Iowa

Bill expanding Iowa’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law takes another step forward

Published

1 month ago

February 5, 2026

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Bill expanding Iowa’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law takes another step forward

Iowa lawmakers are considering a bill to ban teaching about gender identity and sexual orientation in all K-12 public schools.
The proposal would expand a 2023 law that currently applies to students through the sixth grade. It is tied up in federal court.
Supporters argue the bill keeps schools focused on core academics, while opponents say it harms and isolates LGBTQ youth.

A bill prohibiting Iowa’s public K-12 schools from teaching students about LGBTQ-related topics at all grade levels is advancing in the House and Senate as GOP lawmakers consider expanding what critics call the state’s “Don’t Say Gay” law.

The measure would subject all of Iowa’s K-12 students to a law Gov. Kim Reynolds signed in 2023 that bans instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation through sixth grade. The wide-ranging education legislation also ordered schools to remove books that depict sex acts and remains tied up in court.

The House Education Committee voted 14-9, to advance House File 2121, which would extend the prohibition on LGBTQ-related teaching through high school. Two Republicans, Reps. Chad Ingels, R-Randalia, and Tom Moore, R-Griswold, joined Democrats in voting no.

It advanced out of subcommittee in a 2-1 vote earlier Wednesday morning.

Rep. Helena Hayes, R-New Sharon, said the measure pushes educators to stick to core curriculum such as language, English, math and history. She voted with Rep. Wendy Larson, R-Odebolt, to move it forward.

“This very narrow bill, it simply says teachers, please focus on educational topics,” Hayes said. “Please talk about academics, and that’s what we’re asking our educators to do, and that’s as simple as it is. Stay focused on the topic at hand, and that is we want to graduate intelligent, articulate, critical thinkers in this world.”

Rep. Elinor Levin, D-Iowa City, who opposed the bill, questioned why lawmakers would further legislate something that’s already tied up in court and how it helps Iowans afford their daily living costs.

“I am myself queer,” Levin said. “I have been since I was born. It is part of my existence. I experienced no great trauma or abuse growing up. In fact, I grew up in an incredibly healthy and happy family with no direct queer role models. … To pretend that queer people do not exist is neither remarkable nor wise in thinking about how we care for our kids.”

Republicans on a three-member Senate subcommittee advanced their proposal, Senate Study Bill 2003, on Jan. 21. Similar legislation has not advanced in past years, including in 2025 after a House proposal stalled once it passed out of subcommittee. There was no Senate companion bill in 2025.

The bill says that Iowa’s public school districts and charter schools cannot provide “any program, curriculum, test, survey, questionnaire, promotion or instruction relating to gender theory or sexual orientation” to K-12 students.

GOP lawmaker pushes to allow discussion of gender as a ‘theory’

Rep. Jeff Shipley, R-Birmingham, who serves on the House Education Committee, proposed amending the bill and said it may be “fairly appropriate” to discuss gender identity as a theory.

He said there are many legal questions or works of art pertaining to trans people that high school students would be mature enough to debate in a classroom setting.

“I think there’s a lot of things that could sink your teeth into if gender theory is just debated as a theory in the classroom,” Shipley said.

Hayes said the committee would consider amendments but this was already “narrowly tailored to instructional time.”

“A lot of those conversations still happen in other places and school grounds or outside of school grounds,” Hayes told reporters. “I mean, certainly people should have connections and networking beyond just their teaching and beyond just the classroom.”

Existing law still tied up in court

Iowa’s 2023 law, Senate File 496, is being challenged as unconstitutional in a federal lawsuit.

A federal judge initially granted an injunction blocking parts of the law, including the ban on teaching about gender orientation and sexual identity, while the lawsuit is decided.

But the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed his decision, allowing the law to take effect. Attorneys argued the law’s constitutionality in federal court in January.

Iowa is one of several Republican-led states, including Florida, with similar prohibitions on classroom teaching about gender identity and sexual orientation.

Levin said it would be unwise to extend Iowa’s law while the state’s current court challenges are pending.

“I genuinely can’t think of a reason why we would move forward with this when the previous legislation is tied up in the courts,” she said.

Opponents say sexual orientation, gender identity are ‘immutable’ traits

Like in the Senate’s initial hearing, opponents of the bill outnumbered supporters as people warned lawmakers of the detrimental effects the legislation would have on LGBTQ youth.

Annie Craven, of Urbandale, said she is openly bisexual and was homeschooled and raised Catholic so she didn’t know people with her sexual orientation existed growing up. Craven is running for the Iowa House District 46 seat held by incumbent Republican Rep. Dan Gehlbach.

