Iowa

2024 marks the hottest year in Iowa’s recorded history

Published

1 year ago

January 10, 2025

Press Room

2024 marks the hottest year in Iowa’s recorded history

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – If you stepped outside right now, you probably wouldn’t consider this warm weather.

But despite the snow on your windshield or ice on your driveway, this weather is much warmer than where it should be.

And State Climatologist Justin Glisan says this could have bigger effects than which jacket we wear.

“You put this year and last year together; the warmest two years on record for Iowa.” he said.

In 2024, Iowa’s temperature averaged just over 2 degrees warmer than normal, marking it the hottest year in Iowa’s records, which date back to 1872.

And while two degrees may not sound like a massive change, Glisan says it’s these small changes that can end up creating extreme weather.

“It’s kind of counterintuitive to say this, but with a warming winter, we do see more cold extremes, we do see more polar vortex outbreaks… Also on the flip side, more flash flooding, as I mentioned, more rainfall in the winter time.” he said.

And with these higher temps and increased risks for extreme weather, winter-based businesses, like Sundown Mountain Resort in Dubuque, have felt the burden.

“Last year was tough. If you’re in the ski industry, enduring the warmest winter ever record was tough… it was a fight to keep enough snow on the slopes to let our customers come out.” said Mark Gordon, General Manager of Sundown Mountain.

But Glisan says not all hope is lost.

While significant change will likely take collaboration between the public and private sector, he says simple steps like fixing a leaky faucet or investing in renewable energy can keep these numbers from climbing past the point of no return.

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Iowa

Iowa law enforcement issues thousands of citations under hands-free driving law

Published

11 hours ago

March 25, 2026

Press Room

Iowa law enforcement issues thousands of citations under hands-free driving law

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – Law enforcement has issued thousands of citations since Iowa’s hands-free driving law went into effect, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

The law went into effect in July 2025, prohibiting using phones while driving unless in hands-free mode. Citations started on January 1.

Since then, officers have issued over 2,400 citations and over 1,900 warnings.

The violation is a moving violation in Iowa, with a fine of $170.

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Iowa

See which Iowa lawmakers voted to hike private health insurance taxes

Published

23 hours ago

March 25, 2026

Press Room

See which Iowa lawmakers voted to hike private health insurance taxes

Some Iowa health insurance plans will see a tax hike under a bill headed to Gov. Kim Reynolds to be signed into law.

House File 2739 raises taxes on health insurance providers known as health maintenance organizations, or HMOs, to bring in millions of dollars to fill a shortfall in the state’s Medicaid budget.

That group includes companies that offer some of the state’s largest private insurance plans, like Wellmark, Sanford, Wellpoint and Aetna.

Fourteen Republicans across both chambers broke from their party to join Democrats and oppose the proposal, which put the GOP majority in the rare position of being at odds with business groups lobbying against tax hikes. But Republicans in each chamber had enough votes to pass the measure.

How much will health insurance taxes increase?

The taxes will increase from the current rate of 0.925% up to 3.5% between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, 2026. Beginning Oct. 1, 2026, the tax would drop to 0.95%.

The tax increase would allow the state to access federal matching funds and is expected to bring in $123 million to shore up Iowa’s growing Medicaid budget deficit, which is expected to climb to $167.6 million in fiscal year 2027.

The bill also appropriates $89 million to cover the state’s current-year Medicaid budget deficit of $90.6 million.

Democrats warned Iowans will face higher insurance costs as a result of the bill.

Scott Sundstrom, a lobbyist for Wellmark, said at a March 18 public hearing that Wellmark estimates that its customers who are covered by the company’s plan will see a $115 tax increase per person. The company expects to pay $24.2 million more in taxes this year because of the increase.

Why are Iowa Republicans raising taxes?

Republicans have pointed to insurance companies’ profit margins and said health insurers — who have been highly critical of the bill — do not need to raise premiums to cover the cost of the tax increase.

GOP legislative leaders have said there’s a limited window to bring in matching federal funds because of Republicans’ sprawling tax and spending package dubbed the “One Big, Beautiful Bill.”

“This bill will bring investments that benefit our neighbors on Medicaid and those providing the services to them,” said Sen. Mark Costello, R-Imogene.

