Iowa Starting Line
@iowastartingline.com
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) announced a new program to engage rural voters in hopes of winning a majority in the US House of Representatives in 2026, NPR reports.
Democrats plan a new investment in winning rural voters, who've fled the party
Democrats are announcing a new investment to win over voters in rural areas — where the party has suffered deep losses in recent elections — by leaning on an economic message.
www.iowapublicradio.org
December 3, 2025 at 8:53 PM
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) announced a new program to engage rural voters in hopes of winning a majority in the US House of Representatives in 2026, NPR reports.
“I am a grandmother raising seven grandchildren who attend Des Moines Public Schools, and every day I wake up thinking about how I’m going to make sure they have enough to eat.”
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December 2, 2025 at 7:32 PM
“I am a grandmother raising seven grandchildren who attend Des Moines Public Schools, and every day I wake up thinking about how I’m going to make sure they have enough to eat.”
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Reposted by Iowa Starting Line
Cap Dispatch is great, AND all their stories are Creative Commons (can be republished for free/easily by other news outlets, @iowastartingline.com being one).
They especially do good work on data, which is how they break their heartbreaking nursing home reports, restaurant inspections, etc.
They especially do good work on data, which is how they break their heartbreaking nursing home reports, restaurant inspections, etc.
In 2025, our newsroom was first to inform you of a major water quality story, tracked the fallout of state higher education policies, and dug into the consequences of nursing home sales to private equity firms. iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/06/25/p...
Polk County water report pins unhealthy rivers on ag pollution • Iowa Capital Dispatch
A long-awaited scientific report commissioned by Polk County says farm pollution threatens the ability to drink clean water and to safely interact with central Iowa streams, Iowa Capital Dispatch has ...
iowacapitaldispatch.com
December 2, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Cap Dispatch is great, AND all their stories are Creative Commons (can be republished for free/easily by other news outlets, @iowastartingline.com being one).
They especially do good work on data, which is how they break their heartbreaking nursing home reports, restaurant inspections, etc.
They especially do good work on data, which is how they break their heartbreaking nursing home reports, restaurant inspections, etc.
In the 1980s, AIDS was a misunderstood, deadly disease. Today, scientific advancement has made it so survivors can enjoy long, fulfilling lives—if they're treated in time.
In honor of World AIDS Day Dec. 1, stop the spread by getting screened for HIV. Find the closest screening here:
In honor of World AIDS Day Dec. 1, stop the spread by getting screened for HIV. Find the closest screening here:
Find Services
Find locations for: HIV testing, hepatitis C testing, sexually transmitted infection testing, condoms, PrEP, support services and medical care for HIV and more.
stophiviowa.org
December 1, 2025 at 11:00 PM
In the 1980s, AIDS was a misunderstood, deadly disease. Today, scientific advancement has made it so survivors can enjoy long, fulfilling lives—if they're treated in time.
In honor of World AIDS Day Dec. 1, stop the spread by getting screened for HIV. Find the closest screening here:
In honor of World AIDS Day Dec. 1, stop the spread by getting screened for HIV. Find the closest screening here:
Iowa is tied for the worst ranking among states for our quality of hospitals, according to Leapfrog's latest Hospital Safety report.
None of our hospitals got an "A," only one, a Council Bluffs hospital, got a "B," and three, in Cedar Rapids, Davenport, and Fort Dodge, got "F" grades.
None of our hospitals got an "A," only one, a Council Bluffs hospital, got a "B," and three, in Cedar Rapids, Davenport, and Fort Dodge, got "F" grades.
December 1, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Iowa is tied for the worst ranking among states for our quality of hospitals, according to Leapfrog's latest Hospital Safety report.
None of our hospitals got an "A," only one, a Council Bluffs hospital, got a "B," and three, in Cedar Rapids, Davenport, and Fort Dodge, got "F" grades.
None of our hospitals got an "A," only one, a Council Bluffs hospital, got a "B," and three, in Cedar Rapids, Davenport, and Fort Dodge, got "F" grades.
