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1 week ago | 
readlion.com | Michael Gryboski |Merrilee Gasser |John Ransom |Jillian Schneider
(The Washington Stand) – An Arkansas bill prohibiting state officials from forcing faith-based adoption and foster care organizations from placing children in homes that go against an agency’s religious or moral beliefs was signed into law by Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Sanders, former White House press secretary for Donald Trump, signed Act 509 last Thursday along with several other bills on various topics.
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1 week ago | 
readlion.com | Jillian Schneider |Merrilee Gasser |Victor Skinner |Lisa Buie
North Dakota is on the cusp of becoming the 47th state to legalize charter schools, as a separate school choice bill is still on the table. SB 2241, sponsored by six Republicans, would create an avenue for public charter schools to exist in the Roughrider State. Versions of the bill were approved by wide margins in both chambers – 40-7 in the Senate and then 64-29 in the House. The Senate must now approve the House version. Republicans control both chambers. If approved by the Legislature, Gov.
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1 month ago | 
readlion.com | Michael Dillon |Kim Jarrett |Merrilee Gasser
Public and charter schools in Arkansas will begin providing annual gun safety courses starting next year. House Bill 1117, signed into law March 4 by Gov.
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2 months ago | 
readlion.com | Adam Wittenberg |Dave Fidlin |Steve Wilson |Merrilee Gasser
A school choice bill passed the North Dakota House this week while a similar proposal died in the Mississippi Legislature. North Dakota Lawmakers advanced a proposal to create education savings accounts (ESAs) for students by a 49-38 vote. The proposal would give families about $8,800 per student to use toward their child’s education, including at private school. The state Senate is considering similar ESA proposals.
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Sep 12, 2024 | 
thecentersquare.com | Merrilee Gasser
(The Center Square) - The average household in Iowa has shelled out an additional $30,000 since 2020 to maintain its standard of living, according to a new report. Prices are likely never to return to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, according to the Common Sense Institute’s Inflation in the Midwest report. The average Iowan had to spend $1,100 more last month to keep up with inflation.
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Sep 10, 2024 | 
thecentersquare.com | Merrilee Gasser
(The Center Square) - Two South Dakota universities say the NCAA settlement that would allow student athletes to receive compensation unfairly forces smaller schools to shoulder a disproportionate amount of the settlement cost, according to a complaint South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley filed Tuesday. The NCAA settlement calls for $2.8 billion in monetary relief for past and present student athletes.
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Sep 10, 2024 | 
bhpioneer.com | Merrilee Gasser
(The Center Square) - Two South Dakota universities say the NCAA settlement that would allow student athletes to receive compensation unfairly forces smaller schools to shoulder a disproportionate amount of the settlement cost, according to a complaint South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley filed Tuesday. The NCAA settlement calls for $2.8 billion in monetary relief for past and present student athletes.
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Sep 9, 2024 | 
swiowanewssource.com | Merrilee Gasser
(The Center Square) - Iowa students are exceeding pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels in some grades, although "significant" proficiency gaps remain for specific student groups, according to the Iowa Department of Education's annual student assessment results. Student achievement reached or exceeded pre-pandemic levels in most grades, the assessment showed. Proficiency rates in English language arts improved or remained the same in all grades except third.
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Sep 6, 2024 | 
thecentersquare.com | Merrilee Gasser
(The Center Square) - Iowa’s unemployment insurance rates for employers will remain at the lowest allowable level for a third year in a row, state officials said. Contribution rates in 2025 will be drawn from the same table as last year, which saved employers approximately $72.20 per employee when the rate was first lowered to this level in 2023, according to Gov. Kim Reynolds.
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Sep 6, 2024 | 
thecentersquare.com | Merrilee Gasser
(The Center Square) — A new report suggests that outdated policies for water fixtures are hindering housing growth in Maui. Costly plumbing regulations have emerged as an "obscure" obstacle to housing growth in Maui County, said Grassroot President and CEO Keli'I Akina.
