Iowa
Proposed education bill to restrict what students can and can’t learn
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – On Thursday, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds unveiled a big schooling invoice that will set new requirements for what college students can and might’t be taught.
Faculties could be pressured to publish all instructional supplies like books and lesson plans.
The invoice would ban matters like gender id and sexual exercise in grades ok via 3. It might take away educating grades 7 via 12 about HPV and AIDS.
Supporters of the invoice argue it will give extra management to oldsters over their youngsters’s schooling. The invoice bans any nicknames or pronouns which can be totally different from a scholar’s delivery certificates until a dad or mum provides permission, and requires colleges to inform mother and father or the Division of Human Providers if a scholar says they’re transgender.
A dad or mum should additionally give permission for any survey referring to psychological, emotional, or bodily well being.
The invoice would additionally require college students to attain a 70% on a civics check to be able to graduate. Any scholar that doesn’t attain the 70% benchmark, would be capable to retake the check as many instances as needed.
Copyright 2023 KCRG. All rights reserved.
Iowa
Iowa HHS announces intent to award new contract with Iowa Total Care
(Photo illustration via Getty Images)
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services has announced its intent to award a contract to Iowa Total Care, a subsidiary of the Medicaid managed-care company Centene.
The state department this week announced its intent to award a Managed Care Organization (MCO) contract to Iowa Total Care that will begin July 1, 2025, with no change in operations. The new contract is set for four years, with a possible two-year extension.
The current contract with the organization is set to expire in 2025, after having began July 1, 2019. According to a Centene news release, Iowa Total Care plans to continue to provide care for 218,600 Medicaid, Iowa Health and Wellness Plan and Hawki members across the state’s 99 counties, with a focus on expanding home and community-based services.
“Since 2019, Iowa Total Care has provided Iowans with local and personalized care,” Sarah London, CEO of Centene said in a Wednesday statement. “We look forward to expanding our partnership with HHS as Iowa Total Care puts the health of Iowans at the center of all it does – investing in programs and partnerships that reduce barriers to care and improve health and well-being.”
Centene paid Iowa $44.4 million in 2022 to settle claims that it defrauded the state’s Medicaid system by Iowa Total Care overbilling taxpayers for prescription drugs through transactions handled by Envolve, which is also owned by Centene.
Iowa Total Care is one of three health insurance companies companies to contract with the state to provide managed care services for the state’s $7 billion program. In 2022, Amerigroup Iowa and Molina Healthcare of Iowa were awarded MCO contracts that began July 1, 2023, taking over after AmeriHealth Caritas withdrew from its Iowa contract in 2017 and UnitedHealthcare in 2019. The companies cited major financial losses due to their MCO contracts with Iowa, while program members said they saw cuts to medical services following the 2016 move to a privatized Medicaid system.
Department officials said in a news release that Medicaid members will not see any changes to their benefits under their current plan due to the contract award. Iowa HHS director Kelly Garcia said the state remains committed to “providing access to quality health care” through the program, and that Iowa Total Care has shown it has advanced in its provision and standards for care during its time serving as an MCO provider for the state.
“Iowa Total Care has demonstrated a commitment to continuous quality improvement and innovation — making them a valued partner for Iowa Medicaid,” Garcia said in a statement. “We are pleased to award Iowa Total Care with this contract as they continue to meet the needs of Iowans and deliver essential medical services.”
Iowa
12 things to do this weekend in Des Moines include Savannah Bananas, Cy-Hawk game
If you want to stay on top of all the fun things to do in Des Moines, sign up for Off Hours, your free weekly newsletter from the Des Moines Register that showcases all things fun you can do in central Iowa. Recently, we’ve written about karaoke bars, where to go thrifting, where to buy crafts, vegan restaurants, gluten-free options, the Amana Colonies and where to buy plants. If you sign up for our newsletter, you get a whole list of fun places to go, things to do, what to eat, and more early Thursday morning in your inbox.
