Here First

A proposed tax increase on HMO health insurance plans is moving ahead at the Iowa Statehouse. A proposal to keep school districts from rejecting partnerships with community-based preschool program providers is also moving ahead. And Waterloo’s Grout Museum District is speaking out against the city’s proposal to reduce its funding.

A blizzard across Iowa Sunday into Monday didn’t drop a lot of snow – but it did close major interstate highways because of low visibility. New reports suggest bills aimed at cutting tuition at Iowa’s public universities could have wide-ranging effects on the campuses. And a federal wildlife refuge in central Iowa is making plans to renovate and reopen a visitor’s center that was damaged by a 2024 storm.

Revenue estimates show the state likely won't bring in enough money to cover the next state budget. A billionaire with Iowa ties is testifying in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. And a high school senior is raising money for immigrant and refugee students to go to college

Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law that will likely affect cities that have local gender identity anti-discrimination protections. More candidates for governor and a U.S. Senate seat are submitting paperwork for the primaries. And a look at the effort to change Iowa's Medicaid income limits for people with disabilities.

A northwest Iowa school district is trying to address racist bullying. The Iowa House has passed a bill that bans mothers without legal status from a federal food assistance program. And why are there more FFA chapters being created in urban schools?

Candidates for governor have started filing to get on the June 2nd primary ballot. A bill would allow health care providers to withdraw from doing a medical procedure if it conflicts with their conscience. And Linn County supervisors are considering regulations on gas fired power plants.

The remains of soldiers from an Army Reserve based in Des Moines were returned to the U.S. over the weekend. New research shows algae could be a natural filter for microplastics. And the latest on the Iowa legislative session.

All of Iowa's representatives in Congress voted against a measure to rein in Trump's Iran war powers. The state education licensing board has a budget shortfall. And there's a new report about data center development in Cedar Rapids.

A second Iowan solider has been identified as among the first Americans killed in Kuwait on Sunday. Google is changing locations of a proposed data center in eastern Iowa. And a bill would require checks on legal status to get an Iowa driver's license.

An Iowa solider was among the first casualties in the U.S. war with Iran. A bill would ban some H-1B visa holders from working at Iowa colleges. And the Sioux City Council is considering cutting a quarter of the public library budget.