Zachary Oren Smith is your friendly neighborhood reporter. He leads Starting Line’s political coverage where he investigates corruption, housing affordability and the future of work. For nearly a decade, he’s written award-winning stories for Iowa Public Radio, The Des Moines Register and Iowa City Press-Citizen. Send your tips on hard news and good food to zach@new.iowastartingline.com.
Zachary Oren Smith
Latest from Zachary Oren Smith
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Iowa House Republicans reject amendment to condemn antisemitic groups in the US
Iowa House Republicans found themselves in an awkward position last week. While pushing forward a resolution opposing international antisemitism, they rejected an amendment that would have condemned antisemitism from extremist domestic groups right here at home. Iowa House Republicans last week passed a bill to unconditionally support Israel’s war in Gaza and unconditionally denounce antisemitism…
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Iowa Republicans advance public school Bible study bill
Iowa Republicans want public schools to offer elective coursework teaching the Christian Bible. Supporters say teaching the Bible as literature is essential to an education. Schools can already offer these classes, but Republicans say that’s not enough. In the beginning, Democratic State Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott of West Des Moines asked a question: does Iowa…
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Iowa bill pressures private colleges to ban diversity offices
A bill in the Iowa Legislature would force private colleges to choose between their work to diversify their staff and students and maintain eligibility for state tuition grants. Iowa Republicans want to get rid of offices that support diversity across the state. After forcing the public universities to comply with their anti-DEI witch hunt, private…
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Special election to fill state house seat in southeast Iowa
There will be a special election to fill a state House District covering Fort Madison and Keokuk. The election will take place on March 11. Friday afternoon, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced that a special election would be held to fill state House District 100. The vacancy was left following the death of Rep. Martin Graber…
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Lutherans decry Reynolds’ ‘failure to defend’ Lutheran Services of Iowa
Gov. Kim Reynolds was asked about an unevidenced, Elon Musk-backed conspiracy calling Lutheran Services of Iowa a “money laundering operation.” She declined to defend the organization. Lutheran bishops and pastors in Iowa are standing up. Lutheran leaders are asking Gov. Kim Reynolds to stand up for the church and against conspiracy theories. While praising billionaire…
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House Republican proposal would increase public education funding above Reynolds’ proposal
The governor only wants a 2% increase to public school funding. Iowa Democrats have called for a 5% increase. House Republicans have released a school funding increase that would fall somewhere in the middle. Iowa House Republicans have agreed to a school funding proposal that is higher than the 2% increase agreed to by Gov.…
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Iowa Senate Democrats’ plan would lower childcare costs, raise childcare worker wages
Iowa Senate Democrats release a slate of bills aimed at solving Iowa’s childcare crisis. It aims to tackle the rising cost of child care across Iowa while addressing the accessibility issues facing families. Gov. Kim Reynolds lauded the state for adding 27,000 child care slots in the past four years during her January Condition of…
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Reynolds admits to gutting Sand’s auditing ability at DC oversight hearing
In a hearing about government oversight, Gov. Kim Reynolds admits to restricting the Iowa auditor’s oversight of state government. Gov. Kim Reynolds was in Washington D.C. today, appearing before a US House committee meeting on government oversight to brag about her work in Iowa and further praise Donald Trump’s presidency. But while she may have…
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Miller-Meeks, Zaun pile onto Trump’s suit against Register pollster
In 2024, Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks encored her razor-thin margin from 2020. Despite winning, she’s calling foul and blaming a poll that didn’t mention her name. No one is more aware of her elections’ tight margins than US Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks. Her district’s ambivalence toward her in 2024 was only matched by its ambivalence in…
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Heartland AEA begins dramatic restructuring following Republican’s AEA changes and cuts
A state agency that supports students from kindergarten to age 21 with special needs is anticipating major restructuring and reductions in the coming year. This after Iowa Republicans’ law redirecting their funding and scope of service. Heartland Area Education Agency (AEA) is bracing staff for even larger reductions in staff and services in response to…
