Iowa
Former education department employee to receive settlement in discrimination case
The state of Iowa will pay $440,000 to settle a 2022 disability discrimination case from a former employee of the Iowa Department of Education.
Amy Williamson, the former deputy director of the Iowa Department of Education, resigned from her position in 2022 after allegedly facing retaliation for complaining to the governor’s staff about civil rights violations within the agency.
State records indicate that before she resigned, Williamson had worked for the Iowa Department of Education since May 2007. In October 2020, she was promoted to deputy director of the agency. She remained in that position until she resigned in February 2022.
Williamson, at a 2022 hearing on her claim for unemployment benefits after leaving the Department of Education, recounted she had concerns with some of the department’s human resources policies in early 2021. She also alleged her concerns were not taken seriously by the then-director of the Iowa Department of Education Ann Lebo. Lebo resigned from the role in February 2023 and currently works in the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.
Williamson said Lebo later conducted an “employee review” to show she had not met certain mandatory deadlines. Williamson protested, arguing the deadlines had been met. She also alleged Lebo was “not pleased” after she relayed her concerns to the governor’s office in January 2022.
At the unemployment benefits hearing, Williamson said her role as deputy director was reduced after her meeting with Lebo. She was no longer responsible for managing K-12 education, and someone was to be hired to replace her in that role. Her oversight went from managing 138 people to supervising three administrative consultants and a secretary.
Two days after her duties were reduced, Williamson experienced gastrointestinal bleeding and was treated at an urgent care clinic and diagnosed with an acute stress reaction. Her doctor took her off work for six weeks.
While on medical leave, a job was posted for an administrator at the department with nearly identical duties to her position, including all of the responsibilities that had just been assigned to her by Lebo. She was advised by her doctor not to return to work because her illness was a direct result of work-related anxiety and stress.
On Feb. 24, 2022, Williamson submitted a letter of resignation. She later applied for and was denied unemployment benefits. Williamson appealed the decision and the Department of Education did not participate in the hearing.
According to Iowa Assistant Attorney General Christopher Deist, the state agreed to settle the appeal for a total of $440,000. As part of the settlement, Williamson will receive a $59,000 payroll check, a $200,000 settlement check, and $180,000 payable to Fielder Law Firm to pay for attorney fees and litigation costs.
The Iowa Department of Education will also be reimbursed $4,517.68 for Williamson’s share of FICA taxes.
Kyle Werner is a reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@dmreg.com.
Iowa
3 key bills that survived the Iowa funnel deadline — and 2 that didn’t
The Iowa Legislature’s 2nd funnel deadline put an expiration date on dozens of bills that failed to advance far enough this session. Here’s a quick rundown:
What is Iowa’s legislative ‘funnel’ and how does it work? (2026)
What is Iowa’s legislative ‘funnel’ and how does it work? (2026)
The Iowa Legislature’s second funnel deadline has passed, closing the door on dozens of proposed bills.
The self-imposed deadline requires bills to have passed one chamber and be approved by a committee in the opposite chamber by March 20 or be relegated to the trash heap.
What Iowa bills missed the cut?
Among the casualties: bills that would have allowed community colleges to offer some four-year degrees and eliminated all school vaccination requirements.
What Iowa bills made the cut?
Other bills remain alive, including legislation restricting the governor’s emergency powers, allowing Iowans to buy ivermectin over the counter without a prescription and limiting tuition increases at Iowa’s public universities.
What big issues are hung up?
Republicans, who control the Iowa House and Senate, have yet to strike deals on two of the top issues of the legislative session: property tax relief and eminent domain restrictions.
“There are some heavy lifts obviously,” Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh, R-Spillville, told reporters. “Property taxes, eminent domain conversation, and budgeting.”
What was the fate of dozens of other Iowa bills?
If you’re looking for a more complete list of bills that lived and died, read our exhaustive roundup of education, health care, business, state government and law enforcement and courts legislation.
Portions of this article appeared in the Des Moines Register’s politics newsletter. Don’t miss out. Sign up here.
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.
Iowa
Iowa Girls High School Basketball: Top Returning Juniors
We have officially closed the book on the 2025-26 Iowa girls high school basketball season with the crowning of state champions and individual all-state and player of the year awards being handed out by High School on SI.
Now, we take a sneak peek towards 2026-27 with a look at some of the top junior players in Iowa girls high school basketball. All numbers are from those listed on Bound.
Iowa Girls High School Basketball: Top Returning Juniors
Melina Snoozy, Sioux City Bishop Heelan
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Snoozy was dominant this past winter again, averaging 21.2 points to lead all juniors while adding eight rebounds, three assists and over two steals per game.
Kylee Pexa, Dunkerton
In addition to her 19 points a game, Pexa contributed almost five steals, five assists and 3.5 rebounds a game.
Ainley Ulrich, North Union
Ulrich nearly helped the Warriors reach the state tournament this past year after posting 20 points with five rebounds and 2.4 steals per game.
Izzy Gilbertson, Mount Ayr
At nearly 21 points and over nine rebounds per game, Gilbertson is a tough opponent to slow down. She also blocked four shots a night with 3.6 assists and 3.6 steals.
Maryn Franken, Sioux Center
Franken posted 20 points per game with nearly nine rebounds while also averaging six steals, three assists and a block to her stat line.
Taryn Petersen, Exira-EHK
Petersen was just a shade under 20 points per game for her team, adding in over six steals, five assists and four rebounds.
Cora Sauer, Lake Mills
Lake Mills went as Sauer did, reaching the regional final before falling to Bishop Garrigan. She contributed 19.7 points, six rebounds, almost four steals and just under four assists a game.
Lizzy Frazell, Waverly-Shell Rock
Frazell and the Go-Hawks continue to make a strong statement, as she finished the year averaging 19 points, six rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks.
