16:31News Story(Photo by Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)Xby Linh Ta, January 6, 2021by Linh Ta, January 6, 2021Iowa Democrats said Wednesday they want to legalize cannabis and regulate it at the same level as alcohol.So far, no Republicans, who hold the majority in the Legislature, have publicly supported the measure.Nearly 40 Democrats, ranging from city council members to Iowa state senators, signed on in support of legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana and expunging the criminal records of Iowans who have been previously charged in misdemeanors for marijuana...…16:31News Story(Photo by Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)Xby Linh Ta, January 6, 2021by Linh Ta, January 6, 2021Iowa Democrats said Wednesday they want to legalize cannabis and regulate it at the same level as alcohol.So far, no Republicans, who hold the majority in the Legislature, have publicly supported the measure.Nearly 40 Democrats, ranging from city council members to Iowa state senators, signed on in support of legalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana and expunging the criminal records of Iowans who have been previously charged in misdemeanors for marijuana...WW…

10:00News StoryIowa has reached a new high this year for hospitalizations of people with COVID-19. (Photo by FS Productions/Getty Images)“I just want people to know it’s not a question of if this will affect you, but when,” Kusiak said. “If a family member needs to go to the hospital for any reason at all, they might not be able to.”Xby Linh Ta, November 23, 2020by Linh Ta, November 23, 2020In March, Iowans watched videos of overwhelmed nurses and pop-up emergency tents as New York City tried to handle the overload of sick patients on its crumbling hospital system.Nine months later, that is...…10:00News StoryIowa has reached a new high this year for hospitalizations of people with COVID-19. (Photo by FS Productions/Getty Images)“I just want people to know it’s not a question of if this will affect you, but when,” Kusiak said. “If a family member needs to go to the hospital for any reason at all, they might not be able to.”Xby Linh Ta, November 23, 2020by Linh Ta, November 23, 2020In March, Iowans watched videos of overwhelmed nurses and pop-up emergency tents as New York City tried to handle the overload of sick patients on its crumbling hospital system.Nine months later, that is...WW…

16:03News StoryJaylen Cavil, a leader in Des Moines Black Lives Matter, attends a protest outside Polk County Jail. (Photo by Linh Ta/Iowa Capital Dispatch)Xby Linh Ta, July 7, 2020by Linh Ta, July 7, 2020An Iowa State Patrol trooper who hit a Black Lives Matter protester with a vehicle while driving for the governor acted “appropriately,” Gov. Kim Reynolds said Tuesday.On June 30, an Iowa State Patrol trooper driving a vehicle carrying Reynolds hit Jaylen Cavil, a leader in Des Moines Black Lives Matter, outside of an event in Ackley. Cavil was outside the event with other protesters...…16:03News StoryJaylen Cavil, a leader in Des Moines Black Lives Matter, attends a protest outside Polk County Jail. (Photo by Linh Ta/Iowa Capital Dispatch)Xby Linh Ta, July 7, 2020by Linh Ta, July 7, 2020An Iowa State Patrol trooper who hit a Black Lives Matter protester with a vehicle while driving for the governor acted “appropriately,” Gov. Kim Reynolds said Tuesday.On June 30, an Iowa State Patrol trooper driving a vehicle carrying Reynolds hit Jaylen Cavil, a leader in Des Moines Black Lives Matter, outside of an event in Ackley. Cavil was outside the event with other protesters...WW…

A screenshot of a Facebook post condemning Asian discrimination by Lucky Lotus, a restaurant in Des Moines. Screenshot via Facebook.Discrimination is happening against Des Moines' Asian community — even if it's not visible to the public, said Amanda Lovan, civic engagement lead for Iowa Asian Alliance.Driving the news: A suspect in Atlanta, Georgia was with murder and assault after allegedly shooting and killing eight people — six of whom were Asian women.What's happening here: Aggravated assault cases against Asians in Des Moines actually decreased from 33 in 2019 to 24 in 2020, according...…A screenshot of a Facebook post condemning Asian discrimination by Lucky Lotus, a restaurant in Des Moines. Screenshot via Facebook.Discrimination is happening against Des Moines' Asian community — even if it's not visible to the public, said Amanda Lovan, civic engagement lead for Iowa Asian Alliance.Driving the news: A suspect in Atlanta, Georgia was with murder and assault after allegedly shooting and killing eight people — six of whom were Asian women.What's happening here: Aggravated assault cases against Asians in Des Moines actually decreased from 33 in 2019 to 24 in 2020, according...WW…

Photographer is Kelsey Kremer from Des Moines RegisterPress freedom advocates are celebrating a decision by jurors in Iowa to acquit Des Moines Register reporter Andrea Sahouri of all charges that she incurred while covering a Black Lives Matter protest last May.Why it matters: The verdict sets a critical precedent for journalists covering protests and political movements moving forward. were arrested while covering Black Lives Matter protests last year. While charges against most were , others are still pending.Details: The jury found that Sahouri and her then-boyfriend Spenser Robnett,...…Photographer is Kelsey Kremer from Des Moines RegisterPress freedom advocates are celebrating a decision by jurors in Iowa to acquit Des Moines Register reporter Andrea Sahouri of all charges that she incurred while covering a Black Lives Matter protest last May.Why it matters: The verdict sets a critical precedent for journalists covering protests and political movements moving forward. were arrested while covering Black Lives Matter protests last year. While charges against most were , others are still pending.Details: The jury found that Sahouri and her then-boyfriend Spenser Robnett,...WW…

Photo: Tobias TylerDes Moines Register reporter Andrea Sahouri, who was that she incurred while covering a Black Lives Matter protest last May, tells Axios she believes her race played a significant role in not only her arrest last summer, but also the push to uphold the charges so she would be forced to stand trial. Why it matters: There's irony in the fact that while covering an anti-racism protest last summer, Sahouri felt as though she was targeted by the police for her race. Sahouri is Palestinian.Details: In an interview with Axios hours after she was found non-guilty on two...…Photo: Tobias TylerDes Moines Register reporter Andrea Sahouri, who was that she incurred while covering a Black Lives Matter protest last May, tells Axios she believes her race played a significant role in not only her arrest last summer, but also the push to uphold the charges so she would be forced to stand trial. Why it matters: There's irony in the fact that while covering an anti-racism protest last summer, Sahouri felt as though she was targeted by the police for her race. Sahouri is Palestinian.Details: In an interview with Axios hours after she was found non-guilty on two...WW…

Gov. Kim Reynolds during the 2020 RNC. Photo: Committee on Arrangements for the 2020 Republican National Committee via Getty ImagesAll eyes are on Gov. Kim Reynolds' desk, where a scaling back early voting in Iowa awaits her signature after it passed the state Legislature late Wednesday.Why it matters: Iowans cast a record-breaking 1 million early votes in 2020. But under the bill, they would have less time to send out their absentee ballots if they want to vote by mail in future elections.The bill would:The state of play: Republicans agree voter fraud was not an issue in Iowa last year.The...…Gov. Kim Reynolds during the 2020 RNC. Photo: Committee on Arrangements for the 2020 Republican National Committee via Getty ImagesAll eyes are on Gov. Kim Reynolds' desk, where a scaling back early voting in Iowa awaits her signature after it passed the state Legislature late Wednesday.Why it matters: Iowans cast a record-breaking 1 million early votes in 2020. But under the bill, they would have less time to send out their absentee ballots if they want to vote by mail in future elections.The bill would:The state of play: Republicans agree voter fraud was not an issue in Iowa last year.The...WW…