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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Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Means Improved Highways In Iowa
Iowa could complete more highway projects than originally planned because of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed by President Joe Biden in November 2021. According to the White House, Iowa will receive about $5 billion overall, with $3.4 billion for highways and $432 million for bridge replacement and repairs. In May, the Iowa Department…
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Zach Nunn Wins GOP Primary; Will Face Axne In The Fall
State Sen. Zach Nunn of Bondurant is the official Republican candidate for the US House of Representatives race for Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District. Polls closed at 8 on Tuesday and NBC News and ABC News called it for Nunn. He defeated activists Nicole Hasso and Gary Leffler in the three-person primary. Nunn will now against…
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Iowa Again Ranks As One Of The Worst States For Puppy Mills
Iowa has landed a spot as the second-worst state in the country for puppy mills, according to an annual report released by the Humane Society of the United States. In Iowa, 17 puppy breeding facilities appeared on the list. Many were repeats from previous years. Only Missouri, with 26 listed puppy mills, ranks higher. The…
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During Miscarriage, Quad Cities Woman Found Comfort, Care At Planned Parenthood
Less than six weeks into her pregnancy, Hope’s doctor at Planned Parenthood couldn’t find a heartbeat during an ultrasound. The next steps for the Quad Cities resident, who requested we only use her middle name in telling her personal story, were easy. “At that point, they said that I could either choose to terminate the…
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Ames Update: Ex-Boyfriend, Just Charged With Harassment, Targeted And Killed Ex-Girlfriend, Friend
An ex-boyfriend shot and killed his ex-girlfriend and her friend in the parking lot of Cornerstone Church in Ames Thursday night. Just days earlier, the man had been charged with harassment in relation to their recent breakup and faced an initial hearing on the matter next week. He also killed himself. Eden Mariah Montang, 22,…
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How Iowa Cities Rank In Support For LGBTQ People
Most of Iowa’s major cities are friendly to LGBTQ people, according to a report released by the Human Rights Campaign, a national organization for LGBTQ advocacy. The annual report measures city non-discrimination laws, city services, the city as an employer, how law enforcement interacts with the LGBTQ community, and whether city leadership is committed to…
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What Motivated Each Democrat To Run Against Chuck Grassley
Three candidates, former Rep. Abby Finkenauer, former Admiral Mike Franken and Dr. Glenn Hurst, are running for the Democratic nomination for US Senate to unseat Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley. All three announced their candidacies last year, and all have spoken passionately about the key factor that motivated them to put their name on the ballot…
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Meet The Republicans Running For Iowa’s US Senate Seat
Iowans head to the polls for the June 7 primary election to pick their party’s candidate for the November general election. Early voting is already happening at local county auditor’s offices. This year, US Sen. Chuck Grassley is running for an eighth Senate term. Iowa’s senior senator has easily won reelection in the past, but…
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‘Life Of The Mother’ Abortion Exceptions Aren’t As Clear-Cut As They Sound
When governments restrict abortion access, there are three common exceptions: rape, incest, and life/health of the mother. And in case the US Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, as seems likely, many Republicans have advocated for limiting or completely eliminating all of those exceptions. The first two are self-explanatory, but the third one is more…
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Key Moments From Iowa Democrats’ US Senate Debate
The three Democrats competing to take on Sen. Chuck Grassley this fall used last night’s debate on Iowa Press to try to set themselves apart as the June 7 primary quickly approaches. The candidates, former Rep. Abby Finkenauer, former US Navy Admiral Michael Franken, and Dr. Glenn Hurst sketched a picture of how they would…
