Here First

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.

Power cooperatives in western Iowa are warning residents there may be rolling blackouts in that part of the state Tuesday because of increased power demand during extreme frigid temperatures. State officials say they have made no changes to their decision to pause COVID-19 vaccine deliveries for five counties that didn’t meet the state’s new 80 percent administration threshold. IPR Health reporter Natalie Krebs tells us that’s causing confusion. Plus, Governor Kim Reynolds is backing a bill that would create scholarships that families could spend on private school. IPR’s Grant Gerlock introduces us to perspectives on the school choice debate in Iowa.

Power cooperatives in western Iowa are warning residents there may be rolling blackouts in that part of the state Tuesday because of increased power demand during extreme frigid temperatures. State officials say they have made no changes to their decision to pause COVID-19 vaccine deliveries for five counties that didn’t meet the state’s new 80 percent administration threshold. IPR Health reporter Natalie Krebs tells us that’s causing confusion. Plus, Governor Kim Reynolds is backing a bill that would create scholarships that families could spend on private school. IPR’s Grant Gerlock introduces us to perspectives on the school choice debate in Iowa.

Starting Monday, K-12 schools in Iowa must offer 100 percent in-person instruction for families that want it, although frigid temperatures have put off the first day for some districts. That includes Des Moines Public Schools which is taking a virtual day for the weather, but IPR’s Grant Gerlock tells us around 20,000 students will return fully in-person this week. Iowa’s U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst are among the 43 Republicans who voted this weekend to acquit former President Donald Trump of inciting the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Plus, IPR State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric discusses the week ahead in the Iowa legislature.

Starting Monday, K-12 schools in Iowa must offer 100 percent in-person instruction for families that want it, although frigid temperatures have put off the first day for some districts. That includes Des Moines Public Schools which is taking a virtual day for the weather, but IPR’s Grant Gerlock tells us around 20,000 students will return fully in-person this week. Iowa’s U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst are among the 43 Republicans who voted this weekend to acquit former President Donald Trump of inciting the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Plus, IPR State Government reporter Katarina Sostaric discusses the week ahead in the Iowa legislature.

Republicans in the Iowa House and Senate have reached an agreement to increase state aid to schools funding by 2.4 percent. That’s about the same percentage as last year, but it’s a smaller dollar increase. Governor Reynolds toured a new mental health access center in Iowa City on Thursday that’s meant to provide care for people in crisis who are too often taken to emergency rooms or jails. It will start offering its services on Monday. Plus, IPR’s Health reporter Natalie Krebs gives us an update about the COVID-19 pandemic in Iowa.

Republicans in the Iowa House and Senate have reached an agreement to increase state aid to schools funding by 2.4 percent. That’s about the same percentage as last year, but it’s a smaller dollar increase. Governor Reynolds toured a new mental health access center in Iowa City on Thursday that’s meant to provide care for people in crisis who are too often taken to emergency rooms or jails. It will start offering its services on Monday. Plus, IPR’s Health reporter Natalie Krebs gives us an update about the COVID-19 pandemic in Iowa.

Iowa officials say the state is in the process of building a centralized database for Iowans to register for a COVID-19 vaccination. At the statehouse, Republican senators have advanced a bill directing Iowa schools to require students to only use bathrooms that align with their sex assigned at birth. Advocates for transgender students say this bill would lead to more bullying and harassment and would make school bathrooms less safe. Plus, IPR’s Kate Payne tells us 70 percent of the public tree canopy in Cedar Rapids was lost from the derecho that hit Iowa in August and the city is now advancing a plan to regrow its urban forest.

Iowa officials say the state is in the process of building a centralized database for Iowans to register for a COVID-19 vaccination. At the statehouse, Republican senators have advanced a bill directing Iowa schools to require students to only use bathrooms that align with their sex assigned at birth. Advocates for transgender students say this bill would lead to more bullying and harassment and would make school bathrooms less safe. Plus, IPR’s Kate Payne tells us 70 percent of the public tree canopy in Cedar Rapids was lost from the derecho that hit Iowa in August and the city is now advancing a plan to regrow its urban forest.

The Iowa Senate has passed a 2.2 percent increase in state funding for K-12 schools. That’s lower than what Governor Kim Reynolds requested and what the Iowa House proposed. The Cedar Rapids City Council gave final approval to the creation of a citizen review board on Tuesday establishing a new oversight panel of the city’s police officers. Plus, IPR’s Kassidy Arena introduces us to a small group of people in Des Moines who are working to make sure elderly individuals are staying safe during the pandemic while not losing out on cultural traditions.