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Breaking news, top stories and all the latest from across Iowa. IPR reporters and our partners deliver quick hits of headline news throughout the day to keep you informed.
Trump drops lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and pollster Ann Selzer
President Donald Trump has dropped his lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and pollster Ann Selzer over a poll that inaccurately predicted he would lose Iowa in the 2024 November election.
The poll was released three days before Election Day and showed Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris leading Trump by three points. Trump went on to win Iowa by 13 points.
Trump filed the lawsuit last December, claiming the Register and Selzer violated Iowa’s Consumer Fraud Act by using the poll for "election interference."
Attorneys representing Trump, Iowa’s 1st District Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and former state Sen. Brad Zaun filed a motion to dismiss the case in a federal district court Monday.
An attorney representing Selzer said there has been no settlement in the case and that they are reviewing the next steps.
A spokesperson for Gannett, the Register’s parent company, said it’s possible Trump will attempt to re-file the lawsuit in state court, and that the company will continue to defend its rights under the First Amendment.
Supreme Court won’t hear appeal from Iowa Pork Producers challenging Prop 12
The U.S. Supreme Court says it will not hear an appeal from the Iowa Pork Producers Association in a case challenging California Proposition 12.
The law requires uncooked pork cuts sold in California to come from breeding pigs with at least 24 square feet of floor space.
Proponents say it supports better animal welfare.
The Iowa Pork Producers Association argued this law discriminated against out-of-state citizens and gave California pork producers “unfair lead time” to comply.
California argued there is no unfair advantage because almost all its pork comes from out-of-state producers.
The Supreme Court’s decision comes two years after it ruled 5-to-4 in favor of Prop 12 in a different case.
Eldon McAfee serves as legal counsel for the Iowa Pork Producers Association.
“We believe ultimately that this is an issue of interstate commerce that should be handled by Congress, federal legislation. And the courts have stated that.”
Nearly one-third of all pigs in the U.S. are raised in Iowa.
Special election date set to fill seat of late Sen. Rocky De Witt
A special election has been set to fill the seat of an Iowa lawmaker who died last week of pancreatic cancer.
The late state Sen. Rocky De Witt, R-Lawton, was in his first term when he died at the age of 66. Before being elected to state office, De Witt served as a county supervisor in Woodbury County.
Gov. Kim Reynolds has scheduled the special election for Aug. 26 in Iowa’s Senate District 1, which covers a part of Woodbury County and Sioux City.
USDA turning inactive air force property into a staging area for defense against screwworms
The U.S. Department of Agriculture plans to open a facility in south Texas to defend against a parasite that once terrorized American ranchers and is posing a new threat.
Screwworms are heading through Mexico toward the U.S. They were pushed out of the country in the 1960s by dropping sterilized insects from airplanes.
The new facility at an inactive air force property in south Texas will be a staging area for that same technique.
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins said it was just one of her department’s investments to keep screwworms out of the country.
A separate production facility to make more sterilized flies would also be housed at Moore Air Base, but Rollins said it would take several years to build.
Ranchers and researchers say that more support is needed though. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, is from a district along the U.S.-Mexico border.
“I’ve got a piece of legislation, Stop the Screwworm Act, that will deliver $300 million long-term on how we solve this problem. This isn’t a Texas issue, this is a United States issue.”
USDA is also partnering with universities in Texas, Arizona and New Mexico to improve its methods to fight the insect.
Lee Enterprises sued by employees following breach of personal data
Iowa-based media company Lee Enterprises is being sued by three current and former employees over alleged privacy violations.
The three allege that Lee Enterprises failed to implement the appropriate cybersecurity measures to protect its employees’ personal data, like their name and social security number. They say this led to a data breach in February, where the personal data of nearly 40,000 employees was compromised.
The plaintiffs are asking for class-action status, and Lee Enterprises has not filed a response to their complaints.
Lee owns six newspapers in Iowa, including the Quad-City Times in Davenport and the Sioux City Journal. The company is based in Iowa and operates over 70 newspapers across the country.
Earlier this year, Lee agreed to pay $9.5 million to subscribers whose data was compromised in a separate data breach in 2022.
Reynolds to require public universities to report incidents of antisemitism
Gov. Kim Reynolds has issued an executive order requiring public universities to report incidents of antisemitism that have happened since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
The order also directs the Iowa Board of Regents to review antisemitism policies and to report to the governor’s office by Nov. 1.
In a statement, Reynolds noted many colleges and universities have condemned antisemitism on their campuses, but she wants to be clear it has no place in Iowa.
As part of the executive order, the Iowa Department of Education will share teaching materials with K-12 schools about the Holocaust and Jewish history.
Crews continue search for missing swimmer near Sioux City
The search continues in the Missouri River near Sioux City for a missing swimmer.
Witnesses say a woman was about 10 feet from shore when she was pulled under the water and did not come back up early Sunday night.
Rescue crews from South Sioux City, Nebraska and Sioux City couldn’t find her with a drone or boats equipped with sonar.
They called off Sunday night’s recovery operation due to darkness before heading out again Monday morning.
Iowa’s rural counties lack legal representation
Researchers at Iowa State University have found more than half of the rural counties in the contiguous U.S. don’t have enough practicing private attorneys.
In Iowa, 18 out of 99 counties were classified as a legal desert. Lee County in the southeast tip is in the “critical” category. Others are “urgent” or “emerging.”
David Peters led the study. He’s a professor of agricultural and rural policy.
“A lot of the lawyers that are still practicing in a lot of these emerging legal deserts are five to seven years away from retirement, and there’s no future pipeline to take over their practice.”
Peters says the legal system only works if people have access to legal representation.
Along with county-level Census data, the researchers analyzed state policies aimed at addressing legal deserts.
Peters and his researchers see potential with licensed legal paraprofessionals. They can provide certain legal services without a law degree and without direct supervision by an attorney, such as family law and administrative hearings.
“And why we really advocate for LLPs is that the time and cost of becoming an LLP is far less than what is it to become a licensed attorney.”
Peters says that makes it easier to recruit from communities where people already have strong ties.
Half a dozen states have LLP programs. Iowa does not.
Johnson County Board of Health encourages measles vaccination after case was confirmed in the county
The Johnson County Board of Health is urging people to make sure their children have received their measles vaccines after a case was confirmed in the county earlier this month.
In an op-ed, the board warned that children are especially at risk and said falling vaccination rates have led to preventable outbreaks across the country. They say confidence in the measles vaccine has been eroded due to disproven claims that there is a connection between the vaccine and autism.
While the risk of death for a person who has measles is three in 1,000, the risk of death from getting vaccinated is less than one in a million.
Starting this week, Iowans can start carrying handguns younger
Starting July 1, 18, 19 and 20-year-olds in Iowa will be able to carry handguns under a new law. Under the law, they will be able to acquire handguns or handgun ammunition through private parties in the state.
However, state officials say licensed gun dealers are still restricted from selling or transferring handguns to anyone under 21.
Art Roche is a board member with Iowans for Gun Safety, which opposes the new law. He says the group is concerned it could put more guns more easily into the hands of people who may not be equipped to use them responsibly.
“We're not interested in taking guns away. We're interested in being very thoughtful and very deliberate and very careful about how we introduce new avenues of gun availability into Iowans’ hands.”
Supporters say 18-year-olds are granted other rights such as voting and should have the right to carry a handgun.
Richard Rogers, a board member of the Iowa Firearms Coalition, says the change falls in line with past federal court rulings. He says he thinks denying young adults the ability to carry a handgun leaves them more vulnerable.
“Will people abuse their rights? Yes. People will abuse their rights all the time, but safety isn't achieved by stripping rights from responsible young adults. What we need to do is foster a culture of personal responsibility and accountability, and that's what's going to make us all safer.”
Students attempt to hack farm equipment at the annual CyberTractor Challenge in Ames
Farm equipment manufacturers say there’s a shortage of talent in cybersecurity. The annual CyberTractor Challenge gives university students hands-on experience in a growing and evolving field. University students from across the country recently met in Ames for the annual event.
Anish Nag was one of two dozen students trying to find security flaws.
“Today is the first day that we've actually started hacking. We’re still trying to play around with the systems, with the networks.”
The students tried to make tractors do things they’re not supposed to do during an ethical hackathon.
James Johnson is vice president and global chief information security officer at John Deere, the company that started the CyberTractor Challenge four years ago. He says the need for cybersecurity has grown alongside precision agriculture, including GPS-guided machinery, internet-connected sensors and other data-driven technology.
“The more dependent we are on technology, the bigger the challenge that we’re going to have as a company, and frankly, as an industry. So, this not just about John Deere, this event this week. It’s about, how do we make the industry more resilient and more secure?”
Johnson says attracting more talent to cybersecurity benefits manufacturers, farmers and the national food supply.
Cornell College begins sending personalized cost estimates to prospective students
Cornell College in eastern Iowa has started using a new method to give prospective students more accurate information about the cost of attendance.
While many colleges offer net price calculators through their websites, Cornell has started sending personalized cost estimates directly to students, through a program called Save Your Seat.
Enrollment vice president Wendy Beckemeyer says the new system is meant to help families who may not know about net price calculation tools.
“The idea behind Save Your Seat is to take away the friction and to use the tools that we can, that we have available to us, and the information that we have to send each student a refined estimate.”
The estimates are based on calculations from the Department of Education and a database of financial aid information from within the school. This week, the school sent out over 19,000 postcards and 16,000 emails to prospective students.
Beckemeyer says she has seen the estimates spur students to move forward in the application process.
Hinson remains committed to passing ‘Big Beautiful Bill’
Second District Rep. Ashley Hinson says she hopes to pass President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act as soon as possible, which includes deep cuts to Medicaid.
The bill is working its way through the Senate. It includes tightening restrictions on states that provide Medicaid benefits to people in the U.S. without legal status.
“Illegal immigrants shouldn’t get Medicaid, full stop, for example. So I’m going to fight to ensure that, whether it’s included in reconciliation or not, we find another way to make sure that illegals never steal a dime of taxpayer funded resources that should be instead going to vulnerable Iowans.”
Several provisions in the bill have been struck down by the Senate Parliamentarian, whose job is to ensure that the bill complies with laws around budget reconciliation.
Hinson confident that federal dollars for Cedar Rapids bridge will come
Second District Rep. Ashley Hinson says she is continuing to fight for funding that will be used to rebuild a bridge in Cedar Rapids.
The bridge provides key access to the downtown area and will be improved to avoid flooding risks.
City officials changed the bridge's name from the Arc of Justice — which is based on a quote from Martin Luther King Jr.— to the Eighth Avenue Bridge once President Trump took office.
They say the new name reinforces the project’s focus on improving infrastructure while it awaits $56 million from the federal government.
Now, Hinson says she doesn’t foresee any challenges in getting the federal dollars.
“We are working directly with the City of Cedar Rapids and with the administration, and all that I know right now is that everything is still moving forward with that project. And we’ve been working hard to make sure that that grant is delivered for the city.”
Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell said in a Facebook post that getting federal funding to complete the project must happen before she worries about the bridge’s name.
Iowa lawmakers call for USPS reform amid mail delays
Sen. Chuck Grassley sent a letter this week to the incoming postmaster general to voice concerns about how the U.S. Postal Service is failing in its mission.
In his letter, Grassley said he “applauds” postal workers for their service to their communities, but “USPS must not let the quality of its service decline as reforms to achieve stronger financial footing are considered and implemented.”
In a news release, Grassley says Iowans have reported issues with bills and checks not being delivered on time, missing mail and increased delays in mail pickup.
Iowa 2nd District Rep. Ashley Hinson met last year with the outgoing postmaster general, Louis DeJoy, and agrees that consumers and businesses need to be able to rely on the USPS to deliver the mail in a timely and reliable manner.
“We have some serious reforms that need to be happening to make sure that not only rural Iowans can continue to receive their mail, but that our network remains resilient in a time when, obviously, people need access to these services.”
As lawsuit moves through courts, Ottumwa fights to keep Job Corps open
A federal judge has decided that Job Corps locations across the state can stay open while a lawsuit moves through the court system. The U.S. Labor Department had planned to cut funding to Job Corps sites operated by third-party contractors, citing cost and low performance.
State Rep. Hanz Wilz, R-Ottumwa, serves on a task force to keep Job Corps open in Ottumwa. The group includes Indian Hills Community College and the local school district.
“We all see this as a very good program, a successful program. I can't speak for the rest of it, but I can certainly speak to Ottumwa. We've done a lot of great things and gave a lot of kids careers, and that's what's breaking the chain of poverty.”
Wilz says the Ottumwa campus should serve as a model for others, and if the program does go away, the task force will try to find a solution.
“It's a nice reprieve, but I think we start to be looking at creative ways to take the program in some way, shape or form forward.”
He says 3rd District Rep. Zach Nunn and Gov. Kim Reynolds have been helpful during the crisis.
Iowa farmers brace for ICE raids
After immigration enforcement officials conducted a raid at a meatpacking plant in Omaha, some Iowa farmers are wondering how to protect their employees without legal status in the U.S.