Addy Wolfswinkel, Cherokee Washington
Wolfswinkel recently committed to Omaha to play volleyball, but she is strong on the basketball court as well, averaging 19 points, six rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.5 steals.
Maggie McChesney, Glenwood
In addition to her 19.5 points per game, McChesney averaged eight rebounds, 3.5 steals, three assists and over a block.
KeaOnna Worley, Cedar Rapids Prairie
Watch out for a big senior season from Worley after producing 18 points, nearly five assists, over four rebounds and two steals.
Graclyn Eastman, Bishop Garrigan
Eastman and the Golden Bears reached the finals this past season in Class 1A, as she averaged 17 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, three steals and two assists.
Katie Muller, Dowling Catholic
The Maroons will lean heavily on Muller next year, as she steps in for sister Ellie Muller. This past year, she averaged 16.5 points, six rebounds, 3.6 assists and a steal.
Fayth Sullivan, North Polk
Sullivan and the Comets made it back to state after she averaged 16 points, nine rebounds, three steals and three assists.
Iowa
H-1B visa holders protest Iowa bill to ban them from universities
Watch as Iowans rally against H‑1B hiring limits at state universities
Iowans rally against HF 2513, a bill prohibiting state universities from hiring H-1B visa holders from countries flagged as foreign adversaries.
Many wore hats and sunglasses and some brought umbrellas to shade themselves from the hot sun as they rallied at the Iowa Capitol in opposition to a bill that would prohibit the hiring of certain visa holders at Iowa’s public universities.
The group of about 150 marched in a circle with signs that read “International scholars build Iowa too,” “Education not discrimination,” and “Strong universities, strong Iowa.”
Iowa State University, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa, as well as community colleges, would not be able to hire citizens from countries that are designated as foreign adversaries or state sponsors of terrorism under House File 2513. The House passed the bill on March 3 with a 68-27 vote. A Senate subcommittee recommends the bill’s passage.
Faculty members of Iowa State University and the University of Iowa spoke to the crowd at the rally Saturday, March 21 about their experiences as H-1B visa holders and how the bill would affect the university system and Iowa.
Hongwei Zhang, a computer engineering professor at Iowa State since 2017, said in an interview that “by this bill, H-1B visa holders may lose their rights to stay in Iowa. Essentially, families will potentially, starting July 1, have to move out of the state.”
Zengyi Shao, a chemical engineering professor at Iowa State, became a H-1B visa holder after completing her PhD at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2009 and later became a U.S. citizen. The process took 17 years, she said, and “many people of Chinese origin who now work in universities and community colleges have followed this same path.”
“If this bill had been in place years ago, I would not have been able to come to Iowa and serve as an educator,” she said to the crowd. Shao has been teaching at Iowa State since 2013.
American flags were flown during the rally, organized by the Chinese Association of Iowa, United Chinese Americans, the Iowa City Area Chinese Association, the Chinese Faculty and Staff of Central Iowa Association, and Iowans for Brighter Future.
“What worries me is it will also push those who are already here, not including many current or even previous H-1B visa holders, to live in other states that are more welcoming,” Shao said. “So if this happens, basically the spirit of Iowa nice will likely become a thing of the past.”
Jie Lie, a researcher at Iowa State University who has lived in Iowa since 2009 and worked at the university since 2011, said the H-1B visa is a “pipeline of global talents for the United States.”
“It’s just trying to put Iowa in a very bad place,” Lie said of the bill.
What is House File 2513? What would it do if passed?
An H-1B visa allows “non-immigrant alien workers” to be hired for “specialty occupations or as fashion models,” according to the U.S. Department of Labor. A “specialty occupation” requires specialized knowledge and a minimum education of a bachelor’s degree, helping employers hire qualified candidates who cannot fulfill the needed skills and abilities of the U.S. workforce.
Having an H-1B visa allows for the temporary employment of qualified candidates who may not otherwise be authorized to work in the United States.
Under HF 2513, even those who hold a valid H-1B visa would be prohibited from entering into an employment contract if they come from countries identified as foreign adversaries or as state sponsors of terrorism, including China, North Korea, Iran, Syria, Russia and Venezuela. If passed, it would take effect July 1.
During floor debate, Rep. Skyler Wheeler, R-Hull, said that “our universities are for Americans and Americans first.”
“This bill enhances national security and protects sensitive research at Iowa’s public universities by preventing potential risks from espionage or intellectual property theft associated with hires from adversarial nations such as China, aligning with broader U.S. concerns over foreign influence in academia while prioritizing American or allied talent,” Wheeler said.
There are about 120 employees through the H-1B visa program at Iowa’s state universities, according to the Iowa Board of Regents.
“If this bill passes, our jobs are gone,” said Emily Gao, an assistant teaching professor of architecture at Iowa State and an H-1B visa holder.
Iowa would join Texas, Florida in H-1B hiring halt
Iowa isn’t the first state to eye restrictions on hiring employees through the H-1B visa program.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Jan. 27 called for the freeze of new H-1B petitions at all Texas state agencies and universities, as well as a review of the current H-1B visa program “abuse.”
The Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the state’s university system, approved a one-year ban on hiring through the H-1B visa program on March 2.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a social media post in October universities across the nation are “importing foreign workers on H-1B visas instead of hiring Americans who are qualified and available to do the job.”
Iowa’s restrictions on H-1B visa hiring would follow President Donald Trump’s restrictions on the visa holders, unveiled in September, that decried the “large-scale replacement of American workers” and “systemic abuse” of the H-1B program and lamented the growth in the foreign share of the workforce in computer and math occupations.
The Iowa Capital Dispatch contributed to this report.
Kyle Werner is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@registermedia.com.
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