Iowa

Iowa bill removing gender identity from civil rights code moves forward in key subcommittee

Published

10 months ago

February 25, 2025

Iowa bill removing gender identity from civil rights code moves forward in key subcommittee

DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa Capitol Bureau) -The push to remove additional civil rights protections for transgender Iowans advanced another step Tuesday. A senate subcommittee approved the change which would remove gender identity from the state civil rights code.

There is an urgency by some Republicans to make the change this week. It would remove protections from discrimination for transgender Iowans at work and when looking for a place to rent.

Some Republican legislators also hope that the changes could prevent public funding for gender affirming care for prisoners and Medicaid patients.

With protesters lining the hall outside unable to fit into the room, Iowans got to weigh in on the legislation.

Deb Davis from Johnston says the bill is common sense and protects female spaces like locker rooms and restrooms.

“The rights of biological females need to be protected. I also do not want my Iowa tax dollars being spent on elective hormones and genital surgeries of others,” she said.

Jess Bierling of West Des Moines came out as transgender in 2014.

Bierling says she decided to stay in Iowa after graduating from college because of the current Iowa Civil Rights Act.

“I expected to lose a lot when I came out, including my family, friends, and job. Having my job protected by the Iowa Civil Rights Act made it easier to move forward,” she said.

Kathryn Kueter, from Pleasant Hill, said gender identity being protected in the civil rights code contradicts civil rights given to sex, specifically for women.

“You can’t tell women their spaces and their rights will be protected and then in the same breath allow men, counterfeiting as women to invade those spaces,” she said.

Rev. Betsey Monnot, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, told lawmakers that transgender Iowans are our neighbors.

“Jesus calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves. It is unthinkable to remove civil rights and legal protections from people that we love,” she said.

The lawmakers on the subcommittee voted to advance the bill in a 2-1 vote. It now goes before the Senate Judiciary Committee Wednesday at 11:00 a.m.

The full house and senate could both debate this legislation Thursday if they have enough Republican support to pass it.

And since both chambers would be debating the same bill, they speed up the process and could get this sooner to Governor Kim Reynolds for her to sign it into law.

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Iowa

How much snow did Iowa get? See Iowa’s latest snowfall totals

Published

9 hours ago

December 13, 2025

Press Room

How much snow did Iowa get? See Iowa’s latest snowfall totals

A winter storm warning remains in effect until 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, for a large swath of the state, from northwest Iowa to much of central Iowa and southeast Iowa.

Drivers should expect slippery conditions.

Snow fell through the morning with accumulations of 2 to 3 inches across most of Iowa, according to the National Weather Service. The light, fluffy snow will taper off in the afternoon.

The weather service advises that snow-covered roads will make travel slick and more difficult and to use caution.

The counties affected include Pocahontas, Sac, Calhoun, Webster, Hamilton, Crawford, Carroll, Greene, Boone, Story, Marshall, Guthrie, Dallas, Polk, Jasper, Poweshiek, Warren, Marion, Mahaska, Monroe, Wapello and Davis.

Where did snow fall the most in Iowa?

Southern Iowa felt the brunt of the snow Saturday morning, with some areas experiencing nearly five inches of accumulation. Here are the highest totals so far in Iowa:

Milton: 4.5 inches
Parnell: 4.5 inches
Norwalk: 3.8 inches
Badger: 3.5 inches
Bloomfield: 3.3 inches
Carroll: 3.2 inches
Buffalo: 3.2 inches
North English: 3 inches
Winterset: 2.6 inches

How much snow has fallen in Des Moines?

The Des Moines International Airport reported 1.2 inches of snow as of 6 a.m. Saturday. Norwalk, just south of Des Moines, reported 3.8 inches of snow by 10:30 a.m. Clive reported 2.7 inches of snow at 10 a.m.

How much snow did Iowa City get?

North Liberty, just north of Iowa City, reported three inches of snow as of 10:30 a.m. Saturday. Tiffin, which is to the northwest of Iowa City, reported 2.7 inches of snow at 10 a.m.

Roads across the state are covered in snow

The Iowa DOT reported that, as of 11 a.m., many of central Iowa’s highways and interstates were completely covered with snow. The organization said travel on I-80 from central Iowa to the Illinois border is not advised.

“Visibility and road conditions are deteriorating rapidly, causing multiple crashes and closing lanes,” the DOT said in a social media post around 11 a.m.

More snow followed by frigid temps

A cold weather advisory is in effect for much of northern, central and southeastern Iowa into Sunday morning. In the Des Moines area, wind chill values could drop to as low as -15. Wind chills across the state are expected between -20 and -30 starting at 6 p.m. Saturday.

(This article has been updated to include new information.)

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Iowa

Iowa man charged in connection to horse-drawn buggy crash that killed teen

Published

21 hours ago

December 13, 2025

Press Room

Iowa man charged in connection to horse-drawn buggy crash that killed teen

CLARKE COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – An Iowa man was charged Friday in connection to a deadly horse-drawn buggy crash that killed a teenager last month.

Jacob Wright, 41, of Grand River, is facing charges including involuntary manslaughter and leaving the scene of a deadly accident.

The crash happened in Clarke County on November 12. According to the crash report, Wright’s car hit the back of the buggy and ran it into a ditch.

Elmer Borntrager, 16, was thrown from the buggy and died at the scene.

Police found Wright’s damaged vehicle days later about five miles from the crash scene.

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Iowa

How much snow did we get? See Iowa snowfall totals from Thursday.

Published

1 day ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

How much snow did we get? See Iowa snowfall totals from Thursday.

Another round of snow swept through Iowa, leaving more than 3 inches in some parts of the state.

Flurries began falling in Des Moines around noon on Thursday, Dec. 11, and persisted until late in the evening.

Here’s a look at the highest snowfall totals in Iowa as of 8 a.m. Friday, Dec. 12, according to the National Weather Service.

What were the highest Iowa snowfall totals?

West Burlington: 4 inches
Parnell: 3.8 inches
Salem: 3.8 inches
Mooar: 3.6 inches
Webster City: 3.5 inches
Muscatine: 3 inches
Yarmouth: 3 inches
Williamstown: 3 inches
New London: 2.8 inches
Riverside: 2.8 inches
Ottumwa: 2.8 inches

How much snow did Des Moines get?

Over an inch of snow fell at the Des Moines International Airport, with the National Weather Service reporting 1.1 inches as of 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11.

Grimes reported 1.3 inches of snow and other reports from the Des Moines area were around 1 inch.

Nevada in Story County reported 0.5 inches

How much snow did Iowa City get?

No reports were received from Iowa City, according to the National Weather Service. Nearby University Heights reported 1.5 inches. Oakdale reported 2 inches and North Liberty reported 1.3 inches of snow.

When is the next chance for snowfall in Des Moines?

Another round of snow is expected to begin Friday night and continue into Saturday, Dec. 13, in the afternoon.

Des Moines is projected to receive between 2 and 4 inches of snow during this time. A winter weather advisory is in effect for Des Moines from 12 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The advisory is also in effect in cities spanning from Sioux City to Davenport.

Temperatures are also expected to drop during the weekend, with daytime highs of 9 degrees on Saturday and Sunday, and lows of 10 degrees below zero on Saturday and 1 degree below zero on Sunday.

Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.

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