Free Republic

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The GOP-controlled Iowa Senate has approved a bill that would make sweeping changes to the state’s gun laws, including adding a stand-your-ground provision. The chamber voted 33-17 Tuesday for the bill. The House, which passed it recently, must vote again because of some changes in the Senate.

HOLSTEIN, Iowa -- With demand for its architectural doors surging, VT Industries officials explored potential expansion sites last year. The company turned to the small Northwest Iowa city where the third-generation business got its start more than 50 years ago and continues to flourish. “We looked around the country to decide where we were going to either start up a new plant or add on to one of our existing plants and we really felt like with our workforce here and how well everything’s running here we wanted to keep the facility here in Holstein and expand upon it," said...

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - The death of a 16-year-old Iowa girl has led to finger-pointing at the Legislature, and it’s an indication of how much has changed in the 17 years since the death of another child prompted a bipartisan inquiry and passage of legislation to protect children from abuse. Five months after the death of Natalie Finn, Republican lawmakers have been split over whether to investigate her treatment. The governor has criticized a senator who spoke out about the case and Democrats have accused GOP leaders of being reluctant to take up the matter because of possible questions...

An Iowa bill to protect unborn babies from painful, late-term abortions is one step closer to becoming law. The Des Moines Register reports a state House subcommittee approved the bill on Wednesday, moving it forward to a full committee for consideration. Iowa Senate File 471, which passed the state Senate earlier this month, would prohibit abortions after 20 weeks when strong scientific evidence indicates unborn babies can feel pain. It also would allow abortions up to 24 weeks on unborn babies diagnosed with an anomaly considered to be “incompatible with life,” according to the report. An individual who violates the...

FBI agents have met with leaders of an Iowa mosque about a threatening note it received in the mail. Dr. Samir Shams, the president of the Islamic Center of Des Moines, says he found the handwritten note Sunday morning. It said Muslims were a “vile” people and that President Donald Trump would “do to you Muslims what Hitler did to the Jews.” The note was signed only “Americans for a Better Way.” Shams says Muslims must take such notes seriously. …

Only in America and other western countries do displays of patriotism and national pride appear to be branded as "racist" or bigoted, as students wearing patriotic attire at a local high school basketball game soon discovered. The issue started during a basketball game between Valley High and Des Moines North High School. Some students from Valley High supported their team by wearing patriotic attire such as red, white and blue shorts and shirts. On the surface nothing seems out of place. After all, why would wearing the flag of the country you're living in and displaying your patriotism be unacceptable?...

FULL TITLE: Lutheran, Episcopal and United Church of Christ Clergy: “We Stand With Planned Parenthood” Abortion Biz A group of female clergy from Iowa wrote a letter this week to publicly state their support of the abortion chain Planned Parenthood. The letter, published in the Des Moines Register on Wednesday, included signatures from seven women pastors from the United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Episcopal Church, Unitarian Universalist Association, Christian Church (Disciple of Christ) and Unity Church. A note included with the letter said the pastors were not speaking on behalf of their denominations...

In today’s hypersensitive bizarro environment, where people are quite literally having mental breakdowns following the election of President Donald Trump, everything that used to be normal appears to now elicit howls of racism, xenophobia and sexism. In the latest example we turn to Iowa, where students from Valley High School attended a basketball game in traditional red, white and blue attire they reportedly wear to big games. One would think that showing support for their team wearing the colors of the U.S. flag wouldn’t even raise an eyebrow, but you’d be wrong. First, for some context, here is a picture...

House Study Bill 133 is an omnibus weapons law reform bill. The authors of the bill appear to have searched through various weapons laws enacted in the United States in the last several decades.  They looked for the best features of the laws that have worked elsewhere.  When they found them, they incorporated them into this omnibus bill.  There are a couple of twists unique to Iowa. HSB 133 was introduced on February 20th, 2017. The bill covers so many reforms that amendments and wording changes are almost certain. Here is an overview of most of the prominent features...

Tom Godat, a union electrician who has always voted for Democrats, cast his ballot for Donald Trump last year as “the lesser of two evils” compared to Hillary Clinton. He’s already a little embarrassed about it. There’s a lot that Godat likes about President Trump, especially his pledge to make the country great again by ignoring lobbyists, challenging both political parties and increasing the number of good-paying jobs.

Arizona – -(Ammoland.com)-Iowa is one of only six states that does not have some sort of protection of the right to keep and bear arms in the state Constitution. The other five states are California, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Minnesota. One of the reasons for this lack is the difficult process that a state constitutional amendment has to undergo to be passed in Iowa.  First, the amendment must be passed by the General Assembly. Then an election must occur. Then the amendment must be passed a second time. Finally, the amendment is to be presented to the people,...

