Corn growers in the Midwest are testing whether they can use less fertilizer and still maintain yields or improve their bottom line through on-farm research trials. The project is designed for producers who use practices to boost soil health.

Listen as Morning Edition Host Meghan McKinney and IPR's State Government Reporter Katarina Sostaric review the latest in Iowa politics.

Each year, Choose Iowa awards grants to local farmers and agriculture-related businesses. The state initiative also helps promote products made and grown in Iowa — and it’s continuing to grow. One western Iowa farm is thriving with support from the program.

Gov. Kim Reynolds gave final approval Thursday for a 2% funding increase for Iowa's K-12 schools for the next school year. It sets the state cost per student at $8,148, which amounts to an additional $160 in funding per student compared to the current year.

The Iowa Senate passed several bills Wednesday aimed at strengthening immigration status checks related to voting, getting a driver’s license and hiring school and government employees.

Republicans on the House Government Oversight Committee are calling for an independent audit of the state court system’s misallocation of about $25 million. The judicial branch sent court debt collections to the wrong state fund for years.

The city of Coralville has terminated its contract with Flock Safety, a nationwide vendor of Automated License Plate Readers. Many Coralville residents are opposed to the technology and say they are relieved by the council’s recent actions but troubled by a lack of clarity on when the city’s two readers will be taken down.

After the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on tariffs Friday, farm groups called on the Trump administration to pursue a different approach to trade. The president of the Iowa Farmers Union wants to see more congressional oversight.

Republican lawmakers have approved a 2% increase in K-12 funding, sending the bill to the governor for final approval.

Listen as Morning Edition Host Meghan McKinney and IPR's State Government Reporter Katarina Sostaric review the latest in Iowa politics.