John Deere announced more layoffs Wednesday morning at several facilities due to decreased demand and lower order volumes.

The latest layoffs affect 101 workers in Waterloo and 40 at the Des Moines Works in Ankeny. Their last day of work will be either Oct. 17 or Oct. 31.

John Deere says affected employees are eligible for recall based on length of service and will receive weekly supplemental unemployment and transitional assistance benefits, along with health care coverage for at least six months.

The Moline-based farm machinery manufacturer has laid off at least 365 Iowa employees so far this year.

The Iowa City City Council is taking steps to work with Johnson County on a new joint law enforcement facility.

After hours of debate, council members voted 4-3 to continue working on plans for the new facility. Next steps will include appointing a three-person committee in charge of overseeing the jail that would decide specifics before a proposal is sent to voters. 

Council member Megan Alter voted for the resolution. She says if the new facility is built, it would free up space in city hall. 

“If any one of you went through any portion of city hall, you would be horrified. These are awful working conditions.” 

If approved, the new facility would house the Iowa City Police Department, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and a new jail. 

Opponents of the joint facility say they would prefer to see the estimated $110 million it could cost to build it invested in diversion strategies to keep people out of jail. 

Iowans who love Girl Scout cookies will have another tempting option next year with the new Exploremores cookie. The official rollout is in February, but central Iowans can get an early taste at the Cookies on Tap fundraiser at the Iowa Taproom Oct. 9.

Samie Swinton, vice president for marketing with the Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa, says the flavor was inspired by rocky road ice cream, and describes it as chocolatey with marshmallow and toasted almond flavors.

Swinton says the cookie sales program teaches young women a wide host of skills, which they will use for the rest of their lives.

“It’s teaching local Girl Scouts goal setting, communication skills, money management — and all proceeds stay 100% local to do community service projects, help them plan trips … We have a lot of Girl Scouts here in Iowa planning trips to go to Europe.”

The Girl Scouts sell an average of more than 200 million boxes of cookies nationwide every year.

The Des Moines Independent Community School District will ask voters in November to raise property taxes to fund school renovations.

Des Moines Public Schools is hoping to raise $265 million as part of its “Reimagining Education” plan to fund building repairs, full-day preschool and specialized career training. The funding goal is half the original proposal, which covered a larger scope of projects.

If passed, the bond would add nearly $200 a year for the next 20 years to the property taxes of a home worth around $200,000.

The bond measure must receive approval from 60% of voters to pass.

Iowa’s 2nd District Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson says anyone who celebrated the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk should face consequences.

Hinson says seeing people cheer Kirk’s death made her think about the assassination attempts on Republican House Majority Leader Steve Scalise in 2017 and President Donald Trump in 2024. She says she thinks political violence is carried out by more people on the left than on the right. 

“I think that the truth is, political violence in America is almost exclusively left-wing violence directed at people on the right. I don’t think it’s an American problem, I think it’s a left-wing problem.”  

Hinson did not mention recent instances of political violence against Democrats, such as this year’s assassination of former Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman. Law enforcement said that shooting was part of a planned string of attacks targeting state Democratic elected officials.

Three students in eastern Iowa now face charges for allegedly using AI to generate nude images of their classmates.

Earlier this year, victims discovered their social media photos were used by a group of students at Cascade High School to create deepfake nudes.

The district said in a statement that students charged as creators or distributors of those deepfakes are now unable to attend school in person.

Madeleine C King

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Iowa Public Radio

Iowa Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver is stepping down from his leadership position and will not seek reelection. He says he continues to battle a brain tumor, and his family life is “busier than ever.”

The Republican from the Des Moines suburbs was first elected to the Iowa Senate in 2011 and has held the chamber’s top leadership position since 2018.

Whitver was diagnosed with a brain tumor after the 2024 legislative session. In his statement Tuesday, he says progress remains positive, but he still has a long way to go.

Whitver says he’s proud of what the Iowa Senate accomplished in his time as majority leader, including limiting government spending and cutting taxes.

He will continue to serve as majority leader until Senate Republicans meet to vote for a new leader.

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This story has been updated to reflect the fact that Whitver was first elected senate majority leader in 2018.

A western Iowa community is reaching out to people experiencing homelessness directly with a new initiative. The "A Path Forward" project in Council Bluffs spent the last week along the Missouri River meeting people who have set up camp there.

Chasity Kephart, a first responder community health coach with the Council Bluffs Police Department, says the majority struggle with addiction, mental health and economic issues

“Just really getting all those things stabilized to move forward. A lot of them don't have an income, which then makes it hard to get housing. And then, if they're using or mentally ill, and that's hard too to get a job, to move forward with housing.”

Kephart says hands-on support seems to be a better option in connecting people with resources.

She says they assisted more than 40 people last week, and plan to connect with more when they return to the riverfront next week. There are 16 different agencies participating in the project.

Some blind Iowans are asking the Iowa Department for the Blind to reconsider changes it’s making to a program that prepares people to live independently. About two dozen people gathered outside of the department’s office in Des Moines Tuesday for a protest.

The department got a new director in July who wants to end the requirement for clients to use sleep shades during training, which block out all residual vision and light.

Jonathan Ice of Cedar Rapids, who has trained with sleep shades, says requiring them ensures people are truly learning to use blindness techniques and are building their confidence.

“The tendency is to think 'I can’t do it without that little vision I had.' With the sleep shade requirement, I learned that I could get out, get around all over Minneapolis, all over Des Moines, with my cane without seeing a thing.”

Iowa Department for the Blind Director Stacy Cervenka says making the sleep shades optional will allow more Iowans to receive intensive training so they can work and live independently.

A member of the eastern Iowa immigrant rights nonprofit Escucha Mi Voz will travel to Rome next month for an audience with the pope.

The Rev. Guillermo Trevino from West Liberty will join a delegation of local leaders at the World Meeting of Popular Movements, a Vatican sponsored event that has shaped the language previous popes have used in their letters. 

Trevino has been outspoken since his godson, Pascual Pedro, was deported to Guatemala in July despite having no criminal background. Trevino spoke at an immigrant rights protest Tuesday in Cedar Rapids. 

“This started, as we know, July 1, when Pascual was here by himself. But we know he’s not by himself, and it’s a fight still to bring him home. So, we keep fighting. Don’t give up.” 

Trevino will be one of two representatives attending the event from the Gamaliel Network, the parent organization of Escucha Mi Voz. He recently returned from Washington, D.C., where he met with members of Iowa’s Congressional delegation to advocate for Pedro’s return to the U.S.

—
This story has been update to correct the fact that Pedro was deported in July.

Iowa is asking the U.S. Department of Education to send money to school districts as a lump sum instead of from separate funding streams.  

Currently, federal education funds are earmarked for certain programs and student groups, such as English language learners. The funds come with specific spending requirements, which could be loosened under the proposed plan. 

Shashank Aurora, chief financial officer at Des Moines Public Schools, the state’s largest district, says without more details on the plan, the outcome is difficult to predict. But he worries his district could receive less funding as a result of the proposed changes.

“If any money goes away, it will negatively hurt the student for whom the funding has historically been received.”

Aurora says the plan could be beneficial if the funding level remains the same and grants districts more flexibility on how to use their funds. 

The Iowa Department of Education wrapped up public comment on the plan last month and has not yet announced if it has been approved.

Read the full story.

An Iowa DOGE Task Force member says his comments about eliminating public pension plans for new state hires and tying teacher pay to performance were “misunderstood.”

Iowa DOGE member Terry Lutz previously said he was recommending a “pay for performance” system that ties teacher compensation to student outcomes. He also said the state’s public employee pension plan should be replaced for new hires.

Lutz now says his workgroup is recommending high performing teachers receive a bonus and says the state should study public worker compensation to potentially offer future workers a choice between a pension and a 401(k)-style retirement plan.

“Our recommendations are about equipping you with more modern tools to help you make an even bigger impact with faster hiring, world-class training and resources to focus on what matters most. If my previous comments led you to believe anything less, then I apologize.”

The task force is planning to submit its final report to Gov. Kim Reynolds by Sept. 29.

Read the full story.

James Kelley

/

Iowa Public Radio

Hundreds gathered Monday night at the University of Iowa to hold a vigil in memory of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. 

