Iowa
These Iowans will join their delegates for President Trump’s address to Congress
What to know ahead of President Trump’s joint session of Congress
This is what to know ahead of President Donald Trump’s first joint session of Congress.
A few Iowans are going to Washington D.C. to listen to President Donald Trump’s address to Congress on Tuesday evening.
All six of Iowa’s representatives and senators can bring a guest to the address.
This event is not considered an official State of the Union Address because Trump was only sworn into office less than two months ago. Many modern presidents have been invited to address Congress shortly after their inauguration, but official State of the Union addresses only occur after they’ve been in office for at least a year.
How to watch Trump’s address to Congress?
Trump is set to address a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, March 4.
Multiple media outlets have announced plans to start live coverage of the address at 8 p.m. CT ABC, Fox News, NPR, PBS and more.
The Des Moines Register, in partnership with USA TODAY, will carry a livestream on its website and app.
Who is Sen. Joni Ernst bringing to Trump’s address to Congress? What to know about Iowan Scott Root
Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst will be joined by Iowan Scott Root, the father of Sarah Root, for Trump’s address to Congress.
Sarah Root was killed on Jan. 31, 2016, by a drunk driver who wasn’t a U.S. citizen at the time of her death.
Ernst wrote and advocated for the passage of Sarah’s Law, which requires the detention of undocumented immigrants who are charged with serious crimes. It was added as an amendment to the Laken Riley Act in January and passed by Congress.
Who is Sen. Chuck Grassley bringing to Trump’s address to Congress?
Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley is bringing his wife, Barbara Grassley, his press secretary, David Bader, told the Register on Monday.
Who is Rep. Ashley Hinson bringing to Trump’s address to Congress?
Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson is bringing Emily Schmitt, the chair of Iowa’s DOGE Task Force, to Trump’s address to Congress.
“Together, we are highlighting the importance of an efficient government that is focused on saving taxpayer dollars, ending ridiculous regulations, and working for the people,” Hinson said, according to a spokesperson from her office. “Iowa was doing DOGE before it was cool, and with Emily’s help, we’re going to keep spreading Iowa commonsense in Washington.”
Who is Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks bringing to Trump’s address?
Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks will bring Riley Gaines, a swimmer and conservative activist who has spoken against transgender people participating in women’s sports.
“I began speaking up about this issue in my first term in Congress after girls sports coaches in Iowa brought it to my attention,” Miller-Meeks said, according to an email from her office. “After we both attended President Trump’s Executive Order signing last month, I thought it was important to have Riley attend his Joint Address. I look forward to hearing from President Trump tomorrow and applaud his commonsense commitment to protecting women’s sports.”
Who is Rep. Zach Nunn bringing to Trump’s address to Congress?
Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn will be joined by Jeremy Lindquist, the mayor of Runnells. He is also a member of the local plumbers and pipefitters.
Who is Rep. Randy Feenstra bringing to Trump’s address to Congress?
Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra announced he will bring Brad Moline and his 16-year-old daughter, Ava, to the address to Congress. The Moline Family celebrated 100 years and four generations of raising turkeys in Calhoun County. Ave Moline is carrying on the family tradition, according to a social media post from Feenstra.
Reporting contributed by Natalie Neysa Alund.
Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach her at kkealey@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17.
Scoop: Iowa Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek snagged a major endorsement for his Senate bid from former Sen. Tom Harkin.
Harkin, who retired in 2015, was the last Democrat to represent Iowa in the Senate. Turek is locked in a competitive primary with state Sen. Zach Wahls in a race that has divided major factions of the Democratic Party.
“I have a pretty good idea of what it takes to win an election, and then to faithfully represent all Iowans, not just those who voted for you,” Harkin said in his endorsement. “That’s why I’m supporting Josh Turek.”
Harkin served in the Senate for 30 years and is the author of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Turek, who was born with spina bifida and uses a wheelchair, was 11 when the ADA was enacted.
Harkin is a widely sought after endorsement in the Hawkeye State. His decision to wade into the race is notable because Harkin also has a relationship with Wahls.
Wahls called Harkin “one of my closest political mentors,” and said the former senator officiated his wedding in 2021.
Iowa’s Senate primaries are June 2.
CONESVILLE, Iowa (KCRG) – A former Conesville city clerk has pleaded guilty to theft and financial crimes after a state audit found nearly $66,000 in improper payments she allegedly made to herself and her family.
Yamira Martinez, of Columbus Junction, pleaded guilty to ongoing criminal conduct, unauthorized use of a credit card over $10,000, and first-degree theft. A forgery charge will be dismissed under the plea agreement.
Martinez served as Conesville’s city clerk from June 2022 through March 2024. Officials in Conesville requested an audit from State Auditor Rob Sand, which covered the period of July 1, 2022, through April 30, 2024.
Sand’s audit found nearly $66,000 in improper payments, more than $53,000 in uncollected and undeposited utility billings, and more than $7,500 in unsupported payments.
“Miss Martinez was interviewed about this. She stated that the 24 checks that were unauthorized payroll and were made to appear like payroll checks, she admitted, were unauthorized. She also stated that the checks were for her kids. When she was asked about personal Amazon purchases, she stated that that was her fault,” Sand said.
The nearly $66,000 in improper payments includes more than $45,000 in payroll and reimbursements paid to Martinez, as well as nearly $12,500 in purchases made using the city’s debit card.
According to Sand’s office, it is unknown whether additional utility transactions were improperly recorded or if there were additional improper payments, as city records were not well-maintained.
Martinez was originally charged with two counts of ongoing criminal conduct, two counts of theft, and two counts related to forgery and fraud.
Martinez is scheduled to be sentenced July 10 at the Muscatine County Courthouse.
Copyright 2026 KCRG. All rights reserved.
After a spectacular senior year with Iowa basketball, point guard Bennett Stirtz won Iowa Athletics’ men’s Athlete of the Year and men’s Hawkeye of the Year awards at the athletic department’s 10th annual Golden Herky awards ceremony.
Stirtz, who made stops at Northwest Missouri State and Drake before his lone season at Iowa, finished with a career Division I average of 19.5 points, 5.0 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game on 48.7% field goal shooting, 37.2% 3-point shooting, and 82% from the free-throw line.
This past season, the 6-foot-4, 190-pounder from Liberty, Missouri, averaged 19.8 points and 4.4 assists per game on 47.7% field goal shooting and 35.8% 3-point shooting, to accompany 4.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.4 steals through approximately 37:44 of action in his 37 games played.
At the end of the season, Stirtz’s play earned him AP and USBWA honorable-mention All-America honors, first-team All-Big Ten recognition, and the winner of the prestigious Chris Street Award.
In addition to Stirtz’s men’s Athlete of the Year award, Iowa’s men’s basketball team took home four additional Golden Herkys.
Redshirt freshman Cooper Koch was named men’s Breakthrough Athlete, freshman Tate Sage was named men’s Freshman of the Year, and the team earned the awards for men’s Outstanding Team and Best Moment for defeating No. 1 seed Florida to advance to the Sweet 16 in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews
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