Iowa

Iowa Lawmakers Unveil Marijuana Legalization Bill

Published

2 years ago

February 23, 2023

Iowa Lawmakers Unveil Marijuana Legalization Bill

Democratic lawmakers within the Iowa Home of Representatives on Tuesday launched laws to legalize leisure marijuana for adults. If handed into regulation, the laws would legalize the possession of hashish containing as much as 500 milligrams of THC, the first psychoactive part of marijuana, for adults aged 21 and older with legitimate identification. The invoice, which has not but been formally launched within the Home, additionally units the stage for regulated business hashish gross sales and establishes a tax on licensed marijuana gross sales.

Democratic leaders in Iowa have unveiled a plan to legalize leisure marijuana for adults.

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“We’ve listened to Iowans and heard from folks of all events in all corners of the state who strongly imagine it’s time to legalize marijuana. This common sense invoice we’re introducing right now isn’t about politics, it’s about folks,” mentioned Home Democratic Chief Jennifer Konfrst. “Our invoice is a chance this session to place partisanship apart and work collectively to get one thing completed {that a} majority of Iowans need.”

Laws Reduces Penalties For Pot Possession

The invoice additionally eliminates felony penalties for possessing as much as a half-ounce of marijuana, reclassifying such possession as a civil penalty. The measure additionally reduces different possession prices from felonies to misdemeanors and expunges felony information of nonviolent marijuana possession convictions.

The laws would permit regulated companies to provide and distribute marijuana by licensed dispensaries and duties the Iowa Alcoholic Beverage Division with regulating the business hashish trade. The invoice additionally requires the division to implement a seed-to-sale monitoring system to watch regulated hashish merchandise and assist forestall diversion to the illicit market.

The invoice would legalize business hashish manufacturing and gross sales and units a ten% tax on business … [+] hashish merchandise.

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The Democrats’ marijuana legalization plan units a ten% tax on business hashish merchandise, with income devoted to colleges, psychological well being providers and native public security companies. Moreover, counties can be permitted to levy a further 1% surcharge on state and native taxes.

Konfrst mentioned that legalizing marijuana in Iowa would maintain hashish tax income in Iowa as an alternative of sending it to neighboring states with authorized pot. Each Illinois and Michigan have legalized leisure marijuana.

Majority Of Iowans Help Legalizing Marijuana

The Home Democratic Chief famous that there’s robust assist for marijuana legalization in Iowa. In a 2021 Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Ballot, 54% of adults mentioned that they have been in favor of legalizing leisure marijuana.

“It’s throughout celebration strains,” mentioned Konfrst. “It’s throughout the place the place you reside within the state: rural, city and suburban. And it’s time to do that.”

“With robust assist from Iowans and neighboring states which have already accepted, it’s time to legalize marijuana for grownup use,” mentioned Home Minority Whip Rep. Lindsay James of Dubuque. “The great invoice we’re introducing right now will maintain Iowans secure, cease our tax {dollars} from going to neighboring states, enhance the standard of life for Iowans affected by persistent sicknesses and cease losing state sources to unfairly punish Iowans.”

Though marijuana legalization is supported by a majority of Iowans, the invoice is unlikely to be accepted the state’s Republican-led legislature. Final month, GOP celebration leaders mentioned they don’t anticipate marijuana legalization payments to advance this yr.

“I believe there must be a deterrent within the regulation, however I perceive the logic of getting discussions about what the suitable penalties must be and that type of factor,” Republican Rep. Steven Holt, the chair of the Home Judiciary Committee, mentioned final yr. “However by way of making marijuana authorized, that’s one thing I’d by no means assist.”

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Iowa

Iowa DNR reports of improved drought conditions in recent update

Published

17 hours ago

July 10, 2025

Press Room

Iowa DNR reports of improved drought conditions in recent update

DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – The Iowa DNR stated drought conditions have slightly improved in a recent Water Summary Update.

According to the Iowa DNR, drought conditions have improved due to increased rain at the end of June.

Drought conditions across Iowa(KCRG)

Dry conditions have improved for most of the state. Western and southern areas continue to be under a drought watch.

Southern areas are expected to see less rainfall in July. Higher temperatures are predicted through Iowa in July.

“Longer-term moisture deficits mean Western and Southern Iowa are under a drought watch. The latest seasonal outlooks indicate potential for drought removal in those areas of the state, though southwestern Iowa has a higher chance of less rain in July,” said Jessica Reese McIntyre, DNR Environmental Specialist.

Due to increased temperatures in July, an increased risk for widespread drought will occur if there is a lower amount of rain.

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Iowa

Caitlin Clark became a legend at Iowa. Muffet McGraw, Notre Dame almost changed history

Published

3 days ago

July 8, 2025

Press Room

Caitlin Clark became a legend at Iowa. Muffet McGraw, Notre Dame almost changed history

Caitlin Clark became a national sensation at Iowa − but her rise to stardom nearly didn’t happen as a Hawkeye.

