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Iowa Capital Dispatch @iowacapitaldispatch.com · 4h

The U.S. Senate failed to advance Wednesday night a resolution designed to curb the president’s power regarding military actions abroad after the Trump administration ordered four strikes on boats in the Caribbean, Ariana Figueroa reports.

US Senate rejects restriction of military strikes on vessels in the Caribbean • Iowa Capital Dispatch

The U.S. Senate failed to advance Wednesday night a resolution designed to curb the president’s power regarding military actions abroad.

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Iowa Capital Dispatch @iowacapitaldispatch.com · 6h

A survey of the commercial horticulture food crops industry in Iowa showed direct specialty crop sales of more than $79 million in 2022 and even higher figures of economic output attributable to the industry, Cami Koons reports.

Study shows Iowa food farmers had a $66.5M economic output • Iowa Capital Dispatch

A survey of the commercial horticulture food crops industry in Iowa showed direct specialty crop sales of more than $79 million in 2022.

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Iowa Capital Dispatch @iowacapitaldispatch.com · 6h

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed an executive order Wednesday requiring state departments to verify immigration and citizenship status through the federal E-Verify and SAVE systems when granting occupational and professional licenses, Robin Opsahl reports.

Gov. Kim Reynolds issues executive order requiring state to use E-Verify for licensing • Iowa Capital Dispatch

The executive order comes in the wake of the immigration arrest of former Des Moines Public Schools superintendent Ian Roberts.

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Iowa Capital Dispatch @iowacapitaldispatch.com · 7h

Iowa biofuels and corn experts congratulated Nebraska for its first shipments of carbon dioxide on the Tallgrass Trailblazer pipeline, but said Wednesday that the development means Iowa is no longer king at turning corn into ethanol, Cami Koons reports.

Biofuels leaders: Iowa cedes its ethanol ‘crown’ to Nebraska with CO2 pipeline start • Iowa Capital Dispatch

Iowa biofuels experts congratulated Nebraska for the Tallgrass Trailblazer pipeline, but said it means Iowa is no longer king of ethanol.

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Iowa Capital Dispatch @iowacapitaldispatch.com · 8h

The Iowa Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday about whether the state should end the practice of billing low-income Iowans for their court-appointed attorneys in cases where charges are dismissed, Robin Opsahl reports.

Iowa Supreme Court hears oral arguments on collecting court fees for dismissed cases • Iowa Capital Dispatch

The Iowa Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in a second case about the practice of charging Iowans for court-appointed attorneys.

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Iowa Capital Dispatch @iowacapitaldispatch.com · 8h

U.S. House Democrats failed again Wednesday to force Speaker Mike Johnson to swear in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, Shauneen Miranda reports.

US House GOP delays seating Rep.-elect Grijalva, potential deciding vote on Epstein petition • Iowa Capital Dispatch

U.S. House Democrats failed again Wednesday to force Speaker Mike Johnson to swear in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva.

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Iowa Capital Dispatch @iowacapitaldispatch.com · 9h

Des Moines Area Community College has postponed on-campus interviews for presidential search finalists due to candidates dropping out as President Rob Denson’s last days with the college grow closer, Brooklyn Draisey reports via Report for America.

DMACC postpones president applicant visits after multiple dropouts • Iowa Capital Dispatch

Des Moines Area Community College has postponed presidential candidate campus visits after two of three finalists dropped out.

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Iowa Capital Dispatch @iowacapitaldispatch.com · 10h

The Federal Aviation Administration reported no air travel delays due to staffing levels Wednesday, but the U.S. transportation secretary raised concerns about the ongoing effects of the government shutdown on air traffic controllers, Jacob Fischler reports.

Air traffic control staffing steady, but stress during shutdown worries DOT • Iowa Capital Dispatch

Although no staffing-related flight delays were reported Wednesday, the U.S. transportation secretary raised concerns about shutdown stresses.

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Iowa Capital Dispatch @iowacapitaldispatch.com · 10h

A high school English teacher from Creston, facing termination for a social-media comment regarding the killing of Charlie Kirk, is fighting back, citing a series of pro-Republican posts by the superintendent, Clark Kauffman reports.

Facing dismissal over Kirk comment, teacher cites pro-GOP posts by superintendent • Iowa Capital Dispatch

A teacher, facing termination for comments about Charlie Kirk, is suing the school district and citing pro-GOP comments by the superintendent.

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Iowa Capital Dispatch @iowacapitaldispatch.com · 11h

Congress has just one week to break the stalemate and fund the government before active duty military members miss their first paycheck of the shutdown, Jennifer Shutt reports.

Shutdown day eight: Congress standoff unchanged as first missed federal payday nears • Iowa Capital Dispatch

Congress has just one week to fund the government before active duty military members miss their first paycheck of the shutdown.

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Iowa Capital Dispatch @iowacapitaldispatch.com · 12h

The nation’s prison population grew for the second consecutive year in 2023, reversing more than a decade of steady decline, Stateline reports.

US prison population rises for second straight year • Iowa Capital Dispatch

The nation’s prison population grew for the second consecutive year in 2023, reversing more than a decade of steady decline.

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Iowa Capital Dispatch @iowacapitaldispatch.com · 13h

The University of Northern Iowa’s civic education center will receive more than $1 million in federal funding to lead statewide efforts in strengthening civic education, Brooklyn Draisey reports via Report for America.

University of Northern Iowa to launch civic educators institute with federal funding • Iowa Capital Dispatch

The University of Northern Iowa will use federal funds to create a new institute aimed at training educators in civic education.

