Free Republic

Edith Rivera loved her life in Hampton, Iowa, but for many undocumented immigrants like her, this summer has been a season of fear or flight. It was quitting time. Edith Rivera took one last lunch order, dropped off a basket of tortilla chips and set off from work, heading out to the farm roads where other immigrants feared to drive. Like them, Ms. Rivera, 33, had no legal status in the country where she had lived for 18 years. She had no driver’s license, apart from the long-expired North Carolina identification she held safe, like a talisman, in her wallet....

Iowa Democrats pulled off an impressive and important victory in a Southeast Iowa special election this evening, boosting the party’s hopes that 2018 could be a bounce-back year. Democratic veterinarian Phil Miller of Fairfield comfortably defeated Republican farmer Travis Harris of Davis County, 4,021 to 3,324 (about 55% to 45%), thanks largely to a massive victory in his hometown of Jefferson County. That means Democrats will hold on to a key rural swing district that Donald Trump won in November by 22 points.... Miller was about as ideal of a candidate as you could hope for in this race: a...

I missed this when it was announced roughly two weeks ago but it’s worth pointing out even now. Two activists confessed to multiple acts of sabotage against the Dakota Access Pipeline using cutting torches and other tools. The two women, who are part of an Iowa’s Catholic Worker social justice movement, made the announcement before a small group of journalists and then started prying letters off a sign for the Iowa Utilities Board, which got them arrested. From the Des Moines Register:

According to news reports, during the 2016 presidential election, “Ukrainian government officials tried to help Hillary Clinton and undermine Trump” and did so by “disseminating documents implicating a top Trump aide in corruption and suggested they were investigating the matter…” Ukrainian officials also reportedly “helped Clinton’s allies research damaging information on Trump and his advisers.” At the center of this plan was Alexandra Chalupa, described by reports as a Ukrainian-American operative “who was consulting for the Democratic National Committee” and reportedly met with Ukrainian officials during the presidential election for the express purpose of exposing alleged ties between then-candidate Donald...

Multiple Republican senators broke with President Trump on Wednesday after he announced on Twitter than transgender troops would be banned from serving in the military. In separate statements, GOP Sens. John McCain (Ariz.), Joni Ernst (Iowa), Richard Shelby (Ala.), and Orrin Hatch (Utah) all criticized Trump for his decision that Obama-era rules allowing transgender troops to serve would be reversed. McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, ripped the call and said that Trump shouldn't be making policy announcements via tweet. “The President’s tweet this morning regarding transgender Americans in the military is yet another example of why major...

SCHALLER, Iowa -- The owner of Pyle Transportation LLC., the trucking company whose trailer was used in a suspected human trafficking case out of Texas, says his company has nothing to do with the incident. Brian Pyle, 34, says the last 48 hours have been hell, filled with online death threats, media inquiries and allegations. "I saw it first on the news. I did a double take and I zoomed in. I was like, 'oh man.' I’m 34 years old and grew up in this town, never in a million years did I think this could happen." Pyle tells Channel...

Data Show Counties in 11 States Have More Registered Voters than Eligible Adult Citizens. ... The 11 states are: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina and Tennessee. The states have 90 days after receiving the letters to address the problem and provide Judicial Watch documentation showing that they have conducted a “statewide effort to conduct a program that reasonably ensures the lists of eligible voters are accurate.” Judicial Watch informed the states that should they fail to take action to correct violations of Section 8 of the NVRA, it would file suit. Section...

Midwestern cities need jobs. DC is too crowded. A simple solution. 3 minute video.

RUSH: There were hearings in the Senate over the new FBI director, a man by the name of Christopher Wray, W-r-a-y. But how they began is what is interesting. “At the beginning of today’s confirmation hearing for Christopher Wray, President Donald Trump’s choice to head the FBI, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley used his opening remarks to take numerous shots at acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe. “The Iowa Republican first took aim at McCabe, who was put in charge of the FBI when Trump fired James Comey, over the acting head’s wife and her political activities. ‘The previous director...

On Friday an Omaha liberal staked out the Harley Davidson dealership in Pacific Junction, Iowa. Robert Simet told workers at the Harley dealership he planned on killing Republican Senator Joni Ernst during her speech there the following day.