The current Indiana Fever star is an Iowa native and attended Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines.

In her senior season in 2019, she was committed to playing at Notre Dame, which had just won a national championship in 2018. Clark’s desire to be part of the Fighting Irish is revealed in the upcoming book “On Her Game,” by USA TODAY Sports’ Christine Brennan.

Then-coach Muffet McGraw was among the top women’s coaches in the country, and her strong team was appealing to Clark. McGraw first saw Clark play at an AAU tournament when she was a high school sophomore and remembered how great of a passer she was.

“Just how much she wanted to win, her competitive spirit. I just liked her right away,” McGraw said. “I remember talking to her, thinking, ‘I want to coach her.’ I just could relate to her. I thought we had a pretty good connection, which doesn’t always happen, because as I got older and kids got younger, I have nothing in common with them. But with her, it was different.

“I always came away from my conversations with her thinking, ‘Man, I really want her, I really want her to come here. I think she’d be great.’”

Clark’s ‘soft commitment’ raises questions

However, something was off. Even though Clark told McGraw she’d play for her, she didn’t publicly reveal it.

McGraw noticed the “soft commitment” and how Clark was in contact with Iowa coaches. The Notre Dame coach ran into one of the Iowa staffers at a funeral and asked why they were still talking to Clark, at which point the Hawkeye staff member revealed it was Clark who was calling them.

“That’s when I knew, yeah, okay, we’re done,” McGraw said.

Clark told McGraw in November 2019 she would not attend Notre Dame, the same month she announced her commitment to the Hawkeyes.

Clark’s decision was widely expected by college basketball coaches, as several knew she wanted to stay close to home. Even though McGraw and other coaches missed out on having the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer, the two-time national championship winning coach believes Clark made the right call, adding her career could have been vastly different at a perennial women’s college basketball power such as Notre Dame or Connecticut.

“It would have been great to have her at Notre Dame, and our fan base would have loved her,” McGraw said. “But Iowa just made so much sense. She made a great decision, looking at how it turned out.”

Aside from scoring 3,951 points during her time at Iowa and becoming the No. 1 pick in the 2024 WNBA Draft, Clark led Iowa to back-to-back Final Four appearances in 2023 and 2024, making it all the way to the national championship game in both seasons.

(Reprinted from “On Her Game” by Christine Brennan, Simon and Schuster, 2025)

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Iowa

US Rep. Zach Nunn reconsidering whether to run for Iowa governor, source says

Published

4 days ago

July 7, 2025

Press Room

US Rep. Zach Nunn reconsidering whether to run for Iowa governor, source says

U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn had previously taken the option of running for governor off the table.
Now that Attorney General Brenna Bird has decided to forego a campaign, a senior source within Nunn’s operation said the primary field is “reset.”

Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn is reconsidering his decision to run for governor in 2026 now that Attorney General Brenna Bird has decided to forego a campaign, a senior source within Nunn’s operation told the Des Moines Register.

Nunn, who is serving in one of the country’s top targeted congressional districts, had previously taken the option of running for governor off the table.

“The reality is, Brenna choosing not to run changes the dynamics of the race tremendously,” the source said. “So in our view, the primary is reset.”

Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds made a surprise announcement in April that she would not seek reelection, opening up the potential for a crowded Republican primary to succeed her.

Bird, a Republican, was one of Republican President Donald Trump’s highest profile Iowa endorsers in the lead-up to the 2024 Iowa caucuses, and she was expected by many to jump into the gubernatorial race with Trump’s endorsement. But she announced July 2 she would instead run for reelection as attorney general.

A Trump endorsement would have given Bird an enormous edge with a Republican primary electorate that is still very supportive of the president.

If Nunn does choose to run for governor, rather than seek reelection, the 3rd District race would face its own reset.

Nunn flipped the swing district in favor of Republicans in 2022 and held the closely contested seat again 2024.

Elections analysts at the Cook Political Report rate the race as “leans Republican.” But without an incumbent Republican defending it, the 3rd District could become more competitive.

So far, two Democratic candidates — state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott and state Rep. Jennifer Konfrst — have launched congressional campaigns against Nunn.

The source within Nunn’s operation said their team would be helpful in finding a successor to run in his place, and they believe a strong candidate at the top of the ticket will boost Republicans’ prospects across the board.

Two other Republicans have already formed gubernatorial campaigns: state Rep. Eddie Andrews and former state legislator Brad Sherman.

And U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra and state Sen. Mike Bousselot have mounted exploratory committees. Some of Feenstra’s colleagues endorsed his campaign following Bird’s announcement, including U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst and U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks.

Feenstra in particular has moved aggressively toward a formal launch, including launching statewide television ads.

State Auditor Rob Sand and political operative Julie Stauch have launched campaigns on the Democratic side.

Brianne Pfannenstiel is the chief politics reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach her at bpfann@dmreg.com or 515-284-8244. Follow her on X at @brianneDMR.

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