Preschool education and mental health push explained
Grace King and Erin Murphy emphasize priorities for the new Iowa legislative session. The Gazette’s preview notes call for state funding of free full day four year old preschool, staff recruitment and retention, and expanded mental health services. Lawmakers also discuss a cellphone ban in classrooms and continued review of Area Education Agencies. Gov Reynolds declined to comment.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Iowa
The
Gazette
Iowa Capitol
Des Moines
Kim Reynolds
Legislative Preview Series Series Highlights By Day
A concise listing outlines a legislative preview week with topics on property taxes education agencies and higher education. It mentions K-12 and state proposals as well as agriculture environment demographics and voting. The schedule reads like a rotating coverage plan across eight days.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Citizens’ Guide To the Legislature
Iowa peers push for full day 4-year-old preschool funding
Iowa advocates argue state funded full-day preschool would aid working families by eliminating mid day transport issues. Backers say full-day access boosts academic prep and graduation prospects for 4-year-olds, while lawmakers explore funding options. Senator Janice Weiner notes varying approaches to finance this expansion.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Iowa
Biden signs bill to speed CR flood system work
President Biden signs legislation aimed at accelerating construction and upgrades to the flood control system in Central Republic region, prompting opinions from local officials and engineers. Tom Barton reports from the Gazette Des Moines Bureau.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Biden
C.R
Tom Barton
Gazette
Des Moines
Biden signs law advancing Cedar Rapids flood plan
The Water Resources Development Act of 2024 includes language to speed Cedar River flood protection efforts. Cedar Rapids City Manager Jeff Pomeranz says the provision helps secure funding and accelerate project work, updating the 2011 Corps study and aligning federal effort with the Cedar River Flood Control Master Plan.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cedar Rapids
Joe Biden
Biden
Army Corps of Engineers
Cedar River
Jeff Pomeranz
Iowa
Regents drop inclusion from Iowa strategic plan
Iowa Board of Regents will vote next week on updating its five year plan to remove references to diversity and inclusion. The change shifts language to high impact academic experiences and mutual respect for intellectual differences, aligning with new state laws banning DEI spending not required by law or accreditation.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Iowa
Board of
Regents
Senate
Also Mentioned on This Page
Monica Frey
Truman Early Learning Center
Truman
Nick Rohlman
the Gazette
Grace King
Erin Murphy
DEI
Vanessa Miller
Academic
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