Blind Iowans marched outside of the Iowa Department for the Blind in Des Moines Tuesday as they protested changes to a state program that prepares people with impaired vision to live independently.

Iowa Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver will step down from his leadership position and will not seek reelection in 2026, he announced Tuesday, citing treatment for a brain tumor and his busy family life.

A member of Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Iowa DOGE Task Force apologized Monday for his ideas about performance-based teacher pay and IPERS pension plan changes being “misunderstood,” and sought to clarify his recommendations.

Over the past few months, Iowa tried a new way of fighting summertime food insecurity among kids by replacing Summer EBT with "healthy" food. The Healthy Kids Iowa program has faced many logistical challenges that have food pantry leaders questioning if it should return.

Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Iowa DOGE Task Force is floating government efficiency ideas that include paying teachers based on their performance and reducing state employee benefits to align with the private sector.

Gov. Kim Reynolds is working out an agreement with the federal departments of Defense and Homeland Security that could involve deploying the Iowa National Guard for immigration enforcement. Although she was short on specifics, Reynolds said she has offered the state’s resources.

Iowa House Republicans elected Rep. Bobby Kaufmann as their new majority leader. He replaces Rep. Matt Windschitl, who resigned his leadership role to run for Congress.

Gender identity is no longer part of the Iowa Civil Rights Act. The change is part of a sweeping law that also defines a person’s sex by what was assigned at birth. As transgender and nonbinary Iowans navigate the uncertainties, hope is still found in community.

The state's major overhaul of its mental health and disability service systems is going into effect this week. Officials say they hope it makes it easier for Iowans to access services.

As Pride Month celebrations and protests come to an end, so too do the state civil rights protections for transgender and nonbinary Iowans. That’s because earlier this year, Iowa became the first state to remove gender identity as a protected status in its civil rights code.