Joe Henry, the state director for the League of United Latin American Citizens in Iowa, said at a virtual event hosted by the Iowa Farmers Union that over 40% of Iowa’s farm workers are people without legal status.
He said there have not been any major immigration enforcement operations in Iowa so far.
“What we’ve seen here is that when people are pulled over for a traffic violation or infraction or maybe going into a federal courthouse, they may get arrested by ICE and then taken to jail. That has happened every so often in the state.”
Henry says farmers should ask ICE agents to show them a written warrant signed by a judge if they show up.
Some farmers are using relay intercropping to help prevent flooding
Relay intercropping, where farmers keep living roots in the soil year-round, is rare to see on farms in the Midwest. Most conventional farm fields are bare after harvest until late spring.
But right now, dozens of Iowa farmers are collecting data as part of a research project focused on the practice.
Planting cereal rye and other cold-loving crops prevents topsoil from washing downstream or blowing away. They also suppress weeds, support beneficial microbes and earthworms, and add organic matter to the soil, allowing it to absorb and release water like a sponge.
Another benefit of relay intercropping is that farmers can sell two crops instead of one.
Initial research results show farmers can have overall higher profit margins with relay intercropping, even with slightly lower soybean yields.
Still, the practice relies on having at least one good rain during the second half of summer. Crop insurance poses another challenge, and farmers need markets to sell their harvested cereal rye, either as cover crop seed, livestock feed or for milling into flour.
Despite the challenges, experts say it could work for some farmers and help with flood control.
The American Flood Coalition supported a study that quantified what the downstream impacts would be if relay intercropping were scaled up across a watershed. Researchers found that 500 buildings and homes could have been saved from a devastating 2016 flood in Cedar Rapids, Iowa’s second-largest city.
With more data, the researchers are hopeful they can identify best practices with relay intercropping to help farmers and communities adapt to weather whiplash.
Hands-free driving law goes into effect July 1
Starting July 1, drivers will be allowed to use their phones and electronic devices only in hands-free mode. The new law is aimed at reducing accidents and crashes from distracted driving.
Law enforcement will only hand out warnings for the first few months. Starting Jan. 1, they can issue citations with $100 fines.
Alex Dinkla is the Iowa State Patrol Public Information Officer. He says this grace period is to educate the public and help people shift old habits.
“Put that device in that Do Not Disturb mode, driver focus mode. Whether you have an Android, whether you have an iPhone – each of those phones has a feature so that you're not tempted by that chime, by that phone call.”
Dinkla says there are easy ways to comply, like turning on speakerphone. People can also set up Bluetooth, plug in auxiliary cables or use phone mounts to use their device hands-free.
Last year, the Department of Transportation recorded more than 900 crashes due to drivers being distracted by their phones or other electronic devices.
Polk County nonprofits, public schools request more grant funding
Polk County supervisors say they’re seeing an increased demand for grant funding from public schools and nonprofits.
Supervisor Matt McCoy says the financial disparity between public schools is causing lower-income districts to reach out to the county for funding.
He says less wealthy school districts are cutting extracurriculars because of lower revenue from property taxes.
“I'm seeing more and more inequity in our public school system as it relates to extracurricular activities.”
McCoy says the county has been forced to fill a funding void for public schools. He’s getting calls every day from athletics departments asking for help.
Meanwhile, the cost of food post-pandemic has gone up by around 20%. Housing and other expenses have also gone up. And McCoy says people on fixed incomes are seeing that their dollars don’t go as far as they used to.
McCoy says managing these basic living costs means other grant requests are going to take lower priority.
“We will do what we can do, but we will probably never have enough money to meet all the needs of the community.”
He expects to rotate grants to different organizations each year to make sure each nonprofit gets some help.
Mason City remembers news anchor who disappeared 30 years ago
Thirty years ago, Mason City news anchor Jodi Huisentruit disappeared.
Although there have been a few leads in the case over the years, her body has not been found.
On Friday, a gathering will take place in front of the TV station where she worked.
Former Minneapolis crime reporter Caroline Lowe is with the group FindJodi, which helped organize the event.
“So striking to me, preparing for this anniversary, is how raw and traumatized the feelings are of the people who are affected most directly that day.”
Omaha news anchor Brian Mastre worked with Huisentruit at KIMT in Mason City. Mastre was one of the first to read news reports about his 27-year-old colleague's disappearance.
“It's hard to believe that not a lot has changed from what I said that day to today.”
So far, there have been no arrests. Authorities say one of Huisentruit’s neighbors, a person of interest, died last year.
Mason’s City police chief says officers continue to work on the case in the hope that they can provide answers to the family and the community.
Southern Iowa state park reopens to campers after 2022 tornado
Red Haw State Park is reopening its campground next week, more than three years after a powerful tornado tore through the southern Iowa park near Chariton.
Chad Kelchen, a district supervisor with the Iowa DNR’s Parks, Forests, and Preserves Bureau, says campers and picnickers will notice some changes at the park.
“With the tornado coming through the campground like that, we were forced to rearrange the campground. We’ve actually subtracted sites, making the sites a little larger and a little easier to get into. We have a few pull-through sites that overlook the lake now, and we have 52 sites in total.”
An EF3 tornado struck on March 5, 2022 with winds that approached 165 miles an hour, leveling wide sections of dense forest. Kelchen says the damage was so severe that some trees weren’t safe to take down without specialized equipment.
“Then things like underground cables were ripped up by tree roots being pulled out of the ground by the winds. There was a lot of unforeseen damage that we found. The further we got into cleaning it up, the more that we found.”
Over the past three years, several events at the park have rallied dozens of volunteers to help remove debris and restore order.
Kelchen says hundreds more trees have been planted since 2022. The park now features a 70-acre lake and more than four miles of grassy trails. The campground is slated to reopen July 1.
Rob Sand kicks off town hall tour in Waukee
State Auditor Rob Sand began his tour of 100 town halls Wednesday night in Waukee, part of his 2026 campaign for governor.
Attendees brought up issues like agricultural pollution, property taxes and the state’s voucher-style Education Savings Account program.
Sand, a Democrat, says he would work on improving the state’s mental health system as governor. He says increasing reimbursement rates for medical providers would be a step in the right direction.
“Our reimbursement rates in the state of Iowa for people who provide medical services are abysmal. They're abysmal, and a lot of people do what it makes sense to do, which is go work somewhere else where you get paid more. If we want to have good mental health services in the state of Iowa, we kind of make sure that we're paying people competitive rates.”
Sand will hold his next town hall in Forest City June 30. His tour will continue through the end of October.
State Sen. Rocky De Witt dies
Northwest Iowa state lawmaker Rocky De Witt has died of cancer.
De Witt, a Republican who lived in Lawton, outside of Sioux City, won election to the Iowa Senate in 2022 after first serving on the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors.
Before getting into politics, he worked for MidAmerican Energy as an instrument and electrical tech journeyman.
A post on his Facebook page called De Witt a “fierce defender of the Second Amendment and a true patriot and public servant.”
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a statement that said, in part, “In just three years, Rocky made a profound impact in the state legislature, all while heroically battling cancer. He was a dedicated husband, a loving father, and a grandfather. His family and friends remain in our prayers.”
Organizers protest Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill in Cedar Rapids
Members of the eastern Iowa nonprofit Escucha Mi Voz and Bernie Sanders’ Fighting Oligarchy Project organized a protest of the president’s One Big Beautiful Bill in Cedar Rapids.
The groups delivered a letter to U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst’s regional office, urging her to vote against the bill because of its proposed cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. The bill also proposes $45 billion for immigration-related detention.
Alejandra Escobar with Escucha Mi Voz says the bill will target immigrant families through its provisions related to agreements between states and Immigration Customs and Enforcement.
“They're just gonna be out there, like, on immigration raids instead of doing their police work, you know. So it means just giving money to tear families apart, and I’m concerned about that.”
The bill is currently working its way through the Senate, ahead of Congress’ self-imposed deadline of July 4.
Many worry Iowa's high cancer rates are tied to agriculture. But proving that is hard
Iowa is second only to Kentucky for the highest rate of new cancer diagnoses in the country, but unlike Kentucky, which can attribute its high cancer rates to smoking, researchers don’t know why cancer is so prevalent in Iowa.
Mary Charlton, the director of the Iowa Cancer Registry, which collects and analyzes state cancer data, said Iowa is high across many factors that can increase cancer risk.
“We have over a quarter of Iowans report zero physical activity outside of their job. We also have one of the highest binge drinking rates in the country. We still have almost 15% of our population who smoke cigarettes.”
Charlton said she hears a lot of concerns from Iowans about environmental exposures, but understanding why people get cancer in general is complicated.
Researchers are looking into these connections. A study that the federal government has been running for the last 30 years follows about 90,000 farmers and their spouses in Iowa and North Carolina to understand their cancer risks. The study so far has found some associations between certain farm chemicals and specific cancers, but determining if they’re actually carcinogens requires more in-depth studies.
The Iowa Environmental Council and the Harkin Institute at Drake University in Des Moines announced this spring that they are launching an initiative to look at environmental and agricultural factors and cancer rates in Iowa.
Other research has been slow. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has long put off a health assessment of nitrate in drinking water, which comes from fertilizer runoff. Recent research has linked it to a potential increased risk of colorectal cancer and other health issues at levels lower than what the EPA currently deems safe to drink.
Cedar Rapids revises sidewalk ordinance
An ordinance that will fine people $10 for blocking public sidewalks in Cedar Rapids received pushback at a city council meeting on Tuesday.
The revised ordinance will lower the fine from potentially hundreds of dollars to $10 for blocking a public sidewalk, but it will also allow law enforcement officials to remove the person and require them to move their things within 72 hours, drawing concerns from some at the city council meeting.
Members of the public, like Cedar Rapids resident Gretchen Lawyer, said it isn’t an effective way to get people off the streets, adding that the ordinance could interfere with people’s First Amendment rights to peacefully protest.
“Criminalizing people's presence on sidewalks or in other public spaces does nothing to address these systemic issues. Instead, it deepens people’s struggles by subjecting them to fines, criminal records and further displacement, making it even harder to get stability in their lives.”
Cedar Rapids Police Captain Charlie Fields says the ordinance is meant to address safety concerns in the downtown area.
“It's pretty simple — if you’re blocking the sidewalk and other people can’t use it, we’re going to come out and ask you to move. We don’t write everybody we stop a speeding ticket. We don’t write everybody that parks illegally a parking ticket. We don’t tow every car that’s parked illegally. We give warnings. We ask people to move, and we will continue to do that.”
The ordinance will go into effect once it is officially published in the coming days. It was approved unanimously by the city council.
First Republican launches campaign in Iowa’s 4th district
Siouxland Chamber of Commerce president Chris McGowan is running for Iowa’s 4th District congressional seat.
McGowan, a fourth-generation Iowan from Sioux City, is the first Republican to launch a campaign in the district that’s represented by Republican Rep. Randy Feenstra, who’s taken steps to run for governor.
McGowan is a veteran of the Iowa Air National Guard and an attorney who leads the private, nonprofit Siouxland Initiative as well as the area’s chamber of commerce.
He says he’s focused on “protecting and supporting Iowa’s traditional values." His vision for Iowa’s 4th District includes creating a strong and robust economy and building a strong national defense, including at the southern border, by supporting the armed forces.
“I’m the son of a Vietnam veteran. I’m the father of six children and my five oldest children have all chosen a path in the armed forces. Understanding the importance of national security and understanding the priorities that the Trump administration has established for national security are critically important to this race and to the future of our country.”
McGowan is likely to face a Republican Primary in 2026. Republican State Sen. Lynn Evans, a retired superintendent from Aurelia, has formed an exploratory committee for a possible run for Congress.
Iowa DOT adding more gates to use to close interstates
For years, gates have been used on Interstate 35 in northern Iowa to close the roadway during winter storms. Now they’re being installed across the state, including near Ankeny.
The DOT’s Bob Ellis says a blizzard in February led to the decision to install five gates on the city’s northbound I-35 ramps.
“We had multiple accidents just north of 36th Street between 36th and Huxley, where the interstate pretty much closed itself, so those gates would come in handy where we just don’t let any more people get onto the system.”
Ellis says the DOT started putting the gates along Interstate 80 last year, starting in Altoona and heading east to Davenport.
“They have come in handy over east and a few of the larger accidents, even in the non-winter season that we were able to close one of the gates just so people wouldn’t get on anymore.”
He says the DOT works with local law enforcement and the traffic management center to make appropriate determinations.
Feenstra says Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ will save families $10,000 annually
Rep. Randy Feenstra says President Trump hopes to sign his “Big Beautiful Bill” on or before the Fourth of July. The measure still needs to pass the U.S. Senate.
Feenstra, who fully backs Trump’s bill, says it will grow the economy and help rural America, small businesses and manufacturing.
“It delivers historic tax cuts, literally for every family, it's gonna save about $10,000 a year. It supports workers, it supports our farming community by getting rid of some of the death tax.”
Critics of the bill say it provides tax breaks to the wealthy, increases the deficit and cuts too much from social services.
Feenstra, who represents Iowa’s 4th Congressional District, made his comments during a town hall meeting held by phone, where he fielded mostly friendly questions.
The Republican recently announced plans to run for governor after Gov. Kim Reynolds decided not to run for a third term.
A lawn watering ban in the Des Moines area brings treatment capacity plans to the forefront

