Iowa
Research shows some gun laws work. Why won’t Kim Reynolds listen?
The hundreds of youth who walked out of class and gathered at the capitol in protest following the Perry shooting had a message for our leaders: Enough is enough.
Iowa High Schoolers hold walk out in wake of Perry school shooting
Students across the state held walk outs over gun violence follwing a shooting at Perry High School Monday, Jan. 8, 2024.
Following the fatal school shooting in Perry, Gov. Kim Reynolds was quoted in the Register as saying, “No additional gun laws would have prevented what happened. There’s just evil out there.”
This statement completely disregards data related to gun violence prevention legislation. March for Our Lives Iowa recently released its legislative agenda, outlining exactly how gun violence is preventable. Specifically, Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) allow law enforcement to intervene and prevent potential shooters from accessing a weapon temporarily, if they pose a threat to themselves or others. Their effectiveness has been empirically proven to reduce suicides and mass shootings, according to a review by experts at the University of California-Davis.
More: As Perry High students returned to class after shooting, some parents want more security
Yet, this type of legislation continues to be ignored by our legislators. While evil will always exist, that doesn’t mean we cannot prevent this evil from stealing more lives like the ones lost in Perry. The hundreds of youth who walked out of class and gathered at the Capitol in protest following the Perry shooting had a message for our leaders: Enough is enough. At that protest, we delivered a letter to our governor. Here is an excerpt of what the youth of Iowa had to say:
“What happened in Perry is an all-too-common occurrence in Iowa. Students go to school every day fearing for their lives, never knowing if their school is next. The most devastating part: each and every tragedy and life lost was preventable. Countless Iowans, including a sixth-grade student and principal at Perry Middle School, could still be alive today.
“Action must be taken now. Iowa must pass extreme risk protection laws, hate crime prohibitions, and mandatory reporting of lost or stolen guns. Stand with Iowans in the face of this terrible tragedy.
“After the shooting at East High School, you dismissed the desperate need for gun safety laws. Iowans tried to tell you to take action. We pleaded that now must be the time to pass meaningful gun legislation. But devastatingly, no action was taken. You put our lives on the line.
“Then, a year later, after another deadly shooting at Starts Right Here, you said, ‘My heart breaks for them, these kids and their families.’ Yet, again, nothing was done.
“Now, after the shooting at Perry High School, all you have to offer are more empty words: ‘Our hearts are heavy today, and our prayers are with everyone in the Perry community.’
“Still, nothing has been done.
“You passed book bans, don’t say gay bills, and abortion restrictions, all in the name of ‘protecting children.’ However, you have failed to protect the students at East. You have failed to protect the youth at Starts Right Here. You have failed to protect the children at Perry. And without meaningful gun safety legislation, you have failed to protect the citizens of Iowa from the inevitable gun violence yet to come.
“Governor Reynolds, the people of Iowa are asking you to take action and prevent gun violence. If not for yourself or your party, pass legislation for the protection of youth across this state.”
Hannah Hayes and Trey Jackson are members of March for Our Lives Iowa. Its mission and focus are centered around implementing policies that reduce gun violence while encouraging youth civic engagement in politics. Contact: hannah@marchforourlivesia.org.
An Iowa women’s basketball transfer portal visitor committed to one of the Hawkeyes’ conference foes instead. Former Iowa State guard Kenzie Hare took a visit to Iowa during her transfer portal recruitment, but the 5-foot-9 guard committed to Indiana on Sunday night.
Hare had several visits throughout her transfer portal recruiting process, including trips to Michigan and Illinois State, but the Des Moines Register’s Chad Leistikow reported that Hare also visited Iowa.
On3’s Talia Goodman reported Hare’s commitment to the Hoosiers.
Hare has one year of eligibility remaining. This past season with the Cyclones, in 32 games played and 31 starts, Hare averaged 6.0 points and 2.5 rebounds per game on 40.5% field goal shooting and 40% from 3-point range. A hip injury limited Hare to just 10 games during her first year with the Cyclones in the 2024-25 season.
The soon-to-be redshirt senior transferred to Iowa State before the 2024-25 campaign after spending two seasons at Marquette from 2022-24. Hare averaged a career-best 14 points per game on 45.5% field goal shooting and 42.5% 3-point shooting during the 2023-24 season with the Golden Eagles.
Had Iowa been able to lure the Naperville, Ill., native to Iowa City, Hare would have been another valuable addition to the Hawkeyes’ backcourt depth. But, Iowa has landed other backcourt reinforcements throughout this transfer portal cycle.
The Hawkeyes inked both Dani Carnegie and Amari Whiting.
Carnegie was a first-team All-SEC selection this past season at Georgia, averaging 17.8 points per game on 42.7% field goal shooting, 35.4% from 3-point range and 83.3% from the free-throw line. Whiting averaged 9.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game on 42.5% field goal shooting, 32.1% 3-point accuracy, and 71.6% free-throw shooting.
As Hare joins a promising core of players in Bloomington, the Hawkeyes will once again face the former Cyclone at least once this upcoming season as part of their Big Ten regular-season slate.
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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Senator Chuck Grassley said he’s recovering from a gallstone removal procedure.
His media team shared that he is working in Iowa “in good spirits and looks forward to returning to Washington soon.”
“I’m gr8ful [sic] for the excellent care from local health care providers,” he shared on X.
Over the weekend in Iowa I had a procedure to remove gallstones I’m gr8ful for the excellent care from local health care providers Be back to capitol ASAP
— Chuck Grassley (@ChuckGrassley) April 20, 2026
Grassley, 92, is the oldest senator currently in office and the sixth-longest-serving senator in U.S. history.
The Senate is in session this week.
Copyright 2026 KCRG. All rights reserved.
Former Iowa State center Audi Crooks has committed to Oklahoma State via the NCAA Transfer Portal. She has one season of eligibility remaining.
Crooks made 99 appearances and 95 starts during her three seasons at Iowa State. She averaged 25.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game this past season, while shooting 64.9% from the field. Additionally, the 6-foot-3 star shot 1-11 from 3-point range.
Crooks played a leading role for the Cyclones from the moment she stepped on campus. She is a three-time All-Big 12 First-Team selection and two-time All-American. On April 2, Crooks announced her intention to enter the transfer portal.
“Cyclone Nation, thank you all for embracing me and showing up to Hilton every single game day. I’ve met so many of you out in the community, and I will cherish all of the genuine connections that I’ve built during my time at Iowa State,” Crooks wrote. “Words cannot fully express how grateful I feel to have called this place home.
“I want to thank my teammates for their friendship and all the great memories. … I still believe the grass is greener where you water it, and I’ve done that here.”
Now, Audi Crooks will aim to thrive in her new environment. Oklahoma finished the 2025-26 season with a 24-10 overall record.
The NCAA Transfer Portal officially opened on April 6 and closes on April 20. The new 15-day window was enacted following a recommendation by the women’s basketball oversight committee. Athletes don’t have to commit to a new school by the April 21 deadline.
To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.
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