IOWA – After expanding their majorities in the Iowa Legislature following the November 5th election, the Republicans in the statehouse have elected their leadership. Senator Jack Whitver will remain Senate Majority Leader and Representative Pat Grassley is still Speaker of the House, according to the Des Moines Register. The GOP holds supermajorities in both chambers, the largest since 1970. Senator Amy Sinclair also remains as president of the senate, and Senator Ken Rozenboom is the new president pro tempore, after Brad Zaun lost his bid for reelection in his district.

CEDAR RAPIDS – A new coalition has announced an advertising campaign to stop a new casino in Cedar Rapids. KCCI-TV reports Iowans for Common Sense is asking Iowans to sign a petition to support a statewide moratorium on new construction of casinos. Peninsula Pacific Entertainment and the Linn County Gaming Commission have presented applications for a new facility in Cedar Rapids.

IOWA – A Pleasantville woman accused of spiking her husband’s drink with eyedrops has been sentenced. WHO-13 reports 39-year-old Daisy Zantjer was arrested earlier this year for the incident that occurred in 2023, and in September, pled guilty to one count of administering harmful substances and domestic abuse assault. Zantjer received the maximum sentence for both charges, which is five years in prison.