Jezebel: Iowa

Same Sex Parents Win Right to be Included on Their Own Child's Birth Certificate

Erin Gloria Ryan — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST

A judge in Iowa has ordered new birth documents be issued to the child of a lesbian couple who were initially told they couldn't list both of their names on their baby's birth certificate. The Iowa Department of Public Health contended that God made Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve, but was roundly rebuked for trying to pass redneck bumper stickers off as sound public policy. More »

Fox News Viewers Breathlessly Await Instructions From Sarah Palin's Hair

Erin Gloria Ryan — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:30:00 EST

Freelance political soundbyte-for-hire Sarah Palin appeared on Fox News yesterday to provide some expert analysis on the Iowa caucuses, and also to dazzle the viewing audience with her new, wavy hair. More »

How The Iowa Caucus Is Different From Other Elections

Anna North — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:20:00 EST

Tonight, Republicans in Iowa will cast their votes for the party's nominee in the 2012 election. They'll do it via caucus, which you've probably heard is a little different from run-of-the-mill voting. I learned just how different when I caucused in 2008. More »

Does Michele Bachmann's New Ad Reveal That She's Actually A Terminator?

Cassie Murdoch — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST

Michele Bachmann Hides In Her Car, Afraid Obama's Occupier Army Will Attack Her With Facts

Cassie Murdoch — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 16:45:00 EST

Things got a little crazier than usual yesterday at Michele Bachmann's campaign HQ in Iowa. A few dozen people associated with Occupy Iowa turned up to protest outside her offices, and, unwilling to face them, Bachmann did the political equivalent of hiding under the bed. More »

Mitt Romney Is Running For America's Embarrassing Dad

Erin Gloria Ryan — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 11:25:00 EST

In an attempt to add some more artfully wayward locks of hair to his polished pol image, former Massachusetts governor and current Iowa tourist Mitt Romney has taken making small talk with the locals he meets while on the campaign trail. Unfortunately, Romney must be used to having his undocumented lawn servants make small talk for him, as his best chatting efforts seem ripe for the Embarrassing Dad Hall of Fame. More »

Michele Bachmann Is Accosted By Gay Robot

Cassie Murdoch — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST

Michele Bachmann Claims Kinsey Report Is 'A Myth,' Causes Irony to Collapse In Upon Itself

Erin Gloria Ryan — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 18:30:00 EST

Delusional theocrat Michele Bachmann has broken irony again, this time by claiming that the Kinsey Report, arguably one of the most significant scientific publications in the last century, is "a myth." Why? Because in Bachmanalia, up is down, left is right, science is myth and myth is science. More »

Landlords Boot Iowa Sex Store For Selling 'Offensive' Products

Anna North — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 19:15:00 EST

Two women had planned to open one of the first "sex-positive" sex shops in downtown Iowa City. But now their landlord is trying to kick them out, claiming their products are offensive. More »

Burlesque Show Cited For Accidental Breast-Flashing

Anna North — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:50:00 EDT

Burlesque dancers in Des Moines, Iowa were cited for "prohibited acts," after police saw their breasts during the show. But the performers say their partial nudity was an accident. More »

A New Low In College Athlete Assault Cases

Anna North — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:00:00 EDT

A former student is suing the University of Northern Iowa for what she says was its mishandling of her sexual assault case. Now the university's defense team is requesting a number of documents from her past — including accounts of her father's death when she was five years old. More »

Christine O'Donnell To Open For Sarah Palin In Iowa [Updated]

Irin Carmon — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EDT

Two ladies who are not doing much of anything lately in terms of actual political power would like the world to remember that they exist too, and that they were doing this far-right gaffe-happy brunette thing before a certain Minnesota congresswoman. Yes, Christine O'Donnell is the warm-up act for Sarah Palin's Saturday speech at an Iowa tea party rally. More »

Rick Perry Is Ruining Everything For Michele Bachmann

Irin Carmon — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 18:55:10 EDT

According to a bunch of polls, Michele Bachmann has been slipping since Rick Perry entered the race, and she may not win the Iowa caucuses, which are five months away and won't itself guarantee the nomination for an election that is over a year away. Isn't this fun? More »

Why A Rape Doesn't Get Prosecuted

Anna North — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:02:00 EDT

When University of Iowa grad student Rebecca Epstein reported her rape, Asst. County Attorney Anne Lahey declined to prosecute. It's not completely clear why, but we'll consider a couple of possibilities. More »

