DES MOINES – Iowa House Republicans approved legislation Thursday that criminalizes the death of an unborn person, over objections from Democrats that this would cause issues related to in vitro fertilization. WHO-13 reports current Iowa Code outlines penalties for serious injury or termination of a human pregnancy. The goal is to expand legal protections for embryos and fetuses, part of a larger nationwide conservative movement to get closer to outright abortion bans in many states following the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the U.S. Supreme Court.

IOWA – Nearly 100% of Iowans remain in abnormally dry conditions or worse, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor Report. More than half of the state is in severe drought or worse following the warmest winter on record, according to the National Weather Service. Many in the state today could see close to an inch in their rain gauges, but dry conditions are expected to follow again well into next week.

DES MOINES – A nearly unanimous bill was approved out of the Iowa House of Representatives to increase minimum starting teacher salaries in Iowa. KCCI-TV reports House File 2630 the new educators across the state would make a baseline $47,500 per year next fiscal year, and $50,000 after July of 2025. It would also establish a minimum wage of $15 per hour for education support personnel, paid for with state funds.