Shawntelle Madison
Thursday evening: Meet a Des Moines author during this free event at the Des Moines Central Library, 1000 Grand Ave., Des Moines. Shawntelle Madison kicks off the library’s 2024 Fall Author Series. Her new novel, “The Fallen Fruit,” covers “a family saga that follows a Black family that for two centuries has been cursed with the gift of time travel.” Madison also writes science fiction, romance, and fantasy books, include her urban fantasy series, “Coveted.” She’ll talk about her work starting at 5 p.m.
Ruth Harkin
Thursday evening: Former Sen. Tom Harkin’s wife, Ruth Harkin, releases her new book, “When My Husband Ran for President and Other Short Stories,” and launches it with a book signing at the Tom and Ruth Harkin Center on the Drake University campus, 2800 University Ave., Des Moines. The free event from 5 to 7 p.m. includes remarks from Ruth and former Iowa Supreme Court Justice Marsha Ternus. Ruth and Sen. Tom Harkin will be available for a brief question-and-answer session, followed by a book signing by Ruth in the atrium. The book will be available for purchase at the event, and all author proceeds from the book will be donated to The Harkin Institute endowment fund.
More: Ruth Harkin memoir shows wit, retrospection of pathbreaking Iowan who’s made a difference
Savannah Bananas
Friday night: Zany baseball antics courtesy of the Savannah Bananas take over Principal Park, 1 Line Drive, Des Moines, through Sunday. Tickets have been sold out for some time now, but if you got lucky, expect Banana Ball shenanigans against the Party Animals. On-field antics like choreographed dances, crazy rules (if a fan catches a foul bout, it counts as an out), crowd participation skits, and fun props are all part of the fun starting at 7 p.m.
More: The Savannah Bananas are headed back to Des Moines this week. Here’s what you need to know
‘It’s Only A Play’
Friday night: Step out for a meta night of theater when the Tallgrass Theatre Co., 2019 Grand Ave., West Des Moines, presents “It’s Only A Play.” The play takes place on opening night of “The Golden Egg” on Broadway, and Julia Budder, the wealthy producer, hosts a party at her home. Everyone awaits the reviews in her bedroom as celebrities enter downstairs. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. show start at $33. The production runs on Fridays through Sundays through Sept. 22.
More: How to spend the perfect day in Valley Junction with restaurants, bars and shopping
First Friday
Friday night: Drop by Mainframe Studios, 900 Keosaqua Way, Des Moines, for First Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. The evening includes featured fashion artists who specialize in jewelry, design, and fiber. Find a henna artist, interactive photo displays, and craft activities during the free event that spans all five floors. From 7 to 8 p.m., see a fashion show in the Big Room.
Luenell
Friday night: The “Original Bad Girl of Comedy” Luenell takes the stage at Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Ave., Des Moines for an 8 p.m. show. See the star of the Netflix comedy special “Town Business” with tickets starting at $29.50.
Renaissance Faire
Saturday afternoon: Fetch ye olde turkey leg and a cup of meade and prepare to wander the nine stages and more than 50 vendors at the Renaissance Faire at Sleepy Hollow. The event returns with jousting, birds of prey, fire breathers and jugglers, minstrels, jesters, and belly dancers from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Sleepy Hollow Sports Park, 1408 Arthur Ave., Des Moines. Tickets start at $23 for those age 13 and older, free for kids. Buy tickets online. Continues next weekend as well.
Touchdown Tailgate
Saturday morning: Can’t make it to Iowa City to watch Iowa State take on Iowa? Head to Cowles Commons at 221 Walnut St., Des Moines, for Touchdown Tailgate. The event from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. includes free admission for the Cy-Hawk game, shown on two Jumbotron TVs. Find food trucks Farmboys BBQ, Roadside Tacos, Big Red Food Truck and Sweet Swirls as well as a private bar selling alcohol. Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m. Bring your own chair, too.
DSM Gamer Jazz
Saturday afternoon: Hear jazz band renditions from legendary video games such as “Super Mario,” “Street Fighter” and “Plants vs. Zombies” when the Des Moines Gamer Symphony Orchestra plays at Jamie Hurd Amphitheater, 4100 Millis Civic Parkway, West Des Moines. The free concert runs from 2 to 3 p.m.
