Immigrant rights advocates are calling on Iowa legislators to revise the state's "English-only" law, which they say has hampered pandemic recovery.

Driving the news: A bill introduced in the Legislature last month would amend the law to allow state and local governments to use English or "any other language deemed necessary" to achieve its purpose.

Why it matters: The heightened awareness about the law's consequences comes at a time when people of color are experiencing health and economic disparities, from pay losses to higher risks of COVID-19 complications.

• Immigrant and refugee communities have been disproportionately impacted because of significant language barriers to accessing information over the last two years, Erica Johnson, director of Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice (IMMJ), told Axios.

Flashback: English was declared Iowa's official language in a 2002 bill signed by former Democratic Gov. Tom Vilsack, who's now the U.S. secretary of agriculture. While largely symbolic, the law requires all official documents to be in English.

• Supporters said the act is similar to laws in dozens of states and encourages assimilation.

State of play: Iowa collaborated with dozens of organizations last year to address racial health disparities.

• The state Department of Human Rights is also translating COVID-19 information into multiple languages.

Yes, but: Communications with groups that have limited English proficiency has been inconsistent across state agencies and local governments, especially during the pandemic, Johnson said.

• Easing restrictions would help reduce the barriers, she said.

Of note: The law is also at the center of an ongoing voting rights lawsuit filed by the League of United Latin American Citizens in October.

What's next: The bill must pass a committee by Friday to meet a legislative deadline.

• Sen. Jason Schultz (R-Schleswig), who's assigned to lead a subcommittee on the bill, told Axios he doesn't plan to call a meeting on it.
• IMMJ has issued a legislative action alert, urging supporters to contact their state lawmaker.

Most of the travelers using Des Moines International Airport hail from areas outside the city, according to a late 2018 analysis conducted for the airport authority.

Why it matters: Airport officials are citing the data in calls for Des Moines' surrounding areas to contribute to a nearly $576 million terminal expansion.

By the numbers: Almost 60% of the airport's 3.4 million passengers in the second quarter of 2018 came from within a 90-mile area, according to the analysis of the most recent publicly available data.

• Residents from nine suburban ZIP codes topped the list, accounting for more than 254,000 passengers.

Catch up fast: The airport's terminal construction is slated to begin in 2024, and a parking garage expansion could begin as early as next year, Clint Torp, the airport's operations director, told Polk supervisors last month.

• Airport spokesperson Kayla Kovarna told Axios metro-area governments are being asked to contribute $34 million. They've agreed to just over $28 million so far.
• State and federal grants will pay for $300 million with airport revenue and reserves picking up most of the rest.

More: See the list of city and county governments that have agreed to contribute money to the new terminal project so far

🧑‍⚖️ Three men are suing the Des Moines Police Department, alleging they were unlawfully arrested as part of the 2020 protests. (Des Moines Register 🔒)

❤️ A woman who was adopted found her biological family, thanks to Iowa's new birth certificate law. (WHO-13)

⛽ Gas station owners are arguing they need more money to upgrade equipment if the state requires E-15 sales. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

🧶 An Iowa native is sewing together custom doll clothing, including hijabs, leggings and dresses, to give to Afghan refugee children. (WOI-TV)

Kaleb Wyse is showing his horde of subscribers that life in rural Iowa is way more interesting (and delicious) than people may think.

State of play: Wyse, an influencer who shares tips about gardening and cooking at his eastern Iowa homestead, is reaching a growing cohort of fans.

• He's got 100K Instagram and YouTube subscribers, plus a dedicated blog fan base who come for his "Wyse Guide" wisdom.

Flashback: Wyse grew up on his family's farm in the Mount Pleasant area, where he canned and preserved foods and learned to care for the property.

• After graduating from college in 2010, he worked full-time as an accountant, driving 30-40 minutes everyday for his job.
• But, "I didn't enjoy it," he told Axios.

One day in 2012, Wyse, in search of a creative outlet, started blogging about living on the farm.

• As he wrote more candidly about his life and let go of his insecurities, it began to take off.
• Plus: The pandemic drew in a new audience of home dwellers.

So while he isn't cultivating the fourth-generation farm like his relatives in the past — he's showing that he can still use it to provide a living ... just with better lighting.

What's next: Wyse will speak at the Des Moines Home + Garden Show, which runs Feb. 24-27, at the Iowa Events Center. Get tickets.

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Mediacom and TEGNA hooked back up over the weekend, restoring WOI-TV and seven other channels to the Des Moines and Ames areas.

Why it doesn't matter: The break happened at the end of 2020.

• By this point, everyone has bunny ears, cut cable cords or figured out how to visit pals when "The Bachelor" is on.

No. 6 Iowa State has its highest ranking in 20 years as it embarks on its toughest week yet, with games against No. 14 Texas and No. 15 Oklahoma, writes Axios' Kendall Baker.

The big picture: All eyes are on the Hawkeye State right now, with the Cyclones emerging as a contender and Player of the Year lock Caitlin Clark making history for No. 22 Iowa.