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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Reynolds Uses Border Trip To Bash Biden
Gov. Kim Reynolds took a trip down to the US-Mexico border Wednesday to accuse President Joe Biden of being responsible for the surge in migration and not doing enough to handle it. Reynolds denied her visit was a political stunt and said Biden needed to take responsibility for a situation that has existed for decades,…
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Iowa Continues To Lag In Broadband Internet
Broadband internet is one of the few issues that garner bipartisan support, which is good news for Iowa but also highlights the state’s struggles in that sector. Iowa has the second-slowest internet speeds in the country trailing only Alaska. The Hawkeye State also ranks as the 45th best-connected state. Despite fairly even broadband coverage in…
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Polk County Ballot Measure Would Boost Outdoor Rec Opportunities
Almost 10 years after it was first passed, funding for environmental projects around Polk County will be on the ballot again in November. The new $65 million Polk County Water & Land Legacy bond will continue the work started by the $50 million Water & Land Legacy bond that began in 2012. In those nine…
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Democrats’ Big Idea To Improve Medicare Explained
Democrats in Congress are working to pass a bill that includes most of the party’s policies to strengthen the social safety net, including improvements and expansions in child care, education, and health care programs. The Build Back Better Act would expand Medicare coverage to include vision, hearing, and dental—all things Medicare either doesn’t cover at…
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How One Iowa County Is Using Its American Rescue Plan Funding
As Iowa communities have received federal money through the American Rescue Plan, possibilities have opened up for counties to pursue necessary development or repair projects to boost their cities and towns. The Rescue Plan was passed by congressional Democrats and signed into law by President Joe Biden in March to help Americans and US cities…
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Mathis Criticizes Hinson For Medicare Expansion ‘Socialism’ Comments
Iowa State Sen. Liz Mathis pushed back last week on Rep. Ashley Hinson’s characterization of congressional Democrats’ budget proposal as “socialism” for, in part, expanding Medicare coverage, saying Hinson was simply using “a political buzzword” to dismiss the popular policy. During an Iowa Press appearance, Hinson called the proposed budget “the biggest dive towards socialism.”…
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Six New Trail Renovations Are Coming To Iowa; Here’s Why
Recognizing the increased demand sparked by the pandemic, six Iowa trails are getting federal relief money for repairs, renovations, and some expansion. The COVID-19 Relief Recreational Trails Program was created to offset COVID’s effect on the funding for the State Recreational Trail program, according to Scott Flagg, the program manager for federal and state recreational…
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Are Iowa Hospitals ‘Full’? A Chief Medical Officer Explains
Iowans seeking out emergency care are increasingly showing up at their local hospital only to be met with long waiting lines for open beds or a scramble to find an available ICU unit elsewhere. However, if you look at the state’s COVID data dashboard, you might come away thinking there is plenty of beds free…
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Jill Biden and Cindy Axne Tout Child Tax Credit Help in Des Moines
Dr. Jill Biden joined Rep. Cindy Axne for events in Des Moines on Wednesday to promote the third child tax credit payments being delivered today. President Joe Biden’s expanded child tax credit includes higher payments for every child parents have. For families with children 6-17, parents get $3,000 per child. For every child under 6,…
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Chaos Erupts at Council Bluffs School Board Meeting Over Masks
Tuesday’s Council Bluffs School Board meeting devolved into yelling, a 15-minute recess, and a call to the police over the district’s decision to reimplement a mask requirement. From the beginning of the public comment session, the overwhelmingly anti-masking crowd shouted arguments against requiring students to wear masks and the situation escalated. Parents also complained about…
