‘Blog’

According to research completed by sociologists at the University of North Carolina and Northwestern University, even when politically misleading comments are made by public officials — like U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley’s infamous “pulling the plug on grandma” myth — some people choose to believe the mistruths despite compelling information pointing to the contrary.
The study focused [...]

For the second time in a week, the Iowa Democratic Party is using audio from a meeting between former Gov. Terry Branstad and leaders of the social conservative movement to attack the veteran Republican.
The four-term governor held a pair of meetings with a group of pastors, social conservative activists and leaders Christian organizations last week. [...]

Blogger Mike Stark, who has been asking congressional leaders who oppose health care reform on camera about the specific demographics of their own districts, caught up with U.S. Rep. Steve King, the Republican who represents Iowa’s 5th Congressional District.
When asked if how many people residing in his district were uninsured, King responded that the people [...]

The Iowa Pharmacy Board held its final hearing on the idea of legalizing medical marijuana on Wednesday, and the board’s vice chair expects a decision before the legislature reconvenes in January.
Susan Frey, vice chair of the board, told Radio Iowa’s O.Kay Henderson that the decision won’t be rushed.

In light of historic budget cuts recently implemented by Gov. Chet Culver due to a downturn in revenue projections, the state should increase its investment in postsecondary education for low-income adults. The investment would improve economic prospects for Iowa families, and in the process boost the state budget, according to the nonpartisan group Iowa Policy [...]

A social justice organization has taken a stand against the woman nominated to be the next U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Iowa.
Friends of Justice issued a statement Wednesday describing the nomination of Stephanie Rose for U.S. attorney as “just plain wrong.”

WASHINGTON — On Thursday, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee will consider legislation designed to overhaul the nation’s criminal justice system by creating a commission to examine that system and make reform recommendations to Congress. The bill, sponsored by Sens. Jim Webb (D-Va.) and Arlen Specter (D-Pa.), is designed to confront the problem of the nation’s [...]

Tuesday’s election results should be greeted with happiness for Republicans but they should not be seen as a public repudiation of President Obama, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley said Wednesday morning.
“I don’t think it’s a referendum on Obama,” the Republican lawmaker said in a conference call with reporters. “I think it’s a — it’s a referendum [...]

In a pair of votes that hit close to home for Iowa, voters in Maine repealed the state’s law allowing same-sex couples to get married while also voting to expand the state’s medical marijuana law.
Both issues are big topics in the Hawkeye State. The Iowa Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in April, and since that [...]

Officials with the Iowa Department of Public Health are reporting the first death of a child in the state in association with the H1N1 virus. The victim, a resident of eastern Iowa who died during October, had factors that increased the risk of complications from the flu.
“Surveillance is showing a stead increase in pediatric illness [...]