Organizers at Indivisible, Black Voters Matter, and other groups are calling on shoppers to withhold their holiday business from Target, Amazon, and Home Depot this year, as each store has come under fire for aligning with or refusing to stand up to the Trump administration. 🧵⬇️
November 21, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Organizers at Indivisible, Black Voters Matter, and other groups are calling on shoppers to withhold their holiday business from Target, Amazon, and Home Depot this year, as each store has come under fire for aligning with or refusing to stand up to the Trump administration. 🧵⬇️
Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks took a first class trip while Iowans struggle with rising costs.
November 19, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks took a first class trip while Iowans struggle with rising costs.
As part of the deal to end the federal government shutdown, most hemp products with THC will become illegal again.
Read more here:
Read more here:
Shutdown deal means Iowa hemp industry could go up in flames
As part of the deal to end the federal government shutdown, most hemp products with THC will become illegal again, meaning the burgeoning hemp industry in Iowa—and across the nation—could soon go up i...
iowastartingline.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:46 PM
As part of the deal to end the federal government shutdown, most hemp products with THC will become illegal again.
Read more here:
Read more here:
To make this week’s release of more than 20,000 files related to Jeffrey Epstein more accessible, our parent newsroom COURIER has compiled the documents into an easily searchable repository via Google Pinpoint.
Use the search tool here:
Use the search tool here:
We created a searchable database with all 20,000 files from Epstein’s Estate
Easily find every mention of Trump, Clinton, blackmail, and potential sex crimes in the thousands of private messages between Epstein and his close associates.
couriernewsroom.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:11 PM
To make this week’s release of more than 20,000 files related to Jeffrey Epstein more accessible, our parent newsroom COURIER has compiled the documents into an easily searchable repository via Google Pinpoint.
Use the search tool here:
Use the search tool here:
After 43 days, the longest government shutdown in U.S. history is officially over. However, the continuing resolution that passed the US Congress will only fund the government through Jan. 30, 2026.
November 13, 2025 at 5:26 PM
After 43 days, the longest government shutdown in U.S. history is officially over. However, the continuing resolution that passed the US Congress will only fund the government through Jan. 30, 2026.
As US House Speaker Mike Johnson swears in Arizona Rep. Adelita Grijalva 50 days after being elected, Democrats will have the petition signatures needed to move on a vote to release the Epstein files.
November 12, 2025 at 9:39 PM
As US House Speaker Mike Johnson swears in Arizona Rep. Adelita Grijalva 50 days after being elected, Democrats will have the petition signatures needed to move on a vote to release the Epstein files.
Reposted by Iowa Starting Line
A judge this week ordered President Trump to pay full November SNAP benefits. But they won't arrive right away--and 267,000 Iowans, 40% of them kids, are going hungry in the meantime while food banks are stretched to the breaking point. 🧵⬇️
November 7, 2025 at 8:49 PM
A judge this week ordered President Trump to pay full November SNAP benefits. But they won't arrive right away--and 267,000 Iowans, 40% of them kids, are going hungry in the meantime while food banks are stretched to the breaking point. 🧵⬇️
A federal judge has dismissed a subscriber's lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and pollster Ann Selzer for a pre-2024 general election poll that predicted Kamala Harris would win Iowa.
November 7, 2025 at 8:03 PM
A federal judge has dismissed a subscriber's lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and pollster Ann Selzer for a pre-2024 general election poll that predicted Kamala Harris would win Iowa.
BREAKING: A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to fully fund November SNAP benefits by Friday, the Associated Press reports.
Federal judge orders Trump administration to fully fund SNAP benefits in November
A federal judge in Rhode Island has ordered the Trump administration to find the money to fully fund SNAP benefits for November.
apnews.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:12 PM
BREAKING: A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to fully fund November SNAP benefits by Friday, the Associated Press reports.
As thousands of Iowa families face tough choices without their usual SNAP benefits, Fareway and the Iowa Pork Producers Association have donated around $20,000 worth of ground pork to local food banks.
November 6, 2025 at 8:13 PM
As thousands of Iowa families face tough choices without their usual SNAP benefits, Fareway and the Iowa Pork Producers Association have donated around $20,000 worth of ground pork to local food banks.
Reposted by Iowa Starting Line
Free bread for those in need.
A reader sent me this photo taken at Great Harvest Bread Company in Cedar Rapids.
A reader sent me this photo taken at Great Harvest Bread Company in Cedar Rapids.