Leaders of the local chapter of Turning Point USA — the conservative youth organization that Kirk founded — prayed, sang and read personal testimonies about how he had impacted their lives.

There were cutouts of Kirk surrounded by lit candles and American flags. At one moment during the vigil, people started chanting, “Charlie! Charlie!”

James Kelley

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Iowa Public Radio

Russell Nieman is the vice president of the university’s Turning Point USA chapter. 

“Turning Point USA will not go away. We will be stronger, and we will continue to have open debate on this campus. We are not scared. We are more emboldened to carry the torch that Charlie has passed on to each and every one of us.”  

Kirk was assassinated last week while speaking at a public event at a Utah college.

Opinions are strong, but little is known about the Trump administration’s plan to reorganize the US Department of Agriculture. The USDA has extended the comment period through the end of the month.

The USDA spread more than half its positions currently in Washington among five cities, including Kansas City and Indianapolis, where the jobs would be closer to farmers and pay less.

Kansas farmer John Thaemert likes the idea of moving USDA staff closer to farmers and sharing the wealth.

“Washington, DC has got some really high paying jobs and a lot of wealth concentrated there. I like to see Kansas City have some of these jobs, as well as Raleigh and Indianapolis and Fort Collins and Salt Lake, and then kind of spread that out a little bit.”

Opponents say the plan is vague, and that it was hatched without input from legislators or farmers.

Karen Perry Sillerman, with the Union of Concerned Scientists, says the USDA has already lost more than 16,000 employees this year, and the shake up would trigger another round of departures.

“When you make it hard for people to do their jobs on behalf of the American public, you lose those people. And we've seen this before.”

In the first Trump administration the USDA moved two agencies to Kansas City.

More than half the employees quit, the agencies were hobbled, and ultimately moved back to Washington.

Community members in eastern Iowa are bringing attention to a new surveillance technology that’s been quietly rolled out across the state. It’s a tool that helps law enforcement agencies track vehicles across multiple jurisdictions. While some say it helps reduce crime, there are growing concerns that it might be used with other motives in mind.

Flock Safety’s cameras are Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR), a special type of artificial intelligence-powered camera that picks up license plate data. The cameras also collect the “vehicle fingerprint,” which includes a car’s make, model and color.

Cedar Rapids has 75 cameras. At least 29 cities in Iowa have contracts with Flock. Those include West Des Moines, North Liberty and Davenport.

Luke Bock, a lieutenant with the Dubuque Police Department, says he hopes the city will continue to grow its ALPR network.

“The cool thing about Flock is you have the ability to not just utilize our 22 cameras — we can basically share our camera information with other jurisdictions, and other jurisdictions can share their camera information with us.”

In Coralville, council members are reconsidering installing Flock cameras. They earmarked $36,000 for a two-year contract with Flock in April, but stalled the rollout after residents like Dan Waller raised concerns about the technology.

“These tools don’t just investigate crime, they generate suspicion by using artificial intelligence to flag innocent patterns of travel.”

Read more.

The nonprofit St. Vincent de Paul helps people struggling with poverty get the help they need. Now, they will help manage the Evelyn K. Davis Center. Thousands of people have received employment support and coaching through the center near downtown Des Moines.

The Des Moines Area Community College is passing on ownership so they can focus on providing education. President Rob Denson says that will help meet the growing need for assistance.

“They rely on us to do what we do best – which is to help individuals get in, get into class, get to training and get out.”

St. Vincent CEO Steve Havemann says all of the services both partners provide can now be meshed into one center.

“We know the behavioral economics says the more services you can provide in one stop, the better off people that are in need are.”

No services will be interrupted during the transition. The center will continue to provide the same resources. There will be two community forums in the next two months to discuss the transition.

Catelin Drey of Sioux City took the oath of office Monday to officially become a state senator. She’s a Democrat who flipped a Republican-held seat in a special election last month.

Drey’s win broke the GOP supermajority in the Senate. That means Republicans will need at least one Democrat to join them to approve the governor’s nominees for various state government positions.

Senate Democratic Leader Janice Weiner says this gives Democrats the ability to have a bigger role in the Iowa Senate.

“If they want to get people confirmed, if they want some other things, they will need to work with us. But that’s honestly the way it should work. That’s the way Iowans want it to work. They want us to work together. They want us to talk together so that we can actually do things that will improve the lives of Iowans.”

The Iowa Senate now has 33 Republicans and 17 Democrats, so the GOP will still control the lawmaking agenda when the next legislative session begins in January.

Iowa’s state parks are holding spruce-up events Saturday Sept. 27, and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is asking Iowans to consider lending a hand.

Andy Bartlett, park manager at Ledges State Park in Boone County, says with 15 parks hosting events for Statewide Volunteer Day, there is likely one near you that could use a little love.

“It’s a day to celebrate the value of our public lands and what they mean to our everyday lives and an opportunity for visitors and volunteers to give back to our parks. There’s a plethora of opportunities and volunteer projects all across our state, from painting picnic table boards and signposts to removing invasive species, a lot of things to do for people and a lot of different times during the day as well.”

Interested volunteers can search for Statewide Volunteer Day IowaDNR.gov and find contact information for each park.

The majority of the clean-up chores will only require an hour or two of time and Bartlett says volunteers won’t need to bring much along.

“Most of these events, I would say, come prepared with some water and any weather-appropriate clothing or apparel, work gloves and a good attitude to give back to the parks that are really special to us in our every day lives.”

Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson says Democrats want to push the country “past the brink” and that’s why she’s running for the U.S. Senate.

“We’re embarking on a journey to continue fighting alongside President Trump to transform the America First agenda into our America First Future.”

Hinson hosted a rally in Cedar Rapids Sunday afternoon to formally kick off her U.S. Senate campaign. She led the crowd in a round of applause for fellow Republican Sen. Joni Ernst, who has chosen not to seek a third term in the U.S. Senate. Hinson also emphasized that Trump endorsed her shortly after she entered the race.

Hinson, who has been a member of the U.S. House since 2021, says her political agenda is focused on working families, kids, small businesses, seniors and veterans.

“I’m a mama bear who refuses to stand by and allow my kids to grow up in a country run by liberals who want to ditch the American experiment and set up some sort of crazy liberal dystopia.”

A handful of Democrats are running for their party’s 2026 nomination for the U.S. Senate. Hinson singled out one of them — State Sen. Zach Wahls – by comparing him to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Democratic Party’s 2024 vice presidential nominee.

“We rejected the last Walz who sought to destroy our country. We’ll do the same for this one. The same woke ideology, a little bit different spelling, but we get it.”

Wahls, the Democrat from Coralville, told reporters that Ernst “ran for the hills” because she couldn’t defend her voting record — and Hinson has taken the same votes in the House.

“I think that there is a real frustration with what’s currently happening with the economy and we know it’s gotten worse over time and it will continue to get worse unless we elect new leaders.”

On a trip to Iowa, Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., said President Donald Trump is engaging in finger pointing rather than encouraging national unity after the shooting of Charlie Kirk. Kirk was killed during an event at a Utah university Wednesday.

In a video, Trump blamed rhetoric comparing people like Kirk to Nazis from what he calls the "radical left" as "directly responsible for the terrorism that we're seeing our country.”

Van Hollen spoke to reporters before the Polk County Democrats Steak Fry on Saturday. He says it’s not a moment for revenge.

“I am troubled by the fact that the President of the United States at this moment, rather than bringing the country together to say no to political violence, has decided to engage in finger pointing. That is not the kind of unifying message that we need.”

Van Hollen also criticized the Democratic party at the steak fry, saying they have lost sight of working people. He says the party needs to refocus on core values like fighting for workers, public education and social programs; he added Democrats need to be ready to take on the oil, pharmaceutical and tech industries.

“Let's face it, friends, people don't trust the Democrats to take on those interests, and so that's why we need to show that we will fight for working people in America.”

Van Hollen says Democrats should back candidates in races across the country this year to build momentum for 2026. He says they also need to make sure a Democrat wins Sen. Joni Ernst’s seat, following her announcement that she won’t seek reelection.

Read more.

The USDA says it will invest up to $18 million into a program that connects schools with local farmers.

