Iowa

Iowa faith leaders are calling for immigration reform laws that would treat immigrant workers humanely in response to recent incidents involving immigrant workers in the state.

The bishops and clergies participating in a recent tele-press conference denounced what they called a troubling pattern of worker exploitation and disregard for immigrant families around the state.

Specifically, they pointed to the government raid on a meatpacking plant in Postville, Iowa, and the abuse of clean-up crews recently brought in to help with flood recovery. more >>

The Iowa Board of Regents rejected on Thursday an appeal by a professor who said he was wrongfully denied tenure by Iowa State University because of his views supporting intelligent design.

While ISU officials have maintained that their decision last spring on Dr. Guillermo Gonzalez 's bid for tenure had nothing to do with intelligent design, e-mails exchanged by ISU faculty – who voted against his tenure and statements in Gonzalez’s tenure file – suggest otherwise.

Gonzalez, assistant professor of astronomy and physics, has written papers on intelligent design and has asserted his views in a book which was published in 2004. He is also a senior fellow at Discovery Institute, the nation's leading think tank on intelligent design. more >>

WASHINGTON – Mike Huckabee and Barack Obama won the Iowa caucuses Thursday night, propelling their campaigns further into the national spotlight as they head to New Hampshire.

On the Republican side, Huckabee won with 34 percent – ahead of Mitt Romney, who had 25 percent. Fred Thompson and John McCain trailed with 13 percent, Ron Paul with 10 percent, and Rudy Giuliani at 3 percent, according to The Associated Press.

Barack Obama led the Democratic Party with 38 percent of the vote, followed by John Edwards with 30 percent and Hillary Clinton third with 29 percent. more >>

Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee and Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois are the likely winners of Thursday’s Iowa nominating caucuses, according to The Des Moines Register’s final Iowa Poll.

On the Republican side, Huckabee captured 32 percent of “likely” Republican caucusgoers, ahead of former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney at 26 percent, according to the new Des Moines Register poll.

Meanwhile, Democratic presidential contender Obama also garnered 32 percent of “likely” Democratic caucusgoers in Iowa, leading Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York who received 25 percent of the votes. more >>

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is facing difficulties with some evangelical voters in Iowa who are troubled by his Mormon faith, which they consider not part of historic orthodox Christianity.

Although the former Massachusetts governor is still leading the pack in the important early voting state, a fellow Republican and former Baptist preacher is closing in from behind, benefiting from voters’ dilemma with Mormonism.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee’s rise in Iowa has been fueled by evangelical Christians attracted to his conservative views and openness about the role of faith in his life. more >>

Republican presidential contender Mike Huckabee is gaining ground in Iowa among evangelicals attracted to his straight-arrow record on abortion, same-sex “marriage,” and family values.

The former Southern Baptist preacher was up until recently considered the underfunded and understaffed long-shot among Republican presidential candidates. However, a boost in endorsements by prominent evangelical leaders, a spike in donations, and a rise in polls has placed Huckabee among the first tier Republican contenders.

In particular, the former Arkansas governor has drawn attention with his advancement among evangelicals in the early voting state of Iowa. more >>