Iowa
20 foot IUD tours Iowa to urge contraception protection
DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Television Iowa Capitol Bureau) – Tuesday a 20 foot tall inflatable IUD made another stop in Iowa. After stopping in Cedar Rapids Monday, it was in Des Monies Tuesday. After conservatives on the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago, organizers of the event say they’re worried access to contraception is in jeopardy.
They call the inflatable IUD “Freeda Womb” and they’re taking it to competitive congressional districts across the country. They’re doing this to highlight what they perceive as attacks to access to contraception, and are urging lawmakers to pass legislation to protect it.
Democratic State Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott said, “A giant inflatable IUD is ridiculous, but we are living in ridiculous times.”
After the overturning of Roe v. Wade and threats to IVF in other parts of the country, Iowa Democrats say they’re concerned that access to contraception is next.
Lanon Baccam, Democratic candidate for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District said, “Make no mistake. This is the plan that extreme politicians have wanted and have worked for.”
But what threats are these democratic lawmakers seeing here in Iowa?
We asked Trone Garriott, “Can you talk about how access to contraception in Iowa is specifically being threatened? Because Governor Reynolds says she supports over the counter birth control so can you explain how this is more a threat here in Iowa?”
She said, “We have heard from the Governor that she supports access to over the counter birth control but yet we’ve not seen any legislation to truly make it more accessible. Every time something is proposed in our state government, it doesn’t go anywhere.”
Allison Smith with the Family Planning Council of Iowa says they want state and federal lawmakers to pass legislation to protect it. “Protecting contraceptive access is vital for equality, and it is crucial for a person’s health, future, and economic security. Now is the time to stand up for our rights, and ensure contraception remains available to all,” she said.
Democratic State Representative Megan Srinivas of Des Moines says expanding access reduces abortions. “The data shows, that when contraception goes down, the need for abortions increase. So, if we truly want to prevent abortions in this state, as many of my legislative colleagues talk about, we need to ensure contraception is accessible and readily available,” she said.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds supports expanding access to birth control without a prescription but Republicans have blocked it in the legislature. Reynolds has identified that as a priority for the past few legislative session.
This past session, a bill passed out of a committee in the House, but Republican lawmakers never brought it up for a debate on the House floor.
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Conner Hendricks covers state government and politics for Gray Television-owned stations in Iowa. Email him at conner.hendricks@gray.tv; and follow him on Facebook at Conner Hendricks TV or on X/Twitter @ConnerReports.
Copyright 2024 KCRG. All rights reserved.
One Iowa high school athletic department is facing extremely low numbers in multiple sports, prompting school officials to begin searching for programs to share with.
Exira-EHK High School has already cancelled the upcoming 2026 Iowa High School Athletic Association varsity football season, going instead with a junior varsity-only series of games. According to a report by Western Iowa Today, they have also shared softball with Audubon.
The Exira-EHK/Audubon softball team is currently ranked No. 1 in Class 1A of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union. A total of 11 of the players on the 23-girl team are from Exira-EHK. They are 15th in the latest High School On SI Iowa Top 25 State Rankings as they prepare for postseason play.
Enrollment For Exira-EHK School District Continues To Drop
Enrollment at the high school level for the Spartans is down by over 20 students, with the expectation for even more of a drop in overall enrollment moving into the 2026-2027 school year.
Tom Petersen, the Exira-EHK athletic director, was part of a community-wide meeting earlier this week alongside Trevor Miller, the school superintendent.
“I’m going to continue to campaign, keep working (to get more kids out),” Petersen said. “It’s just part of being an AD and a coach. I have tried every scenario that I can to try and make it that our kids could go and play varsity (football).
“It’s not the state’s fault, it’s not our fault; it’s the middle of a two-year cycle. I coached here for 20 years in football and it’s crushing (to not have a program).”
Petersen also mentioned during the meeting that he is struggling to fill several coaching vacancies, including the head boys basketball position. He said that they have received zero applications for that coaching vacancy.
Spartans Currently Share Multiple Sports With Audubon
Along with baseball and softball, the Exira-EHK school district also shares girls basketball, boys wrestling, girls wrestling, boys tennis and girls tennis with Audubon. Petersen is proposing to the school board a share agreement for boys basketball, boys track and field, and girls track and field, in addition to the other sports.
Last fall, the Spartans went 4-5 overall, as they won 22 games over a stretch of seasons after going 0-7 in 2020. Exira-EHK was 12-1 in 2013 and had three consecutive years of at least eight wins after that.
The schools are a combination of the towns of Exira, Elk Horn and Kimballton.
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CORALVILLE, Iowa (KCRG) – Coralville Police say a person has drowned at the Coralville Aquatic Center Tuesday afternoon.
The call went out shortly after 4 p.m. to 1513 7th Street for a drowning report.
Officers, lifeguards and paramedics gave lifesaving aid to the person. They were taken to the University of Iowa Health Care, where they were pronounced dead.
The identity of the victim has not been released. The incident is under investigation.
Copyright 2026 KCRG. All rights reserved.
Iowa
Iowa City Man who ran over people in homeless encampment sentenced to nearly two decades in prison
IOWA CITY, Iowa (KCRG) – An Iowa City man who pleaded guilty to driving into five people at a homeless encampment last August has been sentenced to serve nearly two decades in prison.
On August 15, 2025, Roman Aguilar Ventura drove his vehicle while under the influence through an encampment near Shelter House, an organization that assists homeless people.
Ventura pleaded guilty to several charges in March, including Operating While Under the Influence, two counts of Willful Injury Resulting in Bodily Injury, and three counts of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon. He also pleaded guilty to Driving While Barred and Driving While License Denied or Revoked.
In addition to his sentence, Ventura will also be subject to a six-year suspension of his drivers license, in addition to substance abuse treatment.
Copyright 2026 KCRG. All rights reserved.
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