How A Rape Case Went Off The Rails

Anna North — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EDT

When University of Iowa graduate student Rebecca Epstein reported to police that she'd been date-raped, she hoped she'd get justice. But because of the circumstances of her case — possibly including her bipolar disorder — that's not what happened. More »

Anti-Abortion Extremist Is Running For President

Irin Carmon — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 10:16:52 EDT

Randall Terry, an anti-choice extremist even Operation Rescue, the group he founded, finds too crazy, is running for president as a Democrat. The goal: To get as much anti-abortion propaganda on television as possible, maybe even the Super Bowl. More »

The Specious Midwest v. Coastal Elites Debate

Jenna Sauers — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 16:17:00 EDT

To a foreigner like myself — I moved to the United States seven years ago, at the age of 18, to attend college in Minnesota and then in Iowa — the Midwest v. Coastal Elites argument has always seemed a little...off. More »

Iowa Bill Would Ban All Abortions

Anna North — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 17:00:00 EST

A bill introduced to the Iowa House of Representatives would ban all abortions from conception onwards. It has almost no chance — but its introduction is still disturbing for a lot of reasons. More »

Watch Teen's Stirring Speech About His Two Moms, Delivered Before Anti-Gay Iowa House

Irin Carmon — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 12:25:21 EST

We love Zach Wahls, the 19-year-old Iowan who spoke before legislators yesterday about his family — just before the House voted for a constitutional amendment to ban Iowa's currently legal gay marriage. What's next? More »

Your Dumbest Relative Running For President

Erin Gloria Ryan — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 11:30:00 EST

Michele Bachmann, the Minnesotan Tea Partier who some might say is the Miles Davis of idiocy, is running for President in 2012. Have you read some of the crazy shit this woman has said? This is going to be awesome. More »

Former Football Player Faces Reduced Sexual Assault Charges

Anna North — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 15:58:00 EST

A former University of Iowa football player is accused of sexually assaulting a fellow student while she was unconscious, and after his friend had already assaulted her. But today, he was cleared of the most serious charge against him. More »

Iowa Will Let Telemed Abortions Go Forward

Irin Carmon — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 10:30:00 EST

Iowa women seeking an abortion who live nowhere near a provider have been getting medication abortions through a pioneering telemedicine program. That's to the chagrin of Operation Rescue, which just lost a major battle. Alas, the war's not over. More »

Conservative Lawmakers Going After Telemedicine Abortions in 2011

Lauri Apple — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 15:10:27 EST

Might be an unhappy new year for the poor and geographically disadvantaged abortion-seeking women of Iowa: a program that's helped thousands to receive the abortion pill RU-486 over the Internet might be eliminated, if incoming antiabortion legislators get their way. More »

Into The Wood

Anna Holmes — Thu, 06 May 2010 19:10:00 EDT

[Pella, Iowa; May 6. Image via AP]

What A Bunch Of Bull

Anna Holmes — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 13:10:00 EDT

[Des Moines, April 19. Image via AP]

Lindsay's Birthday Cash; Angelina Earns More Than Jen

Dodai Stewart — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EDT

Lindsay Lohan turns 23 tomorrow, but she's allegedly already been paid $70,000 by the MGM Grand for hosting an all-day "pre-celebration" in Las Vegas last Saturday.

Can America Learn Something From Iowan Tolerance?

Anna North — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:00:00 EDT

Gay couples began applying for marriage licenses in Iowa today, and a Times article examines why this midwestern state became more progressive — at least on this issue — than California. More »

Iowa Prepared For Its Summer Of Love

Megan Carpentier — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 10:45:00 EDT

The Iowa Supreme Court has upheld a previous ruling that the state's ban on same sex marriage violates the constitutional rights of its citizens. Iowa's legislature may end its session without addressing the ruling. [MSNBC] More »

Mumbai Still Burning, World Still Turning

Megan Carpentier — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST

The fighting that began Wednesday in Mumbai is continuing today. Nearly 200 people have been confirmed dead so far, with almost 300 others injured. Militants are still fighting and holding (and killing) hostages in the Taj Mahal hotel and in a Jewish community center. [NY Times, Huffington Post, NY Times]
Barack Obama has issued a statement condemning the attacks. [Washington Post]
The Iraqi Parliament has passed the Status of Forces Agreement, which could have us out by 2010, but will have us out no later than 2012. [Washington Independent]
In other news, former First Lady Barbara Bush has been moved out of the ICU following surgery to repair a perforated stomach ulcer. [CNN]

A 14-year-old girl from Iowa was returned...