“That didn’t make me any less queer,” Craven said. “It did make me feel very alone and isolated and different. I resent that gender identity is being touted as political or something that we can debate or theorize. It’s immutable. It caused great harm to me as a person and as a kid growing up to not know that there were other people like me and to think that I was so different and I didn’t understand why.”

Drake University law student Karrecia Crawley said the bill imposes a “sweeping ideology that rushes to conclusions about what is taught.”

“They don’t see the foresight of what happens or what occurs when this bill is passed,” Crawley said. “I don’t believe Republicans will be in power for all that much longer if bills like this keep getting pushed and introduced into the (Legislature).”

Rev. Lizzie Gillman, an Episcopal priest in Des Moines and mother of a high school and sixth grade student, shared with lawmakers that her children’s friends feel they have no adults with whom they can discuss LGBTQ topics after recent law changes targeting LGBTQ rights.

“Jesus never said anything about gender or homosexuality,” Gillman said. “Jesus was all about love. And so what I want to know is that when we marginalize these students at a young age, they can pick it up. … I’d like you to understand whose dignity matters here.”

Supporters asks lawmakers to restore ‘focus’ on academics

Jeff Pitts, with the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition, supported the bill.

“Political indoctrination ought not to be done on the taxpayer dime at public institutions,” Pitts said.

Katherine Bogaards, with Protect My Innocence, supported the measure and said it “gives families confidence that schools will remain focused on academics and age appropriate research-based health education, not topics that confuse or overwhelm the students.”

“Supporting this bill is about preserving family values, respecting parental authority, and assuring minors are allowed to grow up without unnecessary pressure related to sexual orientation and gender identity,” Bogaards said.

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.

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March Madness is family affair for Iowa basketball’s Brendan Hausen

Published

9 hours ago

March 19, 2026

Press Room

March Madness is family affair for Iowa basketball’s Brendan Hausen

TAMPA, Fla. — Brendan Hausen wore a smile on his face as he held up his phone and nodded his head.

The Iowa men’s basketball team was gathered for the NCAA Tournament Selection Show on March 15, awaiting their fate in the March Madness bracket. Part of the pageantry of the Selection Show is seeing players’ reactions when their team is called. Hausen, who was in the front row, exuded joy.

Except, Iowa had not been called yet.

On the screen was … High Point.

A voice came from across the room.

It was Iowa head coach Ben McCollum.

“Is that your brother?” McCollum asked.

Hausen looked over and confirmed McCollum’s suspicion.

“That’s my brother,” Hausen said.

The 2026 NCAA Tournament is a family affair for the Hausens.

Braden Hausen, Brendan’s younger brother, made the NCAA Tournament at High Point. The Panthers were guaranteed a spot in this year’s field of 68 after winning the Big South Conference Tournament. High Point earned a 12-seed and was matched up with 5-seed Wisconsin.

“It’s special,” Hausen said. “Not many people from Amarillo (Texas) have got to do this … So seeing Amarillo get to March Madness is something special. And seeing my brother’s name be called was awesome.”

About 20 minutes after High Point was called, it was Brendan’s turn. Iowa was announced as a 9-seed and set to face 8-seed Clemson.

Fast forward a few days later to March 19, and the Hausen family has already done damage in the NCAA Tournament.

As Brendan Hausen was in Tampa with the Hawkeyes, High Point pulled off an upset win over Wisconsin. Braden scored six points in the Panthers’ 83-82 victory. Iowa’s media availability was earlier in the afternoon, so we were unable to get his thoughts on his brother’s win. But it’s clear how meaningful their relationship is.

“He’s my best friend,” Hausen said. “He’s been there from the start. We played together in high school. Seeing him do his thing is truly special.”

As kids, they used to compete on a stage much smaller than the NCAA Tournament.

“Honestly, the mini goal in the living room,” Hausen said. “My mom just screaming at us, that we were going to break through the glass and ripping the goal down. Those were probably my favorite memories.”

Video: Brendan Hausen on making NCAA Tournament for first time

Brendan Hausen meets with media ahead of Iowa basketball’s matchup with Clemson in the NCAA Tournament.

It hasn’t been a direct path for Hausen to make the NCAA Tournament for the first time in his college career. He played his first two seasons at Villanova, before playing at Kansas State last season. None of those teams made the Big Dance, meaning that when he transferred to Iowa ahead of the 2025-26 season, this was his last chance to reach March Madness.

