Early reading efforts must be funded
Iowa schools are committed to identifying reading problems in students early so that they can help students get on track. Being a good reader by the end of third grade is an important predictor of...
View ArticleLandowners can help restore habitat and water
The 49th general signup for the Conservation Reserve Program is under way. The program gives landowners and farmers who want to protect environmentally sensitive land the chance to bring back...
View ArticleFinancial Know-How scholarships for high school seniors
The Iowa Financial Know-How Challenge: Senior Scholarship is a chance for 30 Iowa high school seniors to earn $2,000 for college, all while learning important financial literacy skills. The Senior...
View ArticleExpanding markets for local crops
Grants are available for projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops grown in Iowa. Iowa will receive more than $244,000 in federal funding this year for food safety, research and...
View ArticleGrant will reduce flooding, improve water quality
Iowa has received $97 million to implement the Iowa Watershed Approach, a collaboration to reduce flooding and improve water quality in nine major watersheds across the state, including: Bee Branch...
View ArticleIowa National Guard is stronger than ever
Major General Timothy Orr addressed lawmakers on January 27 in his annual Condition of the Guard. Thousands of Iowa National Guard soldiers and airmen have served in combat and support roles in Iraq...
View ArticleArts education is good for kids & communities
Fine arts advocates talked with legislators about fine arts instruction in Iowa schools and asked us to add fine arts to the Iowa Core Curriculum during this year’s Fine Arts Advocacy Day at the...
View ArticleIowans should receive equal pay for equal work
It has been seven years since the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was signed into law by the President and Iowa approved its own Fair Pay Act. Yet nationally and in Iowa, a pay gap remains between men and...
View ArticleEnsuring the best-possible child care for Iowa families
In November 2014, Congress reauthorized the Child Care & Development Block Grant for the first time since 1996. New requirements will bring much-needed improvements that are child-focused, family...
View ArticleKids count in Iowa
Iowa kids are showing continual improvement in their health and education conditions, according to new data in the annual Iowa Kids Count report. In particular, the teen birth rate has decreased more...
View ArticleProtecting the health care of Iowans
A bill has been introduced in the Iowa Senate to stop Governor Branstad’s unilateral decision to privatize Iowa’s Medicaid program. We’re supporting this legislation—Senate Study Bill 3081—because...
View ArticleAppropriations – week of Feb. 1, 2016
SSB 3074 – FY16 Supplemental Appropriations COMMITTEE ACTION: SSB 3074 provides for supplemental appropriations in FY16 (July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016): HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES – $80 million for...
View ArticleEducation – week of Feb. 1, 2016
SSB 3064 – FY18 Categorical Supplemental State Aid SSB 3065 – FY18 Basic School Funding – Supplemental State Aid COMMITTEE ACTION: SSB 3064 sets the categorical state supplemental aid/allowable...
View ArticleHuman Resources – week of Feb. 1, 2016
SSB 3003 – Prescription Drug Monitoring Program SSB 3004 – Controlled Substance Schedule Updates SF 2046 – Support Employment Rates COMMITTEE ACTION: SSB 3003 makes updates and enhancements to the...
View ArticleState Government – week of Feb. 1, 2016
SF 508 – Consumer fireworks COMMITTEE ACTION: SF 508 allows the possession, sale, transfer, purchase and use of fireworks in Iowa. The Senate did not take action on SF 508 in 2015, and it was...
View ArticleVeterans Affairs – week of Feb. 1, 2016
SF 2073 – Gold Star Museum, NGEAP technical COMMITTEE ACTION: SF 2073 (SSB 3041) is a proposal requested by the Department of Public Defense. It codifies the Gold Star Museum at Camp Dodge as part...
View ArticleSeeking Century & Heritage Farms
Through June 1, eligible farm owners are invited to apply for the 2016 Century & Heritage Farm Program. The program recognizes families that have owned their farm for 100 years in the case of...
View ArticleIowans want great local schools
Iowa leaders, parents, students and teachers are calling on Governor Branstad and lawmakers to make our local schools a top priority again. They’ve launched a new organization to connect concerned...
View ArticleCommunity colleges build a skilled Iowa workforce
As Iowa continues to rebound from the national recession, our local businesses need more workers with the qualifications to fill skilled job openings. Iowa faces both challenges and opportunities in...
View ArticleIowa leads in wind energy
Iowa has passed California to become the #2 ranked state nationally with more than 6,000 megawatts of installed wind energy capacity, according to a national report by the American Wind Energy...
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