Due to elevated nitrate levels in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, the nitrate removal facility at Des Moines Water Works has been running for nearly 70 days.
The federal threshold for nitrates in public drinking water is 10 milligrams per liter.
Chemist Lisa Morarend says staff test samples of river water each day.
“There's a big difference between having 11 milligrams per liter of nitrate in the rivers — that's fairly easily treatable, we only have to take out one milligram per liter — versus, you know, an extended period of 14-15. There were times this year where it was up close to 20 for an extended period of time. That's a lot of nitrate that we have to remove, and that strains our capacity.”
Morarend says the Des Moines area lawn watering ban that went into effect June 12 has relieved some of that strain.
Treated water from Central Iowa Water Works, the regional utility, continues to meet federal nitrate standards.
Peggy Whitson and Axiom crew launch into space after weeks of delays

A private space crew of four soared into orbit during a middle-of-the-night launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket Wednesday from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Retired NASA astronaut and Iowa native Peggy Whitson is serving as commander. Whitson has set numerous spaceflight records, including the most cumulative time in space by a U.S. astronaut. This mission will add to her 675-day record.
This is the fourth mission brokered by Axiom Space. The Ax-4 launch comes after multiple issues delayed the mission.
Conesville clerk made over $127,000 dollars in improper payments
A special investigation by the state auditor’s office revealed a former city clerk in the eastern Iowa city of Conesville made over $127,000 in improper payments. Of those, nearly $50,000 were made out to herself through payroll and other reimbursements, She also spent $12,000 using the city’s debit card. The payments were made over a period of nine months, ending in April 2024.
The city clerk said she used the money for her kids and on personal Amazon purchases, often making the payments to herself look like official payroll checks.
State Auditor Rob Sand says this type of behavior is becoming more common in smaller towns throughout Iowa.
“This was an issue that I would bring to the attention of judges at sentencing when I was the chief public corruption prosecutor for the State of Iowa, pointing out that more and more often we were seeing people in local offices, where there simply aren't the same checks and balances, making off with taxpayer money.”
Sand says it's important for local government officials to share duties to improve accountability.
“We need to make sure that it isn’t one person who has the keys to the kingdom. We also need to make sure that we’ve got good oversight, right? We need to make sure that our city and county officials, all of our elected officials, are always saying, ‘show us the bank accounts,’ we want to see what’s going on.”
The report also revealed over $20,000 in uncollected utility payments, resulting in lost revenue for the city. Sand says disciplinary actions against the former city clerk will be handled by law enforcement officials.
Retailer says interest in fireworks is up after new Iowa law blocked restrictions
According to a new state law, Iowans can legally shoot off fireworks anywhere in the state July 3-4 this year.
Kim Sandtoe operates one of two permanent Jake’s Fireworks buildings in central Iowa and says they’ve already had people calling to ask about it.
“We’ve seen an increased interest in fireworks products. People that are new to fireworks, as well as those that have maybe bought more conservative items previously and are now looking to try some things they haven’t tried in the past.”
Sandtoe runs the Urbandale operations and estimates sales are up 10 to 15% across their two buildings and 60 tents.
The law now allows Iowans to shoot off fireworks on July 3 from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. and July 4 from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m.
Iowa’s Character Counts program honors new batch of role models
The Iowa Character Awards for 2025 are being announced, highlighting the people, teachers, communities and organizations that are helping to make positive changes across the state.
Amy Smit, spokesperson for the Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University, says there are a dozen awards this year. The highest honor is called the Robert D. and Billie Ray Pillar of Character Award.
“We chose Mike Knapp to receive the award. Mike has provided us with some visionary leadership and helped advance our mission for many, many years, and we know that he’s really worked hard to carry on Gov. Ray and Mrs. Ray’s legacy.”
Knapp, of Des Moines, has served as the president and CEO of Iowa Realty and is chairman emeritus of HomeServices of Iowa.
Another one of this year’s key awards is going to a city in northwest Iowa as the recipient of the Community of Character Award.
“The City of Spencer is really a great example of Iowans coming together after facing tough times. In 2024, after they faced some devastating floods, they had homes that were damaged and families displaced, but in the midst of the crisis, Spencer really showed up and they showed what it means to live by the six pillars of character.”
Those pillars are: caring, citizenship, fairness, respect, responsibility and trustworthiness.
The program was founded at Drake in 2005 and has since honored more than 200 Iowans.
Grassley says Trump’s airstrike on Iran protects American people
Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley says President Donald Trump is determined to bring peace between Iran and Israel. But he says Iran continued to build up its nuclear program after strikes by Israel and Trump’s call for negotiations, compelling Trump to order U.S. airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities.
“We saw him take decisive action when Iran continued building up its nuclear weapons program. They didn't take advantage of 60 days that the president gave them to negotiate.”
In a call with reporters Tuesday, Grassley suggested the strikes were not on behalf of Israel.
“The president's number one responsibility under the Constitution is to protect the American people, and President Trump's actions on the weekend does that.”
Grassley calls Iran the world’s number one state sponsor of terrorism. He brought up the hostage crisis in the late 1970s and the 1983 bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, that killed 220 US Marines. U.S. intelligence agencies implicated Iran in that attack.
Police identify the body of a 28-year-old man found in the Missouri River
An investigation is underway after the body of a central Iowa man was found in the Missouri River near Council Bluffs Sunday night.
The Council Bluffs Police Department is asking for information about the death of 28-year-old Gony Dual Bijiek of Ankeny.
The reason he died is currently unknown. The State Medical Examiner’s Office plans to do an autopsy.
Lawsuit challenges Iowa’s new law regulating pharmacy benefit managers
The Iowa Association of Business and Industry is challenging a new state law that is expected to lower the cost of prescription drugs.
The law requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to reimburse pharmacies at higher rates. It also limits PBMs from charging additional fees based on the pharmacy where a covered person picks up the medication. PBMs are companies that serve as the negotiator between drug manufacturers, pharmacies and health insurance companies for setting prescription drug costs.
Nicole Crain, president of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, says the law violates the First Amendment.
“There is a provision in this law that’s set to go into effect that is going to disrupt the prescription drug coverage that Iowans count on. It stops health plans from giving people simple, money-saving information. So, as an employer, they cannot tell their employees which pharmacy has the better deal.”
The groups that filed the federal lawsuit have asked for a temporary injunction before the law takes effect July 1. Gov. Kim Reynolds has said the law will help to prevent local pharmacies in rural areas from going out of business.
Survey finds the high cost of groceries is the biggest worry for Iowa consumers
A survey conducted for the Iowa Farm Bureau finds high costs at the supermarket remain the primary concern among most Iowa consumers.
Zach Bader, the bureau’s digital marketing manager, says it’s getting more and more expensive to feed a family, as prices aren’t retreating on most key products.
“Eighty percent of people say that they’re concerned about government regulations that increase food costs … Over the years, we’ve seen that price is always the top one or two factors for people when it comes to purchasing meat, milk and eggs.”
Bader says there’s little change from last year’s report, which found a jump in grocery prices of more than 23% between 2020 and 2024.
Beef prices are at an all-time high. Here's why it's gotten so expensive
Prices for beef are at an all-time high at the grocery store. For instance, a pound of ground beef averaged about $6 in May, according to the Consumer Price Index.
Agriculture economists say it’s a supply and demand issue. Years of drought have prevented the national herd from growing, leading to the lowest numbers seen in decades, while consumer demand remains high.
Mark Gardiner, the owner of Gardiner Angus Ranch in southwest Kansas, says ranchers used to worry whether people would eat beef.
“And so fast forward [to] today, where we're enjoying the greatest demand in beef history … beef has differentiated itself as the protein of choice, not only in the U.S., but worldwide because of the quality. And that quality change is what dramatically changed that.”
Economists say it will take some time for cattle herds to grow, meaning consumers are likely to continue to see high prices at the store.
Study finds illegal tobacco sales to minors spiked in 2021
A new study has found illegal tobacco sales to underage Iowans spiked in 2021.
The study looked at Food and Drug Administration Tobacco Compliance checks in Iowa from 2017 to 2023. It found that the number of inspections that resulted in violations dropped to about 3% in 2020, when many inspections were suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But violations spiked to more than 10% in 2021.
Tony Fischer, an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Iowa, says this shows a need for these inspections to keep tobacco away from kids.
“This is a weak point, in terms of our ability to prevent tobacco use. If it's really accessible, then it makes it easier for people to try it. And if they try it, they might get addicted.”
The study found tobacco and vape shops, liquor stores and some gas station chains had the highest number of violations.
ADS to close its Waterloo recycling plant, resulting in 71 layoffs
The pipe manufacturing company Advanced Drainage Systems is closing its recycling facility in Waterloo later this summer.
A notice, issued last week from the Iowa Workers Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, known as Iowa WARN, states that the Ohio-based company will lay off 71 employees Aug. 17.
ADS has not issued a public statement about the layoffs, but broke ground on a $30 million recycling facility expansion in Georgia earlier this year and is suspected to be shifting its resources.
Iowa communities brace for funding cuts to a federal utility assistance program
The Trump administration’s proposed budget includes eliminating funding to help people with energy costs. Advocates in western Iowa worry about the potential fallout it could have in their communities.
Jean Logan, executive director of the Community Action Agency of Siouxland, says her nonprofit only has $2,000 left this summer for a program that helps people get their utilities turned back on or receive window air conditioning units.
“I'm hoping that we'll get an amendment that will be able to help us continue to help families because that's really important when it's so hot like this.”
Logan also worries how some people will pay for heating in the winter if the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is cut.
“LIHEAP is such an important program. There will be health consequences.”
LIHEAP covered nearly $1.4 million in heating costs to about 3,000 households in Woodbury County alone. The program extends across Iowa and the country, and aims to help the elderly, disabled and families with young children.
New home construction hits a 5-year low
Residential construction in the U.S. has hit a five-year low. Numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau show housing starts are at the lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic put the brakes on home building.
Anne Villamil, a professor of economics at the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business, says costs for building materials — including lumber — have shot up because of tariffs.
“I think many, many builders just feel like they're being squeezed, and they don't know how to price jobs because tariffs — particularly when we're talking about Canada at the rate of 25% — it really increased job costs.”
Villamil says Iowa ranks in the top 10 states for housing affordability. But relatively high mortgage rates, uncertainty about tariffs and the job market will continue to weigh down residential construction.
Central Iowa Water Works says drinking water remains safe amid high nitrate levels in Des Moines-area rivers
Central Iowa Water Works (CIWW), the regional water utility for the Des Moines area, says the recent rain contributed to slightly higher nitrate levels in the Raccoon River Friday.
However, the drop in consumer demand with the lawn watering ban has helped the utility keep pace with nitrate removal.
“We are continuing to monitor the nitrate levels in the river,” said Tami Madsen, executive director of CIWW. “But for now, we just need to continue to stay vigilant with the lawn watering ban so that we can reduce the capacity to be able to continue providing water that meets all safe drinking water standards.”
If drinking water violates federal standards, Madsen says residents would hear directly from Central Iowa Water Works.
The city of Grimes is a member of Central Iowa Water Works, but since it is not yet connected to the regional system, Grimes will not be enforcing the lawn watering ban for its residents.
Federal funding for these ag research labs ended. Now the search is on for new support
Some of the U.S. college campuses that hosted crop development programs to help foreign countries through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) are trying to continue their work after USAID lost nearly all federal funding.
After the Trump administration pulled funding for the Innovation Labs in the Feed the Future program, the projects were expected to shut down. But the University of Illinois reopened its Soybean Innovation Lab on a reduced scale with a one-year grant from an anonymous donor.
Director Peter Goldsmith says if they get funding for next year, he’s not expecting it to come from the federal government.
“No, I don’t think federal funding will be forthcoming. And the Soybean Innovation Lab, as well as the other labs, we need to focus on finding other sources of research dollars.”
Of the 17 Innovation Labs, only one — located at Kansas State University — is still getting federal funding.
Judge strikes down Biden’s federal minimum staffing requirement for nursing homes
A federal judge in Iowa has permanently ruled against an attempt to set nationwide minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes.
The Biden administration issued a rule in 2023 requiring facilities that receive funding through Medicare and Medicaid to meet certain staffing levels. Twenty states, including Iowa, sued, saying the mandate would shutter many facilities, especially homes in rural and low-income areas.
The judge says parts of the rule exceed the legal authority of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
A Texas federal judge had already blocked the rule in a separate lawsuit.
Sunday liftoff now set for astronaut Peggy Whitson and crew

