Des Moines RegisterView CommentsIowa's top elected Republicans are urging President Donald Trump to take responsibility for the this week, prompting criticism from Democrats who say those same Republicans enabled and amplified the president's divisive rhetoric throughout his time in office.“Everyone must take responsibility for their destructive actions yesterday, including the president," U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said in a statement Thursday. "As the leader of the nation, the president bears some responsibility for the actions that he inspires — good or bad. Sadly,...…Des Moines RegisterView CommentsIowa's top elected Republicans are urging President Donald Trump to take responsibility for the this week, prompting criticism from Democrats who say those same Republicans enabled and amplified the president's divisive rhetoric throughout his time in office.“Everyone must take responsibility for their destructive actions yesterday, including the president," U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said in a statement Thursday. "As the leader of the nation, the president bears some responsibility for the actions that he inspires — good or bad. Sadly,...WW…

Des Moines RegisterU.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, who tested positive for COVID-19 last week, said Monday he was doing well and plans to return to work in the Senate after Thanksgiving. "Thx for the continued support," the Iowa Republican wrote in a tweet Monday morning. "I'm still feeling good + am keeping up on my reading & work from home I look fwd to being back in the Senate next wk after Thanksgiving."Grassley's spokesman, Michael Zona, said the senator was reading several Iowa newspapers, the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal. Grassley, 87, is in...…Des Moines RegisterU.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, who tested positive for COVID-19 last week, said Monday he was doing well and plans to return to work in the Senate after Thanksgiving. "Thx for the continued support," the Iowa Republican wrote in a tweet Monday morning. "I'm still feeling good + am keeping up on my reading & work from home I look fwd to being back in the Senate next wk after Thanksgiving."Grassley's spokesman, Michael Zona, said the senator was reading several Iowa newspapers, the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal. Grassley, 87, is in...WW…

Des Moines Register Republican Sen. Joni Ernst and Democrat Theresa Greenfield each argued during a televised debate Saturday that she is better suited to help lead the nation through a coronavirus pandemic that has left President Donald Trump and thousands more hospitalized this weekend. Ernst, who is seeking a second term, touted her efforts in securing federal funding for coronavirus relief in the $2 trillion CARES Act and criticized Greenfield for opposing against a "skinny" relief package that Republicans supported but Democrats said didn't go far enough. "Democrats...…Des Moines Register Republican Sen. Joni Ernst and Democrat Theresa Greenfield each argued during a televised debate Saturday that she is better suited to help lead the nation through a coronavirus pandemic that has left President Donald Trump and thousands more hospitalized this weekend. Ernst, who is seeking a second term, touted her efforts in securing federal funding for coronavirus relief in the $2 trillion CARES Act and criticized Greenfield for opposing against a "skinny" relief package that Republicans supported but Democrats said didn't go far enough. "Democrats...WW…

Des Moines RegisterView CommentsVice President Mike Pence will travel to Des Moines on Friday to participate in discussions related to the coronavirus pandemic. According to a news release, Pence will meet with faith leaders to discuss re-opening religious services to the public. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, announced last week she would  and allow services to be held across the state as long as they observe social distancing guidelines and increase sanitation efforts. Pence also will visit Hy-Vee's headquarters to hold a roundtable discussion about...…Des Moines RegisterView CommentsVice President Mike Pence will travel to Des Moines on Friday to participate in discussions related to the coronavirus pandemic. According to a news release, Pence will meet with faith leaders to discuss re-opening religious services to the public. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican, announced last week she would  and allow services to be held across the state as long as they observe social distancing guidelines and increase sanitation efforts. Pence also will visit Hy-Vee's headquarters to hold a roundtable discussion about...WW…

Des Moines RegisterView CommentsNote to readers: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Katie Miller had to disembark from Air Force Two. Vice President Mike Pence’s routine trip Friday — quick meetings with religious and agriculture leaders in and near Iowa’s capital city — was made surreal in the face of a global pandemic that has upended cultural and political norms.Before he even departed Washington, D.C., Pence’s press secretary, Katie Miller, and several people had to disembark from Air Force Two, delaying its takeoff by more than an hour. She was the...…Des Moines RegisterView CommentsNote to readers: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Katie Miller had to disembark from Air Force Two. Vice President Mike Pence’s routine trip Friday — quick meetings with religious and agriculture leaders in and near Iowa’s capital city — was made surreal in the face of a global pandemic that has upended cultural and political norms.Before he even departed Washington, D.C., Pence’s press secretary, Katie Miller, and several people had to disembark from Air Force Two, delaying its takeoff by more than an hour. She was the...WW…

