Data center development is expanding rapidly across the state due to Iowa’s cheap land and energy. Local governments have limited power when faced with development. Should they be the ones making big decisions for Iowa communities?
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Rather than investing in new gas plants and higher coal usage to scale up generation, the signatories of the 2026 Iowa Climate Statement are advocating for more wind and solar. They say renewable energy is critical for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting Iowans from air pollution and global price fluctuations from fossil fuels.
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A new rusty patched bumblebee sighting in Linn County is a good sign that habitat conservation efforts could be helping the federally endangered species.
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Led by the Iowa Environmental Council, the Protect Water Prevent Cancer campaign includes state-level policy recommendations, along with guidance for individuals to contact lawmakers and advocate for change in their communities.
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More than 60 years after a Cold War missile site was deactivated near Missouri Valley, a toxic compound remains in the groundwater. People living nearby are pressing federal officials for answers about health risks and how long the cleanup will take.
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NASA is partnering with the University of Iowa, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Des Moines Water Works to create a new tool to forecast water quality conditions. The goal is to combine satellite imagery with water quality monitors across the state to predict when nitrate concentrations in surface or ground water will reach dangerous levels.
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Water quality has become a bigger part of the public conversation in Iowa as the Des Moines metro and smaller communities around the state grapple with high nitrate levels. Many homeowners are concerned about their health and are looking into reverse osmosis to filter out these contaminants.
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Construction is underway on a new Innovation and Discovery Lab at Iowa Lakeside Laboratory that will expand hands-on learning for students of all ages. The new space will also support research to better understand and protect the water quality of the Iowa Great Lakes.
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The Iowa DNR will move forward with demolishing an education center at Springbrook State Park after approval from the Natural Resource Commission. The center in Guthrie County made a big impact on thousands of students, educators and conservationists.
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A report from the Iowa DNR shows Iowa had 36 nitrate-related drinking water violations in 2025, which is more than double the number reported in 2024.