Here’s how every Iowa lawmaker voted.

How every Iowa House lawmaker voted on health care tax increase

The Iowa House voted 53-40 to pass the measure on March 19.

Ten Republicans joined every Democrat in voting against the bill: Reps. David Blom, R-Marshalltown; Mark Cisneros, R-Muscatine; Bill Gustoff, R-Des Moines; Thomas Jeneary, R-Le Mars; Judd Lawler, R-Oxford; Norlin Mommsen, R-De Witt; Jennifer Smith, R-Dubuque; Ray Sorensen, R-Greenfield; Ryan Weldon, R-Ankeny; and David Young, R-Van Meter.

Representatives voting yes

Andrews (R), Barker (R), Behn (R), Bergan (R), Bloomingdale (R), Boden (R), Bossman (R), Bradley (R), Collins (R), Determann (R), Dunwell (R), Fett (R), Fisher (R), Gearhart (R), Gehlbach (R), Grassley (R), Harris (R), Hayes (R), Henderson (R), Hermanson (R), Holt (R), Hora (R), Ingels (R), Johnson, C. (R), Jones (R), Kaufmann (R), Kniff McCulla (R), Larson (R), Latham (R), Lohse (R), Lundgren (R), Meggers (R), Meyer, A. (R), Mohr, G. (R), Moore, T. (R), Nordman (R), Rinker (R), Shipley, (R) Sieck (R), Siegrist (R), Sitzmann (R), Stone, (R), Thompson, M. (R), Thomson, C. (R), Vondran (R), Watkins (R), Wengryn (R), Wheeler (R), Williams (R), Wills, J. (R) , Wilz, H. (R), Wood (R), Wulf (R)

Representatives voting no

Baeth (D), Bagniewski (D), Blom (R), Brown-Powers (D), Cisneros (R), Cooling (D), Croken (D), Ehlert (D), Gjerde (D), Gosa (D), Gustoff (R), Jacoby (D), James (D), Jeneary (R), Johnson, R. (D), Judge (D), Konfrst (D), Kressig (D), Kurth (D), Lawler (R), Levin (D), Madison (D), Matson (D), McBurney (D), Meyer, B. (D), Mommsen (R), Nielsen (D), Olson (D), Ramirez (D), Scholten (D), Smith (R), Sorensen (R), Srinivas (D), Turek (D), Weldon (R), Wichtendahl (D), Wilburn (D), Wilson (D), Young (R), Zabner (D)

Representatives absent or not voting

Amos Jr. (D), Dieken (R), Gaines (D), Gerhold (R), Golding (R), Wessel-Kroeschell (D), Windschitl (R)

How every Iowa Senate lawmaker voted on health care tax increase

The Iowa Senate voted 26-19 to pass the bill on Tuesday, March 24, sending it to Reynolds.

Four Republican senators joined Democrats in voting against the bill: Sens. Mike Bousselot, R-Ankeny; Doug Campbell, R-Mason City; Charlie McClintock, R-Alburnett; and David Sires, R-Cedar Falls.

Senators voting yes

Alons (R), Gruenhagen (R), Costello (R), Dawson (R), Dickey (R), Driscoll (R), Evans (R), Green (R), Guth (R), Klimesh (R), Koelker (R), Kraayenbrink (R), Pike (R), Reichman (R), Rozenboom (R), Salmon (R), Schultz (R), Shipley (R), Sinclair (R), Sweeney (R), Taylor (R), Warme (R), Webster (R), Westrich (R), Whitver (R), Zumbach (R)

Senators voting no

Bennett (D), Bisignano (D), Blake (D), Bousselot (R), Campbell (R), Donahue (D), Dotzler (D), Drey (D), Hardman (D), Knox (D), McClintock (R), Petersen (D), Sires (R), Staed (D), Townsend (D), Quirmbach (D), Weiner (D), Winckler (D), Zimmer (D)

Senators absent or not voting

Garrett (R), Lofgren (R), Rowley (R), Trone Garriott (D), Wahls (D)

Marissa Payne covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. Reach her by email at mjpayne@registermedia.com. Follow her on X at @marissajpayne.

Tim Webber is a data visualization specialist for the Register. Reach him at twebber@registermedia.com and on Twitter at @HelloTimWebber.

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