Des Moines RegisterView CommentsRepublican leaders are pushing back on U.S. Rep. Steve King, who this week said he would be reassigned to his congressional committees more than a year after he'd been stripped of those posts."As long as I am a member of the Steering Committee, I will not allow that type of person or that type of ideology to influence the legislation passed by Congress," U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers, R-Ohio, wrote on in alongside an image that says in bold capital letters: Stand against racism. The steering committee makes committee assignments for House members."He will not...…Des Moines RegisterView CommentsRepublican leaders are pushing back on U.S. Rep. Steve King, who this week said he would be reassigned to his congressional committees more than a year after he'd been stripped of those posts."As long as I am a member of the Steering Committee, I will not allow that type of person or that type of ideology to influence the legislation passed by Congress," U.S. Rep. Steve Stivers, R-Ohio, wrote on in alongside an image that says in bold capital letters: Stand against racism. The steering committee makes committee assignments for House members."He will not...WW…

Des Moines RegisterView CommentsIowans are preparing to vote from home in historic numbers as concerns linger about the spread of the novel coronavirus, numbers from the Secretary of State's office show.As of Tuesday, 49,325 people have requested absentee ballots — surpassing the 44,016 people who requested ballots during the entire 2016 primary. In the 2018 primary, 55,421 people requested absentee ballots.Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said in a statement that he's confident in county auditors and their staffs' ability to respond to the increased requests."They’ve done a...…Des Moines RegisterView CommentsIowans are preparing to vote from home in historic numbers as concerns linger about the spread of the novel coronavirus, numbers from the Secretary of State's office show.As of Tuesday, 49,325 people have requested absentee ballots — surpassing the 44,016 people who requested ballots during the entire 2016 primary. In the 2018 primary, 55,421 people requested absentee ballots.Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate said in a statement that he's confident in county auditors and their staffs' ability to respond to the increased requests."They’ve done a...WW…

Des Moines RegisterView CommentsIt is the state of Iowa's policy to publicly confirm outbreaks of the coronavirus at meatpacking plants or other businesses only when asked by members of the media, Iowa Department of Public Health Deputy Director Sarah Reisetter said at a news conference Wednesday. The disclosure came as reporters sought information about a spike of cases in Buena Vista County, where Tyson Foods operates two meatpacking plants in Storm Lake. The number of confirmed cases in the county of about 20,000 people increased by 417 from Monday to Tuesday,...…Des Moines RegisterView CommentsIt is the state of Iowa's policy to publicly confirm outbreaks of the coronavirus at meatpacking plants or other businesses only when asked by members of the media, Iowa Department of Public Health Deputy Director Sarah Reisetter said at a news conference Wednesday. The disclosure came as reporters sought information about a spike of cases in Buena Vista County, where Tyson Foods operates two meatpacking plants in Storm Lake. The number of confirmed cases in the county of about 20,000 people increased by 417 from Monday to Tuesday,...WW…

Des Moines RegisterView CommentsDemocrat Theresa Greenfield will take on Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst this November in a marquee matchup expected to be among the most competitive in the country.The race already has drawn tens of millions of dollars in outside spending — both from Democrats eager to capitalize on Ernst’s and from Republicans whose Senate majority hinges on a handful of vulnerable incumbents.“National Republicans have already made clear that they intend to make (Iowa) a priority,” said Jessica Taylor, an elections analyst with the Cook Political Report. “Which I think...…Des Moines RegisterView CommentsDemocrat Theresa Greenfield will take on Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst this November in a marquee matchup expected to be among the most competitive in the country.The race already has drawn tens of millions of dollars in outside spending — both from Democrats eager to capitalize on Ernst’s and from Republicans whose Senate majority hinges on a handful of vulnerable incumbents.“National Republicans have already made clear that they intend to make (Iowa) a priority,” said Jessica Taylor, an elections analyst with the Cook Political Report. “Which I think...WW…