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Iowa Capital Dispatch
Presidential immunity extends to some official acts, Supreme Court rules in Trump case
WASHINGTON — U.S. presidents enjoy full immunity from criminal charges for their official “core constitutional” acts, but no immunity for unofficial acts, the Supreme Court ruled Monday, sending former President Donald Trump’s election interference case back to the lower courts. The justices left open the question of how far the boundaries of such official acts […] The post Presidential immunity extends to some official acts, Supreme Court rules in Trump case appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Here are some of the new laws that take effect July 1 in Iowa
Dozens of the laws passed during the 2024 legislative session take effect Monday, including measures cutting state boards and commissions, limiting the potency of consumable hemp products and setting new education policies for public K-12 schools. During the 2024 legislative session, the Republican-controlled Legislature passed more than 180 bills on subjects from tax cuts to […] The post Here are some of the new laws that take effect July 1 in Iowa appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Modern-day ‘Comstocks’ look to police travel, information as another strategy to end abortion
Mark Lee Dickson says he’s been home maybe once in the two years since the U.S. Supreme Court vanished federal abortion rights in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The 38-year-old director of Right to Life of East Texas in Longview has been on an endless road trip trying to set legal traps for people […] The post Modern-day ‘Comstocks’ look to police travel, information as another strategy to end abortion appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Presidential election seen as climate turning point as CO2 hits record
WASHINGTON – Despite policies the Biden administration has championed to target climate change, recent findings show carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is at an all-time high, raising the stakes for November’s presidential election among advocates for aggressive climate action. Recent data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicate that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has been […] The post Presidential election seen as climate turning point as CO2 hits record appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Deadlines loom for college student financial aid, state grants and scholarships
The end of a tumultuous year for student aid is coming to a close as deadlines for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, are set to pass next week. The 2024-2025 FAFSA, which covers the 2024-25 school year through June 30, 2025, had a rough start in its Dec. 30 soft launch […] The post Deadlines loom for college student financial aid, state grants and scholarships appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Iowa abortion providers, advocates prepare for state law to take effect
Reproductive health care advocates and providers are preparing for how to help Iowans access abortion following Friday’s Iowa Supreme Court decision that will allow the state’s six-week abortion ban to take effect. The state Supreme Court issued a 4-3 ruling Friday morning that would allow for enforcement of a 2023 law banning most abortions after […] The post Iowa abortion providers, advocates prepare for state law to take effect appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Fired MercyOne nurse who clashed with physician claims retaliation
A clinic nurse who claims she was marginalized and then fired by MercyOne Health Services after fielding employees’ complaints about a physician is now suing the company. In lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, Kristin Flatness alleges that while she worked for MercyOne as a clinic manager, she was […] The post Fired MercyOne nurse who clashed with physician claims retaliation appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Democrats reel from ‘terrible’ Biden debate performance as he defends candidacy
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden touched on a flood of criticism of his debate performance during a rally on Friday, while Democrats interviewed on Capitol Hill said the party must figure out a way to reassure voters after what they described as a “terrible” showing and a “bad night.” Biden, speaking from Raleigh, North Carolina, […] The post Democrats reel from ‘terrible’ Biden debate performance as he defends candidacy appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
D.C. Dispatch: Iowa lawmakers focus on bird flu, disaster aid, returning tribal land
Iowa lawmakers introduced bills this week to return tribal land to the Winnebago Tribe and provide greater tax relief to small businesses abiding by Paid Family and Medical Leave and victims of natural disasters. The entire Iowa congressional delegation also signed a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture asking it to better compensate farmers […] The post D.C. Dispatch: Iowa lawmakers focus on bird flu, disaster aid, returning tribal land appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Eight more Iowa companies sue the state over rollout of new hemp law
A second group of companies is suing the State of Iowa over its implementation of a new hemp law that restricts the levels of THC in consumables. The eight companies allege the regulations they must adhere to if they’re to be in compliance with a new state law restricting hemp-related consumables are not expected to […] The post Eight more Iowa companies sue the state over rollout of new hemp law appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
