From the Desk of Senator Donahue
It has been a whirlwind couple of weeks. School has begun and students are getting used to their school year routines, including the zero phone policies. Many districts took the guidelines of the state and have made them their own. Though they do not look exactly the same, they fit the needs of each community school district. I am a huge proponent of local control, and the original bill took some of that away. As it has been implemented, local districts have made it their own. Parents seem to be adjusting as well.
This month is Thank a Union Month for all of the work that they do to keep our towns and communities growing and successful. Marion City Council and the mayor read a proclamation at the city council meeting to thank them earlier this month. That proclamation is below if you’d like to look at it.
Another school shooting prompts me to remind people that we need to be asking ourselves: who is willing to demand common sense gun laws? Our children deserve much better from this country. Gun violence is now the highest rate of death for our children in the USA – above both car accidents and cancer. This is a uniquely American problem, and the only thing that can be surmised by that is it is because of the lack of common sense gun laws.
Some Iowa statistics (source: Johns Hopkins Public Health)
Total gun deaths in Iowa: 341
Rate of gun deaths (age-adjusted): 10.5 per 100,000 people
Of those 341 deaths:
- Suicides: 266
- Homicides: 73
- Other / unspecified: 2
Demographic data:
- Young people (ages 1-17): 18 gun deaths in 2023
- Black Iowans are far more likely to die by gun homicide than white Iowans
- White males over age 34 account for a large share of gun suicides, and males are much more likely than females to die by gun suicide.
Trend note: Iowa’s overall gun-death rate rose ~40% from 2014 → 2023
Rates (per 100k) & counts (CDC, 2022):
- Iowa: 11.2 (367 deaths)
- Illinois: 14.4 (1,798) • Minnesota: 9.6 (561) • Missouri: 24.2 (1,489) • Nebraska: 12.2 (244) • South Dakota:15.7 (141) • Wisconsin: 14.0 (830).
Let’s do better by our youth and educators who are there to learn and teach, not dodge bullets. Enough is enough. We must end gun violence.
Upcoming events in the district and surrounding areas:
Statewide – Virtual November Monthly Meeting (Moms Demand Action)
CRCSD School Board Candidate Forum focused on Labor Union Issues
Uptown Marion Dog Fashion Show
League of Women Voters: Prep for Election Day 2025
Here are the next couple of weeks of big birthdays coming up! I won’t disclose their age, but just know I’m announcing it because they’re BIG! If you know any of these folks, make sure to wish them a happy birthday!!
| Jacalyn Thomas | Ann O’Donnell | Heidi O’Neil |
| Timothy Clements | Kimberly Chalupsky | John Lepse |
| David Davis | Renee Gangestad | Gina Morgan |
| Majoli Swearinger | Emmanuel Akrasi | Betty Johnson |
| Keith Brimeyer | Joseph Leone | Athena Villhauer |
| Tavares Rolle | Marva Grantham | Joseph Fahrner |
| Tonya Davis | Barbara Merschbrock | Ann Daves |
| Mary Wallace | Helen Richmond | Barbara Lagerquist |
| Raphael Abraham | Gary Crabtree | Henry Kemp |
| Gretchen Chamberlain | Bart Bradford | Mary Klingler |
| Stephen Cole | Jonya Nassif | Valarie Gillette |
| Mary Hagen | Jamie Vanourney | Julie White |
| Deana Snow | Amy Grant | Thomas Gaffney |
| Frank Watters | David Kahn | Elizabeth McMahon |
BACK-TO-SCHOOL SURVEY: What Does the New School Year Look Like for You?
In last month’s newsletter, I talked about some of the changes that were coming to Iowa’s public schools this year thanks to decisions made at the Capitol. Now that we’re a few weeks into the 2025-26 school year, I want to hear from you.
What’s new at your school? What’s different? What works and what doesn’t? What do you want legislators to fix next session? How can we reposition Iowa as a national leader in education?
Click the button below to take our survey and give us your honest feedback about your experience with Iowa’s schools so far this year.
Invest in Iowa Workers, Not Out-of-State Corporations
Earlier this summer, the Iowa Department of Corrections (IDOC) began exploring a change that, if implemented, could negatively affect hundreds of state employees, the thousands of men and women in their care, and the millions of taxpayers on the hook for increased costs.
