Here First

Perry is losing its largest employer. Tyson Foods says it will shut down its pork plant in the city, where 1,200 people currently work. Trial begins today for a Coralville resident challenging a new state law related to protesting. And a northwest Iowa high school wrestling coach is resigning, following allegations that some of his players tasered younger teammates last month.

Iowa lawmakers are advancing a bill that would restrict the use of artificial intelligence in elections and campaign materials. Another bill would require new homes in the state to have radon mitigation systems. And, crews are repairing the Mississippi River bridge at Lansing, which was shut down last month after two of its piers shifted.

Democrats say a bill in the Iowa House could threaten fertility treatments. It would raise the criminal penalty for causing the death of an ‘unborn person.’ A bipartisan bill in the House would give raises to teachers and other school workers. And a lack of affordable housing is one reason the University of Northern Iowa expects more students to live on campus next year.

Parents in Iowa would have to give permission before their kids could open a social media account, under a bill moving ahead in the Iowa House. Lawmakers are also advancing legislation that makes it easier for school employees to carry guns on the job. And, a report says more than two dozen Iowa hospitals aren’t fully complying with federal price transparency requirements.

Iowa Democrats say more than 12,000 people participated in the party's first-ever mail-in caucus, with President Joe Biden capturing more than 90% of that vote. Iowa House Republicans have passed a bill putting more restrictions on absentee voting. And the Senate has passed a bill that would make it is a crime to enter the state if they were already deported or refused entry to the U.S.

Iowa House Republicans have voted to ban guaranteed income programs in the state. Senate Republicans have voted to ban citizen police review boards. And expect a lot more red flag fire warnings in Iowa until fields start turning green this spring.

Caitlin Clark is the all-time leading scorer in major college basketball. She surpassed Pete Maravich just before halftime of yesterday’s game in Iowa City. Tomorrow’s the deadline to mail in presidential preference cards for the Iowa Democratic Party’s first mail-in caucus. And an Iowa City facility aimed at keeping some people out the ER or jail is turning three years old.

The Iowa House has passed a plan to make changes to the state’s Area Education Agencies, but it’s different from what Gov. Kim Reynolds proposed at the start of the legislative session. House Republicans have passed a bill they say keeps government from infringing on religious freedom. And Iowa basketball star Caitlin Clark says she’ll turn pro this year.

The Iowa House has passed a bill making it easier for school districts to allow teachers and staff to carry guns on the job. The Senate has approved a bill to make businesses in the state use a federal system to ensure their workers are authorized to work in the U.S. And a church in northeast Iowa is one of the few in the state that’s going solar.

A bill requiring biannual training for nursing home inspectors is moving ahead at the Iowa Statehouse. The Senate has passed a bill requiring plant-based or lab-grown meat to be clearly labeled as such. And Cedar Rapids has approved incentives to a company that plans to build a big data center in town.