The countdown clock is again ticking toward a weekend launch for Iowa native and astronaut Peggy Whitson and her record-setting fifth space mission.
The mission was first set for liftoff June 8, but bad weather at Kennedy Space Center in Florida and mechanical issues on both the Falcon 9 rocket and the docking area on the International Space Station (ISS) caused multiple delays.
The launch of Ax-4 is now scheduled for early Sunday morning at 2:42 a.m. CDT.
Whitson is commander of the Axiom Space mission, along with three crewmates from India, Hungary and Poland. The crew is scheduled to spend two weeks at the ISS conducting a series of roughly 60 experiments in biology, material and physical sciences, and technology.
Whitson, who grew up on a farm near Beaconsfield, has spent 675 days in orbit. She also holds the record for the longest cumulative time in space by an American astronaut.
Report finds Linn County cancer rates are higher than average

A new report shows Linn County has higher cancer rates than both the state and national averages. While it impacts the entire county, certain populations have higher rates of incidence than others.
Linn County Public Health Director Pramod Dwivedi says Black men are twice as likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer as white men. But Dwivedi says a variety of factors, including geography, access to health care and air quality may be causing the race and sex disparities.
“As a governmental public health agency, we can do certain things with regard to following rules and regulations, but preventing any chronic disease, including cancer, is the function of a partnership.”
Dwivedi says much of it is about educating residents on the known causes of cancer — mainly smoking and drinking. But he can’t be 100% certain which factors are the main culprits of higher cancer rates in Linn County, specifically.
Two of Iowa’s top local leaders join national summit of mayors
Two Iowans are among the nearly 200 elected leaders from across the nation attending the 93rd annual United States Conference of Mayors in Tampa, Florida.
Dubuque Mayor Brad Cavanagh and Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart are participating in the conference, which opened Thursday and runs through Sunday.
Hart says he and his counterparts are discussing solutions to a wide range of issues facing cities large and small.
“Whenever I come here, this is one of the greatest places to be able to exchange ideas — or steal ideas — from other communities and bring them to yours ... I’m taking notes for all of these different sessions to see what I can bring back and what actually fits for our community.”
Workshops for the mayors cover a variety of topics, including housing, public safety, tariffs, climate protection, the economy and infrastructure. With more than 85% of Americans living in U.S. metropolitan areas, Hart says mayors are on the front lines of today’s challenges.
“Another area is just overall safety and how elected officials are somewhat living in a time where it’s challenging and there are safety issues for us and our personal families.”
Hart says the shootings last weekend of two Minnesota legislators and their spouses — which left two of them dead — are weighing on many people’s minds.
Northwest Iowans reflect on a year of recovery efforts after devastating floods hit last June

One year ago, more than a dozen Iowa counties ended up under a Presidential Disaster Declaration after heavy rains pushed raging rivers out of their banks.
So far, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has paid out $100 million in public and individual assistance. The public money helps repair or replace infrastructure, like government facilities, vehicles, roads, bridges and utilities.
In Rock Valley, the hardest hit town, recovery efforts will result in nearly 200 new houses and apartments for residents.
Rock Valley City Manager Tom Van Maanen says a total of 500 homes were damaged in the flood. The town requested federal buyouts for 150 of them, which was more than initially expected. Van Maanen says he’s optimistic there will be an update soon.
"There are people at different stages of recovery. We have people who have been able to find their new home. Unfortunately, a lot of them are waiting for the buyout programs before they'll be able to make that step in their life.”
During a recent visit to Rock Valley, Gov. Kim Reynolds said the state provided the community with nearly $7 million for housing.
Read the full story about recovery efforts in northwest Iowa.
Beyond the lawn watering ban, Central Iowa Water Works lays out long-term goals
Central Iowa Water Works (CIWW) says nitrate levels in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers are still above federal standards for safe drinking water.
Removing the nitrates slows down the process for treating water, which is why the lawn watering ban is still in effect in the Des Moines area.
“I get a lot of questions, ‘How come we just don’t go drill shallow wells because they don’t have as much nitrates,’ said Christina Murphy, general manager of West Des Moines Water Works. “The amount of shallow wells that we would have to drill for the amount of production capacity here in the metro, it’s just not feasible.”
But Murphy says CIWW has multiple projects underway to increase capacity in the long run. This includes adding and expanding some treatment facilities, along with adding more aquifer storage and recovery wells. The wells are used to store treated water as a back-up when there’s peak demand or to blend with water that has high nitrate levels.
Des Moines police evacuate downtown event center during National Speech and Debate Tournament
People were evacuated from the site of the National Speech and Debate Tournament in downtown Des Moines Thursday.
Des Moines police say a man entered the stage area at the EMC Expo Center and his behavior caused safety concerns. He was taken into custody.
Police say no weapons were seen or found, and no one was hurt. But access to the building was restricted as a precaution.
The National Speech and Debate Association says it plans to resume the tournament later Thursday.
Lawsuit attempting to block new Cedar Rapids casino is rejected

A lawsuit seeking to block developers from building a new casino in Cedar Rapids was struck down by a district court judge Thursday.
Developers have been moving forward with the $275 million casino since the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission ruled to grant Linn County a gaming license in February. But competitors made a last-ditch effort to halt its development, saying the language on a 2021 referendum that voters approved was inadequate.
Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell says the ruling affirmed that Linn County voters knew exactly what they were voting for.
“These voters approved this back in ‘21 and have been dodging bullets and fists ever since. And so, to get to this ruling today really validates the will of the people here, and also validates the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, frankly.”
Market studies have estimated the new casino would help increase Iowa’s gambling revenue by over $60 million, while drawing roughly $68 million from its competitors. It’s expected to be finished by the end of 2026.
Measles cases in Iowa double with 3 new detections in eastern Iowa household
State health officials say they have confirmed three additional cases of measles in eastern Iowa. The new cases bring Iowa’s total count to six so far this year.
The cases were confirmed in a woman between the ages of 18 and 40 and two children under the age of 18. All three people were unvaccinated, and the cases were locally acquired through household contact.
The state’s previous three confirmed cases were all determined to be travel-associated. Two of those cases were in unvaccinated individuals.
The nation is in the middle of an outbreak of the highly contagious virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed nearly 1,200 cases nationwide.
Health officials are encouraging people to make sure they are up-to-date on their MMR vaccination, which is 97% effective against measles.
Heat index of 110 degrees possible for Iowa’s first weekend of summer
Iowans might need to rethink their weekend outdoor plans, as forecasters say the entire state will be under an extreme heat watch from Saturday afternoon through Sunday night.
National Weather Service Meteorologist Brooke Hagenhoff says Saturday will be the first full day of summer — and the hot and muggy weather will arrive right on time.
“We’re looking at excessive heat … Really the main time frame for the hottest conditions Saturday and Sunday, with the heat index maybe surpassing 105 degrees in many cases.”
Even after the sun goes down Saturday night, Hagenhoff predicts there will be little relief from the steamy conditions.
“We’re looking at overnight low temperatures that could be record warm. We’re looking at low temperatures in the upper 70s, and with that humidity still around overnight, it may still feel like the mid-to-upper 80s.”
A storm front might arrive Monday, which she says could knock down the heat.
As for the weekend ahead, she suggests drinking plenty of fluids, staying in an air-conditioned room and out of the sun, and checking up on relatives and neighbors.
Iowa National Guard soldiers train in Louisiana
Nearly 4,000 Iowa Army National Guard soldiers are in the midst of three weeks of rigorous summer training at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Johnson, Louisiana.
Col. Tony Smithart is the 734th Regional Support Group commander. He says troops from the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division are there, along with nearly 1,800 soldiers from across the state, who will soon be going overseas.
“The key mission for the 734th Regional Support Group is to build combat power for forces to flow into an assigned mission. We’ve received about 6,000 soldiers for the exercise, 2,000 pieces of equipment that the 734th RSG has received and moved into staging yards for the forces that are deploying to the exercise to be ready to do their mission.”
This is the final training step for the soldiers who will be deployed overseas as part of Operation Inherent Resolve.
ICE raids at farms and ag worksites to continue
Despite pushback from some agriculture leaders, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will raid farms, ranches and dairies in an effort to ramp up arrests and deportations. This is a reversal of a brief pause following recent ICE raids at farms and meat-processing facilities.
Some immigration experts say this policy could hurt an industry that heavily depends on immigrants. According to Sonia Parras, an immigration attorney in Des Moines, rural communities and immigrant workers are concerned about raids.
Parras previously worked on cases in 2008 when ICE raided a meat-processing plant and arrested nearly 400 people in the city of Postville.
“When the administration, to me, prioritizes punitive enforcement that targets these workers, it creates a bit of a paradox, where the very workforce that the farmers relied upon is being driven into the shadows.”
More than 40% of U.S. farm workers are in the U.S. without legal status or are not legally authorized to work, according to a 2022 report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Iowa to get nearly $38 million from Purdue Pharma opioid settlement
Iowa’s share of a legal settlement with the maker of the opioid drug OxyContin is nearly $38 million.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird, along with 54 attorneys general from states and U.S. territories, signed onto the settlement with Purdue Pharma and the Sacklers, the family that owns the company.
Half of Iowa’s $37.8 million share of the settlement will go to local governments in Iowa. The other half will go into a state fund set up to distribute money from settlements with companies that made, marketed and sold opioids.
Bird said the settlement is “bittersweet” because “OxyContin is an extremely harmful and addictive drug.” State records indicate 238 Iowans died of an opioid overdose in 2023, although the names of the opioid taken are not listed.
Ten other companies that made or sold opioids have already agreed to settlements and have paid the state of Iowa over $56 million. After three years of negotiations, the Legislature agreed this spring on a plan to distribute the money from the state’s Opioid Settlement Fund.
This latest settlement with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family must be approved by a court before the money reaches Iowa and other states. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a settlement offer last year that was nearly $3 billion less and would have shielded the Sackler family from civil lawsuits related to OxyContin’s use.
Johnson County mobile home residents say out-of-state investors hiked rent and ignored water quality concerns

Mobile home owners in Johnson County are voicing their frustration over property rent increases and worsening living conditions after their lots were purchased by an out-of-state investor.
A group of residents from three mobile home parks in Johnson County say they have noticed steep increases in their lot rent, dirty drinking water and unsafe infrastructure. They say it’s after their lots were purchased by a Utah-based investor called Havenpark Communities.
Jessica Andino is the executive director of the Johnson County Affordable Housing Coalition.
“They own their home as much as any other individual in the county. They just don’t own that land underneath them, they rent it. That means they are uniquely vulnerable to predatory practices of these out-of-state agencies if the landowner decides to raise the rent too high or refuses to make repairs.”
Residents say their complaints about unsafe living conditions have been largely ignored. They are asking for a two-year moratorium on rent increases at lots with improved living standards.
A spokesperson from Havenpark Communities says the company has invested more than $2 million in upgrades at the three locations and is committed to keeping residents safe.
Des Moines-area splash pads can reopen as temperatures climb
Splash pads in the Des Moines metro area can reopen Thursday, even as a lawn watering ban continues.
Central Iowa Water Works banned watering lawns to keep dangerous nitrate in drinking water below the federal standard. Levels in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers are still well above the Environmental Protection Agency limit.
Cities in the metro also closed public splash pads to save water. Now, with hot weather on the way, they can reopen. But some may have limited hours.
Central Iowa Water Works says splash pads use about 1 million gallons of water per day, while lawn watering uses around 40 million gallons per day.
Iowa’s Job Corps programs can stay open as a judge reviews the case
A federal judge extended an order that temporarily blocks the U.S. Department of Labor from shutting down Job Corps training program for low-income young adults. The extension goes through June 25 to give the judge more time to review the case.
Ryan Dunker is a Job Corps participant. He lives on campus in Denison, one of two residential programs in Iowa. The other is in Ottumwa.
“I know for me, this place was perfect. It definitely gave me a lot of hope for my future, at least.”
Dunker recently completed a pharmacy tech program and says he does have some job leads. However, he worries about others who would have nowhere to go if the campus closes.
Supporters of Job Corps are optimistic the judge will decide to extend the order further, which would allow Job Corps to continue operations as the legal process continues. Plaintiffs in the case say only Congress can cut money for the program.
Sioux City hosts Juneteenth celebration for the first time in 5 years
A Juneteenth celebration is planned for Thursday in Sioux City after five years without one.
The NAACP says this year it felt more support to put on the event, which will feature live music, art and soul food. Organizers want people to understand the true meaning of Juneteenth, which commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S.
Across the country, some Juneteenth celebrations have been scaled back due to a lack of funding as companies and cities have changed their support for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
Sioux City’s event takes place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Sioux City Public Museum.
Visitors can now see live sharks for the first time at Blank Park Zoo

