Iowa

School officials in Spencer, Iowa, are putting the brakes on a proposed "religious liberty" policy that would allow students to critique Darwinism and study the Bible, among other things.

Protests and criticism from nonreligious groups and advocates have led officials to reconsider implementing the policy.

"I think the wisdom is to slow down and make sure we cover our bases," said Superintendent Greg Ebeling, according to the Des Moines Register. "In the end, it'll probably be a much more palatable policy." more >>

To mark the one year anniversary of the Postville raid – the largest immigration raid in U.S. history at the time – proponents of immigration reform renewed their calls for new laws that protect workers and family unity.

Faith leaders joined with labor spokesmen to remind the public of the dire consequences that immigration raids have on communities. They recalled the hundreds of workers who were arrested and their children who had no one to care for them after the massive raid at a meatpacking plant in Postville, Iowa, last year.

Speakers during the media call on Monday sponsored by Justice for Immigrants and the Interfaith Immigration Coalition urged lawmakers to quickly move on creating new immigration laws. more >>

Across Iowa, same-sex couples applied for marriage licenses on Monday after a state Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay unions took effect.

Officials at the Johnson County Recorder's Office said on Tuesday that 50 gay and lesbian couples registered yesterday. At the Polk County Recorder's Office, over 82 applications were received.

"This means we’ll be able to get the same benefits as a married couple," Michelle Parsley, 33, of Bemidji told the Globe Gazette. Parsley registered for a marriage license with her partner of 10 years Angela Laurain, 35. more >>

For the second time in less than a week, hundreds of traditional marriage supporters rallied on Monday outside the Iowa Capitol to protest the state Supreme Court decision to allow gay marriage.

Rally speakers told a crowd huddled under umbrellas in the rain that legislators and the governor have the ability to stop the Court's April 3 same-sex ruling.

Bill Salier, co-founder of Everyday America, which organized the rally, said the state high court can only issue opinions, not change the law. more >>

Iowa legislators shot down a resolution Thursday that would have put the same-sex marriage issue to a ballot vote, as hundreds of Iowans rallied outside the state Capitol for a chance to affirm traditional marriage.

Two Republicans made attempts to bring a constitutional marriage amendment defining marriage as "one man, one woman" to the House floor for debate but failed. One motion was ruled out of order and a procedural effort to force debate was also rejected by a 44-54 vote.

The move to amend the state's constitution comes just after the Iowa Supreme Court ruled last Friday to legalize gay marriages. more >>