Concours d’Elegance
Sunday afternoon: See vintage, classic, and exotic automobiles from around the world during the 2024 Des Moines Concours d’Elegance. The free event at the John & Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park, Western Gateway Park, 1330 Grand Ave., Des Moines, runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
PorchFest
Sunday afternoon: See 24 bands play on Union Park porches for PorchFest from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The rolling music festival takes place on the front porches of the residents of Union Park in Des Moines, with music from a variety of genres. Festival attendees can migrate from one performance to the next to listen to the 45-minute sets of live music. See the map of homes at porchfestdsm.org.
Justin Willman
Sunday night: Magician Justin Willman brings his Illusionati Tour to Hoyt Sherman Place, 1501 Woodland Ave., Des Moines, at 7 p.m. Willman’s show includes an interactive evening of magic, comedy and mind-control. Tickets start at $42.50 to see the star of the Netflix series “Magic For Humans” and “The Magic Prank Show with Justin Willman.”
Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. You can reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.
Iowa
Eastern Iowa parents react to new legislation changing school attendance
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – This latest school semester comes with new rules for attendance, and parents across eastern Iowa have concerns.
On May 9, 2024, Governor Reynolds signed a law that lays out what districts must do when students miss a certain number of school days. That law went into effect July 1, 2024.
According to the new law:
- If a student misses 10% of a semester (around 8 school days), they become chronically absent. Once they are chronically absent, a school official must notify the county attorney and the child’s parent or guardian by certified mail.
- If a student misses 15% of a semester, a school official must investigate the cause and initiate a school engagement meeting.
- If a student misses 20% of a semester, they are considered truant. Truancy can eventually result in a student’s guardian being prosecuted.
KCRG put out a call on social media, asking for parents to share their perspectives. Close to 20 parents came forward, including Justina Yoder of West Liberty, Jennifer Facion of Cedar Rapids, and Arianna Neveu of Hiawatha.
“I kind of go back and forth between being a little annoyed by the law to be honest… and a little bit nervous,” said Facion.
The other two women echoed Facion. “I’m a little nervous,” said Yoder.
These moms are feeling this way because they all said, at least for their kids, it’s pretty likely they’ll miss a good amount of school.
KCRG asked Yoder if she thought her 3rd grader with medical issues would miss at least 10 days of school during the fall semester.
“Easily,” she said. “Easily. I don’t think we’ve had a year where we haven’t missed that much.”
The state’s policy does provide for six exemptions:
- Completed requirements for graduation or obtained a high school equivalency diploma.
- Excused for sufficient reason by any court of record or judge.
- Attending religious services or receiving religious instructions.
- Unable to attend school due to legitimate medical reason(s).
- Individualized Education Program (IEP) that affects attendance.
- Section 504 plan under the Federal Rehabilitation Act that affects attendance.
The parents who spoke to KCRG on Tuesday said, when it comes to illness, “legitimate,” doesn’t mean they’re always going to have a doctor’s note.
“Let’s just say she has a fever….I’m not going to spend the money to go to the doctor because she had a fever for 24 hours,” said Neveu.
These parents said that kids get sick, sometimes for days at a time. Also, life happens.
“We tend to take vacation during the school year because that’s when my husband can take time off,” said Yoder.
“My girls have had some behavior issues in the past and depending on how they do it, if my one daughter decides to skip class or gets upset and walks out of class, you know, I don’t know how that will go,” said Facion.
Neveu believes the new legislation could impact not only her family, but the state’s education system as a whole.
“I think to be honest, it is, like I said—it’s targeting public schools. But I think it’s also pushing more towards private schools.”
These moms said there’s nothing to be done except hope for no major illnesses or big surprises—and push for change in the future.
“Laws can be changed if enough people talk to the people who make the decisions,” said Facion.
KCRG reached out to the Governor’s office to see if there was a response to these parents’ critiques. We did not receive a statement.
Copyright 2024 KCRG. All rights reserved.
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