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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Cedar Rapids Mayoral Race Heads To Uncertain Runoff
Incumbent Cedar Rapids Mayor Brad Hart may not make it to the inevitable runoff for the city’s top job. Candidates Tiffany O’Donnell and Amara Andrews earned more votes than he did on Tuesday, but because no one got 50% of the vote, a runoff election is triggered between the first and second place winners. The…
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Grassley: Biden’s Border Policy Could Kill 1/4 of World’s Population
The day after Halloween, Sen. Chuck Grassley was spreading some fear of his own on Twitter. Grassley tweeted about the amount of fentanyl that had been seized at the US-Mexico border, claiming it was enough to kill more than a fourth of the world’s population. He blamed the success of Customs and Border Patrol in…
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Heavier Downpours Are Worsening Iowa’s Water Quality Problem
More often than not in Iowa, when it rains it pours. And when it pours, more pollutants end up in Iowa’s waterways, which worsens water quality for everyone downstream. Thanks to climate change, that’s happening more and more often. “Any event, even the small events on impermeable surfaces will wash whatever’s on those impermeable surfaces…
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The Truth Behind All Those Anti-Cindy Axne Ads
Groups working against US Rep. Cindy Axne have poured more than $2 million in TV advertisements to attack her and the broader Democratic agenda in 2021, well over a year before the election. The ads connect Axne, Iowa’s lone congressional Democrat, to pieces of the party’s Build Back Better Act, and paint attempts to close…
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Seven Haunted Places In Iowa To Visit
Where tragedy and chaos combine, hauntings often follow. At least, that’s what legends say. And Iowa has its fair share. We’re all aware of the most famous haunted place in Iowa—the Villisca Axe Murder House. But we wanted to take a look at other sites that might pique your interest and be a good destination…
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Hinson Wildly Exaggerates On IRS Proposal To Catch Tax Evasion
If you’ve listened to Rep. Ashley Hinson lately, you’d think that under a new proposal, every time you pay your rent, buy a new TV or computer, or otherwise spend at least $600, a notification will pop up on the screen of an IRS employee tracking your every move. “There’s a new Democrat proposal to…
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No, Your Heating Prices Aren’t Increasing Because Of Inflation
MidAmerican Energy Co. announced last week that heating prices going into the cold, Iowa winter will be significantly increased—likely by 46 to 96%. The Des Moines-based utility has 774,000 natural gas customers in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, and South Dakota. According to MidAmerican, the reason for the hike is not because of inflation or any government…
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DSM City Council Candidates Talk Water Quality, Police Reform At Forum
Water quality has been a top concern for residents of Des Moines in recent years, and the topic was highlighted often at a recent Des Moines City Council candidate forum earlier this week. Ward Three Incumbent Josh Mandelbaum raised the issue with one of the other candidates, Cory McAnelly, in a back-and-forth section 0f the…
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Reynolds Touts Broadband Investment She Opposed As ‘Blue-State Bailout’
Gov. Kim Reynolds and Iowa Republicans rallied against President Joe Biden’s signature COVID relief package, but are now championing a $200 million investment in broadband for the state, which was made possible by the federal American Rescue Plan. “Broadband has never been more important for our future,” Reynolds said in a press release on Monday.…
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As Iowa Runs Tourism Ads, Outdoor Rec Fund Remains Empty
A month ago, Gov. Kim Reynolds launched the first advertisement for her “This is Iowa” campaign meant to attract people to visit, live, and work in the state. Reynolds is using federal COVID-19 relief funds to air the ads. The commercial shows lush landscapes, water recreation, and scenic shots of Iowa’s urban and rural areas.…
