Here First

There’s another round of severe thunderstorms predicted similar to the one that hit the state on Friday. Iowa Senate Republicans are advancing their state budget proposal—without publicly releasing any dollar amounts. Plus, hundreds of basketball fans greeted the University of Iowa women’s basketball team coming home after coming up short in the NCAA national championship tournament.

The University of Iowa Women’s basketball team lost the NCAA national championship Sunday to Louisiana State University. Cleanup continues in eastern Iowa following a number of tornadoes that touched down on Friday. Plus, a new report ranks Sioux County as the healthiest in Iowa while Montgomery County came in last.

Governor Kim Reynolds responds to the indictment of former President Donald Trump. A pilot program in Johnson County offers a new community-based, outpatient approach for people ordered by the court to get mental health treatment. Plus, IPR Health reporter Natalie Krebs gives us the details about what happens Saturday when the state will be able to dis-enroll Iowans from Medicaid because they no longer qualify for the first time in three years.

Gov. Kim Reynolds’ expansive school curriculum and parents’ rights bill is advancing in the Iowa House after passing last week in the Senate. Republicans on a House panel have advanced a bill that would limit what information the Iowa state auditor can access. Plus, former VP Mike Pence was back in Iowa on Wednesday.

Iowa Wesleyan University says its closing its doors at the end of the academic year after 181 years. A bill passed by Iowa House Republicans would put a $5 million cap on non-economic damages awarded when a person is severely injured or killed by a commercial truck. Plus, Governor Reynolds has appointed former state auditor Mary Mosiman as the new director of the Iowa Department of Revenue.

The state of Iowa spent roughly $15.7 million on a financial-management system that was ultimately scrapped before its launch. Iowa law enforcement officials are hoping this is finally the year state lawmakers pass a bill requiring cell phone use in vehicles be hands-free. Plus, Linn County will likely continue its pause on new utility-scale solar installations through June.

The state has released the results of its public water testing for the chemicals known as PFAS. New data shows inflation affected rural and urban households equally by the end of last year. Plus, the Iowa legislature is entering its second “funnel deadline.”

Iowa Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks says congress cannot let TikTok stockpile sensitive information and spy on Americans. An industry survey of manufactures says the vast majority plan to make capital investments this spring but supply chain problems remain. Plus, a look at how rural Midwest towns are trying to keep grocery stores.

Transgender kids in Iowa are now barred from starting gender-affirming medical treatments. The Republican-controlled Iowa Senate has passed a bill banning schools from discussing gender identity and sexual orientation in kindergarten through sixth grade. Plus, Iowa officials say they will not participate in the Center for Disease Control’s 2023 Youth Risk Behavior survey.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds says she’ll sign a bill that bans gender-affirming care for minors. She says she’s also in talks to get expanded access to birth control in the state passed. And, at least 30 school Iowa school districts received false reports of school shootings yesterday. The so-called “swatting” calls are designed to draw police response and create confusion.