After refusing to rule out a potential 2020 primary challenge to President Donald Trump, “Never Trump” Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE) spoke to about 200 Republicans in Story County, Iowa on Friday evening. Sasse’s excuse was that he was in Iowa because he lost a college football bet and his kids were participating in a triathlon this weekend in the state.. In an interview before his Iowa trip, the insufferable and sanctimonious Sasse would not rule out a potential 2020 presidential run. When CNN asked about his potential presidential ambitions on Sunday, Sasse punted in a way that would have made...

Gannett paper, link only: http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/joni-ernst-female-veteran-senate-profile

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - President Donald Trump covered a wide range of topics in a 75 minute speech at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids Wednesday night. Trump touched down early at the Eastern Iowa Airport and headed to Kirkwood Community College, where he toured agriculture technology innovations, then reveled in Karen Handel's victory in a Georgia special election. "We're 5-0 in special elections," said Trump. Trump's stop at Kirkwood was intended to draw attention to the school's advancements in high-tech agriculture. During the tour, Trump marveled at a "combine simulator," which is a virtual way to practice using...

After postponing a Cedar Rapids rally in May, President Trump will travel to the city for a rally at the U.S. Cellular Center. Protests are also scheduled to take place near the venue. Nearly half a year after President Trump’s inauguration, it seems to some he is rallying to garner excitement about the prospects of his re-election. After postponing a Cedar Rapids rally in May, he is set to hold a 7 p.m. rally at the U.S. Cellular Center. Holding a rally five months into his presidency has some people wondering if this is a belated victory lap or the...

Minnesota-based Medica, one of the few remaining insurance providers on the Iowa Obamacare exchanges, announced Monday afternoon that it will offer plans on the state exchanges in 2018, but proposed an average premium increase of 43.5 percent. The company’s decision is somewhat good news for low-to-moderate income consumers in Iowa that are reliant on the state exchanges for health insurance. Consumers will have at least one provider offering plans in the Obamacare marketplace. The bad news, as Medica announced Monday, is that for all products the average premium increase will be 43.5 percent, The Iowa Gazette reports. “Rate increases of...

An Iowa information technology staffing company last week posted an ad that essentially told American citizens they need not apply.The ad by American Technology Consulting, posted to the recruiting website ZipRecruiter, sought a java developer to work in San Diego. Initially, it stated “H1B Only,” a reference to the H-1B guest worker visa program for high-skilled workers. The company changed the ad and deleted reference to the H-1B visas, but critics said it likely violates the Civil Right Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of citizenship and national origin.“It’s explicitly against the law,” said Mark Krikorian, executive director of...

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — President Trump has rescheduled his rally stop in Cedar Rapids for Wednesday, June 21.The rally, which was supposed to be held on June 1, was rescheduled due to an unforeseen change in his schedule.The event will be held at the U.S. Cellular Center, at 370 1st Ave NE in Cedar Rapids.Doors are scheduled to open at 4:00 p.m., with the rally beginning at 7:00 p.m.Ticket reservations for up to two guests may be requested here.

The Iowa Supreme Court says immigrants living in Iowa without legal permission and who use a stolen identity to get a job cannot be prosecuted by the state for identity theft or forgery. The court, in ruling Friday on the case of 31-year-old Martha Martinez, says such immigration-related prosecutions are up to federal authorities not county prosecutors. Martinez, who lives in Muscatine, was charged after she obtained a driver's license and Social Security number under the Obama administration's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

DUBUQUE, Iowa (KCRG TV-9) -- Parents in Iowa can sue for wrongful birth. That first of its kind ruling from the Iowa Supreme Court is stirring up emotions in the abortion debate. Parents in Lee County filed a lawsuit against a Fort Madison hospital and with a gynecologist clinic. They say doctors failed to warn them about abnormalities on their child's ultrasound. Those abnormalities that might have prompted the parents to get an abortion. The case centers on a now 6 year old boy who was born with cerebral palsy and other disabilities that make it unlikely he'll ever walk...

The hog roast was popular once again, but the previous administration’s health care reform also was on the menu after being roasted by the new vice president. Vice President Mike Pence, speaking Saturday at U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst’s annual GOP fundraiser, said Congress must make it a priority to get to President Donald Trump’s desk a bill that would repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, known better to the folks at Saturday’s event as Obamacare. The U.S. House has passed a bill that would undo much of the health care reform implemented under former President Barack Obama. The U.S....