MASON CITY - More than 20 people carrying signs stating "Love Trumps Hate," "Black Lives Matter" and "Where's Canada's Wall?" gathered in Central Park late Friday afternoon. "This is what Democracy looks like!" they chanted. Those who were at the protest against President Donald Trump, organized by the community action group Where Do We Go From Here and the Fourth District Green Party Chapter, also carried signs in support of protecting the environment. One sign stated, "I've Seen Better Cabinets at IKEA." After walking around the sidewalks on the perimeter of the park, protesters lined up along Washington Avenue. Some...

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Public sector unions in Iowa will have less authority to negotiate working conditions for teachers, nurses and correctional officers under a bill passed Thursday in the new Republican-controlled Legislature that critics say is aimed at crippling organized labor in the state. The legislation, expected to be signed into law by Iowa's conservative governor, will prohibit workers from collectively negotiating over health insurance, extra pay and several other items currently covered by law. It's expected to be one of the most significant bills of the legislative session, in part because of loud opposition from Democrats and...

(Full article title: Out of work: Chelsea Clinton's husband Marc Mezvinsky shut down his hedge fund in December just weeks after Hillary lost election) Marc Mezvinsky quietly shut down his hedge fund Eaglevale Partners back in December. Bloomberg reports that Mr. Chelsea Clinton and his partners are now working to return money to investors, including Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd C. Blankfein. The decision to shutter the fund came just a few weeks after Mezvinsky's mother-in-law Hillary lost the election to president Donald Trump. Mezvinsky has kept a low profile ever since Hillary's loss in the election, but was photographed by...

In a new video, former Planned Parenthood employees reveal they were incentivized to pressure women into getting abortions to meet monthly corporate quotas.In the video from Live Action, Sue Thayer, a former Planned Parenthood manager in Storm Lake, Iowa, explained that if her center met its quota for abortion referrals, employees would be rewarded with pizza parties, paid time off, and other rewards.After administering a pregnancy test to a woman, Planned Parenthood employees would tell her how much it cost and ask how much she would be able to pay towards it. If a woman was unable to pay for a...

IOWA CITY — Her lip quivering, Patrisse Cullors’ heart sank. It was 2013, and she was in a motel room on a website, waiting for the news of George Zimmerman’s verdict. Guilty, or not guilty, in the killing of Trayvon Martin — a black 17-year-old who was fatally shot by a neighborhood watch volunteer while on his way home from buying candy at a convenience store. “Not guilty, and they say not guilty, and they continue to say not guilty until they say, ‘not guilty of all charges,’” Cullors, 32, of Los Angeles, recalled for a packed audience of hundreds...

Iowa may become the latest state to strip government funds from abortion providers like Planned Parenthood. According to an Iowa pro-life advocate who spoke with The Christian Post, pro-abortionists will not only soon lose funds but are losing control of their narrative. The Iowa state Senate voted 30-20 Thursday to defund groups that provide abortions and steer three million state dollars to women's health centers and comprehensive clinics that do not offer them. The vote fell along party lines with 29 Republicans and one independent voting for the measure and all Democrats opposing it, according to the Quad City Times....

Iowa is one of only six states that does not have some sort of protection of the right to keep and bear arms in the state Constitution. The other five states are California, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Minnesota. One of the reasons for this lack is the difficult process that a state constitutional amendment has to undergo to be passed in Iowa.  First, the amendment must be passed by the General Assembly. Then an election must occur. Then the amendment must be passed a second time. Finally, the amendment is to be presented to the people, who...

(Des Moines) -- Three lawmakers with a unique combination of names led an effort in the Iowa House to recognize the “economic importance” of Iowa’s pork industry. The Iowa House passed the resolution to coincide with the annual Iowa Pork Congress, which wrapped up Thursday. Representatives Joel Fry of Osceola, Tom Moore of Griswold and Rob Bacon of Slater read the resolution aloud, then the house speaker summed things up: “House Resolution 3: Fry, Moore, Bacon. All those in favor say aye. Those opposed shall say no.” There were no naysayers, but a few pun-lovers took note. Perhaps house members...

A man wielding a fire extinguisher has rescued a burning U.S. flag from protesters in Iowa City. Organizers told the Iowa City Press-Enterprise (http://icp-c.com/2jwzPSC ) that Thursday's demonstration across from the Old Capitol Mall was aimed at racial and social injustice and U.S. imperialism. "When I see the flag, I see racial injustice," said Paul Osgerby of Iowa City. "I see social injustice from Native American genocide to African-American slavery to failing to recognize women as citizens until the 20th century." The protesters' actions drew angry comments from some bystanders. Bob Guyer, a witness, said the act was disrespectful to...