Get help to quit smoking
May 31 is World No Tobacco Day. As part of the event, Quitline Iowa is offering free nicotine patches, gum or lozenges to those who enroll in the program. To find out more, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW...
View ArticleStudent achievement, quality schools remain key sticking points
Disagreements over education funding are preventing the Legislature from adjourning for the year. Iowa families count on great local schools to give their children and grandchildren a leg up in life....
View ArticleFree fishing in Iowa, June 5-7
Iowa residents may fish without a license on June 5, 6 and 7 as part of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ free fishing weekend. DNR staff will be at popular fishing spots across the state to...
View ArticleKeeping higher ed affordable will strengthen Iowa economy
For many, school does not stop with high school graduation. Increasingly, good jobs require higher education or worker training. Iowans of all ages and backgrounds need access to college to build a...
View ArticleIowa’s historic sites open for summer
With summer vacation getting under way, it’s a great time to plan a visit to our state’s historic sites: Learn about the early inhabitants of Iowa at the Hopewell burial mounds at Toolesboro along the...
View ArticleBipartisan priorities deserve a vote in the house
As we near the end of the 2015 session, there are many bipartisan issues that have been overlooked in the Iowa House. This includes initiatives to make our communities safer, improve health care and...
View Article2015 Session Highlights
Download a PDF of our 2015 highlights. This year, Senate Democrats fought to provide greater economic security for Iowa families by standing up for workers and investing in skills training, job...
View ArticleRenew your driver’s license at new locations around Iowa
Twenty-four locations around the state now house Motor Vehicle self-service kiosks, where Iowans can renew or replace their driver’s license and ID cards. The kiosks offer customers convenience, choice...
View ArticleNew Iowa transportation map available
The Iowa DOT recently released its 2015-2016 Iowa Transportation Map. An electronic version of the map, accompanied by an assortment of city detail maps, can be found online at iowadot.gov/maps. Paper...
View ArticleCall for Artists for the 2015 Agriculture Art Award
Through July 6, the Iowa Arts Council and Iowa Department of Agriculture & Land Stewardship are asking Iowa artists to submit their artwork for the Celebration of Iowa: Agriculture Art Award with...
View ArticleEnjoy Iowa’s great outdoors
June is Great Outdoors Month in Iowa, where natural resources are so important to our quality of life. It’s a great time to enjoy activities like biking, swimming, hiking, paddling, fishing, hunting,...
View ArticleSchool funding compromise breaks gridlock, ends session
The Legislature closed out the 2015 session with Senate Democrats opting to end five months of gridlock on school funding. The goal of the compromise is to maintain educational opportunities and boost...
View ArticleMore help for vulnerable Iowans
The recently completed 2015 session required compromise on important efforts to grow Iowa’s middle class, but this year also saw bipartisan successes. In particular, we approved many initiatives to...
View ArticleMissed opportunities will get another chance in 2016
The 2015 session was the first year of the 86th General Assembly. Bills approved this year by only one chamber are still eligible for debate next year. That’s good news since the Senate approved...
View ArticleDeadline approaching for DAV Tax Credit
A change to the Disabled Veteran Homestead Property Tax Credit (HF 616) was approved by the Legislature this spring and signed into law late last week. The change makes applications for the tax credit...
View ArticleArts & rec investments boost economy, middle class
Iowa’s great quality of life is bolstered by arts, culture and recreation. These opportunities are important to community development, enriching local amenities and attracting young professionals. In...
View ArticleLocal attractions draw visitors, enhance community
Iowa’s Community Attraction & Tourism (CAT) program has enhanced local recreation, culture, entertainment and learning since 2000. CAT grants help communities develop multipurpose attraction and...
View ArticleIncreasing Iowa’s hunting opportunities
Iowa’s Statewide Outdoor Recreation Plan seeks to understand Iowans’ outdoor recreation wants and needs, and to create places for them to enjoy their favorite activities. The plan is based on a 2012...
View ArticleExpanding outdoor recreation in Iowa
Iowa’s parks, recreation areas and open spaces contribute to our state’s environmental, physical, emotional and social wellbeing while bolstering the economy. A 2012 report on the Economic Value of...
View ArticleHelp with Trumpeter Swan survey
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is asking for citizen assistance with the 2015 Trumpeter Swan Survey for North America. This survey, conducted every five years, provides baseline population data...
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