Nikoel Hytrek is Iowa Starting Line’s longest-serving reporter. She covers LGBTQ issues, abortion rights and all topics of interest to Iowans. Her biggest goal is to help connect the dots between policy and people’s real lives. If you have story ideas or tips, send them over to nikoel@new.iowastartingline.com.
Nikoel Hytrek
Latest from Nikoel Hytrek
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Iowa Republicans (Again) Using Crime To Scare Voters
In the final days and weeks before the election, Republicans have pivoted to an old but effective tactic: Bringing up crime rates and blaming Democrats and their policies for the rise. “The chickens have come home to roost for the anti-law enforcement movement. Anti-police rhetoric, de-policing, progressive prosecution policies and out-of-whack bail reforms are the…
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Iowa Republicans Are Awful Quiet About Farm Loan Forgiveness
Where’s the outrage from Iowa Republicans? The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced $1.3 billion in debt relief for farmers who face foreclosure or have fallen behind on their loan payments. The farm loan relief program is funded by $3.1 billion set aside in the Inflation Reduction Act for people who had loans administered…
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Iowa Republicans Lean Into Fear With Their Closing Arguments
Iowa Republicans have honed in on a message to finish the campaign season: Chaos, uncontrolled crime, inflation, and blaming Democrats. Rather than talk about solutions or better alternatives, they’re trotting out the familiar talking points and whipping up division. “Liz Mathis will stand with Nancy Pelosi, I will stand with parents,” US Rep. Ashley Hinson…
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Iowa Women Warn Of Dangers As Potential Abortion Ban Instatement Looms
Clara was 29, five-and-a-half-months pregnant, and excited to have another baby. One night, she started to feel pain but decided to see if it passed and go to her job as a nurse. She’d call her OBGYN in the morning. Clara knew she was at slightly higher risk of complications because she’d had cervical cancer…
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Was This Southwest Iowa Town Home To A Serial Killer?
Cadaver dogs have apparently somewhat vindicated an Iowa-raised woman who told Newsweek her late father was a serial killer, a claim she has made for decades. On Oct. 21, two cadaver dogs were taken to a property in Fremont County, near Thurman, Iowa, where they got multiple “hits” at various places on the site. Investigators…
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Axne Warns Of Anti-LGBTQ Laws If GOP Wins House Majority
If Republicans regain the majority in Congress, people should expect an onslaught of bills attacking LGBTQ Americans’ rights. That was one of the main messages from Democratic Reps. Cindy Axne of Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District and Mark Pocan of Wisconsin at a roundtable last week with Iowa leaders who advocate for LGBTQ rights. Axne was…
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Iowa Egg Plant Gets First Crack At New USDA Loan Thanks To Axne, Vilsack
Small, rural food processors just got another big boost of support from the Biden Administration with the Friday announcement of a new loan program to increase production capacity. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an $11.1 million loan for Crystal Freeze Dry LLC, a family-owned company that produces OvaEasy, powdered egg products, in its…
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Iowans Have A Chance To Shoot Down Gun Amendment
A proposed amendment to the Iowa Constitution would make the state’s already loose gun laws even less restrictive. On the back of ballots for the Nov. 8 election, Iowa voters will be asked this question: “Shall the following amendment to the Constitution be adopted? “The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall…
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Ankeny Students Share Stories Of Racism They’ve Faced With School Board
High school students in Ankeny say that for years they’ve heard racial slurs and cultural stereotypes from classmates followed by incident reports to the administration that didn’t go anywhere. Layla Martinez, now a senior at Ankeny Centennial, told the Ankeny School Board during its Monday meeting that her harassment started when she moved to the…
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DeJear At Debate: No Iowa School Should Be Failing
Monday’s gubernatorial debate between Gov. Kim Reynolds and small business owner Deidre DeJear emphasized how differently they view the status of education in Iowa. Reynolds said the state is doing great with a mixture of apprenticeship and pilot programs for teachers and said parental choice should reign supreme while touting her voucher program. DeJear said…
