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Iowa has become the 17th state to refuse Title V, Section 510 funding for abstinence-only sex education. Courtney Greene, press secretary for Gov. Chet Culver, said the decision has been made and federal monies will continue to be refused unless changes are made to the program. Iowa currently receives roughly $319,000 in matching funds from [...]

It isn’t unusual for Iowa high school students Stacey Hoch and Venessa McDole, both peer advisors, to speak with their classmates about sensitive subjects. Thursday morning, however, they took their advocacy one step further by speaking in front of policymakers at a meeting hosted in Des Moines by FutureNet, an Iowa network for adolescent pregnancy [...]

Iowa parents of young children are being asked by the Iowa Department of Public Health to take extra precautions to help prevent the spread of respiratory disease. The suggestions come as the department launches an investigation of a cluster of approximately 20 deaths since December of children under the age of four. Most of the [...]

At a state policy briefing scheduled for Thursday morning, Iowa legislators and other state officials will be asked to end federally funded abstinence-only sex education in the state. The move would make Iowa the 17th state to reject Title V abstinence-only funding. Rep. Mary Mascher, a Democrat from Iowa City, sponsored and floor managed a [...]

When Grinnell College Russian language and literature Professor Kelly Herold began blogging about children’s literature three years ago, she had no idea that she was about to help create a grassroots literary sensation. “I was interested in blogging and I read blogs in many different areas,” Herold said. “I’m a big fan of academic blogs [...]

Iowans are encouraged to submit their comments about the 17 individuals who have applied to fill an upcoming vacancy on the Iowa Supreme Court. The State Judicial Nominating Commission will meet on March 6 and 7 to interview applicants. Those who wish to provide written comments should do so by writing State Court Administrator David [...]

The Iowa State Patrol has closed down the south bound lanes of Interstate 35, near the 204 mile maker in Worth county, due to a serious injury accident. Eye-witnesses report that a semi-trailer has jack-knifed across both lanes. The Iowa Department of Public Safety is reporting that all roads in north central Iowa are “generally [...]

Two earworms this week — both by the amazing Ella Fitzgerald. The first is from a live performance in Berlin in 1968, I Can’t Stop Loving You. I’d cut off my big toe to be able to swing loose and beautiful like Ella in this number. Such beautiful, rich, easy vocals. Next is Ella and [...]

A Wright County Sheriff’s Deputy, arrested yesterday for first degree harassment and domestic abuse assault, was released on his own recognizance this morning. Jeffrey Donald Mericle, 39, of Goldfield, was arrested following a complaint by his wife relating to a domestic disturbance that morning at the couple’s residence. Due to Mericle’s ties to the law [...]

Although the 2007 school-climate survey released by the advocacy group Iowa Pride Network doesn’t reflect the impact of mandates made by the Iowa Legislature last year, IPN Director Ryan Roemerman said there is evidence that just the open conversations leading up to those changes made a difference in the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and [...]