U.S. Supreme Court ruling on obstruction law helps cases of Jan. 6 defendants
WASHINGTON — A former Pennsylvania police officer who joined the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol that delayed the certification of the 2020 presidential election results cannot be charged with obstructing an official proceeding unless a lower court finds otherwise, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday. The ruling throws into question the cases […] The post U.S. Supreme Court ruling on obstruction law helps cases of Jan. 6 defendants appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
U.S. Supreme Court sides with Oregon city, allows ban on homeless people sleeping outdoors
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court Friday sided with a local ordinance in Oregon that bans homeless people from sleeping outdoors, and local governments will be allowed to enforce those laws. In a 6-3 decision, Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the opinion that the enforcement of those local laws that regulate camping on public property does not […] The post U.S. Supreme Court sides with Oregon city, allows ban on homeless people sleeping outdoors appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
U.S. Supreme Court flips precedent that empowered federal agencies
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a precedent Friday that had for decades limited judicial power to strike executive branch regulations, in a decision immediately criticized for potentially undermining decisions by scientists and agency experts. The 6-3 and 6-2 decisions in two cases brought by fishing operators in New Jersey and Rhode Island challenged a National Oceanic […] The post U.S. Supreme Court flips precedent that empowered federal agencies appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Iowa Supreme Court lifts injunction on abortion law, allowing enforcement of six week ban
Most abortions will soon be illegal in Iowa after six weeks of pregnancy following the Iowa Supreme Court’s decision Friday to overturn a lower court’s block on the 2023 abortion law. The 4-3 decision allows enforcement of the law that was previously blocked by a temporary injunction in a case challenging Iowa’s law restricting most […] The post Iowa Supreme Court lifts injunction on abortion law, allowing enforcement of six week ban appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Golf, abortion, Jan. 6 and felonies: Biden and Trump’s memorable debate moments
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump debated at CNN’s studios in Atlanta, Georgia, on Thursday night, the first showdown of the 2024 general election season for the presumptive presidential nominees. The debate was heated, with candidates accusing one another of lying about their and their opponent’s positions on the debate stage. Both presidential hopefuls also […] The post Golf, abortion, Jan. 6 and felonies: Biden and Trump’s memorable debate moments appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Immigration policy fought over by Biden and Trump in Atlanta debate
Immigration occupies center stage in the 2024 presidential campaign and also was a major focus during the first presidential debate Thursday night between President Joe Biden and the presumptive GOP nominee, Donald J. Trump. Immigration is a top issue for voters and for Trump, while the Biden administration has struggled to deal with the largest number of migrant encounters […] The post Immigration policy fought over by Biden and Trump in Atlanta debate appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Biden and Trump trade insults, accusations of lying in acrimonious presidential debate
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump pitched to undecided voters Thursday night during the first debate of the presidential campaign — trading insults over their policy differences, immigration and who represents a threat to democracy. During the debate from CNN’s headquarters in Atlanta, the two men argued over who would be better for […] The post Biden and Trump trade insults, accusations of lying in acrimonious presidential debate appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Georgia elected officials on hand for preliminary events ahead of Biden-Trump debate
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump have both arrived in Atlanta for the highly anticipated first presidential debate of the 2024 election. Biden was greeted by Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Stacey Abrams, Jason Carter and other prominent Georgia Democrats who stood on the tarmac at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta. He shook […] The post Georgia elected officials on hand for preliminary events ahead of Biden-Trump debate appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
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Iowa has long enjoyed a reputation for clean government. But what would happen if nobody was watching? The Iowa Capital Dispatch is a hard-hitting, independent news organization dedicated to connecting Iowans to their state government and its impact on their lives. The Capital Dispatch combines state government coverage with relentless investigative journalism, deep dives into the consequences of policy, political insight, and principled commentary. We deeply believe in sharing the stories of people outside the halls of power, connecting the actions of state leaders to their impacts on Iowans. We also believe that without strong community journalism, Iowans risk losing the government integrity and accountability they have long valued. The Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers. The Iowa Capital Dispatch retains editorial independence.
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