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Iowa Capital Dispatch @iowacapitaldispatch.com · 13h

Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty to two felony charges Wednesday in federal court in Virginia, in response to an indictment that followed an extraordinary pressure campaign from President Donald Trump, Ashley Murray reports.

Former FBI Director Comey pleads not guilty to criminal charges demanded by Trump • Iowa Capital Dispatch

Former FBI Director James Comey pleaded not guilty to two federal felony charges in response to an indictment urged by President Donald Trump.

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Iowa Capital Dispatch @iowacapitaldispatch.com · 1d

Des Moines Public Schools officials may be considering the use of E-Verify, a federal system for checking job applicant’s ability to legally work in the U.S., following the immigration arrest of former Superintendent Ian Roberts, Robin Opsahl reports.

DM schools did not use federal E-Verify system in Superintendent Ian Roberts' hiring • Iowa Capital Dispatch

The use of E-Verify to check job applicants' ability to legally work in the U.S. is not required by state or federal law.

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Iowa Capital Dispatch @iowacapitaldispatch.com · 1d

The nominees for Iowa’s two open U.S. attorney positions were approved by the U.S. Senate Tuesday and Iowa Board of Regents member David Barker was also confirmed for a position in the U.S. Department of Education, Robin Opsahl reports.

Iowa Trump nominees, including U.S. attorneys, approved by Senate • Iowa Capital Dispatch

Iowa's two open U.S. Attorney positions were filled through the Senate vote approving a bloc of Trump nominees Tuesday.

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Iowa Capital Dispatch @iowacapitaldispatch.com · 1d

A mental health counselor from Cedar Falls is facing disciplinary charges for allegedly having a personal relationship with numerous clients, Clark Kauffman reports.

Counselor sanctioned for personal relationships with multiple clients • Iowa Capital Dispatch

A mental health counselor from Cedar Falls is facing disciplinary charges for allegedly having a personal relationship with numerous clients.

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Iowa Capital Dispatch @iowacapitaldispatch.com · 1d

Five years after an Iowa nurse was convicted of drug-related crimes, he has agreed to surrender his Controlled Substances Act registration to the Iowa Board of Pharmacy, Clark Kauffman reports.

Iowa pharmacists sanctioned for criminal offenses, drug errors • Iowa Capital Dispatch

The Iowa Board of Pharmacy has sanctioned several licensees for criminal offenses, drug-dispensing errors and other violations.

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Iowa Capital Dispatch @iowacapitaldispatch.com · 1d

Environmental groups are appealing a federal court’s decision to uphold a rule exempting livestock and poultry operations from reporting significant releases of air pollutants, Cami Koons reports.

Environmental groups appeal federal court decision on EPA reporting requirements • Iowa Capital Dispatch

Environmental groups are appealing a federal court's decision exempt livestock and poultry farms from air pollution reporting.

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Iowa Capital Dispatch @iowacapitaldispatch.com · 1d

Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court appeared skeptical of a Colorado law banning conversion therapy for minors, which a counselor in the state says violates her First Amendment right to free speech, Colorado Newsline reports.

Supreme Court justices skeptical of free speech limits in Colorado conversion therapy case • Iowa Capital Dispatch

Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court appeared skeptical of a Colorado law banning conversion therapy for minors based on the First Amendment.

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Iowa Capital Dispatch @iowacapitaldispatch.com · 1d

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi aimed heated rhetoric Tuesday at Democratic senators who asked about the surge of federal agents to blue cities, as well as controversial issues surrounding the Department of Justice, Ashley Murray reports.

A combative AG Pam Bondi confronts US Senate Judiciary over Trump crackdown • Iowa Capital Dispatch

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi aimed heated rhetoric at Democratic senators who asked her about the surge of federal agents to blue cities.

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Iowa Capital Dispatch @iowacapitaldispatch.com · 1d

A federal judge will hear arguments Thursday in Illinois over Chicago’s lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to the state, Jacob Fischler reports.

Trump deployment of troops to Democratic states targets Illinois • Iowa Capital Dispatch

A federal judge will hear arguments Thursday over Chicago’s lawsuit challenging President Trump’s deployment of National Guard to the state.

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Iowa Capital Dispatch @iowacapitaldispatch.com · 1d

The Trump administration may try to deny back pay to hundreds of thousands of furloughed federal workers, Jennifer Shutt reports.

Trump floats plan to deny back pay to furloughed federal workers after shutdown • Iowa Capital Dispatch

The Trump administration has indicated it may try to deny back pay to hundreds of thousands of furloughed federal workers.

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Iowa Capital Dispatch @iowacapitaldispatch.com · 1d

“Time will tell whether government officials take to heart the learning moment offered by the Roberts train wreck,” guest columnist Randy Evans writes via Iowa Writers’ Collaborative.

The Ian Roberts scandal should teach government boards four important lessons • Iowa Capital Dispatch

"Time will tell whether government officials take to heart the learning moment offered by the Roberts train wreck."

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Iowa Capital Dispatch @iowacapitaldispatch.com · 1d

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday is scheduled to hear oral arguments in a case that could reverse or solidify state laws across the country that ban a controversial counseling practice for LGBTQ+ youth, Stateline reports.

Conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ minors goes before the Supreme Court • Iowa Capital Dispatch

The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on Tuesday in a case challenging state bans on conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ youth.

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Iowa Capital Dispatch @iowacapitaldispatch.com · 2d

Iowa Sen. Claire Celsi, D-West Des Moines, died Monday, according to a social media post from her daughter and statements from lawmakers, Robin Opsahl reports.

Iowa Sen. Claire Celsi dies at age 59 • Iowa Capital Dispatch

Iowa Sen. Claire Celsi died Monday, according to her family, following a monthslong battle with an undisclosed medical condition.

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