Connor O’Neal

1 week ago | weareiowa.com | Connor O’Neal

DES MOINES, Iowa — Graduating high school in Iowa appears to have a new requirement, pending Gov. Kim Reynolds' signature. On Thursday, the Iowa House passed a bill that requires high school students pass a U.S. civics test to receive their diploma. It’s the same exam the country gives immigrants to become citizens. However, unlike the federal test, the state's would be multiple choice. Students would need to get 60% of the questions right to pass and be able to graduate.

1 week ago | abc10.com | Connor O’Neal

DES MOINES, Iowa — The state of Iowa is working to improve the effectiveness of all levels of its government with its Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The task force has 16 members, including people in the business industry, lawmakers, a county supervisor and an Iowa State University dean. After completing its first meeting earlier this month, Local 5 looked at the past involvement of task force members in donating to government officials.

2 weeks ago | wqad.com | Connor O’Neal

DES MOINES, Iowa — School districts finally know how much money they’ll receive from the state for the next school year after the Iowa House and Senate had been in disagreement with each others’ proposals for weeks. On Tuesday, the House passed the Senate's amended version of the bill which provides school districts with a 2% increase in per-pupil funding, and an additional 5% increase per student in money districts receive from the state to pay for transportation costs.

2 weeks ago | weareiowa.com | Connor O’Neal

DES MOINES, Iowa — School districts finally know how much money they’ll receive from the state for the next school year after the Iowa House and Senate had been in disagreement with each others’ proposals for weeks. On Tuesday, the House passed the Senate's amended version of the bill which provides school districts with a 2% increase in per-pupil funding, and an additional 5% increase per student in money districts receive from the state to pay for transportation costs.

2 weeks ago | weareiowa.com | Connor O’Neal

COLFAX, Iowa — Over two dozen pharmacies in Iowa were forced to close down last year, and the Iowa Pharmacy Association said more could come this year as well. Spring City Pharmacy in Colfax say the three main pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in the U.S., which collectively control a large portion of the market’s prescription costs, are behind the closures.