SPM News

042319 504 The longest-serving Republican in the Iowa Legislature has announced he’s switching to the Democratic Party, and that narrows the party split in the Iowa House of Representatives to 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats. Representative Andy McKean of Anamosa says the statehouse is much more partisan than when he was first elected in 1978. 0423mckean2: 09 “I think the party has veered very sharply to the right. And that concerns me—it’s a bit further than I would care to be.” McKean says he

042319 432 State Representative Andy McKean of Anamosa is leaving the Republican Party and joining the Democrats in the final days of the Iowa legislative session. That narrows the party split in the chamber to 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats. McKean says the statehouse has become much more partisan and he was uncomfortable with Iowa Republicans moving further to the right. And he doesn’t like what he’s seeing at the national level, especially with the 2020 presidential election coming up.

042319 404 The longest-serving Republican in the Iowa Legislature has announced he’s switching to the Democratic Party. this narrows the party split in the Iowa House of Representatives to 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats. Representative Andy McKean of Anamosa says the statehouse is much more partisan than when he was first elected in 1978. And he says the Republican Party has changed. 0423mckean2: 09 “I think the party has veered very sharply to the right. And that concerns me—it’s a bit further

“I am Jon Wieseler’s mom, or I was.” A mother finds it hard to talk about her child in the past tense. “Jon was the best son ever.” A bond between the two still alive, even after death. “He was so good.” Linda Wieseler’s voice strains because of pure emotion mixed with a medical condition. “I have what is sporadic dysphonia. It causes a tremor with my vocal cords.” Jon Wiesel er graduated from North High School in 2001, got his law degree from Iowa, then followed a different path, by enrolling

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