Projects approved under the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program could include purchases of local food, education and food safety training for producers.

The announcement comes six months after the Trump administration initially canceled the program and terminated contracts for fiscal year 2025.

Chelsea Krist is co-chair of the Iowa Farm to School and Early Care Coalition.

“The awarded projects will definitely support access to local foods in schools and in early care and education programs through different local sourcing and food education efforts. So really excited about this, and can't wait to support those projects.”

But Christ says this funding doesn’t make up for $1 billion lost when the USDA canceled two other programs earlier this year – Local Food for Schools and Local Food Purchase Assistance.

“I think if we want Iowa schools and farms to thrive and be supported in this way, we need both types of funding.”

Applications for the Patrick Leahy Farm to School Grant Program close Dec. 5.

Read more.

Johnson County Supervisor Jon Green is going against Gov. Kim Reynolds’ encouragement to lower all flags in memory of slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Reynolds ordered state entities to lower their flags on Wednesday and encouraged local governments to do the same.

In a social media post, Green said he condemned the killing, but would not honor Kirk. He said Kirk made it his life’s mission to denigrate people that Green had sworn to protect, such as marginalized populations. Green also said he would accept any consequence, legal or electoral, for his decision.

Reynolds responded to Green’s post on X, calling it disgraceful. She said Green was putting politics above human decency.

Iowa’s Natural Resource Commission discussed the possibility of increasing license fees by 5% for hunting, fishing and trapping in the state during a public meeting Thursday.

Commissioners and attendees who provided public comment said the increase could help the DNR do more to conserve and restore wildlife habitat.

But many emphasized the need to generate funds beyond sportsmen and women. KR Buck is one of the commissioners.

“We have lit a fire underneath the sportsmen. I will guarantee you that besides the CO2 pipeline, I’ve been contacted more in the last two weeks about this, and they’re all in favor. But they’re all afraid that 5% isn’t going to get us where we need to be.”

State law caps annual license fee increases at 5%.

Next steps include an analysis by DNR staff before Dec. 15 and approval by the commissioners. State legislators and the governor would need to sign off before a license fee increase went into effect.

Matthew Kargol, an Oskaloosa high school art teacher is on administrative leave over comments posted on social media in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s death.

The post contained the text, “One Nazi down.” Kirk, a conservative activist, was fatally shot while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University.

The Oskaloosa school board could fire the teacher as early as next week, unless the employee requests a private hearing. Currently, there is a special hearing scheduled for next Wednesday.

Mike Fisher, the superintendent of Oskaloosa schools, says the district has to step in if employee speech starts causing problems at school.

“We have policy on staff conduct and we have board policy on employee expression, and there's always that balance of what is allowed by free speech and what then creates a substantial material disruption to our learning environment. If speech begins to impede on the learning environment, that can cause major issues that we have to deal with with the employees.”

Fischer says the district received more than 1,000 contacts about the post. He says students, parents and community members reached out about the post. But more than half of the contacts were from people outside of the community or the state.

The state department of education says there are multiple reports of school personnel making what it calls “disturbing comments” in response to Kirk’s death. Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley says he is aware of statements made by teachers that he says praise Kirk’s death. He says a House Government Oversight Committee will address the issue if districts do not take appropriate action.

The Iowa DNR is moving forward with a pilot project that aims to reduce E. coli levels at two state beaches in Polk and Webster counties. Certain strains of E. coli can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps and urinary tract infections.

Michelle Balmer, the DNR’s lake restoration program coordinator, says high levels of this bacteria are strongly correlated with prolonged periods of wet sand and runoff from the surrounding area.

“With lots of rainfall, we often see elevated concentrations. And so what are ways that we can manage stormwater at our beaches, essentially, to help mitigate some of these concerns. That’s kind of the crux of this project.”

Balmer says one of the practices the DNR will use are bioswales – small depressions that capture runoff from parking lots and allow it to filter through the soil.

The DNR aims to start construction this fall or winter at Brushy Creek State Recreation Area. It will take place during a campground renovation to minimize disruptions at the park.

The Natural Resource Commission approved an expanded footprint of the Big Creek project Thursday during a public meeting. Work at Big Creek State Park would likely begin after Labor Day next year.

The current construction estimates are $150,000 for Brushy Creek and $420,000 for Big Creek.

The DNR will monitor E. coli at all of the beaches in the pilot project for several years to help guide future management at beaches around the state.

Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks has proposed renaming the Center for Intellectual Freedom at the University of Iowa as the Charlie Kirk Center for Intellectual Freedom.

The Iowa Legislature established the center earlier this year, with the goal of promoting free speech on the university’s campus. Kirk was a conservative activist who was assassinated while speaking at a Utah college Wednesday.

Miller-Meeks, who represents Iowa's 1st Congressional District of Iowa, said on social media the Center for Intellectual Freedom should live up to its name by honoring Kirk, who she called a defender of free speech and open debate. She said Kirk dedicated his life to advancing intellectual freedom by empowering students.

State and local health officials say cooling towers may be responsible for an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in the Marshall County area.

The severe respiratory illness is caused by inhaling water droplets with the Legionella bacteria. It’s not contagious.

Officials have confirmed 34 cases and one death so far in the Marshalltown area since the end of August.

Matthew Donahue, the state epidemiologist, told the Marshall County Board of Supervisors that public health officials have tested nine cooling towers in the area and are disinfecting all of them.

“Because of how wide it appears to be spread, because of the calls we've made to patients so far, that seems like the most likely answer to how this has all started.”

Most people who are exposed to the bacteria do not get sick. Those who are older, smoke or have underlying health issues are at most risk of becoming severely ill.

Officials say people with severe respiratory virus symptoms should be tested for the bacteria as soon as possible. It can be treated with antibiotics.

The state’s public universities are seeing some of their biggest incoming classes this fall.

The University of Iowa’s incoming class is its second largest in its history at 5,500. Iowa State has more than 6,000, making this year its third largest.

The University of Northern Iowa’s incoming class is the biggest since 2017. The class has around 1,500 students. Applications from surrounding states to UNI increased by 99%. This is the first year the college offered in-state tuition to new students from neighboring states.

Iowa residents make up more than half of University of Iowa and ISU’s first year classes. They make up more than 90% of the incoming class at UNI.

Total enrollment across the state’s public universities peaked in 2016 and reached a low in 2021. Enrollment at the colleges has been slowly climbing since.

Iowa’s electricity needs are expected to increase by 30-60% in the next 20 years, and research shows the electric sector needs to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2035 to help reduce climate change impacts.

The Iowa Environmental Council says it’s possible for the state to meet higher demand and achieve the carbon-free electricity goal. Renewable energy from wind and solar rose to 67% last year in Iowa, according to the IEC’s latest Condition of the State report. But import taxes on materials, including a 50% tariff on steel, and a rollback of federal tax credits could dampen momentum.

Steve Guyer is IEC’s senior energy policy counsel.

“A wind turbine is almost all steel. And it’d be nice if all that steel was available here in the U.S., but it’s not. And so, as that steel is imported, that’s certainly going to increase the cost of building that turbine."

The U.S. Supreme Court said Tuesday it will hear a case challenging the legality of President Trump’s tariffs.

The IEC report and other research show the operating costs for wind and solar are cheaper than coal and natural gas, even without subsidies.

The president of Western Iowa Tech Community College in Sioux City plans to retire May 15, 2026 after serving 15 years in the role. Dr. Terry Murrell started at Western Iowa Tech in 2007 as vice president of instruction.

Last year, Western Iowa Tech agreed to pay 23 students from Chile and Brazil who were in the country with J-1 “exchange visitor” visas a combined $5.3 million to settle claims they were mistreated in a job training program in 2019.

Last summer Murrell told reporters the program didn’t live up to Western Iowa Tech’s standards or meet the expectations of those students.

“The J-1 program is complex. It’s complicated and I don’t know that we fully appreciated that when we stepped in and all of that is my fault.”

During Murrell’s presidency, the community college nearly tripled its graduation rate, added athletic programs and established a food pantry, health center and expanded mental health services.

In a statement posted on the college’s website, Murrell says, “serving alongside Western Iowa Tech’s faculty, staff and students has been one of the greatest privileges of my career.”

A University of Iowa physician and scientist has won the prestigious Lasker Award for his cystic fibrosis research.

Michael J. Welsh will share the award with two other scientists for his research that helped to develop a triple-drug combination that helps people who have the genetic disease.

The drugs work on about 90% of people with CF. They have helped extend the average lifespan by decades.

The Lasker Awards are one of the country’s most prestigious prizes in biomedical research. Past recipients have gone on to win the Nobel Prize.

The Iowa Supreme Court will decide whether school administrators can be held individually responsible for alleged bullying in their schools – even when they’re not directly involved.

The case involves two families that claim the Southeast Polk School District didn’t do enough to respond after classmates harassed and threatened their children.

The district’s attorney, Samuel McMichael, told the justices during oral arguments that administrators can’t be sued because public employees have qualified immunity under Iowa Code.

That makes it harder to sue a school leader over something like a civil rights violation.

“Plaintiffs have brought in the superintendent, really, simply based on his position within the school district, and not based on his involvement and underlying action. So I think qualified immunity here is important to protect those type of instances.”

But the parents’ attorney, Marrissa Pasker, says civil rights lawsuits are meant to prevent discrimination from happening.

“It would be illogical to think that the Legislature intended educational institutions to be liable, but not the individual actors who were carrying out the discrimination.”

Pasker says the district showed enough negligence for the lawsuit to go forward. She says not punishing administrators would fail to stop discrimination from happening.

Some Iowa Republican lawmakers are denouncing political violence after right-wing activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at an outdoor event at Utah Valley University Wednesday.

News of Kirk’s death was shared by President Donald Trump in a Truth Social post. NPR is working to independently verify the information.

Iowa’s 1st Congressional District Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks is calling the shooting “heartbreaking” and an attack on principles of free speech.

Iowa’s 2nd District Rep. Ashley Hinson says she is “devastated” for Kirk’s family, adding that “there is no place for political violence in America.”

Kirk, 31, was the founder of Turning Point USA, a nonprofit aimed at growing the conservative movement. The group has several chapters at Iowa high schools and colleges.

The Iowa Transportation Commission is updating its rules so people can’t change the sex listed on their driver’s license.

Iowa Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division Attorney Sara Siedsma told the commission that the update makes the rules comply with a change in the law.

“That legislation added a new definition of sex in Iowa Code, referring to sex as male or female, as observed or clinically verified at birth, and removed the ability to obtain an amended birth certificate to reflect a person’s change in sex designation,” she said.

Siedsma said there was a public comment against the rule change, where the decision was further explained.

“Under Iowa Code, Chapter 17A, an administrative rule cannot conflict with the statutory provision or amend or nullify legislative intent. Accordingly, we cannot leave in place, in our rules, a process by which a person could amend the sex on their driver’s license as something different than what is listed on the identity document.”

Commissioner Sally Stutsman was the only one of the Iowa Transportation Commission to comment on the change.

“I do not agree with the Legislature on the action. I know that once we get to this point, I cannot vote no, but I plan to abstain from voting on this issue,” Stutsman said.

The rule applies to all types of driver’s licenses and state-issued IDs.

State Treasurer Roby Smith says short-term investing of unspent state funds has yielded over $1 billion for the state of Iowa since he took office in January 2023.

A number of people in the Treasurer’s Office and outside money managers are investing pooled money from the Iowa veterans fund and the Road Use Tax Fund, where gas taxes are deposited and used to fix and build Iowa roads and bridges.  Any investment earnings go back into those funds.

The $4 billion in the taxpayer relief fund, where state budget surpluses have been funneled for the past 14 years, is also being invested.

Smith says the average return on investment has been around 4.4% since early 2023. State law for the past five decades has required this type of short-term investing, and the law says both state employees and outside financial experts are to handle the deals so it’s a diversified investment team.

(Henderson, RI)

James Kelley

/

Iowa Public Radio

Tensions continue to rise at the Department of Homeland Security office in Cedar Rapids as immigrant rights advocates organize a weekly presence outside the building.

Last week, officials constructed a barricade to keep protestors off the property. Now, for the first time, an interpreter who usually accompanies people to their check-in appointments with federal immigration officials was told to leave the building. 

“I am often calling them about questions or if immigrants have questions, we communicate all the time together,” said Emily Sinwell, an interpreter with Iowa City Catholic Worker. “So, this is really unfortunate that they’re not letting me inside to provide support for immigrants and also interpretation.” 

Leaders with the immigrants’ rights group Escucha Mi Voz say immigration enforcement officials in Cedar Rapids detained four people last week during their check-in appointments.  

Twenty soldiers with the Iowa National Guard have also officially started helping carry out federal immigration enforcement efforts. 

A town in northeast Iowa is working to encourage young entrepreneurs to sell their produce, baked goods or handmade products at the local farmers market.

Manchester Chamber of Commerce Director Laura Holtz says her community is holding a junior market, along with the regular farmers market, this weekend.

“We’re encouraging all those young — I thought about calling it Munchkin Market, but don’t want it to be just for the littles … If you’ve got some teenagers that love to bake, love to garden, love to make some bracelets, let them come on out and sell those, set up a booth and have that at the Manchester Farmers Market.”

Holtz says the community wants to encourage young people to take an active role in this longstanding tradition. There’s no fee to participate. All young people have to do is bring a table and chairs to set up alongside the other vendors.

The Junior Market takes place Saturday from 7:30 - 11 a.m. on River Street in Manchester.

A University of Iowa professor created an app to help first responders better communicate with patients who are unable to speak during an emergency.

The app is loaded with medical vocabulary and questions related to things like symptoms, pain levels and medications. Patients who are unable to speak can communicate by touching icons on the app or, if they are unable to do that, it prompts first responders how to ask them yes or no questions. 

Krista Davidson, a clinical professor of speech language pathology at the University of Iowa, says she created the app after first responders told her that nothing like it existed for emergencies. 

“I was talking to a lot of medical professionals, and they said if we can't communicate with someone, we have to administer every single test because we don't know what's wrong. But if they could give us a little bit of information, it would save everybody a little time and money.”

So far, one hospital in Ohio has adopted the app, according to Davidson. She’s hoping to see more health systems adopt the program soon.

The Iowa Attorney General’s Office says a western Iowa police officer didn’t break the law when he shot and killed a homeless Cuban immigrant last month.

Investigators say body camera footage showed that Feglys Antonio Campos Arriba, 36, attacked Denison Police Sergeant Alan Romero.

Romero told Campos Arriba he needed to leave a city park after hours or face arrest. Campos Arriba chose to go to jail, but then started charging the officer, who used his taser without any effect. The two scuffled and Campos Arriba bit Romero’s ear, causing permanent damage.

Campos Arriba then chased the officer, who shot him in the chest. Campos continued to pursue Romero, who then shot him three more times.

The report by the Attorney General’s Office also states that Campos Arriba had been in the U.S. on a temporary work visa that expired in July.

The Iowa City Police Department arrested a woman allegedly responsible for the 1992 death of an infant.

Police documents say Cindy Sue Elder, 58, placed her newborn child in a bag and left him in a trash pile in Coralville nearly 33 years ago. The infant’s remains were later found at the Iowa City landfill. Elder was 26 at the time.

She told investigators following up on the case that she did not want to become a parent and was trying to keep the baby a secret, including from the child's father. While the identities of the parents were not discovered during the initial investigation, advances in DNA technology led to the case being reopened in 2020.

Elder is now charged with first degree murder. 

Congressional leaders are working on a deal to keep the federal government running as they work on a funding package. If a continuing resolution is not passed, the federal government would run out of money and shut down Oct. 1. 

Sen. Chuck Grassley has been through a few shutdowns during his time in the House and Senate. He says, as a means of leverage, they don’t work.

“After a day — or in one case three weeks — of embarrassment that government is shut down and the people want to know what they're going to get for their taxpayers' money. ‘What's wrong with you congressmen and senators, you can't keep government running?’ They get so much pressure that government is funded again and they didn't get what they want.”

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Grassley said he’s cosponsoring a bill that would prevent government shutdowns. In the event that funding runs out, it would automatically implement a 14-day continuing resolution to continue critical services and operations. 

Job centers receiving federal funding now must verify citizenship for job hunters looking for personalized help under new guidelines from the U.S. Department of Labor.

The Trump administration is preventing people in the U.S. without legal status from using federal programs, meaning that anyone wanting one-on-one job assistance needs to verify their citizenship.

Central Iowa Workforce Development Board Director Eric Kress says people looking for help need to be aware of what documents to bring in.
“A lot of what the government is trying to determine is who's eligible for public assistance, what constitutes public assistance and then what safeguards do they need to put in place to ensure that assistance is only being received by those who qualify.”

Kress says he doesn’t expect any disruptions to his office since citizenship verification is a part of job applications further down the line.

The state of Iowa will pay $85,000 to settle a discrimination lawsuit filed by LGBTQ Iowans who were kicked out of the state Capitol in 2020.

About 150 middle and high school students were visiting the Capitol for an event held by Iowa Safe Schools, an LGBTQ student advocacy group. After receiving a complaint, Capitol security asked transgender and nonbinary students to stop using the men’s bathroom and use gender-neutral bathrooms on a different floor. When they refused, the State Patrol escorted the whole group out of the building.

Five members of that group sued the state, alleging discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. That was before the state Legislature removed gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights Act earlier this year. Under the settlement, the state is not admitting any wrongdoing.

Voters in the Cedar Rapids Community School District will see a $117 million bond referendum on the ballot in November.

The school board put the referendum on the ballot after receiving a petition with over 6,100 verified signatures supporting a vote. If approved, it will help finance renovations to McKinley, Wilson and Roosevelt middle schools, along with upgrades to Kennedy High School.

If passed, the bond will cost the average homeowner in the district $7.47 a month. It will need at least 60% approval to take effect.

District voters previously rejected a $220 million school bond in 2023. 

Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley says two whistleblowers are scheduled to testify before his panel Tuesday about how the parent company of Facebook allegedly buried child safety research.

Grassley says he and other senators sent a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg a few weeks ago, pressing for answers about the company’s ads that are believed to target teenagers, ads he says appear to violate Meta’s own statements.

“We also highlighted concerns that Meta is potentially violating the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act by collecting personal information from children under 13 without parental consent.”

Grassley, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, says Congress deserves answers and children deserve to be safe.

“Meta allegedly chose to move forward with plans to expand their program’s virtual reality platform to children as young as 10 … without the appropriate safety measures, like parental consent for data collection.”

Grassley says parents must be vigilant and keep a close eye on where their kids venture online, which he recognizes is “almost a constant job” since many kids spend hours on social media every day.

The Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CST.

The percentage of people who return to prison in Iowa after being released is the lowest it’s been in the last decade.

About a third of people released in the past three years went back to prison — a 3% decrease from last year, according to the Iowa Department of Corrections. That means fewer people are committing new crimes or violating supervision rules.

People newly released from prison may need to follow certain rules to stay out of prison. These parole conditions can include having a job or maintaining housing. But a study created by IDC and the nonprofit Justice Systems Partners shows people end up going back to jail because they can’t keep up with these conditions.

Shannon Magnuson, lead researcher for the study, says fewer returns could mean Iowa is better preparing people who are incarcerated to re-enter the community.
“If you're seeing a rise of people staying longer in prison and then returning less, then we must be functionally doing something different in prison, or while people are under supervision, that's keeping them from coming back.”

Magnuson says people stay out of prison when they receive supportive programs, not punishment.

During a visit to Des Moines Monday, U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins said more needs to be done to improve veterans’ health care. 

Collins toured the 92-year-old VA Central Iowa Health Care Center and recognized six staff members for their work in assisting veterans’ health needs. Collins said his time in Des Moines helps him understand how to better improve the VA health system. 

“Whether it be how quickly it takes us to get someone hired, how we can add new facilities, how we can add things to our repertoire, and also working with our community and our community docs.”

Collins also defended the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ decision to reduce its staff by 30,000 people by the end of this month, saying it’s part of a move to reshape the department.

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird said she’s encouraged by the move to have more FBI agents working out of regional offices. Last month, FBI Director Kash Patel met with Bird and other law enforcement officials from Iowa and Nebraska at the Omaha field office.

Bird said last week that the discussions with Patel were “informal.”

“One of the things that Director Patel was very interested in was what resources might be needed by us from the FBI so that they could help us in our investigations. Whether it’s getting illegal drugs off the streets or human trafficking.”

Patel’s visit came shortly after federal officials announced five people who own, operate and manage hotels in the Omaha area had been arrested and 27 victims of human trafficking had been rescued, including 10 children.

Joe Mitchell for Congress

Former state Rep. Joe Mitchell is running for Congress in Iowa’s 2^nd Congressional District. The 28-year-old from Clear Lake says as a Trump administration appointee, he has already earned a name for himself among the MAGA base. 

Mitchell says he’s running for Congress to cut spending, improve border security and protect Iowa’s farmers. In July, he was tapped by the Trump administration to be a regional administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

In a social media post, Mitchell said he’s trusted in the MAGA movement and will always fight alongside Iowans who have voiced their support for the president. 

Mitchell previously served two terms in the Iowa House, in 2019 and 2021. He was the youngest state legislator in Iowa history when he was first sworn into office. He also founded Run Gen Z, a nonprofit that aims to get young conservatives elected to public office. He currently runs a real estate development business in Clear Lake. 

Mitchell is the second Republican to announce a bid for the seat after Rep. Ashley Hinson said she is running for the U.S. Senate. State Rep. Charlie McClintock launched his campaign last week.

Read the full story.

Lennox International is laying off 49 employees at its Marshalltown plant by the end of the month. The Texas-based company posted the layoff notices on a state website, as required by law.

In a written statement, the company said the layoffs would “adjust production and staffing … to current market conditions.”

Lennox previously laid off 22 workers on Aug. 1. With the latest round of cuts, the Marshalltown plant’s payroll will be reduced to 71 positions.

In late 2018, the Marshalltown facility was heavily damaged by a tornado. Repairs and renovations were completed in mid-2023. Lennox also has production facilities in Mexico and South Carolina.

Madeleine Charis King

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Iowa Public Radio

Iowa Rep. Ashley Hinson has the backing of President Donald Trump as she enters week two of her campaign for the U.S. Senate.

Trump posted on social media Friday, calling Hinson “a wonderful person who has always delivered for Iowa” and she “will continue doing so in the United States Senate.”

Hinson, a Republican from Marion, has been a member of the U.S. House since 2021.

“I’ve worked very hard to stand up for President Trump, working alongside him in my service in Congress and I would say that job is not done,” Hinson said Friday at a rally in her hometown of West Des Moines.

Hinson announced her Senate bid last Tuesday, a few hours after Republican Sen. Joni Ernst released a video saying she would not seek reelection.

The top Republican in the U.S. Senate, Majority Leader John Thune, endorsed Hinson Friday. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, has also endorsed Hinson.

Hinson faces criticism from fellow GOP candidate

Former state Sen. Jim Carlin, R-Sergeant Bluff, has been campaigning for the Iowa GOP’s Senate nomination for a few months and posted a written statement on Facebook minutes after Hinson announced her U.S. Senate campaign.

He said Iowa “doesn’t need another candidate picked” by the Republican establishment “who pretends to support President Trump,” but “isn’t a true conservative fighter.”

After Hinson announced she was running for the U.S. Senate, three of the 100 Republicans who are currently members of the state Legislature endorsed Carlin.

Carlin ran against U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley in the Iowa Republican Party’s 2022 primary, finishing with 26.4% of the vote. Grassley, who was endorsed by Trump, received 73.4% in the primary.

This year marks the 30^th anniversary of Reiman Gardens in Ames opening its doors. 

The botanical gardens, which are part of Iowa State University, have grown from 5 acres to 17 since its founding, and now have over 6,000 types of plants.

It also boasts 26 themed garden attractions, including a children’s garden, trial plots and the world’s largest concrete gnome. There’s also an indoor butterfly wing, which can have up to 1,000 butterflies at a time. 

Reiman Gardens Marketing and Communications Manager Andrew Gogerty says the garden plans to keep maximizing the land they have in the future. 

“We can't really grow, as far as the number of acres we have, because we're just land locked by streets at that point. But just continuing to offer great educational programs and fun events for the public would be our mission going forward, the same way that it's been for the last 30 years.”

Reiman Gardens will host a Botanical Bash this Saturday to celebrate the milestone. Proceeds from the event will go towards supporting the gardens and its programming.

Another Republican has joined the race for Iowa’s 4^th Congressional District.

Christian Schlaefer is a farmer and volunteer firefighter from the small north central town of Lakota in Kossuth County. The 29-year-old says more needs to be done to revive the middle class and for America to return to Christian morals and principles.

“You know, if you truly believe in something, you can't sit by for 10 years and watch it continue to happen and simply talk about doing something about it.”

Schlaefer says the federal government overspends and misuses taxpayer money. He also supports President Donald Trump’s policies on the border, crime and the economy.

Schlaefer will face off in a primary next year with four other Republicans. There are three Democrats in the race.

Republican Rep. Randy Feenstra currently represents the 4^th District. He says he plans to make an announcement soon whether he’ll run for governor in 2026.

Madeleine Charis King

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Iowa Public Radio

Republican Senate candidate Ashley Hinson launched her 99-county tour Friday in her hometown of West Des Moines. The U.S. representative announced her campaign earlier this week after U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst said she won’t run for reelection in 2026.

Hinson, who currently represents Iowa’s 2^nd District, says she has worked hard as a U.S. House member to stand up for President Donald Trump — and that job is not done.

“I pledge to you, I will listen. I will go visit all 99 counties. I think we have a pretty good example set for us by our senior senator in Chuck Grassley. I’ll get out and do the ‘Full Grassley,’ and I look forward to hearing your stories and telling those stories in Washington, D.C., and working hard for you.”

Hinson was also endorsed Friday by top Senate Republicans. U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina describe her as a Trump ally and a conservative fighter.

Former state Sen. Jim Carlin and Joshua Smith are the other Republicans who have launched U.S. Senate campaigns. Five Democrats are also running for Senate in 2026.

Every week, shoppers flock to farmers’ markets across the Midwest for locally-grown fruits and veggies. But why are prices for something local often higher than produce shipped in thousands of miles and sold in grocery stores? 

“The first thing that comes to mind is scale,” said Courtney Long, food systems program manager with Iowa State University Extension and director of the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center. A commercial operation can more easily invest in equipment, infrastructure and technology to grow, harvest, wash, package and distribute its product in bulk, she said.

For example, a large green bean operation may have machinery that harvests multiple rows at once. In contrast, a small-scale farmer growing dozens of vegetables is likely hand-picking their green beans.

Not all local produce costs more. The price gap largely depends on the season and where someone buys groceries. But generally, it’s difficult for a produce farmer in the Midwest to compete with prices offered at Walmart or other large grocery chains.

Here's a look at the biggest factors that play a role in why local food often costs more.

Douglas DeFelice for 2024 Trump Campaign

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McClintock for Iowa

Republican state Sen. Charlie McClintock is running in Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District.

He said he's campaigning on an "America First" agenda and reiterated his support for President Donald Trump and the Republican platform.

McClintock is the first Republican to announce a campaign for the seat after 2nd District Rep. Ashley Hinson launched a campaign for U.S. Senate.

He’s serving his second term in the Iowa Senate after serving one term in the House.

Read the full story.

State officials say they are investigating an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in central Iowa that has affected 21 people so far.
 
Iowa Department of Health and Human Services officials say the cases have been in individuals living in north central Marshalltown. One older adult with underlying health issues has died. 
 
Legionnaires’ disease is caused by bacteria that thrives in warm water and is spread by inhaling affected water droplets. It is not contagious. Symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath and muscle aches. 
 
Most healthy people who are exposed to the bacteria do not get sick. Adults 50 and older and those who smoke or have chronic lung conditions are most at risk for severe illness.  
 
Officials say those who experience pneumonia-like symptoms, especially in the Marshalltown area, should immediately seek medical attention.

A new University of Michigan study plotted over 15,000 cattle and hog feeding operations across the country and found that counties with animal feeding operations tend to have higher levels of air pollution.

The study’s researchers say areas with animal feeding operations tend to have higher levels of particulate matters, a type of air pollution.

“There is no safe level of PM 2.5. And PM 2.5 actually is linked to asthma, cancer like leukemia, cardiovascular diseases," said researcher Sanaz Chamara.

Chamara said many animal feeding operations are clustered in a few counties. She said 30 counties in the study accounted for about a quarter of all facilities.

Wisconsin, Nebraska and Iowa were among the top five states with the most cattle feeding operations. Iowa also had the highest number of hog farms, with Minnesota, Oklahoma and Missouri placing in the top five.

Fire officials have released the preliminary cause of a deadly house fire that killed three teenagers in northwest Iowa.
The fire broke out early Monday morning outside of Granville in Sioux County. One teenager was sent to a burn unit in Minnesota in critical condition.

The Granville fire chief says although the cause of the fire remains under investigation, initial findings indicate there was an accidental electrical fire that started in the living room.

The teens were students at MOC-Floyd Valley in Orange City, where counselors were available for students and staff.

Rachel Cramer

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Iowa Public Radio

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship says it will continue a special food bank purchasing program for another year. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig calls the first year of the program a success.

The Choose Iowa Farms to Food Banks Program directs state funds to six food banks across the state. Those food banks then purchase goods from local producers who are members of the program, so that they can serve fresh, locally grown food. 

Naig says there is growing demand statewide for local foods.  

“Survey after survey tells us that consumers are interested more and more in buying local. And of course, what we love from a business development, or a market development side, is we have tremendous opportunity. Our farmers, our food businesses in the state, have a tremendous opportunity to meet that growing demand.” 

In its first year, the program served 55 counties, with food banks purchasing nearly half a million dollars' worth of food from local producers. IDALS is investing another $200,000 in the program for the next year.

Meskwaki Nation police will now be able to pursue criminal suspects who flee across tribal settlement boundaries. The Meskwaki Nation signed an agreement Thursday with Iowa’s top law enforcement officials to clear up confusion about tribal police authority to pursue and detain suspects. 
 
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird says the lack of legal clarity has led to evidence being suppressed in a drug case.

“This agreement shows how Iowa sovereigns can work together for public safety and for public good. And this agreement ensures that drunk drivers, drug dealers, other criminals who run from the law will be caught, punished and the evidence that is collected can be used against them in a court of law.”

Meskwaki Nation Tribal Chairman Vern Jefferson says the legal loophole has allowed impaired drivers and other offenders to avoid responsibility. He says the new agreement with the state will help ensure safer roads on the Meskwaki settlement and in Tama County. 

Iowa’s 1st District Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks joined fellow Republicans and Democrats on a U.S. House committee to raise concerns about chatbots.

“We know that older individuals have less trust, but that younger individuals who have grown up in a world connected remotely, or by the internet, have greater trust in these systems.”

During a Capitol Hill hearing on the issue, Miller-Meeks cited The New York Times story about a California teen with suicidal thoughts who confided in a chatbot rather than humans and took his own life in April. The 16-year-old’s parents are suing Open AI, the company behind ChatGPT, alleging the company’s chatbot turned into their son’s “suicide coach.”

“The tragic story of Adam Raine, as reported by The New York Times, has ignited a difficult but urgent conversation about the role of AI in mental health support.”

In a statement to national media, a spokesperson for OpenAI said the company is “working to make its chatbot more supportive in times of crisis by making it easier to reach emergency services.”

Miller-Meeks recognizes the “tremendous potential” for AI in health care; however, she says it should not be used to replace doctors, therapists or human connections that young people need.

She says when it comes to AI, it’s time for “clear standards so innovations save lives without putting patients at risk.”

Creative Commons CC0 Public Domain

The Iowa DNR heard pushback Wednesday at a public hearing for an amended wastewater permit requested for a coal plant near Ottumwa. The plant is operated by Interstate Power and Light, a subsidiary of Alliant Energy.

DNR staff say the amendment updates wastewater flow data following a new discharge site added by the plant last year. But several environmental groups oppose the changes, saying they don’t address contaminants that leach out of coal ash and other waste stored in a landfill used by Interstate Power and Light.

The power plant transports this liquid by truck to Ottumwa’s sewage treatment plant.

Attorney Josh Mandelbaum spoke on behalf of the Environmental Law and Policy Center.

“That just shifts the risk. It shifts the risk to the city and to its residents. This is Alliant’s pollution, and this permit is the opportunity to provide accountability and compliance with the rule.”

The DNR expects a final decision on the permit by October.

Read the full story.

A young man who was trying to sell some clothes in Des Moines using an online marketplace was robbed at gunpoint Wednesday night.

Des Moines police say the 20-year-old had arranged online to sell several items during an in-person meetup at 10 p.m. and was confronted by four men — two of whom pulled out guns.

Police say the four suspects robbed the man and fled. The victim called the police. Officers saturated the area quickly. They caught one suspect and a few blocks away pulled over an Uber driver who was carrying the other three.

All three of the suspects ran, and two were captured. One person is still on the run.

A rifle was recovered from the scene. Police say the three suspects in custody are all teenagers.

A former northeast Iowa man was convicted Wednesday in the murder of a teenage girl who was last seen alive more than eight years ago.

A jury in Winneshiek County District Court found James Bachmurski, 66, guilty of second-degree murder in the death of 15-year-old Jade Colvin.

Bachmurski, who has been living in Georgia, was arrested in August 2024 in connection with Colvin’s death. Investigators allege she was brought to Bachmurski’s home near Decorah in March 2017, and hasn’t been seen since.

Bachmurski is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 21, and faces a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison.

Madeleine Charis King

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Iowa Public Radio

Iowa’s most populous county opened a new election office. The new Polk County Election Office is meant to be more secure and provide more space for voters.

Many Polk County residents have gone to the former election office in downtown Des Moines to vote early or turn in their absentee ballot. Now, all of those services are located on the north side of the city at Polk County River Place.

Polk County Auditor Jamie Fitzgerald says the new office has space for hundreds of people to line up indoors, avoiding the long outdoor lines of early voters sometimes seen in downtown Des Moines. The new office also has a large, free parking lot, unlike the paid parking spaces near the old election office.

“When we set it up, we made it for the voters. We wanted to make sure the voters had the best experience possible.”
Fitzgerald says ballot storage is more secure at the new location, with a fireproof room to hold absentee ballots.

Polk County Board of Supervisors Chair Matt McCoy says the new office cost about half of the estimate for fixing structural problems at the old location.

Des Moines’s public transport network is proposing to cut the number of routes by more than half.

The system currently has a mix of 27 long-distance and local routes. The new proposed transit plan has 10 local routes with stops along four main corridors in the metro receiving service every 15 minutes. It will also scale back service hours by 10%.

The network will hold nine public input meetings this month across the metro.

Amanda Wanke, the CEO of the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority, says the plans will be finalized after reviewing feedback.

“We know we can't be everything to everybody, but we do want to hear from everybody, so we can look where there are themes and trends. If we're hearing consistently that more people are wanting earlier service, we can make adjustments.”

DART is facing a nearly $7 million budget shortfall by fiscal year 2027. Officials say the new plan will eliminate that expected deficit.

Read more.

A northeast Iowa community is preparing for a royal visit.

The Crown Prince of Norway will visit Decorah next month. Crown Prince Haakon will be visiting the United States to celebrate 200 years of organized immigration from Norway.

Norwegian government officials say the crown prince will visit Decorah and the Twin Cities from Oct. 6 to 8 and will be in New York City on Oct. 9.

Decorah is home to the Vestherheim Norwegian-American Museum.

A new ordinance in Linn County allows zoning districts to be designated for nuclear power generation and nuclear waste storage. The ordinance helps to set up the county for NextEra Energy’s efforts to reopen the Duane Arnold nuclear plant. NextEra was recently granted permission to reconnect the plant to Iowa’s electrical grid.

The ordinance requires applicants to pay the county each year through a Host Community Agreement. That money will be used for things like public safety and infrastructure maintenance. It also creates new land use standards for nuclear power generating facilities.

Supervisor Kirsten Running-Marquardt says the ordinance will protect the county from taking on unnecessary financial burdens.

“I think this is a very good, fair and reasonable ordinance that allows for the Linn County Board of Supervisors to do its best to protect not only the financial, but safety interests that we have here with a nuclear plant starting back up, possibly sooner rather than later.”

NextEra says it expects to spend up to $100 million by the end of 2025 to make sure the plant opens by the end of 2028 at the very earliest.

Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson is running to represent Iowa in the U.S. Senate.

Hinson announced on WHO Radio that she’s running for Senate just four hours after Sen. Joni Ernst confirmed she’s not running for reelection in 2026.

Hinson says she wants to keep working to secure the country’s borders, cut taxes and keep transgender girls out of girls’ sports.

“I’m running to be President Trump’s top ally in the United States Senate, because we have to be working on continuing to deliver that America First agenda that is working for Iowans every single day.”

Hinson represents Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District, which covers the northeast part of the state. She was first elected to Congress in 2020. Before that, she served in the Iowa Legislature and worked as a TV news anchor in Cedar Rapids.

Two other Republicans and five Democrats are also running for Iowa’s open Senate seat in 2026.

President Trump has signaled he’ll ask the Supreme Court to quickly overturn a ruling that declared many of his tariffs illegal. A federal appeals court ruled last week that Trump overstepped his authority, but allowed the tariffs to remain in effect while the administration appealed.

Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley says the Tariff Acts of 1962 and 1974 expanded the President’s power to impose tariffs and negotiate trade deals, a power that should lie with Congress.

“I'm a person that feels that Congress in those years delegated too much authority of our constitutional power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce. That shouldn't have been done, but once it's done, it's difficult to get back.”

Grassley made his comments during a call with reporters Wednesday morning.

Earlier this year, Grassley co-sponsored a bill that would require congressional approval of unilateral tariffs proposed by the executive branch. To date, that bill has not received a floor vote.

Next year, “rewilding” will officially be a part of the conservation approach in Illinois.

A new state law explicitly includes the concept as part of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ strategy. It’s the first time a U.S. state has included rewilding in its legislation, people working in conservation said.

The goal of rewilding is to reintroduce native species and restore whole ecosystems. Advocates often describe it as helping nature help itself, or putting nature back in the driver’s seat.

Cynthia Kenner, the executive director of Prairie State Conservation Coalition in Illinois, says the new law formalizes the work happening in the state already.

“It's allowing the continuation of practices that are already in place, but it brings more meaning to really letting nature come back.”

In Illinois, this law will help focus efforts on carnivores like mountain lions and keystone species like beavers and bison.

Read more.

More than 250 clergy, elected officials and community supporters gathered Tuesday to accompany immigrant families to their scheduled check-ins at the Cedar Rapids ICE office, despite a federal blockade.

Masked Homeland Security officers armed with nonlethal weapons, police tape and squad car blockades limited where supporters could stand.

Jonathan Heifner, a pastor at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, spoke at the gathering outside of the ICE office.

“We were told we would be on this grass today. Do you know why we were told we wouldn’t be on the grass? Because the media showed up. They want to work in the shadows but what do you say? No.”

Three immigrants were detained, according to Escucha Mi Voz Iowa, an immigrant-led community organization. Another gathering is scheduled Wednesday morning for the second day of check-ins this month.

The Catholic Diocese of Des Moines is reviewing emergency procedures in its schools after a shooter killed two children and injured 21 other worshippers at a Minneapolis Catholic school last week.

The diocese will review procedures for situations beyond the classroom, such as in church, at recess and in the lunchroom. They’re also asking schools to practice emergency drills.

Anne Marie Cox, a spokesperson for the Diocese of Des Moines, spoke on IPR’s River to River.

“Our parishes, they have a balancing act to address with making sure that the people who come to our worship centers are safe while offering hospitality and welcoming those who want to come to pray or celebrate the Eucharist with us.”

Former Bishop Richard Pates says people need to push for gun control measures and more attention to mental health issues. He says the church should pray for students and staff impacted by the shooting, but also accompany prayer with action.

Speaking on River to River, Pates says pushing for more gun control will require both moral and political strength.

“This is something we really need to do, if we love our children, really love ourselves, etcetera, because the shootings oftentimes in different scenarios are indiscriminate.”

Pates says working towards gun-related changes will be a hard fight. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz says he will call lawmakers there back for a special session to vote on gun control measures.

The number of pheasants in Iowa is at a 20 year high, according to the state’s annual roadside survey of small game populations.

The Iowa DNR said greater nest numbers offset a lower chick-survival rate compared to last year.

Staff reported over 1,038 pheasant broods, which was 338 more than 2024. Broods are groups of young pheasants that stay with their mothers after hatching.

The annual roadside survey found the highest concentration of pheasants are in northwest Iowa.

Todd Bogenschutz, upland wildlife research biologist for DNR, says in a press release that the mild winter helped these numbers.

“Our adult hen survival was excellent; our adult rooster survival was excellent. That really drove the population increase.”

The Iowa DNR and Pheasants Forever are celebrating 100 years of pheasant hunting. The season runs from Oct. 25 – Jan. 10, 2026. The youth-only season for Iowa residents is Oct. 18 – 19.

Over the past few months, Iowa tried a new way of fighting summertime food insecurity among kids. Most states joined the federal Summer EBT program and sent $40 per month on prepaid debit cards to low-income families to use at grocery stores. Instead, Iowa designed its own program called Healthy Kids Iowa to hand out healthy food each month. But the logistical challenges of distributing food to thousands of kids have food pantry leaders questioning if the program should return.

In Wapello County, which has the state’s second-highest rate of childhood food insecurity, an Ottumwa school was the only place where families could pick up food through Healthy Kids Iowa. It was open once a month for three hours.

Across the state, Healthy Kids Iowa served nearly 47,000 kids in July, according to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. That’s less than the 65,000 children per month the pilot program was aiming to feed. And it’s just one-fifth of the estimated 240,000 kids whose families would have received money for food if Iowa had joined Summer EBT.

Read more.

The State Fire Marshall’s Office is trying to determine what caused a deadly fire that killed three teenagers in northwest Iowa.

First responders received a call about a fire outside of Granville early Monday morning.

Four people were pulled out of the smoke-filled house in critical condition. Three died at the hospital. A 16-year-old boy from Alton remains in critical condition at a burn unit in Minnesota.

The three teens who died are Kolten Hofmeyer of Alton and siblings Bryleigh and Ashton Koob of Granville.

University of Iowa researchers are recruiting farmers with dementia and their caregivers for an educational series tailored to their needs. The Farm Families Coping with Dementia series consists of four weekly sessions to help those who live or work on farms cope with memory loss.

Kanika Arora, an UI associate professor of public health, says most dementia safety programs focus on residential settings and lack practical advice for farmers. She dementia patients being around livestock, heavy equipment or wandering into a cornfield are agricultural hazards.

Arora says the next training starts in October. According to state data, more than 66,000 Iowans 65 and older have Alzheimer’s Disease.

In a video message released Tuesday, Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst says it’s been the privilege of a lifetime to serve as the senator from Iowa and that she is not seeking reelection.

“Having been raised in a family who has given me so much love and support, now as our family ages and grows, it’s my time for me to give back to them. After a tremendous amount of prayer and reflection, I will not be seeking reelection in 2026.”

Ernst was first elected in 2014 and was the first female combat veteran in the Senate. She was also the first woman to represent Iowa in Congress.

Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson announced her campaign for the open seat Tuesday afternoon. Republicans Jim Carlin and Joshua Smith previously announced they’d run for Senate.

On the Democrats’ side, Bob Krause, Jackie Norris, Nathan Sage, Josh Turek, and Zach Wahls have launched campaigns for Senate.

Read more.

Black Hawk County is holding a ribbon-cutting for a new Veterans Affairs office this week in Waterloo.

The county’s old office was a former daycare and didn’t have enough space for community gatherings.

The new location is right next to the old one and will be able to better house the office’s weekly luncheons and Veterans Affairs Commission meetings. It features a pool table and a gazebo.

Gabbi DeWitt, a spokesperson for Black Hawk County, says the hope is to serve more veterans in the area.

“This just gives a more welcoming, open space. The other office is a little bit more cramped. It’s light, it’s airy, it’s the kind of place that people would want to hang out in and just really enjoy the time together.”

DeWitt says the office’s operations never shut down, even as staffers moved to the new location. The new facility was funded using COVID relief dollars.

Farmers from at least eight states recently gathered in Iowa for the Midwest Mechanical Weed Control Field Day. The annual event gives small to large scale growers opportunities to see — and even test — equipment designed to kill weeds without chemicals.

Kate Edwards, a vegetable farmer from eastern Iowa, says mechanical weed control can help grow food more efficiently.

“As we all know, there's like work life balance issues with farming when you're farming really long days, and anything that can make your life a little bit easier to also grow your crop a little bit better is going to be incredibly important.”

She’s planning to buy one of the cultivators used during a field demonstration.

The Midwest Mechanical Weed Control Field Day moves to a different state each year. Attendees range from vegetable growers to large scale corn and soybean farmers.

Sam Oschwald Tilton, the founder and lead organizer of the annual event, estimates half of the nearly 200 attendees use organic methods, whether they are certified or not.

“But there's plenty of farmers that have issues with herbicide resistance. And so one thing I love about this event, it brings together all types of farmers, different scales, different crops and different growing philosophies.”

Read more.

Data from the southern hemisphere suggests that the north may be in for a more severe flu season this winter.

Joel Waddell, a pediatric infectious diseases doctor at Blank Children's Hospital in Des Moines, says every year he sees healthy people with no underlying issues grow severely ill from the flu.

“So young children especially, who have no underlying problems, no previous medical history, can be hospitalized and even have passed away from the flu.”

Waddell recommends everyone who is six months of age and older and able to get the flu shot. He says it’s best to do it no earlier than September but no later than October.

State data shows just 36% of Iowans were vaccinated against the flu last season.

The Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority, or DART, gave nearly 4 million rides last year. The 7% uptick over the previous year comes as the public transportation system has grappled with financial issues in recent years — result of factors such as rising costs, property tax changes and a shifting funding formula. Last year, seven suburbs nearly withdrew from the system over funding disagreements.

Erin Hockman, the chief strategy officer of DART, says the network is unveiling a new plan this month to reflect changes in rider habits. She says it will have fewer routes, but more frequent service in the busiest parts of the metro.

“The budget direction from the DART Commission and reducing service by 10% was really to ensure that we are not operating with a deficit moving forward, so we no longer have a projected deficit into the future.”

DART will hold public meetings across the metro to gather feedback on the changes and implement the final plans starting next summer.

University of Iowa Health Care is reporting a cybersecurity breach that impacted 211,000 customers.

Hackers accessed the personal data of customers within the computer system of UI Community HomeCare, an affiliate of UIHC. The breach happened on July 3.

The university notified patients who were impacted late last week. The hackers obtained personal data, including names, dates of birth and types of visits. So far, there is no indication that the data has been misused.

Although UI Community HomeCare and UI Health Care use separate electronic health records systems, the university says the two often share information about patients. That's why some customers who had never used UI Community HomeCare services received notice from the university.

The university shut down its servers immediately after the breach, and they were running again within one business day. It did not provide any information on who the hackers were or how they were able to access the system.

A major change in health care in northwest Iowa is now official. UnityPoint Health has taken over ownership of MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center.

The acquisition includes a hospital and several facilities in the Sioux City metro area.

The deal was finished on Labor Day, following an announcement in May.

Officials say care and business will continue as usual in the weeks ahead. In the months to come, leadership will look for ways to sustain and enhance services.

A Democrat who was running for a U.S. House of Representatives seat says he’s pulling out of that race and running for U.S. Senate instead.

Bob Krause is a former state lawmaker and had been running for the 1st Congressional District seat held by Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks.

In a statement Tuesday morning, Krause says he plans instead to run for Senate. Republican Sen. Joni Ernst announced Tuesday morning that she is not running for reelection. Krause says he promises to put Iowa and the national good ahead of party interests if he’s elected.

He’s also endorsing Democrat Christina Bohannan in the race for the 1st District.