Reynolds pitches classroom cellphone ban: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds plans to propose banning cellphones in K-12 classrooms. She mentioned the proposal during an interview with Gray Television. If passed, Iowa would join eight other states that have enacted similar bans, including Minnesota and Indiana. Proponents of a ban say phones increase distractions and worsen mental health for students. A bill had been introduced last session to require districts to adopt policies restricting cellphone use, but it did not extend to a full ban on phones in classrooms. The bill did not advance.
Cedar Rapids casino: The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission plans to consider a petition seeking to block a proposed Cedar Rapids casino, while also continuing the review and discussion on the Linn County casino license. The petition, filed by the Riverside Casino & Golf Resort and its nonprofit gambling license holder, disputes the validity of the 2021 referendum allowing gambling in Linn County. The commission is scheduled to vote on the casino license in early February.
Feds deny Iowa summer meal box plan: The U.S. Department of Agriculture has denied Iowa’s request to replace the Summer Expanded Benefits Transfer program with a plan to provide boxes of food to low-income households. Summer EBT, now called SUN Bucks, provides $120 per child to low-income families. Iowa’s proposed plan would have instead provided three boxes of food to low-income families over the summer, and would have expanded eligibility with a higher income cap. The state plans to reapply for a waiver next year.
On Monday, the Iowa Hunger Coalition held a news conference to encourage the state to participate in the Summer EBT program, arguing direct assistance is the best way to help families and allow them to make the choices that best fit their needs.
Lieutenant governor: Gov. Kim Reynolds said Tuesday she expects to name a lieutenant governor “very soon.” The position has been open since early September, when Adam Gregg took a job with the Iowa Bankers Association. Reynolds said she has wrapped up interviews for the position but declined to say how many people she considered.
Rental properties: The Cedar Falls City Council voted to declare three rental properties near the University of Northern Iowa, all with the same owners, as nuisances. The process orders the property owners to either fix up or demolish the buildings. The move comes after city staff and council members conducted exterior inspections of the residences.
They said …
“Our summer feeding demonstration project would feed nearly 60,000 more Iowa children than the USDA’s SUN Bucks program, with healthier, more nutritious food at a lower cost through bulk buying,” — Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds in a statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture denied Iowa’s request for a waiver to provide boxes of food instead of direct assistance
“We’re doing everything we can to ensure our neighbors get access to the food that they need and deserve, but we’re still falling short.” — John Boller, executive director of the Coralville Community Food Pantry, on the current food assistance infrastructure in Iowa, encouraging participation in SUN Bucks.
Odds and ends
Senate Democrats: Democrats in the Iowa Senate selected Sen. Janice Weiner, of Iowa City, as their leader. She replaces Pam Jochum, who retired after 31 years in the Legislature. Weiner first was elected to the Iowa Senate in 2022, in a district covering most of Iowa City and University Heights.
Doge caucus: Iowa U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst announced the creation of the Senate DOGE Caucus, meant to support the work to be done by President-elect Donald Trump’s planned Department of Government Efficiency. The new department, set to be led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, is expected to propose cuts in federal spending.
Water cooler
Winning tenderloins: Dairy Sweet, in Dunlap, won the Iowa Pork Producers Association’s Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin contest for a second time. The restaurant, now owned by Lori and Greg Thomsen, first won the award in 2005, when it was owned by Lori’s parents. They said they serve 40,000 tenderloins a year.
Gambling revenue: Attendance and revenue at Iowa’s 19 state-regulated casinos dipped slightly for a second consecutive year, according to state gaming data. At the same time, legal sports betting in Iowa hit a record in fiscal 2024 — and combined, that translates into bettors wagering over $11.8 million a day on average at the state-licensed casinos and sportsbooks.
