Local Government

The Cedar Rapids School Board has approved deep budget cuts — and the consequences could ripple through classrooms, staff and students across the district. That story, plus a recap of this week's action in the Iowa Legislature, a look at this weekend's freezing temperatures and more on this Newsbuzz episode.

The longest government shutdown is nearing an end, but is it a fix or just a time-out?

Des Moines voters overwhelmingly passed a $265 million bond measure, while Cedar Rapids' school bond failed again to find enough support from voters.

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4 — the final day for Iowans to vote in the 2025 election. Polling places are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday for in-person voting. The deadline for returning an absentee ballot is also on Tuesday.

Farmers are hoping for relief as President Donald Trump visits Asia to resolve a trade war over tariffs and what's at stake for next week's local elections.

Voters in three of eastern Iowa’s largest cities will see a question about a Local Option Sales Tax on their ballots this November. If approved, the revenue generated by the tax would fund affordable housing and various capital improvement projects in Iowa City, Coralville and North Liberty.

This week, Des Moines City Council members voted for stricter enforcement of the city’s camping ban. People experiencing homelessness can now be charged with a misdemeanor and fined even if shelters are full.

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.

Iowa County Supervisor Abigail Maas is seeking the Republican nomination for state auditor in 2026. Maas runs a flooring company and farms corn and soybeans in South Amana. Between trips across the state, she said she's running her campaign from her barn.

Iowa political scientists examine local and global politics, including Sen. Joni Ernst's town hall comments coming under fire and the latest 2026 election contenders.