“It’s exciting,” Hausen said of finally getting the Big Dance. “I don’t take it for granted because it’s been an up-and-down four years. This being my first one is truly special. So I won’t take it for granted.”

The Hausen brothers are playing on opposite ends of the country this week. High Point’s upset over Wisconsin came in Portland in the Pacific Northwest. Meanwhile, Hausen is about as far southeast as you can get. Iowa faces Clemson in Tampa on March 20 (5:50 p.m. CT, TNT).

The Hausen family is in Tampa, not Portland, for a couple of reasons. This is Braden’s second time in the NCAA Tournament, as opposed to Brendan’s first. Also, the weather.

“He (Braden) told them it was OK because it was my first time,” Hausen said. “He was cool with it. And obviously, the warm weather brought people. My brother was good with it, so I’m happy they’re all here.”

Hausen, a sharpshooter who arrived at Iowa having made 178 3-pointers in his college career, hasn’t been featured in as large a role as some once expected. Hausen has appeared sporadically for the Hawkeyes and is playing the fewest minutes per game since his freshman season at Villanova.

But it has now led him to the promised land of making the NCAA Tournament.

The Hausen brothers are a combined 1-0 in March Madness so far this year. That has a chance to become 2-0 when Iowa plays Clemson.

Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com

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Iowa State’s Bill Fennelly names plays after former Cyclone greats and coaches

Published

21 hours ago

March 19, 2026

Press Room

Iowa State’s Bill Fennelly names plays after former Cyclone greats and coaches

AMES — During the third quarter of the Iowa State women’s basketball team’s Jan. 7 game at Cincinnati, coach Bill Fennelly wanted to get his players a good look for a 3-pointer. So as Fennelly gathered his team on the sideline during a break, he called the play Lake Park.

“It’s a misdirection,” Fennelly said.

The play was devised by Fennelly in the 1990s and it’s designed to set up a shot from beyond the arc. It’s named after Tara Gunderson, a former 3-point shooting star for the Cyclones who hails from Lake Park in northwest Iowa.

Just as Fennelly hoped it would, the Cyclones freed up a shooter with the play.

“We got a 3,” Fennelly said.

Lake Park is one of more than 100 plays that Fennelly has on his call sheet. All of them have special names honoring people who have had a huge impact on his life. Coaches, family, friends and current and former players have plays named after them.

The Cyclones will be using those plays when 8-seed Iowa State takes on 9-seed Syracuse in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at 4:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, March 21 in Storrs, Conn.

“I think it’s cool,” said Iowa State point guard Jada Williams. “It kind of helps us remember a little bit more because we’re familiar with all the names that we call.”

Fennelly, in his 49th season of coaching, has been naming plays like that for as long as he can remember. While most coaches use numbers or descriptions to call plays, Fennelly has gone this route, instead choosing names, locations and nicknames.

“I think it resonates with them a little bit better,” Fennelly said.

Some of the plays have a symbolic meaning. Like Lake Park being a 3-point shooting play. The Cyclones also run a 3-point shooting play for Iowa State center Audi Crooks called “Algona,” named after her hometown. They also have a play named after current Cyclones men’s basketball player Milan Momcilovic, a star shooter from beyond the arc.

One of the most unique plays the Cyclones run is named after former Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy, who is now a star for the San Francisco 49ers. “Purdy” is an inbounds play where all five players line up under the hoop. When the whistle is blown, four players take off down the court like wide receivers. The inbounds passer acts as a quarterback, looking for an open target to pass to.

Former Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht also has a play named after him. It’s a deep pass in transition or late in the shot clock or game clock.

Last year, the Cyclones used a play named after former Iowa State star Ashley Joens, the team’s all-time leading scorer.

Former Iowa State men’s basketball coaches Fred Hoiberg and Greg McDermott, who both coached the Cyclones during Fennelly’s tenure, also have plays named after them. Fennelly admits they were the inspiration behind the plays.

“To be honest, most of them are people I stole the play from,” Fennelly said.

Fennelly’s grandchildren also have plays named after them. His 11-year-old grandson, Will, the son of assistant coach and general manager Billy Fennelly, hears it often while he’s sitting in the stands at games. When his grandpa calls the play, Will sometimes thinks he’s trying to get his attention.

“Sometimes I’ll get super confused,” Will Fennelly said. “He’ll scream out my name and I’ll be like, ‘What?’ It’s just cool to have a play named after me.”

Fennelly periodically gets input from his players on naming new plays. Everything is fair game. The Cyclones have a play named “Coconut” after their trip to the Coconut Hoops event in Florida this season. Williams said one of the team’s most popular plays is called “Tessa,” named after Tessa Boccumini, the team’s associate director of sports medicine.