IDOC issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) seeking a company to provide “comprehensive medical services” at Iowa’s nine correctional facilities. The RFP, issued on July 9 and closing on September 26, would eliminate the existing state employees overseeing medical care in Iowa’s correctional facilities and replace them with private contractors. In response, the entire Senate Democratic caucus sent a letter to IDOC Director Beth Skinner urging her to provide workers with the critical support they need and cease any effort toward privatization. We believe this move could set Iowa on a slippery slope, disincentivizing public service and further complicating our workforce issues.
In the time since that RFP was released, correctional employees have reached out to legislators urging against this effort. One psychiatric nurse with nearly two decades of service in Iowa’s prisons told us 20% of her coworkers have already left their positions since the RFP was made public. And who could blame them? Why stick around if your job and benefits are under threat? These men and women feel powerless and their service and commitment to the state deserve so much more respect.
Earlier this week, a group organized by the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) protested against this proposal in Fort Madison (home of the Iowa State Penitentiary) and a group of Democratic legislators visited the Iowa Medical and Classification Center at Oakdale to speak directly to medical services personnel in that facility. There is still time to help push back against this effort.
You can reach out to Gov. Reynolds’ office online or at (515) 281-5211 to tell her and Dir. Skinner to stop this threat to Iowa workers, patients, and taxpayers.
Welcome, Senator Drey!
We have officially broken the Senate supermajority!
Catelin Drey, a Democrat from Sioux City, won the special election in Senate District 1 on August 26. Her win means the party split in the Iowa Senate is now 33-17. There is still plenty of work to do to regain the majority, but this is a big win for Democrats to claw back some power at the Capitol. We now have a real voice in the appointment confirmation process, and the extra member makes it one step harder for the majority party’s most contentious bills to pass.
Catelin is a working mom who campaigned on fully funded public education, affordable childcare, accessible housing, and a fair shake for working Iowans all over the state. I’m excited to work with her and to add her voice to the Senate!
Welcome to the team, Senator Drey!
Quick Updates
Supreme Court Roadshow: Last month, the Iowa Supreme Court announced its 2025-2026 adjudicative term. This is the time period during which the Court hears oral arguments and writes the majority of its published opinions. Each term, the Court has special sessions around the state to allow the public a more convenient opportunity to view arguments. I encourage everyone to attend a session at least once to see the judicial branch in action.
National Preparedness Month: September is National Preparedness Month and this year’s theme is Preparedness Starts at Home. Here are a few things you can do this month: know your risk, make a family emergency plan, build an emergency supply kit, and get involved in your community by taking action to prepare for emergencies.
Recovery and Prevention: September is both National Recovery Month and Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. Data shows people with substance use disorders are significantly more likely to think seriously about and attempt suicide than the general population. At the same time, youth are experiencing increased rates of anxiety, overdose, and suicidal thoughts and attempts. Check out NAMI Iowa for resources and advocacy to get involved.
Mild Winter is Good for Pheasants: Iowa’s pheasant population is expected to benefit from the mild 2024-25 winter and average spring that much of the state experienced. According to Iowa’s state climatologist, last winter was the fourth least snowy in 138 years, and the spring was normal for rainfall and temperature. The Iowa DNR conducts its annual upland population survey each August, which is the best indicator of what populations will be this fall. Results from the August roadside survey will be available online at Iowa DNR in mid-September.
New Deer Tag for Disabled Veterans: Tags for the 2025-26 deer season went on sale Aug. 15. New this year is a disabled veterans deer tag that was recently signed into law. To qualify for the new tag, hunters must be a resident of Iowa and have served in the armed forces of the United States on federal active duty and were disabled during their military service (service-connected disability). Hunters will be issued one deer tag valid for any established firearm season, if eligible. The fee is $33, and hunters are required to use the method of take for the season hunted. Applicants will need to provide a copy of DD214 or higher, a copy of current letter provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs which indicates they are entitled to a service connected disability rating, and a copy of Hunter Safety Certificate https://www.iowadnr.gov/things-do/hunting-trapping/hunting-licenses.
Enhanced Sex Offender Website: The Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) announced the launch of its redesigned Sex Offender Registry (SOR) website. The updated site enhances user experience, improves functionality, and continues to provide Iowans with critical tools and resources to access information on registered sex offenders. The site remains accessible at the same web address: https://www.iowasexoffender.gov/.
This Month in the District and on Social Media:
