Avery Staker

Avery Staker

Avery Staker

Avery Staker is Iowa Starting Line’s Social Media Manager, which is their first position in a newsroom after graduating college. Their passion is visual storytelling; ultimately, they want to tap into the potential of photojournalism and documentary filmmaking in empowering their community. Right now, though, they have memes to make for the newsletter. Send story ideas and tips to them at avery@new.iowastartingline.com.


Latest from Avery Staker

  • LGBTQ

    Iowa becomes first state to cut transgender civil rights protections

    A new Iowa law removing the civil rights of transgender Iowans goes into effect today. Hear from some of the Iowans targeted by the bill. Iowa made history today as the first state to actively remove a previously protected class from its civil rights law, targeting transgender residents through a combination of legislative actions that…


  • LGBTQ

    Iowa Republicans advance bill to strip trans civil rights

    Iowa House Republicans advanced a bill to remove gender identity from the list of protected classes under the Iowa Civil Rights Act. This has wide-ranging impacts on protections from discrimination in housing, education and more. The bill became the subject of the largest Iowa Capitol protest all session. Since passing in 2007, transgender Iowans have…


  • Local

    We care for us: Iowa places to support as another Trump presidency looms

    We care for us: That’s the message we want Iowans to carry with them in the immediate aftermath of the election, instead of despair.


  • Local

    Attack on LGBTQ+ student group enabled by Iowa’s anti-LGBTQ+ bills

    Linn-Mar’s LGBTQ+ student group was attacked at the school’s homecoming parade. Here’s why the Iowa Legislature is on the hook.


  • Local

    What problem is Iowa’s new school attendance policy addressing?

    A new school attendance policy in Iowa is causing some confusion, and doesn’t seem to address the cause of the problem it wants to solve.


  • Local

    VIDEOS: Iowa abortion ban’s path to enaction

    During the special legislative session in which Iowa lawmakers passed a near-total abortion ban, Iowans plead for their lives in urging lawmakers to vote no. One of those Iowans was Natalie Fixmer-Oraiz, a University of Iowa professor and mother of two, who was told by doctors that another pregnancy would be life-threatening for her. “If…


  • Local

    VIDEOS: Meet the advocates ensuring Iowans have abortion access

    As more Americans are forced to travel out-of-state for abortions, abortion funds and the people who work there are only getting more important. What happens when you have to leave your home for health care? Qudsiyyah Shariyf, deputy director of the Chicago Abortion Fund, sees people in that situation every day. Shariyf talks about what…


  • Elections

    VIDEOS: Why these Iowans are voting for Kamala Harris

    Kamala Harris’s campaign revived a sense of hope in the upcoming presidential election in November. Find out why these Iowans are looking forward to voting for her. @iowastartingline Kamala Harris’s campaign revived a sense of hope for the upcoming presidential election. Find out why these Iowans are looking forward to voting for her. #iowa #iowanews…


  • Politics

    VIDEO: Reynolds vows to support Trump if he wins the nomination

    Gov. Kim Reynolds told Fox News on the day of the Iowa caucuses that despite Donald Trump’s multiple attacks on her, she would still support him if he becomes the Republican nominee for president. @iowastartingline Gov. Kim Reynolds told Fox News earlier that despite Donald Trump’s multiple attacks on her, she would still support him…


  • Politics

    VIDEO: Laurie Halse Anderson reacts to politicians calling her book ‘pornographic’

    Republicans say book bans stop pornography. Watch Laurie Halse Anderson’s one-sentence reaction. @iowastartingline Republicans say book bans stop pornography. Watch Laurie Halse Anderson’s one-sentence reaction. Read the full story at the link in our bio. #iowa #iowanews #lauriehalseanderson #bannedbooks #iowans #lawsuit #iowapolitics ♬ original sound – Iowa Starting Line Anderson’s bestselling novel “Speak,” published in…