up waiting months for their turn to get vaccinated. Plus, IPR’s State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric talks about some of the big issues that are under consideration in the Iowa legislature this week, including the wide-ranging election bill that awaits Governor Kim Reynolds’s signature.

Essential workers and Iowans with disabilities will start getting the COVID-19 vaccines in early March. That’s according to Governor Kim Reynolds who says she expects 70 percent of Iowans currently eligible for a vaccine to have received at least one dose by mid-March. At the statehouse, lawmakers on an Iowa House panel have advanced an education bill that includes some proposals favored by the governor but leaves out others. Plus, IPR’s Katie Peikes reports on questions about how carbon markets fit into the larger picture of reducing greenhouse gases and we finish listening back to IPR’s series on systemic racism which first aired in December 2020.

Essential workers and Iowans with disabilities will start getting the COVID-19 vaccines in early March. That’s according to Governor Kim Reynolds who says she expects 70 percent of Iowans currently eligible for a vaccine to have received at least one dose by mid-March. At the statehouse, lawmakers on an Iowa House panel have advanced an education bill that includes some proposals favored by the governor but leaves out others. Plus, IPR’s Katie Peikes reports on questions about how carbon markets fit into the larger picture of reducing greenhouse gases and we finish listening back to IPR’s series on systemic racism which first aired in December 2020.

A bill that would give Iowans less time to vote is on its way to Governor Kim Reynolds’s desk for final approval. House Republicans passed the wide-ranging election bill Wednesday night. U.S. Representative Cindy Axne of West Des Moines says Governor Reynolds needs to step up and get a centralized coronavirus vaccine system in place in the state. Plus, there are dozens of Latino children who have needed foster care in Iowa, but only about 12 Latino foster families in the state. IPR’s Kassidy Arena reports on efforts underway to increase that number.

A bill that would give Iowans less time to vote is on its way to Governor Kim Reynolds’s desk for final approval. House Republicans passed the wide-ranging election bill Wednesday night. U.S. Representative Cindy Axne of West Des Moines says Governor Reynolds needs to step up and get a centralized coronavirus vaccine system in place in the state. Plus, there are dozens of Latino children who have needed foster care in Iowa, but only about 12 Latino foster families in the state. IPR’s Kassidy Arena reports on efforts underway to increase that number.

Iowa Senate Republicans have passed a bill that cuts the time allowed for voting by mail, early in-person voting, and Election Day voting. A Senate panel has also advanced a bill that would make it easier to remove school board members if they act against state law and school superintendents would be subject to stricter discipline by their licensing board. The proposal would retroactively apply to Des Moines Public Schools. Plus, IPR’s Clay Masters takes a look at GOP-backed bills in the Iowa legislature that would ban tenure at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa.