Latin American Film Festival debuts, “Let Love Serve” volleyball sign-up open, parental permission for HPV vaccine: Iowa Dailies for 4-30-26

IOWA CITY — A three-day celebration of Latin American film is coming to FilmScene starting Friday. The Aquí y Allá Latin American Film Festival will include six new features, one new short and one restored film, all from Latin American filmmakers. The screenings start with “Amor, Mujeres y Flores” (Love, Women and Flowers) at 4 p.m., a look at labor in the flower industry. In addition to film screenings, the festival includes an afterparty on Friday at 9 p.m., coffee and treats on Saturday at 11 a.m. and a poetry reading and reception on Saturday at 7 p.m. Tickets are pay-what-you-can. Join the cinematic celebration at FilmScene, 404 E. College St., Suite 100.

DES MOINES — Parents will need to sign off on their children and teens receiving the HPV and hepatitis B vaccines under a bill headed to the governor’s desk, reports the Iowa Capital Dispatch. Currently, Iowans under 18 can consent to the HPV and hepatitis B vaccines on their own, while for most other vaccines, parental permission is required. Proponents of the Republican-driven bill say the bill simply brings HPV vaccination policy into line with others. Democratic opponents and health organizations cautioned at subcommittee meetings that the bill may increase cancer rates. HPV is linked to genital cancers, especially cervical cancer. The vaccine lowers rates of cervical cancer by nearly 90% if received before the age of 17 according to the National Cancer Institute. Opponents also argued the bill doesn’t consider instances where a parent isn’t the trusted adult in a child’s life, as in cases of abuse or sexual assault. The bill went to Gov. Kim Reynolds’ desk April 14.