Connect with us

Iowa

Iowa governor signs bill restricting lessons on gender identity, sexual orientation in schools

Published

on

Iowa governor signs bill restricting lessons on gender identity, sexual orientation in schools


Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) signed a bill into law on Friday that restricts lessons on gender identity and sexual orientation in schools from kindergarten through sixth grade. 

Reynolds announced her signature on the bill and a few others relating to education in a release, calling education the “great equalizer” and saying that everyone involved in education — parents, teachers and students — should have an environment to “thrive.” 

“This legislative session, we secured transformational education reform that puts parents in the driver’s seat, eliminates burdensome regulations on public schools, provides flexibility to raise teacher salaries, and empowers teachers to prepare our kids for their future,” she said. 

The law bans teachers from raising issues of sexual orientation and gender identity in class through grade six and orders the removal of all books depicting sexual acts from school libraries. But, religious texts are exempt from the book ban.

Advertisement

The law is similar to others that have passed in several Republican-led states to restrict discussions of these topics in classrooms, perhaps most notably Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act, which opponents have slammed as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. 

All Democrats in the state legislature had opposed the bill, but Republicans hold comfortable majorities in both the state House and Senate and passed it last month. 

The law also requires school administrators to notify parents if a student requests to have their pronouns or names used in school changed. Schools will also be required to post a list of books in their libraries online and instructions for parents on how to review them and classroom materials and request that certain material be removed. 

Parents will also need to give their approval before schools can administer surveys to students on various topics like mental health, sex and political affiliation, under the new law. 

Republicans have argued that the law is common sense to keep parents involved in education and not have teachers discuss sexuality in class. But Democrats and LGBTQ groups said the law will prevent students from being able to be open with teachers about their own sexual orientation and gender identity and see their own experiences reflected in materials. 

Reynolds previously signed two bills into law in March to ban gender-affirming care for minors and prevent transgender students from using the bathroom or locker room in schools that matches their gender identity. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Iowa

Man wanted on Iowa warrant chased by police across state lines

Published

on

Man wanted on Iowa warrant chased by police across state lines


ALLAMAKEE COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – A man wanted on an Iowa arrest warrant was chased across state lines by police Wednesday.

The Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office received a report from the Houston County, Minnesota Sheriff’s Office at 10:16 a.m. Wednesday.

Houston County police informed the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office they were chasing a vehicle headed toward the Iowa-Minnesota border.

The vehicle, driven by 39-year-old Tyler Pierce, had struck a Houston County Sheriff’s vehicle while attempting to outrun law enforcement.

Advertisement

After receiving the report from the Houston County Sheriff’s Office, the chase entered Allamakee County and continued south on State Highway 76 N.

This is when Allamakee County deputies joined Houston County police in the chase.

Pierce drove westbound into Winneshiek County and then crossed state lines again into Filmore County, Minnesota.

Police deployed stop sticks, deflating three of Pierce’s tires.

However, he continued to drive over 90 mph in an attempt to evade the police.

Advertisement

Pierce then entered the city of Preston, Minnesota on Highway 52, where he attempted to pass a semi-truck trailer.

However, he failed to pass and instead struck the semi, causing severe damage to his vehicle.

Pierce’s car eventually came to a stop, and he was taken into custody.

Pierce was transported to a Rochester, Minnesota hospital for treatment of his injuries.

No other people were injured in the chase.

Advertisement

A Houston County Sheriff patrol car and an Allamakee County Sheriff patrol car were damaged during the pursuit.

Pierce is now in the custody of Minnesota Law Enforcement.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Iowa

Pitt Basketball Hosting Iowa State Transfer

Published

on

Pitt Basketball Hosting Iowa State Transfer


PITTSBURGH — The Pitt Panthers are making progress in the transfer portal, as they are hosting a talented guard on a visit.

DuShawn London of 247Sports reported that Pitt is currently hosting Iowa State transfer freshman guard Nojus Indrusaitis, according to his agent Deirunas Visockas.

Indrusaitis hails from Chicago and played for St. Rita High School in the Chicago Catholic League, before heading to Brewster Academy, a boarding school in Wolfeboro, N.H.

He is of Lithuanian desent and played for the Lithuanian U18 FIBA team at the FIBA U18 Eurobasket, which the city of Tampere in Finland hosted.

Advertisement

Indrusaitis starred for Lithuania, averaging 20.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 28.2 minutes per game, while shooting 44.6% from the field, 35.4% from 3-point range and 69.6% from the foul line.

