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 senators voting against birth control part of a pattern
Republicans say they support birth control access, but for years they’ve failed to vote on protections to guarantee access stays safe. When the federal Right to Contraceptive Act failed in the US Senate last week, state Sen. Zach Wahls, a Democrat representing Coralville, saw a parallel to what happened when Iowa Democrats introduced a Right…
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Iowa sexual assault nurses react to Iowa AG resuming Plan B payments
Iowa SANE nurses say they’re relieved Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird will reimburse medications like Plan B and they aren’t bothered by new requirements. Iowa Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE nurses) now have a heavy weight lifted from their shoulders. For more than a year, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, an anti-abortion Republican, has refused…
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AG’s office will resume Plan B payments for rape survivors but not abortions
Attorney General Brenna Bird’s office says it’s the will of Iowans not to fund abortion Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird’s office will resume payments for the emergency contraceptives rape survivors need after halting payments for more than a year. Bird made the announcement at a Friday press conference announcing the results of an audit that…
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New Pride mural in Des Moines to ‘roll out the welcome mat’ for LGBTQ+ community
A new mural has opened in Des Moines’ East Village to emphasize the city welcomes the LGBTQ+ community. For weeks, four corners at the intersection of Grand Avenue and East Fifth Street in Des Moines’ East Village have been turning rainbow colors. On Tuesday, just days before the beginning of Pride Month, Capital City Pride…
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Greenfield tornado: How to volunteer, donate, help with recovery
Officials are still limiting who can go into town, but there are still ways you can help with Greenfield tornado recovery. Donations, volunteer efforts, and offers to help in any way possible have swamped the southwest Iowa town of Greenfield in Adair County since it took a hit from a tornado on Tuesday, May 21,…
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Grants for Iowa LGBTQ+ businesses now open; here’s how to apply
Money is now available for LGBTQ+-owned or allied businesses in Iowa. A new grant program to support LGBTQ+ owned restaurants and bars has now opened applications to Iowa. The NGLCC (National LGBT Chamber of Commerce) Community Impact Grant Program is open until June 4, and offering more than $1 million to businesses nationwide. To be…
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Iowa AG still sitting on funds to help sexual assault victims
Nurses from across Iowa share why they’re worried about the Republican AG denying payments for emergency contraception for sexual assault survivors. Nurses across Iowa are worried that sexual assault survivors will have to shoulder a new burden. More than a year has passed since Iowa Attorney General (AG) Brenna Bird, an anti-abortion Republican, announced she…
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Iowa joins lawsuit against feds over protections for LGBTQ students
New Title IX rules clarify that “sex discrimination” applies to discrimination based on gender identity. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds and Attorney General Brenna Bird are suing the US Department of Education because of it Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Monday she was directing Attorney General Brenna Bird to sue the US Department of Education because…
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May Day basket full of people’s thoughts delivered to Zach Nunn’s office
The basket contains comments, critiques and pleas from Rep. Zach Nunn’s constituents across Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District Constituents of Rep. Zach Nunn (R-Iowa) delivered a May Day basket full of messages to staff at his Des Moines office Wednesday afternoon. “Everyone knows the tradition of giving a May Day basket, where you give well-wishes or…
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Report calls out 15 Iowa puppy mills for dog welfare violations
A new report highlights Iowa puppy mills with documented animal welfare violations. Fifteen Iowa dog breeding operations have been called out for animal welfare violations. Nine are repeat offenders. Four have been in the report at least half a dozen times. The annual “Horrible Hundred” puppy mills report is compiled by the Humane Society of…