Iowa’s largest zoo is adding sharks to its Big Reef Aquarium for the first time. Two bamboo sharks, Snoopy and Pluto, were introduced this week at Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines.
Blank Park Zoo spokesman Alex Payne says the light brown, spotted sharks are slender and about 2 feet long, but they might eventually grow up to 4 feet.
“They’re cute little sharks, but they do like to hide. So you’ll find them around the bottom of the aquarium most of the time.”
Payne says Blank Park Zoo is excited for visitors to connect with this new species and appreciate the rich diversity that makes the planet’s oceans so extraordinary.
“This is the first time that we have had sharks at the zoo. We were looking for some new species to introduce into our aquarium, and they were a perfect match. We have the size of aquarium that we could fit them in, and it adds something a little additional to the aquarium for guests to be able to interact and engage with.”
Sharks have a reputation for being predatory, but Payne doesn’t expect any trouble with the other fish in the 15,000-gallon aquarium.
“We make sure that, when we do put animals together, that they will interact with each other in a positive way. Our keepers make sure that they work with the sharks and they’ll make sure that they’re well fed and have the enrichment items that they need to make sure that there won’t be any sort of conflict with the other animals.”
June 20 marks the 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s classic shark horror film Jaws, and some Iowa theaters are holding special screenings over the weekend, though Payne insists it’s just a happy coincidence.
Health care leaders worry Medicaid and SNAP cuts would hurt Linn County residents
Health care and food supply leaders in Linn County have concerns about how Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients in the area could be affected by President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
The bill is estimated to cut nearly $300 billion in SNAP funding and nearly $800 billion from Medicaid over 10 years.
Theresa Graham-Mineart, director of outpatient services at UnityPoint Health’s Abbe Center for Community Mental Health, discussed the bill at an event Tuesday with local service providers.
She says over 50% of the clinic’s patients are on Medicaid, and with the proposed changes to work requirements outlined in the bill, those patients could lose their coverage.
“If a person cannot get in for care within those time frames, they will just skip it. And skipping it means a lot of different things. For behavioral health, skipping it can mean, ‘I’m just going to dig my heels in and try to get through.' Skipping, it can also mean suicide and overdoses.”
The bill has been approved by the U.S. House and is currently working its way through the U.S. Senate. It will then be sent back to the House for review before being sent to Trump’s desk. Republican leaders say they want to get the bill to the president by July 4.
Health report ranks Iowa 18th in the country
A new report ranks Iowa’s health system 18th in the nation.
The report by the nonpartisan organization Commonwealth Fund found Iowa has low rates of drug overdose deaths and adults who go without care because of the cost. However, Iowa also has some of the nation’s highest obesity rates.
It also found Iowa’s uninsured rate dropped from more than 12% in 2013 to about 7% in 2023.
Sara Collins, with the Commonwealth Fund, says current proposals at the federal level to add work requirements to Medicaid could cause Iowa’s uninsured rate to go back up. Most people on Medicaid already work.
“The reporting requirements will be the thing that really does lead to people disenrolling and becoming uninsured. People really have no other options.”
Iowa lawmakers also passed Medicaid work requirements at the state level during the 2025 legislative session and are waiting on federal approval to implement them.
Hinterland Music Festival bets on climate-conscious policy as temperatures climb

The Hinterland Music Festival introduced a new policy this year that addresses its most pervasive problem: Iowa heat. It’s called the 90-Degree Guarantee, and through it, ticket-holders can request a refund if temperatures are predicted to reach or exceed 90 degrees. The policy also references the growing impact of climate change.
Read more about what it could mean for the future of outdoor festivals as they navigate the impacts of a changing climate.
Iowa drivers need to remember to move over for stopped vehicles
Law officers across Iowa are taking part in a nationwide effort this week to promote the “Move Over, It’s the Law” program.
Trooper Paul Gardner of the Iowa State Patrol says it’s been the law in Iowa for more than 20 years, but it’s only recently been passed in all 50 states.
“We want to remind motorists who happen to approach a stopped emergency vehicle, a maintenance vehicle, tow truck or any vehicle displaying flashing lights that’s parked on the side of the road, to move over into the other lane. Or, if the lane change is not possible, to slow down to a reasonable speed below the posted speed limit.”
Law enforcement will be focusing on making sure motorists move over during a special operation that’s running through Thursday.
“This law protects first responders, road workers, maintenance crews, tow truck operators, and it’s been on the books in Iowa since 2002. It’s designed to protect those whose majority of the work is on the roadways.”
Ignoring the law could bring about a $200 fine and a suspended driver’s license for up to a year.
Lawn watering ban continues due to high nitrate levels in Des Moines-area waterways

Nitrate levels are still high in the central Iowa waterways that supply the Des Moines area with drinking water.
It’s been five days since Central Iowa Water Works banned customers from watering their lawns to keep drinking water from violating the Environmental Protection Agency’s standard for nitrates. Since then, the community has decreased its demand for water by about 30%.
Des Moines Water Works CEO Ted Corrigan says that’s a positive response, but the ban remains in effect.
“We're going to need your continued support. This … is likely going to be measured in weeks, not days.”
Nitrate levels in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers are at their highest since 2013. Corrigan says the main source of the high nitrate levels is fertilizer from crop fields.
70 Iowa House lawmakers sign petition calling for a special session to override Reynolds’ veto of eminent domain bill
The Iowa House has gathered signatures supporting a special session to override Gov. Kim Reynolds’ veto of a bill that would put new regulations on carbon capture pipelines.
In all, 70 Republicans and Democrats signed the petition. But that only meets part of the requirement in the Iowa Constitution. Two-thirds of the Iowa Senate must also sign a petition to convene a special session.
In a statement, House Speaker Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford, called on the Senate to secure the signatures needed to reconvene the Legislature and provide protections for landowners.
Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, R-Grimes, has previously said he does not think a majority of his members would support overriding the governor’s veto.
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This post was updated June 19, 2025 at 9:34 p.m.
Democrat Ryan Melton suspends 2026 campaign in Iowa’s 4th District

Ryan Melton, the Democratic candidate in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District in the past two elections, has suspended his 2026 campaign.
Melton, who lives in Webster City, announced the decision on social media. He said it was a tough choice to exit the race, but he was notified that he’s losing his full-time job in the private sector and needs to focus on finding a new job to support his family. Melton also said he’s dealing with a health concern he needs to prioritize, and his campaign schedule had been hard on his 6-year-old son.
Melton finished his 2024 race against Republican Rep. Randy Feenstra with nearly 33% of the vote — about 2.3 points better than his finish against Feenstra in 2022.
Melton said he doesn’t regret “a single minute” of his campaigning over the past several years and “it was an honor” to build up the Democratic Party in an area of the state that has been dominated by the GOP.
Feenstra, who was reelected in 2024 to a third term in the U.S. House, has set up a committee to explore a run for governor in 2026. Republican state Sen. Lynn Evans announced in May that he’s exploring a campaign in Iowa’s 4th District.
Democrat Christina Bohannan announces another run for Iowa’s 1st District seat held by Miller-Meeks

