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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.

A majority of people opposed a bill at an Iowa legislative public hearing on Monday that would shorten the early voting period and make other changes to state election laws. Republicans who have control of the legislature plan to send the bill to Governor Kim Reynolds. IPR Health reporter Natalie Krebs explains how weeks into phase 1B of the state’s coronavirus vaccine rollout, some are worried the state’s most vulnerable residents are being left behind. Plus, we continue listening back to IPR’s series on systemic racism in Iowa.

A majority of people opposed a bill at an Iowa legislative public hearing on Monday that would shorten the early voting period and make other changes to state election laws. Republicans who have control of the legislature plan to send the bill to Governor Kim Reynolds. IPR Health reporter Natalie Krebs explains how weeks into phase 1B of the state’s coronavirus vaccine rollout, some are worried the state’s most vulnerable residents are being left behind. Plus, we continue listening back to IPR’s series on systemic racism in Iowa.

A fast tracked and wide-ranging election bill that would change early voting rules in Iowa will get a public hearing Monday evening at the Iowa statehouse. Warmer temperatures will move into the state this week after a month full of bitter cold temperatures. Plus, we get an update on what’s going on in the Iowa legislature with IPR State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric and continue our listen back to IPR’s series on systemic racism in Iowa with a focus on the challenges that face Black farmers.

A fast tracked and wide-ranging election bill that would change early voting rules in Iowa will get a public hearing Monday evening at the Iowa statehouse. Warmer temperatures will move into the state this week after a month full of bitter cold temperatures. Plus, we get an update on what’s going on in the Iowa legislature with IPR State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric and continue our listen back to IPR’s series on systemic racism in Iowa with a focus on the challenges that face Black farmers.

House and Senate Republicans in the Iowa legislature are fast-tracking a bill that would shorten Iowa’s early voting period. The Iowa House has passed a $27 million funding package for schools to cover COVID-19 related costs. The money would be available to all districts, but schools that spent the most time in-person would receive the largest share of funding. Plus, we start listening back to the IPR series on systemic racism that aired in December 2020. IPR Health reporter Natalie Krebs discusses the deep disparities in the experience white and Black Iowans have in the health care system.

House and Senate Republicans in the Iowa legislature are fast-tracking a bill that would shorten Iowa’s early voting period. The Iowa House has passed a $27 million funding package for schools to cover COVID-19 related costs. The money would be available to all districts, but schools that spent the most time in-person would receive the largest share of funding. Plus, we start listening back to the IPR series on systemic racism that aired in December 2020. IPR Health reporter Natalie Krebs discusses the deep disparities in the experience white and Black Iowans have in the health care system.

State officials have announced they are changing the way they calculate the state’s COVID-19 percent positivity rate, which will cause the rate to drop. Governor Kim Reynolds announced the state will not move forward with plans to contract with Microsoft to build a centralized COVID-19 vaccine registration system. She also has a bill approved by the legislature on her desk that would increase funding for PreK-12 schools next year by 2.4 percent. Plus, Republicans in the Iowa Legislature have advanced bills to shorten Iowa’s early and mail voting period from 29 days to 18 days. IPR’s State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric explains the proposals also bans county election officials from sending out ballot request applications.

State officials have announced they are changing the way they calculate the state’s COVID-19 percent positivity rate, which will cause the rate to drop. Governor Kim Reynolds announced the state will not move forward with plans to contract with Microsoft to build a centralized COVID-19 vaccine registration system. She also has a bill approved by the legislature on her desk that would increase funding for PreK-12 schools next year by 2.4 percent. Plus, Republicans in the Iowa Legislature have advanced bills to shorten Iowa’s early and mail voting period from 29 days to 18 days. IPR’s State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric explains the proposals also bans county election officials from sending out ballot request applications.

Five counties in Iowa where health officials thought they were not going to get COVID-19 vaccines will get them this week after all. That's according to Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds who made the announcement on Tuesday. A bill in the Iowa legislature is advancing that would prohibit employers and schools from making decisions based on a person’s vaccination history. Plus, IPR’s Kassidy Arena reports on an Iowa woman who is trying to alleviate some of the physical and emotional stress brought on by the pandemic by leading a yoga class in Spanish.