CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Dust off those dancing shoes. It’s time to clog.

Clog dancing dates back centuries, originating from different forms of Irish, English, Scottish, German, Cherokee and African dances.

But it wasn’t until the 1970s that clogging took Iowa by storm, and cloggers will tell you it’s not the same as square dancing.

“It is different that we do have taps on our shoes,” one clogger told TV9’s Kevin Kendall in 1979. “We do have a lot of movements out there that are used in square dancing.”

Clogging does adopt some movements from square dancing, but it can incorporate many different types of music. At the time, disco music was a popular choice among some cloggers.

“That’s for the young ones. We can’t hardly keep up with them. That’s for the kids, that’s what they use is the disco tunes”

Copyright 2025 KCRG. All rights reserved.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Handsfree driving legislation has made its way to Governor Kim Reynolds’ desk. It comes after the Iowa House passed the bill Wednesday, approximately seven years after it was first proposed.

And for Trooper Bob Conrad with the Iowa State Patrol, it’s been a long time coming.

“I think this is going to make a difference. It’s going to save lives. It’s going to make a lot of people happy,” he said. “To me, passing a law like this is one of those things that shows that we’re all working together for a common goal to make sure people go home at the end of the day.”

Although the bill has yet to be signed into law, Governor Kim Reynolds expressed her support for it in her Condition of the State earlier this year.

Currently, Iowa’s law allows drivers to physically manipulate their phones to make a call or check their maps when driving.

Under this new legislation, drivers can still use their phones, but instead of physically dialing the numbers to make a phone call, they will only be permitted to do it on a handsfree mode, such as Bluetooth or voice command, or with a single touch. The same thing goes for checking maps or sending text messages.

Otherwise, drivers could face a $100 fine, or even more if the violation hurts or kills somebody.

And while Conrad says he understands that it will take some time for drivers to adjust, it’s not impossible.

“This is not something that stops you from using your phone completely. It doesn’t keep you from getting the emergency phone call from your your children or or something else at work you need. It it just is about doing it better.” he said.

Copyright 2025 KCRG. All rights reserved.

DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa Capitol Bureau) – Regardless of whether you own your home or rent, you could get property tax relief, Iowa Democrats say following the release of their new plan.

This comes as Republican lawmakers are working on a sweeping overhaul of the tax system.

During a Thursday press conference, Rep. Dave Jacoby (D-Coralville) said when they’re running for office, property taxes are one of the top issues voters bring up.

“Their frustration is coming to a boiling point because everything we’ve done to date has been totally ineffective,” he said.

Iowa House Democrats’ new plan would give homeowners a $1,000 rebate check. Renters would get a $500 check. It would also freeze property taxes for people 65 and older.

Iowa House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst says they want to get relief to homeowners now, rather than waiting a year or two for Republicans to work out their property tax relief plan.

“This is our way to let homeowners and renters finally see property tax decreases or their money coming back to them instead of waiting for another year, another two years, to sit around and talk about the plan and meanwhile their rates are going up,” she said.

The money for the Democrats’ plan would come from the Taxpayer Relief Fund, which has $3.75 billion in it currently. Iowa Republican House Speaker Pat Grassley says that fund is supposed to be used to lower income taxes.

“We know right now that that Taxpayer Relief Fund helps smooth any unforeseen things that happen as we reduce the tax to 3.8 (percent). So, I’d want to see what that direct proposal would look like and how that would impact the income tax cut,” he said.

Homeowners’ would see their property tax increases capped at two percent per year under the Republican plan. Seniors would get a tax credit and veterans would see their exemption increase. The plan also phases out rollbacks and will give homeowners a $25,000 annual exemption.

Grassley says their plan needs more work and Republicans will take their time to make sure they get it right.

“When you’re looking at such a system that’s been in place as long as it has, it’s going to take time and we need to be very deliberate in our approach to make sure we’re not only providing relief, but that it’s something that’s sustainable as well,” he said.

Jacoby can’t yet say whether the rebate checks would be a one time payment or yearly. He says he’s still waiting on some projections, but his goal is to do these rebates over the next three to five years.

—

Conner Hendricks covers state government and politics for Gray Media-owned stations in Iowa. Email him at conner.hendricks@gray.tv; and follow him on Facebook at Conner Hendricks TV on X/Twitter @ConnerReports, and on TikTok @ConnerReports.

Copyright 2025 KCRG. All rights reserved.