042219532 Some Republican lawmakers in Iowa say they want to limit the powers of the state's attorney general, citing frustration that the Democrat joined lawsuits opposing the actions of President Donald Trump. Attorney General Tom Miller joined six lawsuits in 2018 that aimed to obstruct Trump's policies, which included separating families of immigrants on the southern U.S. border and requiring additional citizenship information on the 2020 census. The ACLU of Iowa is suing the state over a

042219 504 The state of Iowa is facing a lawsuit over the new ag-gag law passed in March. critics argue it’s essentially the same as the original which was struck down by a federal court. The new law calls it trespassing if someone lies to get onto a farm because they want to harm the business. When she signed it into law, Governor Kim Reynolds said it was necessary to keep farms secure. But Rita Bettis Austen, legal director of the ACLU of Iowa, says it also stops journalists from investigating

042219 432 The ACLU of Iowa is suing the state over a law the group says prevents investigations of farm facilities like puppy mills. The law, known as Ag Gag 2.0, says anyone who lies in order to gain access to a farm and intends to cause harm, can be charged with trespassing. It was passed after the original was thrown out by a federal court. ACLU of Iowa legal director, Rita Bettis Austen, says the two are essentially the same. 0422austen :14 The new law like the old law purports to

042219 404 An animal rights group is once again suing the state of Iowa for passing a law last month designed to prosecute people who get hired at farms to work undercover to report on animal living conditions. The law creates a trespass charge for anyone using deception to gain access to a farm to cause physical or economic harm. The lawsuit filed today in Des Moines by the Animal Legal Defense Fund and four other groups claims the new law violates constitutional free speech and due process

042219 1204 Republican lawmakers in Iowa want to limit the powers of the state's attorney general, citing frustration that the Democrat joined lawsuits opposing the actions of President Donald Trump. Attorney General Tom Miller joined six lawsuits in 2018 that aimed to obstruct Trump's policies, which included separating families of immigrants on the southern U.S. border and requiring additional citizenship information on the 2020 census. Miller's office was also involved in 26 amicus briefs and

Local and national leaders joined forces at a “Healing Summit” hosted by the Siouxland Street Project and the Community Initiative for Native Children and Families on April 17, 2019. The group first met on June 1, 2018, to find solutions to homelessness, substance abuse and mental health issues. “We need to give voice to those who have none. And, I’m doing my part. And, I want the rest of the community to step up.” Frank LaMere is a Native American activist, who also represents the Four

041719 532IS Iowa Senate Republicans are including more money for property tax relief in a bill that extends the statewide sales tax that helps pay for school infrastructure. Democrats opposed the Senate Republicans’ proposal but supported the overall bill. Senator Joe Bolkcom is a Democrat from Iowa City. 0417bolkcom2: 18 “We’re making a big decision with this amendment to take money that would go to infrastructure and we’re going to give it to property tax relief and that’s maybe a worthy goal

041719 504 Congressman Steve King today responded to a campaign contribution made by former Governor Terry Branstad to one of his challengers. State Senator Randy Feenstra from Hull is one of three Republicans trying to oust King. He brought in four times more campaign cash than King during the first three months of this year. One of the donors is Branstad, who is now the U.S. Ambassador to China. “He’s over there in China. I hope he’s putting more energy in the Chinese trade deal than primary

041719 432 Iowa U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst say flood control should be the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ number 1 priority in managing the Missouri River. At a Senate field hearing in Glenwood today the corps of engineers defended it’s handling of this year’s historic flooding, saying, last month’s weather was so extreme that flooding could not have been prevented. Local and national leaders joined forces today to try and come up for solutions for homelessness and substance

041719 404 Republicans on an Iowa Senate committee have changed a bill extending a statewide sales tax for school infrastructure to allow more of that money to go to property tax relief. Extending the SAVE tax is a priority for public schools. The House of Representatives has already passed a version that gives more property tax relief than the current SAVE law, but the Senate doubled the House proposal. Iowa’s two U.S. Senators say flood control should be the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’