The names help players understand what they’re doing and get a better understanding of Iowa State history. “Lake Park,” for example, gives Fennelly an opportunity to talk about Gunderson and the impact she had on the Cyclones.

Gunderson is now the varsity girls baseball coach at Cretin-Derham Hall, a prestigious high school in St. Paul, Minn. She was surprised to hear Fennelly still uses the same name for that play.

“I’m kind of in disbelief,” Gunderson said. “It was a good play. We got a lot of open looks from it.”

As long as Fennelly keeps coaching, he’ll keep coming up with special names for his plays. He’s always on the lookout for new ideas. The tradition has gotten so popular that when Fennelly adds a play, his team gets excited for what they’ll name it.

One way for a player to leave their mark at the school is to have a play named after them.

“It’s kind of just the legacy of that and being able to run that play is definitely cool,” said Iowa State forward Addy Brown. I’ve just seen what they’ve done here. You hope that one day you leave and you have a play named after you.”

Tommy Birch, the Register’s sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He’s the 2018, 2020, 2023 and 2025 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468.

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Iowa State Wrestling Schedule: 1st Round ISU Matches At NCAA Championships – FloWrestling

Published

1 day ago

March 18, 2026

Press Room

Iowa State Wrestling Schedule: 1st Round ISU Matches At NCAA Championships – FloWrestling

Iowa State opens the 2026 NCAA Division I Men’s Wrestling Championships on Thursday, March 19 in Cleveland with a lineup capable of producing points across all 10 weight classes.

The Cyclones enter the tournament as a top-10 team and feature a mix of high seeds and dangerous middle seeds who could make deep runs.

Action begins at noon ET with the preliminary round, where Iowa State will look to advance wrestlers and build momentum early in the team race. With top contenders like No. 1 Yonger Bastida and No. 2 Rocky Elam leading the way, the Cyclones have strong opportunities at the top of the bracket.

Here’s when Iowa State wrestling is in action on Thursday.

Iowa State Wrestling Schedule On NCAA Wrestling Championships Day 1

First-round action begins at noon ET. Take a look at the FloWrestling interactive bracket for times and mat information. The new FloWrestling Next Gen platform allows fans to track each match from anywhere in the world. Fans can get alerts for individual wrestlers and individual matches.

125: (13) Stevo Poulin vs. (20) Diego Sotelo (MICH)
133: (28) Garrett Grice vs. (21) Sean Spidle (NW)
141: (4) Anthony Echemendia vs. (29) Jordan Titus (WVU)
149: (16) Jacob Frost vs. (9) David Evans (UVU)
157: (12) Vinny Zerban vs. (13) Derek Raike (OHIO)
165: (15) Connor Euton vs. (18) Gunner Filipowicz (ARMY)
174: (11) MJ Gaitan vs. (22) Brody Baumann (PUR)
184: (13) Isaac Dean vs. (20) Brian Soldano (OKLA)
197: (2) Rocky Elam vs. (31) Kael Bennie (UVU)
285: (1) Yonger Bastida vs. (17) Vincent Mueller (COL)

NCAA Wrestling Championships 2026 Schedule

Thursday, March 19

12:00 p.m. ET: Session I (First Round) – ESPN2
7:00 p.m. ET: Session II (Second Round, Consolation Matches) – ESPN

Friday, March 20

12:00 p.m. ET: Session III (Quarterfinals, Consolation Matches) – ESPNU
8:00 p.m. ET: Session IV (Semifinals, Consolation Matches) – ESPN2

Saturday, March 21

11:00 a.m. ET: Session V (Medal Matches) – ESPNU
6:30 p.m. ET: Session VI (Finals) – ESPN

How To Watch NCAA Wrestling Championships 2026

The 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships will be broadcast across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU from March 19-21 in Cleveland.
Every match will also be streamed on ESPN+, including concurrent mat coverage.

NCAA Wrestling Championships Seeds 2026

Here are the top eight seeds for each weight class at the NCAA Wrestling Championships. See more here.