Democrat Christina Bohannan announced another bid for Iowa’s 1st Congressional District in 2026. This is the third time she has tried for the seat.
Bohannan, a University of Iowa law professor, came up just 800 votes short of unseating Republican incumbent Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks last November. Bohannan says she’s picking up right where she left off — trying to win what is expected to be one of the country’s closest contests in 2026.
But this time, Bohannan is angling against President Donald Trump's tariffs and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, both of which Miller-Meeks supported.
“People wanted her to do one thing, and that was to bring down costs. And instead, she has done exactly the opposite. She has voted to increase costs on everything from electricity to mortgages to groceries in this district.”
Bohannan says she would vote to repeal Trump’s tariffs on foreign countries and to reverse the proposed Medicaid cuts if she is elected.
Grassley insists federal cuts to Medicaid won’t affect people who need it
Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley says the deep cuts to Medicaid proposed in the federal reconciliation bill won’t affect those who need the program.
Republicans have been targeting the health coverage program for low-income and disabled Americans as a way to offset the loss of revenue due to the proposed tax cuts in the bill.
Grassley says the bill proposes adding things like work requirements to make sure able-bodied people are working to get coverage.
“The needy who rely on Medicaid — grandma and nursing homes, people with disabilities, kids and more — I want to make clear, will not lose any coverage.”
Democrats and opponents of the bill say it will cause millions of eligible Americans to lose health coverage by creating confusing bureaucratic red tape to keep their benefits, which will strain the whole health care system.
Grassley says U.S. military involvement is not likely in fight between Israel and Iran
Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley doesn’t think the conflict between Israel and Iran will expand to directly involve U.S. forces.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Grassley said President Donald Trump does not want the U.S. to get involved in another war and is pursuing a diplomatic solution to the escalating attacks between the two countries.
“Also, from the standpoint of the success of the Israelis on destroying so much of the military capability of Iranians, I don't think it can spread.”
The New York Times reported Tuesday that Trump is considering sending U.S. planes to refuel Israeli combat jets. Around 1,800 Iowa National Guard troops recently deployed to parts of the Middle East — including Kuwait, Iraq and Syria — in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
88 kids rescued from southeast Iowa church camp after reports of child abuse
Local and state law enforcement officials took protective custody of 88 children from a church camp in southeastern Iowa after reports of alleged child abuse.
Officials say they rescued 88 children who were attending the Shekinah Glory Camp run by the Kingdom Ministry of Rehab and Recreation in Columbus Junction. The organization’s website says it was founded in 2018 and practices evangelical Christianity.
The Louisa County Sheriff’s Office says it partnered with other state and local law enforcement agencies after receiving complaints of child abuse and endangerment.
Officials say the children were taken into protective custody and transported to a nearby church, where they met with child protection workers. A spokesperson from the Iowa Department of Public Safety was unable to comment because the investigation is ongoing.
Western Iowa water association restricts water usage
A rural water association in western Iowa has placed its highest restrictions on water usage, citing ongoing drought and high demand.
Among other things, Regional Water’s “Level RED” advisory prohibits watering of lawns and gardens, car washing and filling pools.
Tom Kallman, general manager of the nonprofit utility, says their problems started in 2019. Since then, yearly rainfall has been well below average in the region. Kallman says they’ve been looking for new water sources for some time.
“Since 2016, regional water has dug almost 100 holes across three different counties looking for water, both at the shallow level and at the mid-level, so that's between 200 and 500 feet.”
Kallman says they also looked into tapping the Jordan Aquifer, between 2,000 and 3,000 feet down.
“At least in this part of the state, they're saying you've got about a 40% chance of hitting it at a cost of about a million bucks. And for a nonprofit utility, that's just not a good risk of our customers' dollars.”
A pipeline that connects the Regional Water plant in Avoca to the Council Bluffs water system was supposed to be operational by now, but Kallman says it developed a leak when pressurized. He says repairs will be completed soon.
Asian longhorned tick and parasite have been confirmed in Iowa, threatening cattle
Livestock health officials have confirmed Asian longhorned ticks and a parasite they carry in Iowa for the first time.
They were detected in a cattle herd in Van Buren County, in southeast Iowa, according to the state veterinarian. While the tick and parasite are not considered risks to humans, they can be fatal to cattle. Around 20 cattle have died in the 100-head herd.
Grant Dewell, an Iowa State University Extension veterinarian, says cattle producers should keep a close eye on tick infestations this summer.
“We don't normally see 1,000 ticks on an animal, except for this Asian longhorned tick, where we can get just a massive amount of a bloom of these ticks.”
Dewell says infected cattle can quickly become anemic – both from the ticks and the parasite, which attacks the red and white blood cells. In severe cases, cattle can die.
“We haven’t had this parasite in Iowa before that we know of, and we haven't had the tick before, and so we've got some pretty susceptible cattle right now.”
Dewell says the best way to protect livestock is through tick control methods since there’s no approved treatment for the parasite in the U.S.
Time capsule gives view of Iowa agriculture 25 years ago
Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig and former Ag Secretary Patty Judge opened a time capsule last week that was put inside the base of a replica steel plow in 2000.
The plow display was inside the Wallace Building and the capsule was supposed to be opened in 25 years. It was during a goodbye event for the Wallace Building. Current and former staff members from the Ag Department and DNR who worked in the building for many years were on hand watching as Judge and Naig showed off the contents.
There were many pamphlets and newspapers from 25 years ago in the capsule. There were some photos and Naig pulled out small tubes containing samples of corn, soybeans and oats.
“No, the mice did not make it into the [capsule] that was well sealed, I guess.”
Judge said she hadn’t remembered all the things that were put in the capsule 25 years ago. She says she does remember that one of the items inside was a half pack of cigarettes. Naig said the Ag Department will come up with some things to put into the capsule to seal it for another 25 years.
University of Northern Iowa employee alleges age discrimination in lawsuit
Shelley O’Connell filed an age discrimination lawsuit against the University of Northern Iowa in Polk County District Court. She says her demotion from her role as assistant vice president last year when she was in her late 50s was an act of age discrimination. She alleges her supervisor asked her if she had any plans to retire, and O’Connell said she did not.
Court documents say she then received a $50,000 salary cut, and that her younger successor received a raise of roughly the same amount.
O’Connell says she had received positive evaluations from the university and was not interested in stepping down.
She is now asking for a trial with a jury and compensation for her lost wages and emotional distress. A UNI spokesperson said the university does not comment on pending legal matters.
Des Moines celebrates 100 years of National Speech and Debate Association, hosts tournament
The National Speech and Debate Association turns 100 this year.
The association was formed in 1925 as the National Forensic League and held its first national championship in 1931. The organization is headquartered in Des Moines.
Over 7,000 middle and high school students are competing in the national tournament this week. Preliminary rounds are currently taking place in high school classrooms across the Des Moines metro. Championship rounds will take place at the Iowa Events Center on Friday.
Executive Director Scott Wunn says about 25 Iowa schools are participating in the national tournament this year, along with 45 states and eight international countries.
“These students are not only learning how to hone their critical-thinking skills and how to listen to one another and how to have empathy for one another, but also utilizing those things to become incredible servant leaders in our society.”
To celebrate the centennial, the association has announced a new goal to double participation in speech and debate activities by 2030 and reach a total of 8,000 schools nationwide.
Research on health and safety on farms gutted by Trump administration
A 30-year effort to reduce farmer injuries and deaths will lose funding this fall due to federal layoffs under the Trump administration.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health funds farm research and outreach programs at a dozen centers across the U.S., including in Iowa, but that support will abruptly end this fall after the agency was effectively dissolved this spring.
Jeff Bender, head of the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center at the University of Minnesota, says small and mid-size family farms will feel the loss of these programs the most.
“Their margins are small. And you know, they can only spend so much money on personnel, and they don't often think about health and safety."
Bender hopes partnering with farmer groups and state health officials could keep some of the center's outreach programs going. But he says several on-farm studies will likely go unfinished because of the funding loss.
Center director Risto Rautiainen says it will cost farmers in the long run.
"It's sort of like if you don't talk about it, people think it doesn't exist. But then it will affect you in increased injuries and ag-related illnesses."
He hopes Congress will bring back farm research funding in the next budget. But he's also informally telling his staff to start looking for new jobs.
Iconic Wallace Building soon to be empty with Iowa Ag Department moving out
The final tenants of the iconic Wallace Building across from the State Capitol are in the process of moving out, and the building will eventually be demolished.
Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig held a “goodbye party” for current and former employees last week.
Naig says the Wallace Building has had a lot of internal issues with its structure and operating systems, but it is one of the most photographed buildings in the state because of the reflection of the State Capitol on the mirrored windows that span the south side.
The Ag Department will be out of the building by the end of the month.
Gov. Kim Reynolds’ spokesperson, Mason Mauro, in a statement says “the Iowa Department of Administrative Services has initiated the process to demolish the Wallace Building without selling or otherwise disposing of the underlying land which requires the approval of the legislature.”
The Wallace Building was named for Henry A. Wallace, the founder of Pioneer Hi-Bred and President Franklin Roosevelt’s first secretary of agriculture. He served one term as Roosevelt’s vice president.
Minnesota lawmaker and his wife, shot in their home Saturday, met in Iowa
The Minnesota state senator and his wife who were shot and survived early Saturday morning in their home have connections to Iowa.
Sen. John Hoffman worked for Polk County and the state of Iowa from 1991 to 2001, according to the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library.
Kate Garner was an intern at a Des Moines radio station where Hoffman’s wife, Yvette, was co-hosting a morning show in the 1990s.
“They actually met at a political fundraiser with shared friends and they hit it off immediately.”
Garner describes Yvette as her first mentor when she started out in radio and they became lifelong friends.
“She is the ultimate political wife, but in the good, really supportive, bake-cupcakes-make-signs, whatever kind of way. And he is the just serious but fun, dedicated guy and they made this amazing marriage with this amazing daughter Hope, who has spina bifida and they took that and helped her become an activist and they’re this little powerhouse family.”
Garner said it’s hard to wrap her head around what happened.
“The fact that someone would put together a list of people to hurt because overwhelmingly they care about other people — as an Iowan and an American, it’s hard for me to fathom.”
The Prairie Band is the latest tribe in the Midwest to get some of their ancestral home back
Over the last 15 years, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation has spent $10 million to purchase parts of their original reservation — including 130 acres near Shabbona Lake State Park in what is now DeKalb County, Illinois.
Since the U.S. government illegally sold the tribe’s land to white settlers in 1849, much of it has been developed into residential properties, a golf course, or is maintained by state and county governments as park land. The tribal nation, meanwhile, is now headquartered in the Kansas town of Mayetta.
Despite this, Raphael Wahwassuck, a member of the Prairie Band Potawatomi’s tribal council, said the Prairie Band has remained connected to their ancestral home to this day.
In 2024, the U.S. Department of the Interior placed the tribe’s Illinois land into trust — making the Prairie Band the first federally recognized tribal nation in the state. In March, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill into law that transferred ownership of the chief’s namesake park to the tribe.
For Wahwassuck, this return is a step towards “correcting some of the historical injustices” his tribe has experienced.
“There’s a lot of emotion behind that. To see that happen in my lifetime is something that I thought I would never experience.”
Thousands of Iowans join protests against Trump
People were packed onto the steps in front of the Iowa State Capitol on Saturday. They held up protest signs and yelled chants despite the hot, humid day.
These protestors showed up to be a part of the rallies that happened across the country. Organizers planned the day of action called “No Kings” to protest against President Donald Trump’s military parade in Washington, D.C.
Julie Russell-Steuart, former Iowa Democratic disability caucus chair, says federal budget cuts are taking away the essential resources that families need.
“It is clear from this week's events at ICE protests that our humanity doesn't matter to the Trump administration. It never matters to an authoritarian.”
Russell-Steuart says she showed up to send a message to the federal government. She says people are taking action to stop the madness.
Sue Dinsdale, director of Iowa Citizen Community Action Network, said Trump’s budget cuts will cause chaos.
“It's a dangerous signal of what this second trip looks like — an authoritarian spectacle for the rich and what, in reality, will be deadly cuts for everyone else.”
More than 30 protests happened across Iowa, including Iowa City, Waterloo and Fort Dodge. Around 2,000 protests happened across the country.
West Branch celebrates Juneteenth and recognizes abolitionist history
A small group in West Branch called Humans for Racial Justice is organizing the eastern Iowa city’s first Juneteenth celebration. The date commemorates the emancipation of slaves in Galveston, Texas, in 1865. In 2021, it became a federal holiday.
The events include historic displays, film showings, a concert and a tour of historical sites from the Underground Railroad. West Branch was home to Traveler’s Rest, a safe house where the abolitionist John Brown stayed for two winters before conducting a raid on Harper’s Ferry.
Gwen Senio, one of the organizers, says the group wanted to put together the celebration to recognize the area’s history.
“You know, much of the history of the Underground Railroad had to be secret. So, not a lot of documentation out there. And so, it seemed important to keep that story alive.”
The group formed after the murder of George Floyd in 2020. Senio says although the group has organized Martin Luther King Jr. Day events in the past, this is the first time they are celebrating Juneteenth in the community.
“As we've been working on it and putting it together, I think there is just a lot of emotion in the importance of not erasing history but embracing it and learning from it and making amends.”
The celebrations, which started over the weekend, will run through Juneteenth on Thursday.
Lawn watering ban draws attention to highest nitrate levels in Raccoon River since 2013
The head of Central Iowa Water Works says the utility has seen a change in demand since telling customers to stop watering lawns, but they’re not out of the woods yet. The utility instituted the watering ban Thursday when nitrate levels in the rivers that supply the system reached the highest levels seen since 2013.
Neil Hamilton, founding director of the Agricultural Law Center at Drake University, says coverage of the watering ban diverts attention from the real problem.
“In some ways it kind of insulates the sources of the pollution from much public attention because all of the obligation kind of falls on the water works.”
In 2015, the Des Moines Water Works filed a federal lawsuit claiming drainage districts in Sac, Buena Vista and Calhoun counties were funneling high levels of nitrates into the Raccoon River. A federal judge later dismissed the suit, saying Iowa's water quality problems are an issue for the Iowa Legislature to resolve. Hamilton says conditions since then haven’t gotten better and may be worse. He says the high nitrate levels show the state’s nutrient management plan is not working.
EPA releases federal production targets for biofuels
The Environmental Protection Agency released production targets for biodiesel and ethanol that are higher than the industry expected. Soybean prices surged after what’s known as the “Renewable Volume Obligation” was released Friday.
Chad Hart, an agriculture economist at Iowa State University, says the proposed RVO numbers are better than most people expected, and should make farmers and biodiesel producers happy.
“This was good news for them. This is what the industry had hoped for, that they did see a fairly significant boost.”
Brent Swart, president of the Iowa Soybean Association and farmer from Spencer, calls the EPA proposal “a significant step toward putting the market back on track."
Some Iowa biodiesel plants suspended production this spring due to uncertainty in the market.
In a statement, Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig says the RVO proposal is “yet another example of the administration keeping its promise to our farmers and biofuels producers.”
Advisor to vaccine panel dismissed by RFK concerned about lack of transparency in decision
Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. abruptly abruptly dismissed all 17 sitting members of the Centers for Disease Control’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices this week. He said the move was needed to “reestablish public confidence in vaccine science.”
Stanley Perlman is a microbiologist and immunologist at the University of Iowa. He was not on the panel, but advised the panel. He says it’s the first time he’s seen the federal government dismiss an entire vetted scientific panel, signaling less of an interest in science and vaccines.
“This will play out in the future, because vaccine-preventable diseases were a major burden on human health before we invented vaccines.”
Perlman says the entire board’s dismissal was shocking because all experts had been highly vetted.
“We have to do months of documentation showing what our conflicts of interest might be, and if there are any, how they're dealt with.”
Kennedy has unveiled eight new people. Perlman says there’s been little information about how the new panel was chosen and vetted.
Perlman made his comments on IPR’s River to River.
Juneteenth celebrations start this weekend in eastern Iowa
The African American Museum of Iowa is hosting its annual Juneteenth Festival in Cedar Rapids Saturday. Jacqueline Hunter, the museum’s executive director, says it’s an event designed around remembrance and celebration.
“It’s a chance for us to recognize the importance of the holiday, but what does that look like for our community and our state moving forward. It’s a deeply personal and powerful reminder of this unfinished struggle for freedom.”
Juneteenth is an annual, nationwide celebration of the freeing of the last slaves in the United States on June 19, 1865, when news of the Emancipation Proclamation at last reached Confederate Galveston, Texas. While that’s part of history, Hunter says current events keep related issues in the forefront.
The festival will include live music and performances, food and merchandise vendors, a talent show, lawn games and a homemade sweet potato pie contest.
The museum’s Juneteenth Festival is Saturday at Cedar Rapids’ NewBo City Market from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The facility will also host a screening of the documentary Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom next Thursday, June 19.
Regents increase tuition followed by raises for university leaders
The Board of Regents approved a tuition increase Thursday of 3% for the University of Iowa and Iowa State University and 2.7% for the University of Northern Iowa.
Board of Regents representative Brad Berg says a plan to charge in-state tuition at UNI for students from states surrounding Iowa will be delayed.
The board also approved an increase in mandatory fees by 3% at the UI, 2.7% at UNI and 1.7% at ISU.
The Board then voted to give the leaders of the three universities and executive director of the board raises.
UI President Barbara Wilson is getting a $65,000 salary increase, setting her base salary at $825,000. ISU President Wendy Wintersteen is getting a $25,000 raise, bringing her salary to $735,000 and UNI President Mark Nook is getting a nearly $13,000 salary increase, bringing his salary to $410,000
The regents approved the salary increases with no discussion. A spokesman for the board did not answer when asked why the board voted to increase the salary of ISU President Wendy Wintersteen even though she is retiring in January.
Food banks report challenges with Reynold’s 'health' food distribution program
Gov. Kim Reynolds’ summer food program for children that is meant to replace Summer EBT got off to a rocky start this month, according to food bank and pantry officials tasked with distributing food for Healthy Kids Iowa.
Officials described delays and logistical challenges with obtaining and storing food, at least partly due to the short timeline for getting the program up and running after the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved it in early May. They are hopeful the program will improve through the summer as food banks and pantries work through various issues.
Andrea Cook, executive director of Johnston Partnership, which runs a food pantry, says there are difficulties across the state.
“I think that it didn’t matter whether you were running a very small pantry in rural Iowa or a large pantry here in the [Des Moines] metro area. We’re all struggling with figuring out how to make this work and make sense.”
Reynolds proposed Healthy Kids Iowa as an alternative to Summer EBT, which provides low-income families with $40 per child each month in the summer on a prepaid debit card. She has said giving out money for food does nothing to ensure that kids are getting healthy meals, so instead proposed distributing $40 worth of “healthy” foods per child each month.
Students and staff say goodbye to Orient-Macksburg schools
Hundreds of alumni attended a recent farewell celebration in Orient, a small town about 60 miles southwest of Des Moines, to mark the closure of the Orient-Macksburg school district and reflect on how their lives have been shaped and intertwined with the school. In May, the school marked the final day students would attend classes in the district.
It's the first Iowa school district to dissolve since Corwith-Wesley did so in 2015. Orient-Macksburg, as a consolidated school district, existed for nearly 65 years.
Having attended Orient-Macksburg since first grade, Christa Cass, a 2023 graduate, could attest to the town's constant support of the school and its students.
“The school meant a lot to the community because there's always people from graduating classes at every single volleyball, basketball and softball games. I know, like small crowds, it seems like, ‘Hey, there's not a lot of people.’ But it's people who always show up time and time again. So that's what matters.”
As more states move to restrict intoxicating hemp, people in the industry worry for its future
State attempts to regulate intoxicating hemp products are at an all-time high. At least 32 states, including Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota, have already passed regulations — and federal lawmakers are also looking at changes.
When federal lawmakers legalized hemp farming in the 2018 Farm Bill, they didn’t anticipate creating a massive marketplace for intoxicating hemp products. Now, as more states move to limit or ban the products, some advocates worry about the hemp industry’s future.
Jonathan Miller, an attorney for the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, says the patchwork of state regulations leaves the industry on shaky ground.
“There are a lot of companies that want to sell in all 50 states, and when you’ve got different rules in each state, it becomes more difficult.”
A bill from the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture also proposes closing the so-called “loophole” that legalized the products at the federal level. The proposal worries hemp experts, but they’re hopeful that Congress will not destroy the multibillion-dollar industry.
Read the full story from Harvest Public Media’s Molly Ashford.
Reynolds’ veto of the eminent domain bill angers landowners opposed to Summit’s pipeline

Opponents of Summit Carbon Solutions’ CO2 pipeline are angry with Gov. Kim Reynolds for vetoing a bill that would have put limits on carbon capture pipelines.
Reynolds says the proposal would have undermined many different kinds of pipeline projects. She says it would also jeopardize the production of low-carbon ethanol in Iowa.
The governor says she shares the goal to protect landowners affected by pipeline projects, but Peg Rasmussen says Reynolds hasn’t shown it through her actions. Rasmussen is a Summit pipeline opponent from Montgomery County in southwest Iowa.
“A true leader steps in when a problem arises, and you, Gov. Reynolds, did nothing. The legacy you leave behind is one of bowing down to big business at the expense of Iowans.”
Rasmussen says she and other pipeline opponents will keep pressuring lawmakers to restrict the use of eminent domain in the next legislative session.
Central Iowa Water Works issues a ban on watering lawns as nitrate levels rise
Central Iowa Water Works is telling customers to stop watering their lawns so that the level of nitrate in people’s tap water stays below the legal limit. The regional utility serves the vast majority of the Des Moines metro area.
Businesses and residents are now banned from watering their lawns so there is enough water available for drinking and bathing. Central Iowa Water Works Executive Director Tami Madsen says the problem is that nitrate levels in the rivers that supply the system are the highest they’ve been since 2013.
“We have ample source water, but the source water is so high in nitrate that it’s difficult for the plant to treat it at the same rate that customers are demanding it on the other side.”
Water leaving the treatment plant is currently around 9 parts per million. If it rises above the safety standard of 10 parts per million, pregnant women and children will not be able to drink it.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This entry has been corrected to more accurately state the level of nitrates in water leaving the treatment plant and the safety standard level.
Hometown of famed big band leader hosts 4-day celebration
The southwest Iowa town of Clarinda hosts its 50th Glenn Miller Music Festival this week, with jazz and big band concerts, dance contests and more to celebrate the legendary band leader.
Shari Greenwood, executive director of the Glenn Miller Museum and a board member of the Glenn Miller Birthplace Society, says events kicked off Thursday afternoon with a picnic and concerts on the town square. Friday’s schedule includes ragtime artist Adam Swanson, a Shenandoah native.
Some performers are coming to Clarinda from as far away as Japan. Other concerts on Friday include Bill Baker’s Big Band, Steve Shininger and the ShinSings, and the Glenn Miller Orchestra. One of Saturday’s highlights is Gooch and the Guys Big Band, led by Michael “Gooch” Gurciullo.
“He’s done everything from work with the Glenn Miller Orchestra to having his own band. He comes back this way every year to put on jazz camps. He’s a lot of fun with the Gooch and the Guys Big Band. They do things like Frank Sinatra and Glenn Miller — folks love him.”
Saturday’s performers include the Northwest Missouri State Jazz Group, Bill Baker’s Big Band and more performances by the Glenn Miller Orchestra — along with a swing dance competition.
The Glenn Miller Birthplace Society Museum and Birthplace Home will be open daily during the festival.
Citizens sue Dickinson Co. board over wind farm permit
Opponents of wind turbines in the Iowa Great Lakes area are suing to overturn a permit that allows the construction of a wind farm in Dickinson County.
The lawsuit filed by Dickinson County Concerned Citizens (DC3) states that a move by the county Board of Adjustment to approve the project in April was illegal. The group says the wind farm would negatively impact property values and the beauty of the area.
DC3 wants the court to rescind the board’s action that paved the way for the Red Rock Wind Energy project. The board previously voted against wind turbines in 2023. The new plan the board approved included fewer wind turbines — 67 instead of 79 — and new setback distances.
Reynolds vetoes eminent domain bill designed to limit carbon capture pipelines

Gov. Kim Reynolds vetoed a bill that would’ve made it harder for companies to use eminent domain to build carbon capture pipelines and other energy infrastructure.
Landowners facing the use of eminent domain for the Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline have pushed for years to get a bill passed that would prevent the company from taking part of their land.
In her veto message, Reynolds says the bill that passed last month goes too far, and even threatens pipelines that are built with voluntary agreement with landowners. She says the bill would’ve applied to other types of pipelines as well and would put Iowa at a disadvantage compared to other states.
Reynolds says she wants to work with the Legislature to strengthen landowner protections, modernize permitting and respect private property. In the meantime, she says she’s asking Iowa Utilities Commission members to be present for live testimony and informational meetings, which would have been required by the bill she vetoed.
House Speaker Pat Grassley says it’s a major setback for Iowa and he wants to hold a special session to override the governor’s veto. It’s not likely that the Senate will have enough votes in support of the bill to override the veto.
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This post was updated at 5:15 p.m. to include Grassley's statement.
Homelessness reaches new high in Polk County

The number of people experiencing homelessness in Polk County has hit a new record.
The most recent count also found the share of homeless seniors is growing. Seniors, age 65 and up, made up around 3% of the homeless population in 2024. Now, that number is around 6%.
Angie Arthur, the CEO of Homeward, Polk County’s lead homelessness planning organization, says a lot of seniors rely on Medicare and disability benefits. She says they’re also facing increased costs for rent, food and other necessities, along with everyone else.
“But when you don't have a way to offset that, because you have a fixed income, that's becoming really challenging.”
Arthur says Polk County isn’t the only one seeing more homeless seniors — it’s a national problem, too.
How cuts to Medicaid at the federal level could affect Iowans
President Donald Trump’s domestic policy agenda — a reconciliation bill called the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act — narrowly passed the U.S. House last month. It’s now in the Senate. The bill has major spending and tax cuts that could significantly reduce the number of Iowans on Medicaid.
According to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, about 700,000 Iowans are on Medicaid — or about one in five people. This includes people on Medicaid expansion and Hawki, the Medicaid program for children.
KFF estimates found Medicaid enrollment in Iowa could drop by about 90,000 by 2034 if the changes in the House’s version of the bill pass.
Iowa’s four U.S. representatives each voted for it on May 22, and Iowa’s Sens. Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley have indicated they will support the bill when it comes up for a vote in the Senate.
Here's a breakdown of what's happening with the bill and what it means for Iowans.
Story County files a citation following The All-American Rejects pop-up show

Story County filed a citation for landowners who did not have a special event permit for a pop-up concert that drew in thousands of people last month.
The All-American Rejects announced the show location on social media just hours before it started May 17. The barn performance was part of a series of pop-ups across the U.S. to promote the band’s new album. Iowa State University’s student-run radio station, 88.5 KURE, helped organize the show.

Story County requires a special event permit for something that lasts longer than four hours and involves more than 250 people. The county requested that landowners pay a permit fee of $100 and a civil penalty of $200, along with court costs and fees.
The Story County Sheriff told IPR that deputies responded to reports of an unconscious woman who was transported to a hospital during the concert.
Ames ends its police advisory committee in response to a state law going into effect this summer
To comply with a new state law, the city of Ames voted to repeal its ordinance for a police advisory committee during a city council meeting Tuesday.
City officials say the Ames Resident Police Advisory Committee reviewed policies, offered suggestions and supported outreach events. It was formed in 2021 in the wake of George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement.
Ames City Council member Tim Gartin says communities should be able to “craft solutions that work best for them.”
“We wouldn't begin to tell Davenport or Sioux City how to make such personal decisions for their communities. Those are things best left for them. But I would ask the Legislature to leave us alone, to allow us to make decisions.”
Other Iowa communities affected by the ban on police advisory boards include Cedar Rapids, Coralville, Iowa City, Dubuque and University Heights.
The new state law goes into effect Aug. 16.
Democratic state Sen. Zach Wahls launches campaign for U.S. Senate

Democratic state Sen. Zach Wahls is running to represent Iowa in the U.S. Senate in 2026, joining two other Democrats who have launched campaigns to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst.
Wahls said he is running for U.S. Senate because he wants to help Iowa families who are working hard but not getting ahead. He said he made the decision after discussing it with his wife for several months.
“We thought really hard about what we could do and where we could make a big difference. And we decided that there are so many challenges that are facing our state right now, and so many of them are coming from Washington, we’d rather be in the fight than on the sidelines.”
Wahls said he has a track record of standing up to his own party when necessary — something he said Iowans want in a U.S. senator. He was ousted from his position as Iowa Senate Democratic Leader after he replaced longtime staffers in an effort to take Senate Democrats in a new direction.
If elected, he said he would focus on improving the economy, health care and education in Iowa. He also wants to push for term limits and lessen the influence of money in politics.
State agencies try to fill the gap for Job Corps students caused by the sudden federal pause
Gov. Kim Reynolds says the state is working to try and help students impacted by the closure of two Job Corps residential centers in Iowa. Last week, a judge temporarily blocked a plan by the Trump administration to cut the Job Corps program. A hearing on the issue has been scheduled for June 17.
Reynolds says four state departments are looking to see if some of the students could benefit from existing programs. She says her top priority is helping students who were in foster care before attending Job Corps.
“We'll walk through what the impact of that looks like, what we need to do to make sure that we're serving those individuals that are relying on that moving forward.”
A recent U.S. Department of Labor report found the program costs too much and has low graduation rates. However, lawmakers say there are better outcomes at the Iowa locations in Denison and Ottumwa.
Dubuque water quality report shows PFAS levels are higher than recommended

The city of Dubuque reported higher-than-recommended levels of pollutants known as PFAS in its drinking water. PFAS compounds are sometimes called “forever chemicals” since they only break down under extremely high temperatures. The chemicals that make up PFAS are often used for stain and water resistance in household appliances.
In its most recent water quality report, the city of Dubuque said its drinking water was just slightly above the Environmental Protection Agency’s limits for PFAS. Water Operations Supervisor Nick Connolly says the numbers are subject to change throughout the year.
“We have changed some of the processes and how we do things. We are trying to use more of our deep aquifer water that, at this time, has not tested positive for any of the PFAS chemicals, and we blend in the shallow wells as needed.”
Connolly says the EPA has heightened its regulation on PFAS as testing has become more accurate. The city intends to spend nearly $15 million over the next five years to build a new well for access to deep aquifer water and filter rehabilitation.
More measles cases confirmed in Iowa, bringing the total to 3
This story was updated at 2:42 p.m. to include a third case of measles reported by the state.
State and county health officials have confirmed two additional cases of measles in Iowa, bringing the total count this year to three.
Officials say a vaccinated male between the age of 18 and 40 in the eastern part of the state and an unvaccinated child in Johnson County have been confirmed to have the highly contagious virus.
The child was exposed during international travel. Officials confirmed the state’s first case since 2019 last month in an unvaccinated female that was also linked to travel.
The new cases come as the nation has seen an outbreak of measles. The Centers for Disease Control has confirmed more than 1,100 cases this year.
Officials are encouraging Iowans to make sure they are up to date on their MMR vaccine, which is 97% effective against preventing measles.
Gov. Reynolds tours new homes in Rock Valley 1 year after historic flooding