Maria — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:20:00 EDT

A 14-year-old girl from Iowa was returned to her grandparents yesterday after they abandoned her at Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska on Tuesday to "teach her a lesson." A new law in Nebraska went into effect this summer that would absolve abandonment charges of anyone who leaves an unwanted child at a state-licensed hospital. The grandparents, who are the teen's guardians, drove over state lines to abandon her, but then wanted her back. Although the girl was returned safely, state officials warned that they cannot guarantee that a child will be returned to parents if they have a change of heart. [CNN] More »

Disgusting Pigs: Update

Maria — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:20:00 EDT

MowMar LLP, the owners of the pig farm in Greene County, Iowa that was infiltrated by PETA and accused of horrific abuses against the animals, has condemned the actions of its workers and says it plans on taking steps to avoid further abuses. MowMar officials reportedly met with PETA officials on Thursday to talk about correcting abuses and the company also plans on bringing in an animal-handling expert to review procedures. The farm may even install video-monitoring equipment to ensure that the pigs are being treated humanely. Additionally, the Greene County Sheriff announced on Thursday that authorities plan on bringing charges against the abusers caught by PETA. [MSNBC] More »

Ana Marie Cox Meets Iowa Asses But Not John McCain

Megan Carpentier — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:00:00 EDT

Time blogger and former Wonkette editor Ana Marie Cox is in Iowa now, daring to go where no one of us ever really wanted to go: on the stump with John McCain. Today, in between anti-war protesters and some really terrible patri-rotica karaoke, she sent us some pictures and thoughts from the trail. "We never see the candidate so we film each other" is how she explains the pictures of CNN reporter Dana Bash's meal — "I like Dana, so be nice, but it is nice to have proof that she eats"— a CNN producer, and a bunch of people's asses. She even managed to capture the one Iowan of color who supports McCain! "Based on in depth research, I can report that the McCain staff, while still angry with the press, WILL drink with them! A lot!" she adds. Audio of bad McCain supporter singing — interspersed with stills — above. More »

Polygamist Wives "Inspire" Spring Trends; Jail Guards Tase Cat To Death

maria — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:20:00 EDT

• Hot new trend: polygamist pastels? Yeah, whatever.• Facials that involve steam and extractions are bad for your skin. • NPR's "Fresh Air" host, Terry Gross, once got fired from a job as an inner-city school teacher. • Indigenous girls in Australia were forced to get contraceptive implants when they were as young as 12 years old. • The late Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop donated her entire fortune to charity. • Matthew Shepard's mother continues to campaign for gay rights. • Battered women get a "Princess Day to rebuild self-esteem. • The chief of police in Tehran was jailed after found nude with six women in a brothel raid. • In 5 years, scientists may be able to grow sperm from skin cells. • Stellamaris Mulaeh, a young Kenyan, tries to resolve ethnic divisions in her country. • Guards at an O.C. jail tased a cat to death. • Men are more likely than women to have mild cognitive impairment. • Adorable Iowans pull prank on neighbor's lawn and promise to help clean it up! More »

This Week, We Totally Contradicted Ourselves

Jessica G. — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 18:40:00 EST

First, we made a New Year's resolution to be nicer to womanity.

Jezebel has its very own undecided voter...

Moe — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 16:30:00 EST

Jezebel has its very own undecided voter in Iowa! (It's not the voter a visibly not cocaine-influenced Obama is talking to in this AP picture, but you get the idea.) Our reader writes she'll be bringing her toddler to caucus tonight "because I'm a single mom with no freakin babysitter!" She's not using one of Hillary's teens because "you have no idea who you'll get to take care of your kid" (I'm thinking an establishmentarian midwestern Honor Roll student in the mold of young Hillary herself? But who knows.) At any rate, she's not voting for Hillary; like so many Iowans she's torn between Obama and Edwards. (They're both so pretty!) So twist her arm here, irrelevant state residents. "I secretly like the fact that when it's time to switch off the candidates that have the least votes, I'm super good at convincing my neighbors to go my way," she writes. Also, she appreciates that the media attention makes Iowa look like "less of a hick state." Well Scarlett Johansson is there, for Pete Wentz's sake! More »

Unlike Drudge, We Think Hillary Looks Hot On The Campaign Trail

Jessica — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:10:00 EST