Tag Archives: Iowa

DeSantis To Launch 2024 Tour At Iowa Megachurch

Florida Politics reports: Ron DeSantis plans to kick off his presidential campaign in Iowa on Tuesday, the start of a busy week that will take him to 12 cities in three states as he tests his pitch as the most formidable Republican challenger to former President Donald Trump. The Florida Governor’s two-day trip to the leadoff caucus state — starting …

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Iowa Gov Signs “Don’t Say Gay” And Book Banning Bills

The Des Moines Register reports: Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a sweeping education law that orders the removal from schools of books that contain sex acts and restricts teaching about LGBTQ topics. Iowa Republican lawmakers combined several of their top priorities for education into the wide-ranging Senate File 496, which Reynolds signed in a private event on Friday. The law …

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Trump +42 Over DeSantis In New Iowa Caucus Poll

Emerson College Polling reports: Former President Donald Trump holds 62% support in the Republican caucus, followed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis with 20% support. Five percent support former Vice President Mike Pence and former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley respectively, 3% support US Senator Tim Scott (SC). Nearly three in four Iowa voters find it very (40%) …

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Trump Cancels Iowa Rally Due To Tornado Warning

Fox News reports: Former President Trump canceled a scheduled rally in Iowa Saturday night in a move he says was due to inclement weather. “Unfortunately, due to the tornado warnings in Des Moines, we are forced to cancel today’s outdoor rally at the Lauridsen Amphitheater,” the former president posted on Truth Social Saturday afternoon. “Stay tuned, we will reschedule soon. …

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DeSantis: “Florida Is The Iowa Of The Southeast”

Florida Politics reports: The Florida Governor offered high praise for the Hawkeye State, though it was probably familiar to those who have heard more than one of his speeches. “I was here in March and someone kind of took note and they’re like, ‘Man, look at all the stuff Iowa is doing. Iowa is like the Florida of the Midwest.’ …

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Trump Schedules Iowa Rally Opposite DeSantis Event

The Associated Press reports: The competition between Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis is intensifying as the former president is scheduling a return trip to Iowa on the same day that the Florida governor was already going to be in the state that will kick off the Republican contest for the White House. A Trump campaign official said Saturday that the …

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Baptist Missionary Found Guilty On Child Sex Charges

The Iowa Messenger reports: It took a Webster County jury just under two and a half hours late Friday afternoon to convict a former Christian missionary of sexual abuse. Jordan Dee Andrew Webb, 30, of Fort Dodge, was found guilty of one count of second-degree sexual abuse with persons under the age of 12, a Class B felony; incest, a …

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Iowa Senate GOP Votes To Loosen Child Labor Laws

The Des Moines Register reports: Iowa children would be allowed to work longer hours, including in jobs that are currently prohibited such as serving alcohol, under a bill passed by the Iowa Senate early Tuesday morning after a marathon session. The Senate voted 32-17 just before 5 a.m. Tuesday to pass Senate File 542. Two Republicans, Sens. Charlie McClintock, R-Alburnett, …

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Catholic School Teacher Arrested For Sex With Student

The Des Moines Register reports: A Dowling Catholic High School teacher has been arrested for an alleged sexual relationship with a student. Police arrested Kristen Gantt, 36, on Friday on two counts of sexual exploitation by a school employee. Authorities allege Gantt, who was employed as an English teacher at Dowling in West Des Moines, engaged in an inappropriate sexual …

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Iowa AG: No More Morning After Pills For Rape Victims

The Des Moines Register reports: The Iowa Attorney General’s Office has put on hold its longstanding practice of paying for emergency contraception, and in rare cases abortions, for victims of sexual assault. Iowa law and federal regulations require the state to pay for many of the expenses facing assault survivors who seek medical help, including the costs of forensic examinations …

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IA Senate Passes Sweeping Anti-LGBTQ Education Bill

The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports: The Iowa Senate passed a bill Wednesday restricting books and instruction related to LGBTQ identities in Iowa classrooms and libraries. Lawmakers changed language in Senate File 496 Wednesday, before passing it 34-16. The amendment to Gov. Kim Reynolds’ “parental rights” bill added requirements that school libraries not include materials which depict, visually or textually, any …

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Catholic School Teacher Arrested On Child Sex Charges

The Quad City Times reports: Cody LaKose faces a felony charge of sexual exploitation by a school employee and three aggravated misdemeanor charges of sexual exploitation by a school employee. LaKose, 37, was a science teacher and coach at Central DeWitt from August 2010 to December 2018. He was asked to resign, according to a separation agreement with the district. …

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IA Youth Pastor Arrested On Felony Child Sex Charges

The Oskaloosa Herald reports: A former youth director at a Pella church is facing multiple charges of sexual abuse, according to court documents. Travis Albers, 38, of rural Pella, has been charged with two counts of lascivious acts with a child – inflict pain or discomfort, both class D felonies; and two counts of indecent contact with a child. According …

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Iowa GOP Bill Strips Liability Rules In Child Labor Laws

Axios reports: Legislators in multiple states are invoking a widespread labor shortage to push bills that would weaken long-standing child labor laws. Some bills go beyond expanding eligibility or working hours for run-of-the-mill teen jobs. They’d make it easier for kids to fill physically demanding roles at potentially hazardous work sites. Iowa lawmakers are considering Republican legislation that would allow …

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Trump Trashes “RINO Disciple” DeSantis In Iowa Speech

The Hill reports: Former President Donald Trump lashed out at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday, using his 2024 debut speech in Iowa to rehash his longtime 2020 campaign claims and attack his would-be political rival days after the Florida Republican made an appearance in the Hawkeye State. He went after DeSantis, a rising Republican star who’s preparing for a …

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DeSantis Trolled, Poses With “Fascist Snowflake” Gift

Newsweek reports: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis may have thought he was mocking those he has railed against when posing with a handmade snowflake. However, its hidden message showed that he was the subject of the joke. In an image that has gone viral, the Republican seemed unaware of the word “fascist” that appeared in the framed gift handed to him …

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Trump To Iowa: Tell Ron DeSanctimonious To Go Home

Posted today to Trump’s Truth Social account: Remember FARMERS, I got China to pay you 28 Billion Dollars as an adjustment for how unfairly they treated you. This was part of the great Trade Deal I made for you with China (Biden is not properly enforcing it!). No other President could have done this. No other President was as PRO …

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Iowans Stage Massive Rally Against Anti-LGBTQ Bills

The Des Moines Register reports: Iowans by the hundreds rallied Sunday at the center of Iowa government to protest legislation targeting the rights of LGBTQ citizens. Nearly a thousand parents, students, educators, faith leaders, community organizers and elected officials attended the Sunday Rally to Resist on the West steps of the Iowa State Capitol. “Iowans have had enough. We understand …

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FRC: Iowa May Get SCOTUS To Overturn Obergefell

Via email from the Family Research Council: The political battle to defend natural marriage is far from over in the nation’s heartland, as Iowa legislators have introduced two bills that would expunge same-sex marriage from state law and declare a national law redefining marriage “null and void.” The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Brad Sherman (R) felt moved to introduce the bill …

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Iowa Rep Defends His Bills To Ban Same-Sex Marriage

Iowa Starting Line reports: The lead sponsor of two bills that would outlaw gay marriage in Iowa—where it has been legal since 2009—told his Iowa House colleague his bills aren’t actually about banning gay marriage despite the language in the bills doing just that. Starting Line acquired a copy of an email Rep. Brad Sherman (R-Williamsburg) sent from his legislative …

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