125 lbs

(1) Luke Lilledahl, Penn State
(2) Eddie Ventresca, Virginia Tech
(3) Nic Bouzakis, Ohio State
(4) Sheldon Seymour, Lehigh
(5) Troy Spratley, Oklahoma State
(6) Jore Volk, Minnesota
(7) Nico Provo, Stanford
(8) Dean Peterson, Iowa

133 lbs

(1) Jax Forrest, Oklahoma State
(2) Ben Davino, Ohio State
(3) Marcus Blaze, Penn State
(4) Aaron Seidel, Virginia Tech
(5) Kyler Larkin, Arizona State
(6) Drake Ayala, Iowa
(7) Lucas Byrd, Illinois
(8) Markel Baker, Northern Illinois

141 lbs

(1) Jesse Mendez, Ohio State
(2) Sergio Vega, Oklahoma State
(3) Brock Hardy, Nebraska
(4) Anthony Echemendia, Iowa State
(5) Luke Stanich, Lehigh
(6) Vince Cornella, Cornell
(7) Nasir Bailey, Iowa
(8) Vance Vombaur, Minnesota

149 lbs

(1) Shayne Van Ness, Penn State
(2) Jaxon Joy, Cornell
(3) Cross Wasilewski, Penn
(4) Collin Gaj, Virginia Tech
(5) Koy Buesgens, NC State
(6) Caleb Tyus, SIUE
(7) Ethan Stiles, Ohio State
(8) Casey Swiderski, Oklahoma State

157 lbs

(1) PJ Duke, Penn State
(2) Antrell Taylor, Nebraska
(3) Meyer Shapiro, Cornell
(4) Kaleb Larkin, Arizona State
(5) Landon Robideau, Oklahoma State
(6) Jude Swisher, Penn
(7) Kannon Webster, Illinois
(8) Brandon Cannon, Ohio State

165 lbs

(1) Mitchell Mesenbrink, Penn State
(2) Joey Blaze, Purdue
(3) Mikey Caliendo, Iowa
(4) Nicco Ruiz, Arizona State
(5) LaDarion Lockett, Oklahoma State
(6) LJ Araujo, Nebraska
(7) Max Brignola, Lehigh
(8) Matty Bianchi, Little Rock

174 lbs

(1) Levi Haines, Penn State
(2) Simon Ruiz, Cornell
(3) Christopher Minto, Nebraska
(4) Carson Kharchla, Ohio State
(5) Patrick Kennedy, Iowa
(6) Matty Singleton, NC State
(7) Cam Steed, Missouri
(8) Alex Facundo, Oklahoma State

184 lbs

(1) Rocco Welsh, Penn State
(2) Aeoden Sinclair, Missouri
(3) Max McEnelly, Minnesota
(4) James Conway, Franklin & Marshall
(5) Brock Mantanona, Michigan
(6) Eddie Neitenbach, Wyoming
(7) Angelo Ferrari, Iowa
(8) Silas Allred, Nebraska

197 lbs

(1) Josh Barr, Penn State
(2) Rocky Elam, Iowa State
(3) Stephen Little, Little Rock
(4) Sonny Sasso, Virginia Tech
(5) Joey Novak, Wyoming
(6) Justin Rademacher, Oregon State
(7) Cody Merrill, Oklahoma State
(8) DJ Parker, Oklahoma

285 lbs

(1) Yonger Bastida, Iowa State
(2) Isaac Trumble, NC State
(3) Taye Ghadiali, Michigan
(4) AJ Ferrari, Nebraska
(5) Nick Feldman, Ohio State
(6) Nathan Taylor, Lehigh
(7) Konner Doucet, Oklahoma State
(8) Ben Kueter, Iowa

FloWrestling College Wrestling Team Rankings

Penn State (Points: 164, Prev Rank: 1)
OK State (Points: 95.5, Prev Rank: 3)
Ohio State (Points: 94, Prev Rank: 2)
Nebraska (Points: 76.5, Prev Rank: 5)
Iowa State (Points: 68.5, Prev Rank: 4)
Iowa (Points: 66.5, Prev Rank: 6)
Virginia Tech (Points: 53.5, Prev Rank: 9)
Cornell (Points: 52, Prev Rank: 7)
NC State (Points: 48, Prev Rank: 8)
Arizona State (Points: 41, Prev Rank: 14)

Trackwrestling Has Joined The New FloWrestling

Trackwrestling has officially merged with FloWrestling, bringing its powerful tournament tracking tools and live data into a modern, all-in-one platform.

Fans can follow every bout with pro-grade brackets, mat schedules, team rosters and detailed wrestler profiles—all seamlessly integrated within FloWrestling.

This move delivers a faster, smarter and more connected experience for the wrestling community. Through the updated FloSports app, users can track live results, explore brackets and even sign up for free alerts so they never miss a match.

FloWrestling Archived Footage

Video footage from all events on FloWrestling will be archived and stored in a video library for FloWrestling subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.