Almost one year after historic flooding, Gov. Kim Reynolds returned to northwest Iowa to check out the progress in Rock Valley.
Reynolds toured a new home in Rock Valley, which will replace one of about 150 that were destroyed when the Rock River poured over a protective berm last June. City leaders say FEMA appears to be in the final stages of reviewing a request to buy out the properties.
Reynolds says the state provided almost $7 million that resulted in five different development projects and more than 90 new housing units.
“I'm proud to say that this city and the surrounding region aren't just building back, they're building back stronger, more resilient and more sustainable than ever.”
Reynolds says the Iowa Legislature also approved nearly $14 million to support disaster recovery and demolition from natural disasters that hit the state last year.
Iowans protest ICE in downtown Des Moines

In downtown Des Moines Tuesday night, people rallied in opposition to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Los Angeles and the Trump administration deploying Marines and the National Guard against ICE protestors.
Similar rallies happened in Sioux City and Cedar Rapids in recent days.
Angel Pavon, a college student from Des Moines, says migrants want to make a life in the U.S., but federal officials are calling them a danger to the public.
“They're being told we're the danger, we’re bringing the chaos. But they’re not seeing us fully. They’re not seeing the fear we live in, the silence that we’re forced into, the pain we carry every time another door gets kicked in.”
Des Moines police observed the rally from a distance in a nearby building, but there were no confrontations with protesters.
Earlier in the day, Gov. Kim Reynolds posted on social media what appeared to be a warning about protests against ICE. She said on X that peaceful demonstrations are welcome, but unlawful behavior will be stopped immediately.
ACLU of Iowa helps the Satanic Temple file a discrimination complaint against the state

The Satanic Temple in Iowa has filed a civil rights complaint claiming discrimination by state officials.
The Iowa Department of Administrative Services denied the Satanic Temple’s application to host a holiday event in the Capitol rotunda. Gov. Kim Reynolds said last December that the event was canceled because it would be harmful to minors.
The Satanic Temple says that administrators discriminated against their religion and retaliated against them with other policy decisions.
The ACLU of Iowa is helping the temple pursue a complaint under the Iowa Civil Rights Act. Legal Director Rita Bettis Austen says it’s the first step to bringing the state back in line.
“It is one of the foundational principles of our country and of our state civil rights law that the government should not favor one religious viewpoint or belief over another.”
The Satanic Temple is required to file a complaint before bringing the case to court.
Midwest women may be impacted by Trump's revocation of emergency abortion guidance
The Trump administration has rescinded guidance directing hospitals to provide emergency abortions to women when they are necessary to stabilize their medical condition. The guidance was especially impactful for states in the South and the Midwest, like Iowa, that have total or near-total abortion bans.
The guidance was issued in 2022 by the Biden administration following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Jody Madeira, a professor of law at Indiana University, says the federal guidance provided an extra layer of assurance in states with total or near-total abortion bans. Now, she worries care may be delayed.
“Because, then physicians are worried about the civil liability and the criminal charges, and not only about the patient care. That does patients a great disservice.”
The Trump administration said it would still enforce a federal law that requires hospitals to provide care in case of an emergency, including for pregnant women. Physicians say that still isn’t enough assurance in states with strict abortion laws.
Astronaut Peggy Whitson’s launch delayed another day by storms

Tuesday morning’s scheduled launch of an Axiom Space mission — commanded by Iowa native Peggy Whitson — is being pushed back to Wednesday.
The launch was originally planned for liftoff this past Sunday, but stormy weather has persisted over Kennedy Space Center in Florida, causing some delays. Axiom will try again Wednesday morning, with the launch now slated for 7 a.m. CT.
Ax-4 will carry Peggy Whitson and three crewmates to the International Space Station for a two-week stay. Whitson, who grew up on a farm near Beaconsfield, is considered to be America's most experienced astronaut having spent 675 days in orbit — a NASA record.
This mission will be her fifth trip to the space station.
An eastern Iowa pharmacy serving low-income families may become more accessible if Reynolds signs PBM bill
A nonprofit pharmacy with urgent care is set to open soon in eastern Iowa. It’s the first of its kind in Cedar Rapids and will primarily serve low-income families.
Nearly 70% of Eastern Iowa Health Care's existing patients have earnings below the federal poverty line, and 61% are on Medicaid. Development Director Stacie Eastman says the new pharmacy may be able to better serve those patients under a bill currently awaiting Gov. Kim Reynolds’ signature.
If signed into law, the bill would allow patients to pick up covered medications from a pharmacy of their choosing, rather than being limited to certain pharmacies by pharmacy benefit managers, known as PBMs.
“This really allows people, as well, to be a little bit healthier, too. Because we have the opportunity then for people to be able to get what it is that they need in a quicker manner, rather than having your company decide, ‘Yeah, you can have that medicine, but now you have to wait for it to be mail ordered.’”
The deadline for Reynolds to sign or veto the bill is June 14.
Eastern Iowa’s 26th annual Tractorcade hits the road

Hundreds of tractors are meandering across eastern Iowa in the Great Eastern Iowa Tractorcade, an event that gives farmers a chance to showcase their vintage tractors.
From June 8-11, hundreds of tractors are making their way from Mount Pleasant on a tour of eastern Iowa, making pit stops at high schools and county fairgrounds. The motorcade was organized by vintage tractor enthusiasts and KXEL radio in Waterloo. To participate, you only need a valid driver’s license and a roadworthy tractor.

Matt Kenney, the event’s manager, says most of the restored tractors date back to the mid-20th century.
“Many of the riders are either current farmers or retired farmers. And, you know, they get a chance to polish up the old iron and take it out for a spin on the roads of eastern Iowa for a few days and see their old friends who do the same thing.”
This year marks the 26th annual Tractorcade, which Kenney says is now the largest tractor ride in the state.
As USDA weighs billions in cuts, Iowa’s ag secretary trusts Rollins to put farmers first
The White House budget proposal is asking for billions of dollars in cuts to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Agencies that will be impacted include the Farm Service Agency and Rural Development programs. It may also affect the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps low-income families purchase food.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig says he doesn’t yet know how the cuts might affect Iowans, but he trusts U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins.
“I know that Secretary Rollins has said many times she wants to bring USDA back to its core mission and to be farmer focused — and we’re going to take them at their word. So, there’s everything from how is USDA reorganized and rightsized, and does it continue to put farmers first.”
Naig says he is hopeful that countries will continue trade negotiations after Vietnam announced plans to purchase U.S. farm commodities. That plan includes $800 million for Iowa agriculture products — mostly corn, soybeans and pork.
Polk County asks community members to weigh in on public health priorities
Polk County is gathering ideas from community leaders to improve long-term plans for public health.
The county has already heard from residents that access to care, economic stability and mental health care should be top priorities for what’s called the Community Health Improvement Plan, also known as CHIPS.
Now, Polk County Health Department Director Juliann Van Liew says she will form three committees around these priorities to propose solutions.
“This is really our first effort as a county to take those needs assessment results and build a plan with them that really reflects those needs in the community voice.”
Community members can volunteer to be a part of the three committees. Other counties in central Iowa, including Dallas and Warren, are also creating their own health improvement plans.
Bridge over the Mississippi from Lansing to Wisconsin reopens after 3-week closure
The Black Hawk Bridge between Lansing and Crawford County, Wis., reopened to traffic Monday morning following a three-week closure. But the Iowa Department of Transportation says drivers should expect at least one more closure this summer.
The 94-year-old span over the Mississippi River was shut down last month after sensors detected one of the bridge piers had moved. Inspectors believe construction on a new bridge just to the north of the Black Hawk Bridge may have caused the movement.
When the bridge is closed, drivers face lengthy detours south to Marquette or north to La Crescent, Minn.
The Iowa DOT says it’s planning to keep the bridge open at least through the Fourth of July weekend, but there will be another multi-week closure this summer to facilitate construction on the new bridge.
The new bridge is scheduled to open by mid-2027.
Weeklong fire at northwest Iowa ethanol plant ruled arson
There’s a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the person or people responsible for a weeklong fire at a northwest Iowa ethanol plant that caused significant damage.
The fire at the POET facility in Emmetsburg started in the evening of May 12. Stacks of the corn stover, used to make ethanol, burned. POET estimates $5 million worth of the material was destroyed.
The Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office and fire investigators say the fire is being “treated as an act of arson.” The general manager of the plant says it was “a serious criminal act that put people and property at risk.”
Midwest pork producers hope for a profitable year, but trade tensions could complicate that
As trade with China remains tenuous, the National Pork Producers Council is pushing for new markets.
Maria Zieba, vice president of government affairs with the National Pork Producers Council, spoke on a policy panel in Des Moines at the 2025 World Pork Expo. She says the group’s top trade priority is exporting more pork to Vietnam.
“Not only because there’s 100 million people in Vietnam, whose number one protein consumption is pork, but also because, as we look at diversifying away from certain markets, Vietnam has that opportunity that is very unique.”
Zieba says Vietnamese consumers eat muscle cuts — like pork belly, loin and shoulder —but also organs and other variety meats, which are harder to sell in the U.S.
Major plans to enhance recreational areas in Loess Hills are in the works
A recreation and wildlife area in western Iowa is undergoing some changes to make it a four-season destination.
Pottawattamie County Conservation Executive Director Jeff Franco says his county and the state lack public spaces for recreation. Studies rank Iowa near the bottom in the nation.
“In theory, we should be in the top 10 in all categories of public land offerings, but we're really kind of falling behind. So, this is an opportunity for us to better serve the citizens of this county and its visitors.”
Pottawattamie County owns and operates Crescent Hill at Hitchcock, located north of Council Bluffs. The area has a 106-acre ski hill and a 1,500-acre nature area with some of the largest remaining sections of prairie land in Iowa in the Loess Hills.
“We also want this to be a place where we leverage our mission in a way that recreation, conservation and education kind of all come together in one space.”
Plans are in the works to potentially spend more than $25 million to add attractions, like a new tubing hill, lodge, amphitheater and ziplines in the next five to 10 years.
Radon levels in Iowa are high. Experts recommend testing homes every 2 years
All of Iowa is considered a hot spot for radon — so is most of Kansas and more than half of Nebraska’s counties. The harmful gas is nearly undetectable and can show up in any building, including homes. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, radon exposure is the second-leading cause of lung cancer, and the leading cause for non-smokers.
The EPA recommends homes with radon levels above 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) get radon mitigation systems installed. A mitigation system routes radon out of a house to lower the levels.
Researchers compare a single picocurie per liter of radon to smoking two and a half cigarettes a day.
“Even if you've never smoked before — if you live in a home where the radon levels are high, you still could develop lung cancer or a lung disease,” said Katie Schultis, the epidemiology and environmental health lead for Three Rivers Health Department in Fremont, Neb.
Radon is found naturally in the ground, forming from decaying uranium. Schultis calls it the “silent killer.”
“Radon is something that we can't see, smell, hear, taste, touch, feel. We call it kind of the silent killer, which can sound a little intense, but it's something that you just don't know it's there unless you test for it.”
Iowa has the largest percentage of homes above the EPA’s acceptable level, with 71.6% of homes measuring above 4pCi/L.
Schultis recommends every building — including public and residential — get tested every two years for radon. She says even if a neighbor’s house tests under the EPA’s recommended limit for mitigation, people should still test their home because levels can vary from one house to the next.
Iowa ranks high on child well-being report, but low in education
Iowa ranks ninth in the nation for child well-being, according to the latest Kids Count report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The state’s best ranking is sixth for childhood economic well-being, and its worst ranking is 20th in the country for education.
Anne Discher, executive director of Common Good Iowa, says there’s room for improvement on policies to support kids, even in areas where Iowa is doing well compared to other states.
“The indicators in this report are kind of a mixed bag. I think they raise some questions about whether or not we’re as good of a place to raise kids as we used to tell ourselves that we are.”
Discher also says the report shows Iowa has a low percentage of kids without health insurance. But she’s worried that will change if Congress passes Medicaid spending cuts, including work requirements for many adults.
Schools required to 'depict the humanity of the unborn child' in health classes, after Reynolds signs bill into law
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a bill into law requiring public, private and charter schools to teach about fetal development starting in fifth grade.
Human growth and development and health classes in grades five through 12 will have to show a video that, “depicts the humanity of the unborn child.”
The new law also prohibits the use of videos and other educational materials provided by groups that perform, promote or refer patients for abortions. Democrats raised concerns that this will bar health classes from using scientifically accurate materials from prominent medical research institutions.
Republican lawmakers have said the law will teach children to value life and is meant to influence their future decisions about pregnancy and abortion.