November 5, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Free bread for those in need.
A reader sent me this photo taken at Great Harvest Bread Company in Cedar Rapids.
A reader sent me this photo taken at Great Harvest Bread Company in Cedar Rapids.
Iowans had their pick of school bond issues in Tuesday's local elections, and Des Moines voters approved the largest in the state.
November 5, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Iowans had their pick of school bond issues in Tuesday's local elections, and Des Moines voters approved the largest in the state.
Trump is backing Iowa Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks to protect the GOP’s slim House majority—but Democrat Christina Bohannan, the nominee in both 2022 and 2024 who is running again, has outraised her.
November 4, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Trump is backing Iowa Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks to protect the GOP’s slim House majority—but Democrat Christina Bohannan, the nominee in both 2022 and 2024 who is running again, has outraised her.
On the season finale of Cornhole Champions, Zach talks with Chase Seibert and Liz Fleming about Iowa's steep economic downturn, rising health care costs, and how Trump's $20 billion bailout for Argentina is affecting local farmers.
Watch here:
Watch here:
Iowa's economic crash out (PT 1) - Cornhole Champions #46
YouTube video by Iowa Starting Line
youtu.be
October 29, 2025 at 3:10 PM
On the season finale of Cornhole Champions, Zach talks with Chase Seibert and Liz Fleming about Iowa's steep economic downturn, rising health care costs, and how Trump's $20 billion bailout for Argentina is affecting local farmers.
Watch here:
Watch here:
On this episode of Cornhole Champions, former Iowa House Minority leader Jennifer Konfrst explains why voters feel frozen by political uncertainty, how Democrats can win even when outnumbered, and what effective opposition actually looks like in Iowa politics.
Jennifer Konfrst on building power in the minority - Cornhole Champions #45
YouTube video by Iowa Starting Line
www.youtube.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:38 PM
On this episode of Cornhole Champions, former Iowa House Minority leader Jennifer Konfrst explains why voters feel frozen by political uncertainty, how Democrats can win even when outnumbered, and what effective opposition actually looks like in Iowa politics.
More than 78% of Americans, including a majority of Republicans, want Congress to renew the enhanced tax credits for people who buy their health insurance from the Affordable Care Act marketplace. Yet the shutdown persists, and Iowa workers are left struggling.
Shutdown means no pay for 10K Iowa workers
The ongoing federal government shutdown is resulting in lots of Iowans not being paid—and it's not just federal workers.
iowastartingline.com
October 24, 2025 at 9:00 PM
More than 78% of Americans, including a majority of Republicans, want Congress to renew the enhanced tax credits for people who buy their health insurance from the Affordable Care Act marketplace. Yet the shutdown persists, and Iowa workers are left struggling.
A new report from a prominent food and environmental advocacy group reveals that at least one in four Iowa children under the age of five and their families are at risk of losing critical nutrition assistance due to the government shutdown in Washington.
If shutdown persists, nearly 50,000 kids will lose food support
A new report from a prominent food and environmental advocacy group reveals that at least one in four Iowa children under the age of five and their families are at risk of losing critical nutrition as...
iowastartingline.com
October 24, 2025 at 8:59 PM
A new report from a prominent food and environmental advocacy group reveals that at least one in four Iowa children under the age of five and their families are at risk of losing critical nutrition assistance due to the government shutdown in Washington.
It’s easy to romanticize small-town Iowa — cornfields, calm mornings, and hardworking families. But behind the postcard image is a story of consolidation, pollution, and the steady draining of civic power. 🧵⬇️
October 22, 2025 at 7:25 PM
It’s easy to romanticize small-town Iowa — cornfields, calm mornings, and hardworking families. But behind the postcard image is a story of consolidation, pollution, and the steady draining of civic power. 🧵⬇️
Three Hy-Vees, a truck stop, and restaurants across the state were cited for food-related violations in this month's Iowa restaurant inspection list. See where:
Iowa restaurant violations: Contaminated sausage, moldy pizza, months-old sauce
The findings are reported by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing, which handles food-establishment inspections at the state level.
iowastartingline.com
October 22, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Three Hy-Vees, a truck stop, and restaurants across the state were cited for food-related violations in this month's Iowa restaurant inspection list. See where: