Des Moines RegisterView CommentsThe Iowa Legislature adjourned its coronavirus-disrupted 2020 session Sunday after a marathon overnight debate that saw the passage of a mostly status quo budget and a controversial expansion of the state's voter ID program.The Senate passed the proposed at about 6 a.m. Sunday after debating the bill overnight. The House resumed session at 10 a.m. to finalize it. The Legislature officially adjourned at 1:38 p.m.In addition to the budget, the Legislature's Saturday night marathon included the passage of a bill that would after an initial...…Des Moines RegisterView CommentsThe Iowa Legislature adjourned its coronavirus-disrupted 2020 session Sunday after a marathon overnight debate that saw the passage of a mostly status quo budget and a controversial expansion of the state's voter ID program.The Senate passed the proposed at about 6 a.m. Sunday after debating the bill overnight. The House resumed session at 10 a.m. to finalize it. The Legislature officially adjourned at 1:38 p.m.In addition to the budget, the Legislature's Saturday night marathon included the passage of a bill that would after an initial...WW…

Des Moines RegisterView CommentsMembers of Iowa's newly formed economic recovery task force said they want to look at big ideas to help Iowa rebound from the coronavirus pandemic. The Governor's Economic Recovery Advisory Board — a group of business executives and industry leaders tasked with assessing the economic impact of coronavirus and recommending next steps for recovery and growth — held its first meeting Thursday as the state continues to show gradual signs of recovery. "I think it's going to be important for us to ... really start from a blank sheet of...…Des Moines RegisterView CommentsMembers of Iowa's newly formed economic recovery task force said they want to look at big ideas to help Iowa rebound from the coronavirus pandemic. The Governor's Economic Recovery Advisory Board — a group of business executives and industry leaders tasked with assessing the economic impact of coronavirus and recommending next steps for recovery and growth — held its first meeting Thursday as the state continues to show gradual signs of recovery. "I think it's going to be important for us to ... really start from a blank sheet of...WW…

Des Moines RegisterView Comments© Copyright 2021, Des Moines Register and Tribune Co.Fewer than one-third of Iowans now support the Legislature’s push for an amendment that says the state constitution does not secure a right to abortion, according to a new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll.  Support for the proposal has dipped slightly from  to 31% this year, the poll found. Opposition has also risen, with 58% of Iowans now saying they’re opposed, up from 54% a year ago. The remaining 11% of respondents are not sure.  The...…Des Moines RegisterView Comments© Copyright 2021, Des Moines Register and Tribune Co.Fewer than one-third of Iowans now support the Legislature’s push for an amendment that says the state constitution does not secure a right to abortion, according to a new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll.  Support for the proposal has dipped slightly from  to 31% this year, the poll found. Opposition has also risen, with 58% of Iowans now saying they’re opposed, up from 54% a year ago. The remaining 11% of respondents are not sure.  The...WW…

Des Moines RegisterView CommentsIowa Gov. Kim Reynolds will lift the state's limited mask requirement on Sunday, along with the social distancing requirements and other COVID-19 mitigation measures she had in place for businesses and social gatherings.Many states had already mask mandates for months before Reynolds ordered Iowans to wear masks in certain social settings in November. According to reports, 36 states still require people to wear masks, although North Dakota's requirement expired last month and Mississippi's mandate only covers counties with high...…Des Moines RegisterView CommentsIowa Gov. Kim Reynolds will lift the state's limited mask requirement on Sunday, along with the social distancing requirements and other COVID-19 mitigation measures she had in place for businesses and social gatherings.Many states had already mask mandates for months before Reynolds ordered Iowans to wear masks in certain social settings in November. According to reports, 36 states still require people to wear masks, although North Dakota's requirement expired last month and Mississippi's mandate only covers counties with high...WW…

Des Moines RegisterView CommentsAfter a dispute with the U.S. Treasury Department, Gov. Kim Reynolds said Monday she has directed the Iowa Department of Management to return $21 million in federal coronavirus funding that the state was using to pay for a new accounting system.Reynolds earlier this year had directed part of , or CARES, Act funding toward the state's contract with Workday for a cloud-based budget, accounting and human resources computing system.But the transaction came under scrutiny by Iowa Auditor Rob Sand and the U.S. Department of the Treasury's inspector...…Des Moines RegisterView CommentsAfter a dispute with the U.S. Treasury Department, Gov. Kim Reynolds said Monday she has directed the Iowa Department of Management to return $21 million in federal coronavirus funding that the state was using to pay for a new accounting system.Reynolds earlier this year had directed part of , or CARES, Act funding toward the state's contract with Workday for a cloud-based budget, accounting and human resources computing system.But the transaction came under scrutiny by Iowa Auditor Rob Sand and the U.S. Department of the Treasury's inspector...WW…

Des Moines Register Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said Wednesday evening that she remains "very accessible," even though she has not held a formal news conference for weeks as coronavirus-related hospitalizations . Reynolds said she has been continuing to update Iowans on the pandemic by taking questions from reporters at nearly every event she appears at, as well as calling in to local radio stations as she has traveled the state the past two weeks — a schedule that has included numerous campaign stops for fellow Republicans."I'm very accessible," Reynolds told...…Des Moines Register Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said Wednesday evening that she remains "very accessible," even though she has not held a formal news conference for weeks as coronavirus-related hospitalizations . Reynolds said she has been continuing to update Iowans on the pandemic by taking questions from reporters at nearly every event she appears at, as well as calling in to local radio stations as she has traveled the state the past two weeks — a schedule that has included numerous campaign stops for fellow Republicans."I'm very accessible," Reynolds told...WW…

Des Moines RegisterView CommentsIowa has received billions of dollars from the federal government over the past several months to assist with its battle against the coronavirus, helping pay for needs ranging from  to  to.As of Friday morning, the federal government has awarded Iowa $4.26 billion and counting, and the state had spent $2.81 billion of it. For comparison, the .More than 40% of the funding — approximately $1.84 billion — has gone toward covering the federal share of the boosted unemployment assistance paid to...…Des Moines RegisterView CommentsIowa has received billions of dollars from the federal government over the past several months to assist with its battle against the coronavirus, helping pay for needs ranging from  to  to.As of Friday morning, the federal government has awarded Iowa $4.26 billion and counting, and the state had spent $2.81 billion of it. For comparison, the .More than 40% of the funding — approximately $1.84 billion — has gone toward covering the federal share of the boosted unemployment assistance paid to...WW…

Des Moines RegisterView CommentsFor more than a week, Gov. Kim Reynolds has allowed members of the public to register "for" or "against" a shelter-in-place order through a phone menu option on her office's constituent services line."If you are calling about a statewide shelter-in-place order, please press '1'," the recorded voice at 515-281-5211 says. After selecting that option, the phone system then prompts those who want to register for a statewide shelter-in-place order to press "1" and those wanting to register against one to press "2." Callers can also leave...…Des Moines RegisterView CommentsFor more than a week, Gov. Kim Reynolds has allowed members of the public to register "for" or "against" a shelter-in-place order through a phone menu option on her office's constituent services line."If you are calling about a statewide shelter-in-place order, please press '1'," the recorded voice at 515-281-5211 says. After selecting that option, the phone system then prompts those who want to register for a statewide shelter-in-place order to press "1" and those wanting to register against one to press "2." Callers can also leave...WW…

Des Moines RegisterView CommentsA Republican candidate for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District, whose platform calls for redefining Islam as "militant cultural imperialism seeking world domination," drew fire Monday for saying he doesn't believe Islam is protected under the First Amendment. Pella Republican Rick Phillips  that he believes the founding fathers were specifically talking about Christianity and its denominations when they established the freedom of religion outlined in the Bill of Rights."They were not talking about anti-Christian beliefs," he said....…Des Moines RegisterView CommentsA Republican candidate for Iowa's 2nd Congressional District, whose platform calls for redefining Islam as "militant cultural imperialism seeking world domination," drew fire Monday for saying he doesn't believe Islam is protected under the First Amendment. Pella Republican Rick Phillips  that he believes the founding fathers were specifically talking about Christianity and its denominations when they established the freedom of religion outlined in the Bill of Rights."They were not talking about anti-Christian beliefs," he said....WW…

Des Moines RegisterView CommentsAs Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has defended her move to , she has said that Iowa has been able to "flatten the curve" in its battle against the spreading coronavirus."With the additional testing capacity, with some mitigation efforts that we put in place and the way that Iowans responded, we were able to flatten the curve," Reynolds said . "We were able to mitigate the impact on our health care resources, as well as not overwhelming our health care facilities."Late last month, the state began taking a phased approach on reopening some...…Des Moines RegisterView CommentsAs Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has defended her move to , she has said that Iowa has been able to "flatten the curve" in its battle against the spreading coronavirus."With the additional testing capacity, with some mitigation efforts that we put in place and the way that Iowans responded, we were able to flatten the curve," Reynolds said . "We were able to mitigate the impact on our health care resources, as well as not overwhelming our health care facilities."Late last month, the state began taking a phased approach on reopening some...WW…