He was a consensus four-star recruit in the Class of 2024, with 247Sports ranking him No. 96 in the nation, No. 19 shooting guard and No. 2 recruit in Illinois, Rivals ranking him No. 86 in the country and No. 23 point guard, On3 ranking him No. 77 in the United States, No. 16 shooting guard and top recruit in New Hampshire and ESPN ranking him No. 70 in the nation, No. 14 shooting guard and No. 5 in Illinois.

Indrusaitis committed to Iowa State over offers from Big Ten schools in Illinois, Iowa, Maryland and Nebraska, Big East schools in DePaul, Marquette and Xavier, plus Missouri.

He played in the first eight games for the Cyclones, but just seven more the rest of the season, as he fell down the rotation.

Indrusaitis played in 15 games as a freshman, averaging 5.7 minutes and 2.1 points per game, while shooting 33.3% from the field, 14.3% from 3-point range and 52.9% from the foul line.

Advertisement

Pitt desperately needs players on its team for next season, as they have lost five players to the transfer portal so far.

This includes guards in All-ACC Third Team honoree Jaland Lowe and Amsal Delalić, plus forwards in Marlon Barnes Jr. and twin duo of Jorge and Guillermo Diaz Graham.

Pitt also had three players graduate who started throughout last season, including guards Ish Leggett and Damian Dunn, as well as forward Zack Austin, who earned All-ACC Defensive Team honors.

The Panthers only have four returning players in forwards Cameron Corhen, Papa Amadou Kante and Amdy Ndiaye and jut one guard in Brandin “Beebah” Cummings. They also have an incoming guard in Omari Witherspoon from St. John’s College in Washington, D.C.

Senior (One Year Left of Eligibilty)
Forward Cameron Corhen

Advertisement

Junior (Two years Left of Eligibility)
Forward Benjamin Mayhew (Walk-On)
Forward Jajuan Nelson (Walk-On)

Redshirt Sophomore (Three Years Left of Eligibilty)
Forward Papa Amadou Kante

Sophomore (Three Years Left of Eligibility)
Guard Brandin “Beebah” Cummings
Forward Amdy Ndiaye
Center Liam Mignogna (Walk-On)

Freshman
Guard Omari Witherspoon

Make sure you bookmark Inside the Panthers for the latest news, exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage, and more!

Advertisement

Follow Inside the Panthers on Twitter: @InsidePitt



Source link

Continue Reading

Iowa

Iowa baseball cruises to run-rule victory vs. Bradley

Published

on

Iowa baseball cruises to run-rule victory vs. Bradley


In a single-game midweek matchup vs. Bradley (3-20, 0-6 Missouri Valley), Iowa baseball (17-9, 10-2 Big Ten) defeated the Braves through a 13-3 run-rule decision in seven innings on Tuesday night from Dozer Park in Peoria, Ill.

Freshman Jaron Bleeker (2-0, 5.68 ERA) started on the mound for the second time in his career and was credited with the win. He gave up one run, walked a batter, and struck out a batter in his lone inning of work.

Six other pitchers saw the mound for Iowa, each throwing an inning. The pitching staff combined for 12 strikeouts and seven walks and didn’t give up a run after the fourth inning. The Hawkeyes also held the Braves to three hits.

“On the mound we were definitely better than we were last Tuesday, which was a good sign,” said head coach Rick Heller. “A few too many free bases, but it wasn’t a great night to play. To get out of here with a 10-run rule win — we’ll take it.”

Advertisement

In terms of the Hawkeyes’ offense, Iowa mustered a total of eight hits and earned walks on 14 occasions.

“It was a strange game tonight, really,” said Heller. “We were able to take advantage of a lot of Bradley free bases.” 

The Hawkeyes plated five in the first off seven walks and an error. They didn’t score again until the fifth frame when junior Gable Mitchell hit a 2 RBI single and transfer Miles Risley slapped a 2 RBI double.

“In the fifth, we broke through with some clutch hits,” said Heller. “Gable Mitchell had a big two-out hit that gave us some breathing room, and Risley followed two batters later.”

Iowa scored its final three runs in the seventh inning when grad transfer Daniel Rogers hit an RBI triple and junior Kooper Schulte smacked a two-run home run.

Advertisement

Risley was the lone Hawkeye with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with two stolen bases. Freshman Jaixen Frost walked in two runs and scored twice. Junior Caleb Wulf and redshirt sophomore Reese Moore each scored two runs. Senior Ben Wilmes also recorded an RBI walk.

Up next for Iowa will be a three-game Big Ten series vs. Northwestern (13-13, 5-4) from Rocky and Berenice Miller Park in Evanston, Ill., with Game 1 scheduled for Friday at 3 p.m. CT. The entire series can be seen on Big Ten Plus (Subscription required) and heard on the Hawkeyes Radio Network alongside play-by-play voice John Leo and color analyst John Evans.

We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.

Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinionsFollow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending