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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.
Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission approved plans for a new casino in Cedar Rapids

Commissioners voted 4-1 to grant Linn County a gaming license that would allow it to build a $275 million casino in Cedar Rapids.
Some Iowa lawmakers had been trying to pass a moratorium on new casino licensing, citing studies showing a new casino would cannibalize $68 million from competing casinos. However, the bill failed in the Senate.
The commission rejected proposals twice before, in 2014 and 2017, and according to Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell, it was unclear how they would vote leading up to the meeting.
O’Donnell says she appreciates how deliberate the commissioners were in making their decisions.
“They took all of the worry that this would be a political decision out of it. I had every confidence from the very beginning, as I’ve said, in this commission, knowing that they took the time to pour over thousands of pages of data, responded to facts and not fear. And I’m truly grateful for the outcome today.”
Developers will break ground Friday morning. They have until October 2027 to complete the project.
Winneshiek County Sheriff receives pushback for statement on ICE cooperation
Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx says his department will not support Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in their effort to detain people in his county.
In a statement released on social media Monday, Marx said his department will make every effort to block or interfere with future ICE actions if the department determines those actions are unconstitutional.
“If their actions or paperwork are not within constitutional parameters, then we will make every effort to block, interfere and interrupt their actions from moving forward.”
Marx justified his department’s position, saying that federal agencies issue detainers only when they don’t have enough information on an individual or haven’t taken the time to pursue a proper warrant.
He said, “Simply put, they are not sure they are detaining the right person and need more time to figure it out.”
Gov. Kim Reynolds has released a statement saying the sheriff’s actions would violate state law and threatened to eliminate the department’s state funding if it continues to refuse to cooperate.
Man who was part of Iowa death penalty debate dies in prison
An inmate who was put into the spotlight in the effort to end the death penalty in Iowa has died in prison.
Leon Tice Junior of Council Bluffs was convicted of murder in the 1963 shooting deaths of the 13-year-old daughter and the two-year-old son of a woman he had been seeing. According to the website Justia, Tice apparently became upset when the woman no longer wanted to see him.
Then-Gov. Harold Hughes was trying to get the death penalty abolished in the state. When the effort failed to pass in the Legislature in 1963 he made the decision to commute Tice’s death sentence to a life term. Hughes continued to push for the end to capital punishment in his second term, and it was abolished in 1965.
Tice was 24 when he entered prison in September 1963. The Department of Corrections reports he died at age 84 Jan. 30. The Department of Corrections did not release a cause of death for Tice.
Anti-Trump protesters rally outside the Iowa Capitol, police later detain demonstrators in the rotunda

Protestors gathered in front of the Iowa Capitol building Wednesday to rally against the Trump administration.
Despite weather alerts of freezing rain, protesters sprawled across the steps of the Capitol building. Many cheered as people spoke out against President Donald Trump’s plans to crack down on illegal immigration and his appointment of Elon Musk to cut government spending.
The demonstration was a part of an effort to organize anti-Trump protests across the country. One of the people in the audience was Amanda Ramirez, whose family is Mexican. She showed up because she wanted to stand up for immigration rights.

“Half of my family is undocumented. We're all really scared of waking up tomorrow and not having your family there anymore. So, it's a really scary time for everybody right now.”
As state officials looked out through the doors, protestors urged them to stand up against what they see as Trump’s disregard of the government’s checks and balances.
Four protesters were later detained and removed from the Capitol rotunda after apparently chanting “Nazi” and interrupting an event in the rotunda held by the conservative group Moms For Liberty.
Demolition of historic building halted in downtown Sioux City

The demolition of a historic building in downtown Sioux City was stopped as city officials look into the potential of trying to save the former auditorium and television station.
The city has allotted two weeks for engineers to see if anything can be done to preserve the building and one next door, both of which are owned by the city.
Some community members expressed outrage when the removal of the buildings started Tuesday morning. A big chunk of the backside of the auditorium has already been taken down.
A theatre company had planned to renovate the space, but pulled out of the project last year due to the high cost of asbestos abatement and a roof collapse. The auditorium once hosted Lawrence Welk, boxer Jack Dempsey and President Woodrow Wilson.
Reynold’s praises DOGE efforts, promises to create Iowa task force
Gov. Kim Reynolds touted her efforts to make Iowa’s government more efficient in testimony before the U.S. House Oversight Committee Wednesday morning.
She says Iowa was “doing DOGE before DOGE was a thing.” And that her consolidation of state agencies has saved $217 million in 18 months.
Reynolds told the committee that she’ll appoint an Iowa DOGE task force following the federal one led by billionaire Elon Musk.
“Like most Americans, I’m thrilled by the priority that President Trump is placing on shrinking government and making it work better. Not only do I believe Iowa is a model, but I’m committed to doing everything I can to help in the months ahead, and I look forward to working with you and the Trump administration to do just that.”
The top Democrat on the committee pointed out differences between Reynolds’ efforts and the Trump administration’s actions. Reynolds worked with lawmakers to overhaul state government without layoffs, while Trump’s biggest campaign donor is directly targeting federal workers and agencies.
Iowa experienced a dry January
Last month ranks among the top 10 least snowy Januarys on record. State climatologist Justin Glisan says when snow and rain are combined, it was a very dry month.
“Preliminary data that we're still quality controlling does show the northern third of the state as the driest January in 153 years of records. For the state in general, it's looking like around the 15th driest on record.”
Glisan says February is expected to look different.
“Luckily the short-term outlooks into the middle of February are suggesting a colder and wetter behavior and in recent years February has been a more active storm track for Iowa in the upper Midwest in general.”
Glisan says the lack of insulating snow cover has led to above average frost depths of around 22 inches in central Iowa. That means much of the rain in February could run off the ground instead of soaking into the soil.
Iowans need to beware and be prepared for icy roads later today
Forecasters say wide sections of Iowa may see a wintry mix of snow and freezing rain later today and driving could quickly become treacherous.
Pete Hjelmstad, a spokesman for the Iowa Department of Transportation, says people will need to be ready — and cautious — when they hit the roads.
“We have had little-to-zero winter driving experience this year and ice is probably one of the hardest things to deal with,” Hjelmstad says. “I know we’ve said it a lot, but human nature is to put it off unless you need it, but make sure your vehicle is ready, make sure you have a full tank of gas. Have the right air pressure in your tires. Have that winter survival kit.”
Also, take your cell phone with you, make sure it’s charged, and make sure you’ve got a charger.
Hjelmstad says the DOT has changed its road conditions website to better show ice-covered roads. Before heading out this morning, Hjelmstad reminds you to check the forecast as well as the current road conditions through 511ia.org.
Iowa school district cancels classes due to influenza outbreak

A northwest Iowa school district canceled classes Tuesday due to an outbreak of influenza. The Laurens-Marathon Community School District sent students and staff home early Monday and are disinfecting today. They plan to reopen Wednesday.
Tyler Brock with the Siouxland District Health Department says it appears schools across the state are impacted by respiratory infections, like the flu and COVID.
“It can be frustrating with these respiratory viruses cause it seems like no matter what we do, it's kinda hard to avoid it. We're not quite out of the woods yet, but hopefully we'll start seeing some improvement in the next couple of weeks.”
Brock says the best thing for parents to do is keep their children home from school when sick.
Hannah Zylstra is principal of the Laurens-Marathon Community School District and parent of two sick children with Influenza A.
“It's a hard call to make. You don't want to cancel school because of things like this, but, you know, in reality, it's what's best for our children.”
School districts report to the state when more than 10% of students are out due to illness. The most recent data released for the week that ended on Jan. 25 shows more than 100 school buildings statewide impacted by illness.
Water quality advocates push back against DNR renewal of water use permit for Supreme Beef
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has renewed a water use permit for a large cattle feeding operation in northeast Iowa, and water quality advocates are pushing back.
The decision to renew the permit comes just after an administrative law judge ruled that the DNR didn’t fully consider the potential environmental impact of Supreme Beef’s water use permit.
James Larew is the attorney for the Driftless Water Defenders, the primary group contesting Supreme Beef’s permit. He says the group will appeal the decision because it isn’t the first time the DNR has failed to follow state statutes.
“In our opinion, DNR has done this consistently wrong over and over again, and we’re trying to change that and have the DNR consider broader issues when it approves or considers water use permits.”
Supreme Beef’s operation feeds almost 12,000 cattle.
According to the group, the DNR has never denied a water use permit since the 1950s.
Latino-owned businesses protested Trump’s executive orders
More than 100 Latino-owned businesses in at least 10 Iowa cities closed Monday as part of a nationwide action opposing President Donald Trump’s executive orders on illegal immigration.
Iowa City activist Yaneli Canales says she is concerned the president’s policies will give rise to more anti-immigrant incidents. Last week, swastikas were found on a Puerto Rican and a Mexican restaurant in Muscatine.
Canales says “A Day Without Immigrants” was organized to show what they contribute to the state.
“We are a great addition to our communities. We're valuable members, and a lot of what's going on is spreading misinformation. It's a misuse of resources in our community, and it's just spreading more fear and hate.”
Organizers say Latino-owned restaurants, stores and other businesses shut down for the day in Des Moines, Waterloo, Cedar Rapids and other parts of the state. They estimated hundreds of workers stayed home from their jobs.
UNI is seeking speakers for a TEDx talk this fall
The University of Northern Iowa will celebrate its 150th anniversary with events on the Cedar Falls campus, including a TEDx talk this fall.
Adam Amdor, a spokesman for UNI, says the deadline is in about two weeks to apply to be one of the 15 speakers.
“It’s all about sharing ideas,” Amdor says. “So, you’ve probably heard of a TED Talk. A TEDx event is a local, self-organized version. The ‘x’ means it’s an independently organized event, and so we’re looking for great speakers that can expand on one single idea worth sharing.”
Organizers are looking for inspiring speakers who can deliver powerful, thought-provoking talks on a wide variety of topics.
“Maybe that’s a new way of approaching an old problem,” Amdor says, “Or challenging the status quo, sharing some fascinating research or something really innovative.”
If you’re interested in speaking or know someone who would be a great fit, Amdor encourages you to complete the speaker application form right away, as they’re lining people up now from the Cedar Valley and beyond. Talks should be 15 to 18 minutes. The application deadline is Feb. 17.
Farmers union asks for settlement in lawsuit against meat packing giant
Lawyers for the National Farmers Union and a group of beef producers have asked a federal court to approve an $83 million settlement with meat packing giant JBS, over alleged price fixing.
A federal class action lawsuit alleges JBS conspired with other meat packing companies to curb supply in the U.S. beef market to artificially inflate prices. Other defendants in the suit are Tyson, Cargill and National Beef.
Aaron Lehman, president of Iowa Farmers Union, says meat packers have had the upper hand on beef producers for a long time.
“Farmers have struggled to get price transparency and fairness in cattle markets because there are just a few companies that control the marketplace, and those monopolistic practices have hurt Iowa farmers for years.”
In the proposed settlement, JBS does not admit any wrongdoing. The company has agreed to provide documentation that could support the case against the remaining defendants.
Iowa City protestors condemn Trump’s mass deportations

Protesters gathered in Iowa City Monday night to demonstrate against President Donald Trump’s recent orders aimed at carrying out mass deportations.
A group of about a hundred gathered downtown, waving flags and cheering on as cars passed by, honking. They said they want to bring attention to the important role that immigrants play in the United States economy and push back against rhetoric describing immigrants as criminals.
Jazmin Galvez-Vasquez and Julio Pacheco-Reyes are students at the University of Iowa. Pacheco-Reyes says he showed up not just for people his age, but for older generations too. Galvez-Vasquez chimed in.
“Remember to tell people that we’re not just here to work. We’re not just working in the fields. We’re not just cleaning your houses. We come here, we have our own lives, and we’re educated and we have to remember that.”
The event was organized by Kira Avila, a junior at Iowa City City High. She says she stepped up when she saw protests happening in other states.
Congressman Nunn voices support for Trump’s tariffs
Rep. Zach Nunn, a Republican representing Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, says he’s supportive of President Donald Trump’s new tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico and China.
Over the weekend, Trump signed executive orders imposing a 25% tax on most imports from Canada and Mexico and a 10% tax on most imports from China.
Nunn says he thinks the tariffs will help stop the flow of illegal fentanyl into the country.
“I think that tariffs are the best way to go after them, in a non-violent manner, but a very specific way to hold these bad actors accountable.”
But, Nunn says he agrees with Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley’s concern that farmers should be exempt from some of the tariffs. Iowa farmers import much of their fertilizer from Canada.
“The US has done a phenomenal job of helping to both feed and fuel the world, and when it comes to countries tariffing food, that's something that we should be looking at where America has been a source for good.”
Critics of Trump’s tariffs say they will hurt American jobs and the economy. The tariffs on Mexico have already been put on hold after the country agreed to send additional troops to the U.S.-Mexico border.
Iowans can contribute to conservation efforts when filing state taxes

While filling out state taxes, Iowans have the option of contributing to the Fish/Wildlife Fund – also known as the Chickadee Checkoff. Contributions go to the Iowa DNR to help conserve non-game species across the state.
DNR biologist Stephanie Shepherd says the fund supports habitat restorations, surveys to monitor wildlife populations and research.
“It’s how the DNR is able to have staff dedicated to working on songbirds, raptors, frogs and toads, turtles, bumblebees, butterflies. And so we work on all of those things on a statewide basis.”
For example, volunteers recorded nearly 1,200 bumblebees representing 10 species during last year’s inaugural Iowa Bumble Bee Atlas.
Avian ecologist Anna Buckardt Thomas is tracking the migration patterns of wood thrush, a forest songbird that’s declined 50% since the 1960s.
“They have this really beautiful flute-like sound. If you've ever heard one, it just stops you in your tracks.”
Iowa taxpayers contributed around $134,000 to the Chickadee Check-off last tax season. It’s roughly half of what Iowans contributed in 1982 when the state Legislature created the fund.
IRS says plenty of help is available to help you file your taxes
The 2024 tax season is now open and you can file your return. IRS spokesman Chris Miller says there’s plenty of help available for those who need it.
“IRS Free File remains a great option for people with relatively simple tax returns, and it allows folks to go through irs.gov and get a choice of brand name tax software products that allow them to file online, electronically for free, day or night.” he says.
Miller says there are some income restrictions. He says there are some programs where you can get face-to-face help.
“The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, or VITA, or the tax counseling for the elderly program called TCE. One program is mainly for seniors, and the other is geared toward low to moderate income taxpayers. And VITA allows the taxpayers to sit down with a volunteer face to face and get help preparing and electronically filing that tax return for free,” Miller says.
Miller also noted the continued danger of scammers seeking to take advantage of you during tax season.
“Watch out for phone calls or letters or text messages that threaten or make demands, because that’s a sign of a scam. We want you to watch out for unsolicited emails, text messages, social media messages, because they often contain attachments or links intended to steal your information,” Miller says.
Miller says the IRS won’t call you to get your information.
Foreign-owned American agricultural land has increased, but remains a small percentage
The amount of American crop, pasture and forestland owned by foreign investors continued to increase in 2023, according to analysis by the American Farm Bureau Federation.
The Farm Bureau says foreign citizens and companies now own 3.6% of American ag land. Investors from China and other countries deemed adversarial make up 0.03% percent.
That’s not much, says University of Illinois agricultural land economist Bruce Sherrick. He thinks concerns about foreign ownership are overblown.
“Impact in food supply is always a sensitive political issue. But again, the fractions are so incredibly tiny in the US that [it’s] hard to find where the coverage is proportional to the potential impact.”
Sherrick says one area of legitimate concern is whether foreign-owned land is located near a government or other sensitive property.
Additionally, an earlier study by the US General Accounting Office says the data could be incomplete.
GAO analyst Kim Gianopoulos says the data that the federal government collects on foreign ownership includes the names of principal investors — and that’s all.
“We had suggested that they go a little bit deeper than that, to identify second and third-tier investors, to get better information about all of the countries, about all of the investors.”
Some states, including Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska, have laws restricting ownership of ag land by foreign interests.
A federal bill that would have done so nationwide passed the House last year, but stalled in the Senate.
Bird flu detected in commercial layer flock

Iowa’s Department of Agriculture and the USDA confirmed bird flu in a commercial layer flock in the northwestern part of the state Sunday.
A spokesperson says the flock in O’Brien County had around 240,000 chickens.
Poultry are culled to prevent the spread of the virus, which is highly contagious and lethal for chickens and turkeys.
This was the second detection of H5N1 in Iowa this year. The first was a backyard flock in Clinton County on the eastern side of the state.
Detections are confirmed by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory in Ames.
WNBA star Caitlin Clark returns to Iowa City for jersey retirement ceremony

Caitlin Clark returned to the University of Iowa on Sunday for her jersey retirement ceremony. No player will wear the number 22 at Iowa again.
The TIME Magazine’s 2024 Athlete of the Year and WNBA star graduated from the University of Iowa last spring after taking the women’s basketball team to the Final Four.
Following an Iowa victory against the USC Trojans, the ceremony reflected on Clark’s college basketball career. It highlighted her achievements as a back-to-back National Player of the Year and her role in helping the team reach two national championship games. Clark thanked her teammates, coaches and family for her success.
“It's just fun for me to come back and like, say thank you to everybody that poured so much into me and allowed me to be great, whether that’s, you know, the social media people, whether that’s the marketing team, whoever it is that made me look really good at times.”
Former Iowa women’s basketball head coach Lisa Bluder says Clark did more in four years than anyone could have imagined.
“The positive image that you’ve brought to this basketball program, this university, this state, women’s basketball nationally, is unmeasurable.”
Clark will return to Iowa City on May 4, when the Indiana Fever will play a preseason game against the Brazilian National Team.
Week 3 at the Statehouse: Lawmakers advance a casino moratorium, education bills and parental leave
Last week, lawmakers moved quickly to try to block the development of a proposed Cedar Rapids casino and advanced several bills addressing education policy both in K-12 schools and the state’s public universities.
The Iowa House passed a five-year moratorium on new casinos in a bid to prevent the approval of a proposed Cedar Rapids casino. If the full Senate approves the measure, it will head to Gov. Kim Reynolds for her signature — potentially making it the first law enacted this session. The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission is scheduled to vote on the casino license application this Thursday.
Lawmakers also advanced bills affecting both K-12 and higher education. One proposal would loosen regulations on homeschooling. Another bill advancing in the Legislature would create uniform general education requirements across Iowa’s three public universities.
🎧 Listen to IPR State Government Reporter Katarina Sostaric break down the last week at the Legislature — and what to expect this week.
Sitting Iowa legislator dies unexpectedly
State Rep. Martin Graber, R-Fort Madison, died Friday morning at the age of 72, according to state leaders.
House Speaker Pat Grassley says House Republicans are devastated by Graber’s unexpected death.
Grassley says Graber served 32 years in the Army National Guard and was first elected to the Iowa House in 2020. And he says Graber’s legacy is, “one of kindness, hard work, and service.”
Gov. Kim Reynolds and Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Jeff Kaufmann also released statements in response to Graber’s death. They say he was a great friend and colleague. And they offered condolences to Graber’s wife, children and grandchildren
Man charged with distributing racist fliers asks court to reconsider conviction, despite failure to show in court
The Hampton man charged with distributing racist fliers in Hampton and Cedar Falls is asking Black Hawk County District Court to reconsider a guilty verdict, despite his failure to show up in court.
Daniel Alan Embree of Hampton, 38, first missed a December hearing, citing a knee injury, during which a magistrate found him guilty. In his most recent petition to the Black Hawk County District Court, he said his cat wounded him and was unable to make his court date.
The court has yet to respond to his petition.
Embree has already been sentenced to 180 days in jail in Franklin County for distributing fake immigrant hunting licenses to several Hispanic-owned businesses and homes in Hampton last year.
Without federal funding, free meals could be cut for 900,000 children in Midwest and Great Plains
A school meal program is on a list of potential cuts for an upcoming budget bill in D.C.
The program, Community Eligibility Provision, allows school districts with a high concentration of students in poverty to give all of their kids free meals.
Hancock Place School District in St. Louis uses the program, but wouldn’t be eligible under the proposed cut. Superintendent Kevin Carl is calling on lawmakers to find savings elsewhere.
“When students are fed and they're healthy and they're well, then they're going to be best positioned to be successful with their academics and really do well at school and thrive.”
Food Research and Action Center policy analyst Erin Hysom says these cuts would have a ripple effect through communities.
“By decreasing children's access to healthy school meals, you are hindering their ability to learn and succeed throughout the rest of their life.”
The program is on a list of potential cuts for an upcoming budget bill in Congress. House Speaker Mike Johnson has said he wants to get a bill to President Donald Trump’s desk by April.
The proposal would cut $3 billion from the program across the country.
Indigenous tribes are working to bring bison back to their land
About 30-60 million bison once roamed the continent, but less than 100 years of over hunting brought the species to the brink of extinction.
Today, buffalo are also a symbol of resiliency for Indigenous groups. There are roughly 450,000 Plains bison now living in the U.S., according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Each year more tribes and tribal nations seek to have buffalo restored to their lands.
The InterTribal Buffalo Council, founded in the early 1990s, has been an important part of that work.
The council has more than 80 members, who manage about 20,000 bison on over 1 million acres. ITBC President Ervin Carlson said their mission is to return buffalo to tribal lands for cultural and spiritual connection.
“You know, it's real gratifying to see when we first bring back a herd to a tribe — how excited or emotional to them to finally get buffalo back on their lands,” he said.
Jessica Evans, the Pawnee Nation’s agriculture land manager and outreach coordinator, said as a Plains tribe, buffalo are an integral part of their culture. Reestablishing the animals on the landscape is about reconnection.
“For me personally, it will feel really good to get to have a piece of that back and share that with everybody else who also has that hole in their heart of what could have been, what was and just is not anymore,” she said.
State Auditor’s report finds director of Iowa job training initiative embezzled $430,000
A special investigation by the State Auditor’s office has found the head of a taxpayer-funded program to help Iowans get training and land a job embezzled more than $430,000 over a seven year period.
During a news conference at the statehouse, State Auditor Rob Sand said most of that money went to program director Jodi Spargur-Tate.
“Then there was about another $100,000 that was diverted to her family members for things like rent, utilities, cell phone service,” Sand said, “and, in addition to that, allegedly for day care expenses when, in fact, there was no day care being provided.”
The Iowa Workforce Development agency provided the federal funding to the program Spargur-Tate managed. Sand said in five of the last six years the Iowa Workforce Development audit his office released warned the state agency more oversight was necessary to ensure the federal grants it distributes were being used appropriately.
Sand told reporters the embezzlement was discovered by a person who took over the director’s duties while Spargur-Tate was on vacation and saw an invoice for auto body work on a client’s vehicle. The client didn’t have a vehicle.
The Youth and Adult Displaced Workers program Spargur-Tate ran was financed with a federal grant the Iowa Workforce Development agency awarded to Children and Families of Iowa.
Jesse Dougherty, a spokesman for Iowa Workforce Development, said the agency “takes seriously its role in preventing fraud in the workforce programs we administer” and the State Auditor’s report is a reminder that "sophisticated and committed fraudsters can still be successful.”
Iowa astronaut Whitson to join elite group of space-faring honorees
Iowa native Peggy Whitson will be inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame this spring, recognizing her nearly four decades of work at NASA and her continued career at Axiom Space.
Six-time shuttle astronaut Curt Brown, executive director of the Hall of Fame, says Whitson is America’s most experienced astronaut and deserves this honor.
“She did three long-duration missions. She commanded two of the International Space Station expeditions. She did a gob of spacewalks, I think 10 spacewalks or so, and then she was actually chief of the astronaut office. We call it the chief astronaut. “And even now, after she left NASA, she’s working with Axiom. She’s flown with them once, and she’s going to fly with them again as an astronaut.”
Whitson, who grew up on a farm near Beaconsfield, is scheduled to command another two-week Axiom mission to the International Space Station this year, though a launch date hasn’t been released. She’ll command an international crew of four, with the other three astronauts hailing from India, Poland and Hungary. Whitson has so far spent 675 days in orbit.
DMACC president to retire at the end of this year
The president of Des Moines Area Community College plans to retire at the end of the year.
Rob Denson has been the president of DMACC for 20 years, after previously serving 10 years as the president of Northeast Iowa Community College. Denson says in his announcement he is proud of the expansion of the academic programs and the more than $100 million put into facilities in his time at the school. Enrollment has increased 50% since 2003.
Denson is only the fourth president in the school's 59-year history. The DMACC board plans to hire a consulting firm to conduct a search for Denson’s replacement.
Ag industry worries about the economic impact of mass deportations
Some agriculture and livestock leaders are warning that mass deportation of immigrants will have huge impacts on the industry. About 40% of farm workers do not have legal status, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Kansas Livestock Association CEO Matt Teagarden says while he’s in favor of deporting immigrants who commit crimes, immigrant workers are an important part of the food system in the U.S.
“Violent criminals should be deported. But we also need legal pathways for the hardworking, law abiding, taxpaying immigrant workers who are so critical to many important industries.”
Teagarden is a member of the American Business Immigration Coalition, a group that is calling on President Trump and the Republican-led Congress to provide more legal pathways for non-citizens to stay and work in the U.S.
Former Govs. Branstad, Vilsack to discuss Iowa-based World Food Prize
Two former Iowa governors met for lunch Wednesday to discuss the past and the future of the Des Moines-based World Food Prize.
Democrat Tom Vilsack, who served two terms as Iowa’s governor, will become the organization’s CEO beginning March 1. Republican Terry Branstad, elected to six terms as governor, has been president of the World Food Prize Foundation for the past two years.
Vilsack served 12 years as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture during the Obama and Biden administrations. Branstad served as U.S. Ambassador to China during the Trump administration and said that Vilsack’s international connections will be invaluable.
Branstad said he and Vilsack have worked together on a number of projects and issues over the past few decades and he’s ready to “pass the baton” to Vilsack.
“He’s been a great supporter of the World Food Prize and the thing I like about it from the very git go — we’ve had broad-based bipartisan support.”
The Iowa Legislature annually provides some funding for the World Food Prize, which hosts a symposium each October in Des Moines that draws dignitaries, as well as researchers and ag industry experts, from around the globe.
The World Food Prize is mainly supported by donations from individuals, corporations and other foundations. Each year, a World Food Prize laureate is recognized and awarded a half a million-dollar prize.
Trump’s pick to lead the USDA promises payments to farmers impacted by potential trade war
President Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of agriculture said during her nomination hearing last week that she will work to provide aid to U.S. farmers impacted by a possible trade war.
Trump proposed new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China to take effect as early as next month. Most likely, those countries will add taxes on U.S. goods in response. Brooke Rollins told senators that she will advocate for the needs of U.S. farmers and ranchers in tariff discussions.
“My commitment is that there will be no sleeping, that we will work around the clock, to ensure that our ag communities across this country are represented in those discussions and at the table.”
Retaliatory tariffs cost U.S. farmers billions of dollars during Trump’s last term. Ag officials then offered direct payments to farmers to offset those losses. Rollins says a similar approach would be a possibility during this term.
Foster care advocates call on Iowa lawmakers to cut social worker caseloads
Foster care advocates are planning to ask Iowa lawmakers Thursday to increase the number of meetings foster youth are required to have with their social workers. Typically, a child meets with their social worker at least once a month.
AMP Council is a foster care advocacy group made up of foster youth and adults. The organization’s program operations manager, Laticia Aossey, says social worker caseloads should be lighter so there’s time to build a strong relationship with each child.
“The biggest thing that we hear from youth is that workers are not seeing them enough, if at all. They're not answering their phone calls, they're not returning messages.”
Aossey says youth are more likely to open up about needs if they trust their social worker. In 2023, the average caseload for a social worker was 21, according to Iowa Department of Health and Human Services data.
Cedar Rapids approves plans to build a $750 million data center
A new data center is coming to Cedar Rapids. The city council voted Tuesday to move forward with a development agreement with the data company Quality Technology Services.
According to the agreement, the company will pay a minimum investment of $750 million. After construction, it will be eligible for a 70% rebate from the city, which will be supported by increased taxes.
Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell says she doesn’t see the tax incentive as a cost, but rather as an investment.
“It’s more than a tax deal. It’s about positioning our city as a leader in technology, innovation, opportunity. It’s about creating a city that businesses want to call home, families are going to want to build their futures in and, oh, by the way, investors are going to want to see a sure bet.”
According to Cedar Rapids Economic and Development Services Director Bill Micheel, the data center would create 500 jobs over six years.
Rare bird flu strain detected at California duck farm raises concerns about further spread
Another strain of the avian flu virus has been identified for the first time in U.S. poultry. The strain, called H5N9, was found on a duck farm in California that had an outbreak in November. This is not the first time it’s been detected in the U.S., but until now, it hasn’t caused severe illness or death in birds.
Iowa is among 11 states that have reported bird flu outbreaks in poultry flocks. H5N1 has also been detected in dairy cattle in the northwest part of the state. Producers have had to slaughter millions of chickens, driving up the price of eggs.
Yuko Sato, poultry veterinarian and pathologist at Iowa State University, says even though Iowa is seeing a lull in bird flu outbreaks, people should not expect egg prices to drop soon.
“It takes at least 18 weeks for a baby chick to be at the stage of starting to lay eggs. So even if you get hit, number one, is there enough bird supply to make sure that the next stock of birds are able to lay eggs? And number two, waiting for that lag period between when they're starting to place birds to when they're productive.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that ducks also carried the more common H5N1 virus. Scientists say ducks don't get very sick from bird flu, which can make them great hosts for different viruses to exchange genetic material.
Services to hundreds of Iowa refugees halted by White House order
New refugees in Iowa and across the U.S. lost access to services supported through federal funding after the Trump administration ordered all resettlement agencies to stop providing services to refugees. As of last Friday, these agencies are not allowed to access federal funding to rehome those fleeing from persecution.
Nick Wuertz, with of Lutheran Services in Iowa, says resettlement agencies provide financial assistance for basic living expenses.
“There are no other community services that do that, or that people can be referred to. It's really the only way that families have an opportunity to understand their new community, get on their feet, find jobs and get settled.”
Wuertz says more than 800 individuals have now lost access to this transitional program, over half of whom are children. He says roughly 80% of LSI’s funding comes from the federal government.
Iowa Democrats flip Senate seat in special election
A state Senate seat in eastern Iowa flipped following a special election Tuesday. Democrat Mike Zimmer will take the seat that was vacated by Republican Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer in Senate District 35.
Zimmer defeated Republican Katie Whittington by 339 votes, according to unofficial results. The district encompasses Clinton County and parts of Jackson and Scott counties. Zimmer won in Clinton and Jackson counties and lost by less than a percent in Scott County.
He campaigned on improving public education and growing Iowa’s middle class, posting regular videos on Facebook describing his plans. He says that since there were no other Senate races happening at the same time, he was able to get the full attention of the Iowa Democratic Party.
“We had people making phone calls, writing post cards, coming and helping [to] knock doors... you know, everything that you have to have to put together a winning campaign. I just was blessed to have all of that.”
Under Iowa law, Zimmer will have to resign from his role as president of the Central DeWitt School Board. Zimmer says he plans on raising important questions to his colleagues across the aisle. He plans to engage with Republicans on legislation that is already being discussed, such as paid family leave.
Trump’s freeze on federal grants could impact Iowa agencies
Gov. Kim Reynolds says she’s having state agencies look into the potential impact of President Donald Trump’s freeze on federal grants and loans. She says Trump is just making sure funding isn’t going to diversity, equity and inclusion programs — and she agrees with his efforts to get rid of those.
Reynolds says her chief of staff will be meeting with the U.S. Office of Management and Budget Wednesday to get more information.
“I think we just need to pause. I’m having my agencies take a look to make sure it doesn’t impact anybody in the state. So, they’re looking into making sure that we aren’t inadvertently maybe allocating funds to programs that we shouldn’t be, and in doing that process, they’ll be able to report back to us.”
About an hour after Reynolds spoke to reporters Tuesday, a federal judge blocked Trump’s freeze on federal grants and loans until Monday.
Grassley seeks explanation of why Trump fired 17 federal watchdogs
President Donald Trump concluded his first week in office by firing 17 inspectors general from a long list of federal agencies Friday night, which drew the attention of Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley.
It's within the president's power to take such action, but Grassley says Congress was supposed to have been given 30 days’ notice. Grassley says he wants to know why each of those inspectors was fired and why the notice wasn't given, as required by law.
Inspectors general are considered the government's watchdogs, those who are to guard against waste, fraud and abuse.
Appeals court upholds life sentence for Fairfield teen convicted of murdering his Spanish teacher
Jeremy Goodale pleaded guilty to first-degree murder along with Willard Miller in the death of their Spanish teacher Nohema Graber in 2021.
KCRG-TV reports Goodale appealed his sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years, saying he was 16 years old at the time and the court failed to consider his age and immaturity in his sentencing.
The ruling says it does recognize that Goodale was influenced by Miller, and he did not fully appreciate the consequences of his actions. But it noted Goodale was a bright student and an intelligent teenager who could have stopped the murder.
It says the minimum term was necessary because of the “egregiousness of the crime.”
Tom Vilsack named World Food Prize CEO
Former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will return to Iowa as the CEO of the World Food Prize beginning March 1.
In a media release from the Des Moines-based foundation, Vilsack said he looks forward to supporting “new solutions in the fight against hunger and championing efforts to ensure a sustainable and equitable food system for future generations."
The World Food Prize Foundation recognizes individuals each year who have increased the quality, quantity or availability of food.
Vilsack was Iowa’s Democratic governor from 1999 to 2007 and one of the longest-serving U.S. Agriculture secretaries, serving under former presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama.
What do Midwest law enforcement agencies say about helping ICE with deportations?
President Donald Trump has called for "mass deportations" of people without legal status in the U.S. and has called for help from local law enforcement agencies to arrest people for deportation proceedings.
As of Jan. 24, many agencies surveyed by The Midwest Newsroom — including several in Iowa — said they do not plan to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement. However, some say they’ll provide assistance if it’s requested.
Black Hawk County Sheriff Nate Neff said that if state or federal departments require help, his department will provide it, but it won’t be going out of its way to make arrests.
“If they need assistance, we’re not going to leave another agency hanging. We’ll help out as needed. But we’re certainly not going to be actively going out, looking to arrest people to deport. That’s not on my agenda whatsoever,” Neff said, adding that his department doesn’t have the personnel or funds to undertake any deportation operation without assistance.
Police departments in Des Moines, Sioux City, Storm Lake and West Des Moines said asking people about their immigration status is not part of their policy. However, their cooperation with federal immigration enforcement depends on agreements made with ICE.
Gov. Reynolds praises Iowa’s 6-week abortion ban at annual Prayer Rally for Life
Gov. Kim Reynolds told a crowd of abortion rights opponents at the Iowa Capitol that support for abortion was resoundingly defeated with Republicans winning Iowa’s elections.
At the annual Prayer Rally for Life Monday, she said the election results show that restricting abortion can be a winning issue. Reynolds says that some say defending those policies is too hard.
“But Iowa’s own experience proves that theory wrong. We’ve repeatedly won the debate at the ballot box, passed the ‘heartbeat’ bill not once, but twice, and then prevailed in our years-long fight in the courts.”
Following years of work by Reynolds and GOP lawmakers, most abortions are now banned in Iowa around six weeks of pregnancy. Reynolds says the work continues, but she didn’t announce new abortion restrictions. She’s now asking lawmakers to make it easier for pregnant women to get services from midwives and doulas.
Second generation Holocaust survivor reflects on his parent’s stories of surviving Auschwitz
Today marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp. During World War II, Nazi German forces murdered roughly 1.1 million people at the site in southern Poland. Jan. 27 is designated International Holocaust Remembrance Day to commemorate the millions of victims who died during the Holocaust.
David Wolnerman, who died in 2023, was the last known Holocaust survivor in Des Moines. His wife, Jennie, who died in 2016, also survived the Holocaust. Their son Michael remembers the stories that his dad told him about his time in Auschwitz.
“We're on this earth to live, and that's the point to why my parents survived, I believe, so that they can demonstrate to me and my family how we should live and how we should act, and how we should appreciate what we have given to us.”
Wolnerman says the history of the Holocaust reminds him that it’s important to speak up when it’s needed.
Drug dog sniffs out large amounts of pot at Des Moines airport
The Des Moines Police Department says a drug dog found more than 50 pounds of marijuana at the Des Moines International Airport Thursday. DMPD received an anonymous tip that the pot was coming in on a plane from Las Vegas.
Investigators were able to identify the luggage believed to contain the marijuana, and then their dog Blaise quickly alerted to the odor of drugs. Investigators watched the luggage, and a 21-year-old man is facing two drug charges after claiming it. Police did not say where the man was from.
Survey finds around 4% of Iowa homes have lead water lines
A federally mandated survey finds a majority of the water lines serving Iowa homes do not contain lead.
Heidi Cline, drinking water program coordinator at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, says there are 51,918 lead service lines reported, which is just under 4% of the total service lines.
The inventories found 81% of the lines were not lead, almost 14% were undetermined and less than 2% were galvanized lines that need to be replaced. Cline says a federal lead water pipes ban went into effect in 1988, so most of the homes with lead pipes tend to be older.
She says the Environmental Protection Agency said this fall that the compliance date to identify all of the unknown pipes is Nov. 1, 2027, and systems have to find out that information within seven years of the compliance date. They then have 10 years from the compliance date to remove all of the lead service lines. Cline says the rule does not specify who is responsible for the cost of removing lead lines.
What does a breast cancer patient experience between diagnosis and treatment? This study wants to know
A University of Iowa study will look at the experience a woman has in the period between when she is diagnosed with breast cancer to when she receives surgery.
Loreen Herwaldt, a professor of internal medicine at the University of Iowa, says there is little research on patient experience during this time. Her pilot study found patients reported a lot of anxiety and confusion during this period.
“Sometimes they didn't understand why they were having specific appointments or tests. For example, one woman said, ‘I had no idea why I was seeing a plastic surgeon.’”
Herwaldt says the goal is to help improve patients’ experience during this stressful time. According to the Iowa Cancer Registry, an estimated 3,000 Iowans were diagnosed with new cases of breast cancer last year.
Egg prices are soaring again. Here’s why and what to expect

The average price for a dozen eggs has soared to over $4 in recent weeks, and bird flu is a big reason why.
More than 13 million egg-laying hens died last month because of bird flu, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. That’s the most of any month last year.
The losses are a big factor in higher egg prices, says Jada Thompson, a poultry economist at the University of Arkansas.
“One of the hard parts is there's this regional concentration of production. And so, when a disease is going through and hitting farms in that area, it's going to affect multiple farms, and that's going to affect the supply of eggs, and that supply then will affect our prices.”
Thompson says egg prices will likely fall as bird flu cases drop and the egg supply recovers. But more outbreaks of the virus could push prices back up.
RAGBRAI 2025 promises a shorter, flatter ride

This year’s RAGBRAI cycling route across Iowa will be among the shortest and flattest in the ride’s history.
Organizers of the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa announced this year’s route Saturday night. The ride will cross northern Iowa and cover 406 miles with more than 10,000 feet of climb.
The ride will start in Orange City on July 20 and end in the town of Guttenberg on July 26. Riders will stay overnight in Milford, Estherville, Forest City, Iowa Falls, Cedar Falls and Oelwein.
RAGBRAI attracts more than 15,000 cyclists from all 50 states and more than a dozen countries. The theme for this year’s ride is “Take Flight,” and the community fund beneficiary is the Honor Flight Network. Registration for the ride is now open.
Week 2 at the Statehouse: Lawmakers seek fetal development video in schools, new rules for court testimony
Iowa lawmakers advanced dozens of bills in the second week of the legislative session. Some are expected to get a hearing this week.
A proposed constitutional amendment that advanced in the Iowa House would help restore the option for some child crime victims to testify remotely. Attorney General Brenna Bird proposed the amendment after the Iowa Supreme Court ruled last year that Iowa’s law allowing certain witnesses to testify from a separate room through a one-way video system is unconstitutional.
Iowa lawmakers also moved forward on new rules for the road. One measure working through the Senate would ban any use of cell phones behind the wheel unless it’s in a hands-free or voice-activated mode. Another proposal would significantly increase fines for excessive speeding on Iowa roads.
Republicans are also hoping to enact new curriculum guidelines for Iowa schools. One bill would require high schoolers to pass a U.S. citizenship test in order to graduate. Another proposal would require lessons about fetal development in the womb with a video starting in first grade.
🎧 Listen as IPR State Government Reporter Katarina Sostaric and Morning Edition Host Meghan McKinney break down week two at the Statehouse.
State health officials are reporting a jump in the number of schools reporting significant absences due to illness
Iowa Health and Human Services reports 73 schools statewide had absence rates of at least 10% last week. That’s a significant jump from 11 schools the week prior.
This comes as the state has seen an increase in respiratory virus infections like COVID-19, RSV, the flu and norovirus.
Addie Olson at the Polk County Health Department says 14 schools have reported high absence rates this month.
“Some of those schools have reported sick absence rates greater than 10% for two or three consecutive days. And those extended absentee rates are a good indicator that there is a significant amount of illness spreading within the school.”
Olson says parents should keep kids home when they’re sick, practice good hygiene and make sure they’re up to date on vaccines.
Iowa’s ‘illegal reentry’ immigration law deemed unconstitutional by appeals court
A federal appeals court ruled that Iowa’s law creating a state immigration crime of illegal reentry is unconstitutional and can’t be enforced for now.
Republicans in the Iowa Legislature passed the law last year, but it was blocked by a federal district court and never took effect. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird appealed, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit issued a ruling Friday affirming the lower court’s decision.
The ACLU of Iowa is one group that sued to block the law. Legal Director Rita Bettis Austen says she’s glad immigrants in Iowa don’t have to fear a law that could’ve even put people with legal status at risk.
Bird says “the battle is far from over,” and that she’ll keep fighting to defend Iowa’s laws and to keep families safe. Bird’s office says they are still reviewing the ruling to determine the next steps.
Davenport apartment investigated for substandard conditions, previously owned by the same property manager of building that collapsed in 2023
A Davenport apartment building is under investigation after Facebook posts showed what would later be described as “substandard” conditions. The building was previously owned by Andrew Wold, the former owner of an apartment building that partially collapsed in May of 2023, killing three people.
City officials inspected the building’s basement, first finding nothing that required immediate attention. Then, Justin Carlisle of Davenport posted a video from an uninspected section of the basement. A second investigation revealed it was only accessible through an unoccupied unit.
Property management was notified in a report that describes excessive amounts of trash, structural failures in the foundation, a moisture problem and other issues. The city will conduct another inspection next month.
Unverified rumors of ICE raids deepen anxieties in immigrant and refugee communities
An immigrant rights advocate says unverified rumors on social media about Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, carrying out operations in Iowa are adding to fears already felt in immigrant and refugee communities.
President Donald Trump has promised to deport millions of immigrants and has reversed policies to avoid making arrests at places like schools, churches and hospitals.
Erica Johnson of the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice says his actions have made people hyper-aware of the presence of ICE officers.
“People keep sharing reported ICE activity in Iowa that isn't actually verified, and so it's helping elevate the fear in the community, which essentially is doing Donald Trump's work for him. That's what he wants. And so we're encouraging people not to share unverified information.”
Johnson says ICE was active in Iowa in Trump’s first term. She says her organization is telling immigrants to know their due process rights under the constitution. She says they should also have their immigration documents in order and make plans with their family and attorney in case something happens.
Public forum criticizes the state’s edits of science standards to change evolution and climate change language
Teachers, parents and residents disputed changes to the terms "evolution" and "climate change" in the state’s new proposed science standards during a public forum held Thursday night.
The original draft of the standards submitted by a committee of educators used the terms “biological evolution” and “climate change.” The version posted online for public comment earlier this month changed the words to “biological change over time” and “climate trends.” The new draft largely left the concepts unchanged, but removed some references to "human activities."
Jerrid Kruse, a Drake professor and one of the original committee members, says he’s concerned about the shift in language.
“I guess my concern then is that they don't want to live in a state where the legislators are afraid of science words, because that's really what this comes down to. Not changing the concepts. We're just changing the words.”
The standards will be reviewed by another committee made up of parents and educators before getting final approval by the State Board of Education. Iowans can submit feedback through the online survey through Feb. 3.
Federal ICE agents make 1 arrest at Polk County Courthouse
Federal immigration officials made one arrest at the Polk County Courthouse in Des Moines Thursday.
Rumors around the incident led to claims that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was arresting multiple people at the courthouse. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that only one arrest was made. It happened outside the building, and ICE officers left afterward.
An ICE spokesperson did not respond to questions about operations in the area.
Immigration advocates warn against spreading or exaggerating unverified information about ICE activity in the state. They say it elevates fears in immigrant and refugee communities. They also say immigrants who need to go to the courthouse should first contact their attorneys.
Sioux City police issue statement on deportations and immigration status
The Sioux City Police Department says the issue of immigration enforcement and deportation has created anxiety and uncertainty among many residents.
The department issued a statement to try and reduce fear and to let the public know it’s critically important that residents and nonresidents feel safe. It says, in part, that even though Sioux City is not a sanctuary city, officers do not ask about immigration status because to do so might silence victims and witnesses.
The statement goes on to say, “Regardless of any federal or state administration initiatives or policies, we will always take a commonsense approach to their mandates.”
Iowa Motion Picture Awards now accepting nominations
The deadline is next week for Iowans who are involved in the film industry to submit entries for this year’s Iowa Motion Picture Awards. The awards recognize outstanding creative and technical achievement in Iowa’s motion picture industry in all of its forms, according to Jim Brockhohn, president of the Forest City-based Iowa Motion Picture Association.
“Anybody can enter. You just have to have a connection in Iowa, whether it be the director, the writer, an actor.”
The association was founded as a way to showcase the film and media talents of Iowans. This year marks the 34th anniversary of the awards, and Brockhohn says there is a new feature this time around.
The IMPA partnered with Fridley Theatres and the Fleur Cinema and Café to screen the nominated films leading up to the awards show. Those screenings will take place May 26-30.
The deadline to submit entries is Jan. 31. Nominees will be notified at the end of March, with the awards event planned for May 31 at the Palms Theatres in Waukee.
Local law enforcement prepares to support mass deportations at governor’s request
Gov. Kim Reynolds told law enforcement across Iowa to prepare to support mass deportation operations by the federal government. That puts local departments on alert, but doesn’t mean they will be acting independently of state or federal agencies.
In Black Hawk County, Sheriff Nate Neff says if state or federal-level departments require help, his department will provide it, but it won’t be going out of its way to make arrests.
“If they need assistance, we’re not going to leave another agency hanging. We’ll help out as needed. But we’re certainly not going to be actively going out, looking to arrest people to deport. That’s not on my agenda whatsoever.”
Neff says that his department doesn’t have the personnel or funds to undertake any deportation operation without assistance.
City of Spencer seeks state help to qualify for FEMA funds
City officials in Spencer are hoping the state of Iowa will help pay for an analysis to determine the full extent of flood damage to the city's wastewater treatment system.
City Manager Kevin Robinson says the Federal Emergency Management Agency will help cover the cost of repairs, but it will cost $1 million to produce the report required to qualify.
The city's biggest expense moving forward will be fixing its wastewater treatment plant — an upgrade could cost up to $30 million. There was sewer back-up in 75% of the homes, businesses, schools and other structures in Spencer during the June 2024 floods, which is when the wastewater treatment plant failed.
New concerns over cancer and alcohol say even moderate drinking increases risk
Iowa has one of the highest rates of binge drinking in the country. But research shows alcohol consumption — even in moderate amounts — comes with significant health risks, including cancer.
A new federal analysis published on Jan. 14 found that drinking even one alcoholic beverage a day raises a person's cancer risk.
Separately, just days into the New Year, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued new guidance that grabbed headlines. He called for an update on the warning labels on alcohol, addressing its link to seven different types of cancer: mouth, throat, esophagus, voice box, liver, colon and rectal and breast.
This comes at a time when Midwestern states have seen an increase in alcohol consumption in recent years.
Read the full story from Side Effects Public Media’s Natalie Krebs.
The end of subminimum wages for workers with disabilities could be in sight
The federal government is looking at doing away with a program that allows employers to pay people with disabilities less than the minimum wage.
Federal data shows five nonprofits in Iowa have 14(c) certificates that allow them to pay below minimum wage. This includes Vodec, headquartered in Council Bluffs, which oversees about 80 people who work in Omaha under the program.
Vodec CEO Steve Hodapp says eliminating the option would likely result in many clients staying home instead.
“A lot of the people who we've had working here in our prevocational center through the years have really enjoyed the experience and found it to be very productive.”
Officials with the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council say the practice of subminimum wages is outdated and not equitable.
Once officially adopted, the Department of Labor would give employers three years to transition to higher wages. However, the proposal could change under the new Trump administration.
Cedar Rapids school district delays rollout of career readiness program
The Cedar Rapids Community School District delayed the rollout of a career readiness program designed to improve graduation rates and give students experiences in different industries. This comes after both parents and teachers expressed concern about how the specifics of the program were communicated.
High school freshmen would have been required to enroll in the College and Career Pathways program this coming fall, but it’s now optional. It will be a required course the following year.
Kennedy High School Principal Jason Kline says the district’s plan to delay the program gives everyone more time to adjust.
“They wanted to slow things down a little bit to give time to prepare, get time to make sure that we flush out the coursework that students would be engaging in, and make sure that we have a good, firm understanding of all aspects of the program from start to finish.”
Kline says teachers have responded positively to the changes. The school district is also gathering feedback from a parent advisory group. A community meeting is set to take place Jan. 30.
Iowa’s largest school district unveils a 10-year plan to reverse declining enrollment
The state’s largest school district is announcing plans for an educational overhaul in response to years of declining enrollment and budget cuts.
Over the past couple years, Des Moines Public Schools has steadily lost enrollment — around 2,000 students transfer out of the district each year. Associate Superintendent Matt Smith says that by 2030, the district’s goal is to gain students through open enrollment. To do that, Smith says the school system needs to modernize.
The district plans to offer more opportunities for students to explore careers of interest and make full-day preschool more accessible. Smith says the district itself will split into three regions to better connect neighborhoods with their schools.
“To do nothing is to communicate to our 5,000 employees to just work harder. They cannot work any harder. They’re doing everything that they can within the structures that were built a hundred years ago.”
More details will be announced next month. After that, the district plans several rounds of public comment. The final plan is meant to be rolled out over a decade.
Trump's sweeping Jan. 6 pardon includes 10 Iowans
One of the 10 Iowans pardoned by President Donald Trump says he’s not surprised that he and more than 1,500 other Jan. 6 defendants were cleared of their crimes.
Kenny Rader of Sioux City was sentenced to 90 days in prison, plus three years’ probation, after pleading guilty to illegally entering the U.S. Capitol four years ago.
“I've already served my time and my case is resolved. But to see all the other guys come out last night — I stayed up pretty late watching them walk out in droves, and that's what I was really happy for.”
Rader says he plans to take part in a $50 billion class action lawsuit against the Department of Justice. Some of the other Iowans pardoned by Trump include Doug Jensen, who was convicted of leading a mob through the Capitol, and Kyle Young, who assaulted a police officer guarding the building.
U.S. House bill to protect grasslands has bipartisan support
Federal legislation with bipartisan support would put money into saving the nation’s rapidly disappearing grasslands. The North American Grasslands Conservation Act would help tribes, states and ranchers carry out controlled fires — which can mitigate wildfires.
Shaun Grassel is CEO of the Buffalo Nations Grasslands Alliance, a group that works with 16 tribes conserving land on the northern Great Plains.
“We need to start focusing more attention on prescribed fire and using controlled burns, not only to protect communities and infrastructure, but to keep our grasslands vibrant.”
More than 50 hunting, farming and conservation groups have endorsed the bill.
An immigration bill co-sponsored by Iowa's senators moves closer to Trump's desk
The Laken Riley Act passed in the U.S. Senate with bipartisan support Monday. Sen. Chuck Grassley, one of the bill's co-sponsors, said in a media call that the House will vote on the amended immigration bill this week. It’s expected to pass and be signed by President Trump.
“[With] President Trump in office and Republicans steering Congress, Americans can look forward to safer, more prosperous years ahead.”
The Laken Riley Act requires Homeland Security to arrest, detain and deport people in the U.S. without legal status who commit theft, burglary, larceny or shoplifting. It also authorizes states to sue the federal government for decisions or alleged failures related to immigration enforcement.
The Senate voted for the bill the same day President Trump declared illegal immigration a national emergency.
Federal aid for farmers aims to offset losses on farms. Will it help?
Farmers will get $31 billion in economic and disaster relief from the U.S. government. The payments could offer short-term support, as many farmers face challenges like less income and extreme weather.
Lawmakers passed the funding in December alongside another extension of the 2018 Farm Bill, which funds programs like crop insurance and food benefits.
Ryan Whitehouse, with the Illinois Farm Bureau, says the payments will help farmers get through the next year, but they need an updated Farm Bill in the long term.
“A modernized farm bill with higher reference prices, with a stronger safety net might have alleviated the need to pass in the economic assistance payment. May have, might not have, but there's clearly other policies within the Farm Bill that need to be modernized.”
The one-time payments can help farmers to pay down loans or invest in new equipment. The government must distribute the economic relief funding by the end of March.
Read the full story from Harvest Public Media’s Jess Savage.
Plans to house homeless people in a tiny village gets new life
The Des Moines nonprofit Joppa is resubmitting a proposal to build permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness. The organization hopes to construct tiny homes on land south of the Des Moines airport to house 50 people.
Joppa’s application comes at a time when there are still questions around enforcing a new camping ban in Des Moines. Joe Stevens, CEO and cofounder of Joppa, says their “tiny village” is a replica of a successful village in Austin, Texas.
“There's just nowhere for people to go. So, what the city really needs, instead of transitional housing, is they need permanent housing that people can actually afford.”
Joppa is asking the city to rezone the land where the tiny homes would be built. They withdrew a rezoning application in 2021 due to financial concerns, but Stevens says the problems have been addressed.
Hinterland Music Festival announces 2025 headliners
Lana Del Rey, Tyler the Creator and Kacey Musgraves are set to headline Iowa’s biggest music festival this summer. The Hinterland Music Festival revealed its lineup Tuesday morning.
The annual event, held south of Des Moines in Saint Charles, will implement several changes this year in response to safety concerns caused by last year’s extreme heat. Festival Director Sam Summers says attendees can expect more space and shade this year at a new mainstage location inside the festival grounds.
The festival is scheduled to take place from Aug. 1 - 3.
Summers spoke with IPR Music Host Cece Mitchell on IPR's Studio One.
Nation’s largest meat packing company to pay $4 million for child labor violations
The largest meat packing company in the country will pay $4 million to help prevent illegal child labor as part of a settlement with the U.S. Department of Labor. It stems from a 2022 investigation that found JBS USA, among other meat packing companies, used a third-party sanitation company that employed 13-17 year olds in dangerous conditions, including at Midwest facilities.
As part of the settlement, JBS must hire a child labor compliance specialist and create ways to anonymously report possible violations. Nick Grandgenett, a lawyer with Nebraska Appleseed, an advocacy group focusing on child welfare, says this is a good start, but it should go further.
“I think the way in which that industry becomes healthier and gets better is if some of these agreements take a more holistic approach that tackle not just the child labor aspect, but also the underlying safety issues. So, it’s dangerous for children, but it’s dangerous for anyone who happens to be there.”
It’s not clear what nonprofits will receive the $4 million, but several Midwestern towns will be prioritized, including Ottumwa and Grand Island, Neb.
Chronic absenteeism has improved in Des Moines schools. But more work remains
School districts are increasing efforts to improve school attendance. Chronic absenteeism surged during the pandemic and has been difficult to bring down.
Des Moines Public Schools increased outreach to families through letters, phone calls and in-person visits to homes. DMPS Superintendent Ian Roberts says the district learned that some students are missing school to care for family members or to work so they can add to their family’s income.
“The commitment of these young people — the sacrifices that they're making — they're trying to balance the importance of attending school, but also supporting their families. So we are looking at finding ways to support them.”
Des Moines has succeeded in reducing chronic absenteeism. From last year to the start of the current school year, the district has seen improvements at 51 schools. But in some Des Moines high schools, chronic absenteeism is still over 50%.
Roberts made his comments on IPR’s Talk of Iowa.
Meet the candidates running to fill Lt. Gov. Cournoyer’s senate seat in eastern Iowa
Voters in Iowa Senate District 35 are headed back to the polls at the end of the month to decide who will succeed Republican Chris Cournoyer after she was appointed lieutenant governor. The eastern Iowa district includes Clinton County and parts of Jackson and Scott counties.
Mike Zimmer is the Democratic candidate running for the seat. He is president of the Central DeWitt School Board and says he decided to run, in part, in response to state-funded Education Savings Accounts. He says the voucher program takes money away from public schools and puts it towards private education with little accountability.
Zimmer is running against Republican Katie Whittington, who says she supports school choice. She has also advocated for organizations that oppose vaccine requirements, such as the nonprofit Children’s Health Defense.
The special election will take place on Jan. 28.
Immigration accounts for 84% of Iowa’s population growth in 2024
Most of Iowa’s population growth from 2023 to 2024 came from international migration, according to U.S. census data. Over that period, the state’s population grew by 23,000 people — with immigrants making up 84% of the growth.
Leslie Olson works for the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants in Des Moines, a nonprofit that helps people resettle. Refugees are a small part of the immigrants coming in, but Olson says political rhetoric that casts refugees as violent is misinformed. She says they must go through numerous background checks before they are allowed into the country.
“This is the only system in the United States where we treat people like criminals until they can prove that they were victims.”
Olson says a lot of immigrants stay in Iowa for the same reasons as anyone else: available jobs, affordable housing and nice people. In recent years, refugees came from Afghanistan, Venezuela and Ukraine, among others.
Iowa's governor plans to meet Trump administration officials in D.C.
Gov. Kim Reynolds spent the weekend in Washington, D.C. for festivities leading up to President-elect Donald Trump’s second inauguration Monday. While there, she plans to meet with key Trump administration officials.
Reynolds will discuss the bird flu outbreak during a meeting with Trump's choice to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She says in all her meetings with Trump's cabinet secretaries, she will make a pitch to send more federal funds to states in the form of block grants, so state officials have more authority in how the money is spent within their borders.
Reynolds will also advocate moving the headquarters of federal agencies out of Washington, D.C., and into states across the country. She says it could thin the federal workforce, as many federal employees may refuse to move from D.C.
Iowa’s only presidential museum is closed until 2026

The Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum in West Branch closed its doors Sunday for renovations. It plans to reopen during the summer of 2026 with upgraded exhibits, an expanded lobby and gift shop and a new façade.
The library is home to President Hoover’s gravesite and over 10 million manuscripts of historical texts cataloguing his life. This will be the first time in more than 30 years that the library will undergo renovations. Director Tom Schwartz says the renovations will help to better tell Hoover's life story by engaging all the senses.
“Adults are just like big kids, and they also know about their environment through tactile interaction. The more senses that you can engage in that learning process, the more memorable the experience.”
Schwartz says the project will cost just over $20 million, which was raised by the Hoover Presidential Foundation.
Gov. Reynolds tells officials to assist in deportations
Gov. Kim Reynolds is instructing the department heads who oversee the Iowa State Patrol and the state’s prison system to assist federal officials in enforcing immigration laws.
President-elect Donald Trump has said he plans to order mass deportations when he takes office.
Reynolds is telling the Iowa Department of Public Safety and the Department of Corrections to inform federal officials when someone is arrested who may be in the U.S. without legal status. She also says they should comply with requests to hold people in jail until they can be transferred to federal custody.
Reynolds indicated last month she is willing to enlist the Iowa National Guard to assist in carrying out Trump’s deportation orders.
Owner of Davenport building that collapsed accused of avoiding payouts
Victims of a May 2023 building collapse in downtown Davenport are accusing the building’s owner of selling many of his assets to avoid payouts. Three people were killed in the collapse and one woman lost her leg.
New filings in an ongoing class-action lawsuit allege Andrew Wold and his companies sold 20 of his 22 properties at less than market value to avoid paying the plaintiffs.
The plaintiffs say Wold should put his sales earnings into a trust, which would be monitored by someone appointed by the court.
Wold would not be able to access those funds without the court’s approval. The petition also estimates he could owe over $100 million in damages.
About 70% of private school students are using taxpayer-funded education savings accounts
The state has released K-12 enrollment data showing nearly 28,000 students are using taxpayer-funded education savings accounts, or ESAs.
This year the state is providing around $7,800 for each student to go toward private school tuition.
Private school enrollment is around 39,000 statewide. That means about 70% of private school students are using ESAs.
There is still an income limit on the program. That will lift next year, making the funding available to all private school students.
Enrollment at Iowa public schools declined slightly to just over 480,000 students.
Iowa saw a good year of rainfall after drought, but more consistency is needed, says DNR
After four years of drought, Iowa’s water supplies ended 2024 in decent shape, but it will take at least two more years like the last before we’re in the clear, says Tim Hall, lead hydrologist with the Iowa DNR.
Hall says aside from flooding in northwest Iowa, most of the state saw slightly above average rainfall month-over-month, with moderate temperatures. Water supplies ended the year in decent shape, but Hall says it’s too soon to give the all-clear.
“It takes more than one decent year to get all the conditions back to where you really want them. The fact that we had one good rainfall year is great.
What we'd like to see is another year of normal to just above normal rainfall, and then another one after that, and then we'll sort of be back in the balance where we need to be.”
Hall says we’re in the middle of what’s typically one of the driest parts of the year. He says precipitation will start picking up at the end of February and beginning of March.
In spring of last year, Osceola in southern Iowa was restricting water use as West Lake, the city’s main source of drinking water, fell to historically low levels. As of last week, West Lake was still three feet short of full.
Nonprofit that serves immigrants prepares for Trump’s mass deportations
A northwest Iowa organization is helping immigrants make legal preparations before a new administration takes office.
President-elect Donald Trump promised to order mass deportations after he is sworn in on Monday, although a specific plan and timeline is unknown.
Officials at the Mary T. Treglia House in Sioux City have been busy assisting immigrants without legal status.
Yareli Flores, the office manager, came illegally to the United States at the age of two and returned to Mexico after high school for 18 months to acquire her green card. She’s now a citizen.
She says the nonprofit has also been offering a lot of advice lately on how to stay in the country legally.
“Anything from getting their green card, applying for citizenship, applying for work permits, asylum, TPS. They are very persistent on what can be done for them and what are their options. They’re scared of what's to come.”
Due to privacy and safety concerns, the nonprofit will not disclose how many people without legal status they are helping.
“There has been an uptick in folks visiting our site, worried about what might happen. They want to take action and prepare themselves as best they can,” Florez says.
The American Immigration Council estimates there are more than 52,000 immigrants without legal status living in Iowa.
Iowa businesses that went viral on TikTok brace for app’s ban
A law banning TikTok in the United States is scheduled to take effect on Sunday.
The law has garnered outrage among TikTok creators, many of whom have built massive followings — and even careers — on the app. TikTok’s 170 million American users also include over seven million small businesses that have used the platform for marketing and sales, generating $15 billion in revenue in 2023, by the app's own estimate.
One of those businesses is Linda Tong Planners, based in Des Moines.
Tong sells illustrated stationary, like planners, calendars and journals, as well as other office supplies on her website. Since 2020, she's posted videos and gone live on TikTok to advertise her products, gaining thousands of followers in the process.
"Shortly after I shared my first couple of videos, they went viral," she said.
Since TikTok has been a major driver of her sales, Tong says she'll need to reevaluate where to focus her efforts now that the app is likely to go dark in the U.S.
Biden reauthorizes act to prioritize placing Native American adoptees with Native families
The Biden administration has reauthorized the Indian Child Welfare Act, or ICWA. The 1978 law prioritizes placing Native American adoptees with Native families.
Great Plains Action, based in Sioux City, advocates for Indigenous rights. Project director Trisha Rivers says the law helps keep children connected to their heritage.
“One of the biggest goals that I see right now is finding more Native American families to become Native American foster homes to our Native American children that are entered into the DHS foster care system.”
Rivers is an adoptee herself, so she recognizes how important it is to stay connected to her heritage.
“It feels like I fit somewhere, even though I do still struggle with, you know, like I didn't grow up on the reservation. But I do feel a part of the tribe, and it really makes me feel great.”
Rivers says the law helps prevent the trauma caused by forced removals.
Before ICWA, 85% of Indigenous children separated from their families ended up in non-Native homes. The renewed law offers more assistance and resources for tribal families.
Emergency room doctor jailed for obtaining protected information from women
A doctor has been jailed after he allegedly obtained protected health information of multiple women without their knowledge. The women say they were not patients of Dr. Gabriel Alejandro Hernandez-Roman, who worked in emergency rooms in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City.
Court documents say an unidentified Iowa City hospital where Hernandez-Roman worked investigated an anonymous tip that he’d become romantically involved with patients, accessed their medical records and threatened them. In at least one case, it was discovered he sent a sensitive photograph of a patient to another individual over Snapchat.
Hernandez-Roman has been sentenced to one month in jail and fined $1,000. He will also undergo three years of supervised release.
Iowa schools could receive a 2% increase in state aid. Some say that’s not enough
A proposal in the governor’s budget would increase state supplemental aid to Iowa schools by 2%. But the Iowa State Education Association is concerned that it won’t be enough to keep up with costs for many districts, especially as Iowa continues to endure a teacher shortage.
Jill White, executive director of student services at Cedar Falls Community School District, says she is worried that her para-educators and mental health staff won’t be able to keep up with the increasing number of families who rely on at-risk programs.
“With the economic place that we’re in, we have more families who need more help. And so, we want to be equipped to help everybody and not have to pick and choose who we can afford to help with different avenues.”
Over 1,000 students regularly use some form of the district’s at-risk services — that’s nearly a fifth of the Cedar Falls student body. Iowa House and Senate leaders have not announced their school funding targets.
Mason City homeless shelters over capacity in November, December
Bitter cold temperatures are forecasted to return to Iowa over the weekend, meaning people without a place to sleep at night face a dangerous situation if they don’t find shelter.
Jesse Germundson, executive director of the Northern Lights Alliance for the Homeless in Mason City, says they will not turn someone seeking shelter away.
“When it gets this cold, we feel… that we have a moral duty to the community that we serve to take these individuals off the streets because it gets very dangerous very quickly.”
The organization serves homeless individuals in a nine-county region and operates a shelter for women and children and another shelter for men. Typically, 300-350 people stay in their shelters throughout the year for an average of 15-30 days each, according to Germundson. But over the past two months, he says they have been over capacity.
In November and December, 72 people stayed at least one night in one of the group’s shelters. He says they are stretched trying to help low-income people passing through Mason City in addition to residents who need help after finding a longer-term place to stay.
Iowa small businesses active on TikTok react to looming ban

A TikTok ban in the United States is set to go into effect Sunday pending a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court.
TikTok has 170 million American users, including more than 7 million small businesses that use the platform to promote and sell their products. Among them is Maddie Palmersheim, who has gained followers by sharing her journey opening a plant-based bakery in Cedar Falls.
Although Palmersheim says the app brought her support and exposure, it didn’t always translate into increased sales. She plans to take a more traditional marketing approach if the app goes away.
“It's just a tool for us, and like everything in our business, we have to diversify the tools.”
TikTok reported its app drove $15 billion in revenue for small businesses in 2023.
U.S. DOT proposes new safety rules for carbon pipelines
The U.S. Department of Transportation is proposing new requirements for carbon dioxide and hazardous liquid pipelines.
The DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) says the nearly 350-page proposal addresses lessons learned from a multi-year investigation into a CO2 pipeline rupture in Satartia, Miss., in 2020. More than 40 people sought care at local hospitals, including individuals who were caught in the CO2 vapor cloud while driving a vehicle.
The DOT’s proposed regulations include more robust requirements for communicating with the public during an emergency and detailed vapor dispersion analyses to better protect the public and the environment in the event of a pipeline failure.
Summit Carbon Solutions, an Ames-based company planning to build a multi-state carbon dioxide pipeline, said in a statement that the measures will “provide clear standards for project developers” in the face of expanding carbon capture infrastructure nationwide. Summit’s chief operating officer said the company will “ensure the safety standards are met” as they move ahead with their proposed pipeline.
The Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club said in a media release that they will “evaluate the rule” to ensure it applies to Summit’s pipeline project and promotes public safety. The organization is asking PHMSA to increase the public comment period to 90 days and to hold in-person public comment meetings in Iowa and South Dakota.
A draft of the DOT’s new rules are available online, and the agency will open a 60-day public comment period once the publication is in the Federal Register.
Ernst announces she backs Hegseth’s nomination for defense secretary
Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst says she will support Pete Hegseth’s nomination to lead the U.S. Department of Defense.
Ernst issued a written statement of support after Hegseth appeared Tuesday at a hearing before the Senate Committee on Armed Services. Ernst says the country’s next commander-in-chief selected Hegseth to serve in this role and, after speaking with Hegseth and hearing from Iowans, she will vote to confirm him as Secretary of Defense.
Ernst, a Republican from Red Oak, is the first female combat veteran elected to the U.S. Senate. She initially raised concerns about Hegseth’s views on women in the military. But Tuesday, Hegseth told senators he supports women serving in combat roles as long as they meet the same standards as men.
Ag industry says federal guidance on new biofuel tax credits leaves many questions unanswered
The U.S. Department of the Treasury released the long-awaited guidance on a sweeping new biofuel tax credit — but industry groups say it’s incomplete.
The credit, known as 45Z, went into effect Jan. 1. Farmers and biofuel producers have been waiting to learn which practices would count as lowering the so-called “carbon intensity” of crops used for biofuels.
What the Treasury Department released Friday was essentially an outline of the rules, but not the rules themselves. Monte Shaw, executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, says it leaves too many questions unanswered.
“We need certainty, and people need to know what the rules of the game are around these credits. If we're gonna get the feedstock supply chain moving and these plants up and running again... this isn't that. Even if it had all the details in there, it still is only a notice of intent.”
The Biden administration says it will release more details on 45Z this week, but the final version of the rules governing eligibility for the credit will be up to the incoming Trump administration.
Iowa hospitals see spike in cold and flu symptoms
Iowa emergency rooms are seeing an increase in patients with respiratory virus symptoms in the post-holiday period, according to data from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.
Aneesa Afroze, an infectious disease consultant with MercyOne in Des Moines, says MercyOne ERs have seen more patients with the flu, COVID-19 and RSV. However, she anticipates that cases will drop as we move further away from the holiday period.
“I am hoping — based on incubation periods and stuff like that of respiratory viruses — this is probably our highest, or maybe for another few days or a week or so.”
Afroze says Iowans should take precautions, like staying home when they’re sick and getting vaccinated. She says they should specifically avoid elderly and immuno-compromised people, who are at a higher risk for getting seriously ill.
Des Moines Art Center to pay artist $900,000 and remove commissioned land artwork

The Des Moines Art Center will pay a New York-based artist $900,000 to settle a lawsuit she filed last year.
The art center commissioned artist Mary Miss in 1996 to create a permanent installation at Greenwood Park in Des Moines. But the wooden structure has eroded and become unsafe over time. The Des Moines Art Center said fixing the installation would be too costly and made plans to remove it. However, Miss fought to keep the artwork in place, arguing that taking the installation down breached their contract.
With the lawsuit settled, the art center will move ahead with removing the artwork.
Miller-Meeks joins DOGE Caucus
Iowa’s 1st District Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks joined the House DOGE Caucus.
The Department of Government Efficiency is not a federal department. Instead, it’s a proposed advisory committee that will look at ways the government can save costs and reduce its deficit. DOGE is spearheaded by President-elect Donald Trump and will be led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk and entrepreneur-turned-politician Vivek Ramaswamy.
Miller-Meeks says she intends to help identify opportunities for government savings in several areas, including military spending, health care and environmental protection.
“When some people think of DOGE, what they’re thinking of is cutting spending and eviscerating government. And from my perspective, I want government to work better for the people that it’s supposed to serve, and in the process of doing that, there also are cost savings that can be determined.”
The House DOGE Caucus will be led by Reps. Aaron Bean, Pete Sessions and Blake Moore.
Historian and Native American rights advocate Lance Foster dies at 64
Writer, archaeologist and Native American rights advocate Lance Foster died Sunday at 64. He was a Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska and spent his career cataloguing the tribe’s history.
Foster wrote The Indians of Iowa and is credited for helping establish the Ioway Tribe National Park in Kansas and Nebraska. He grew up in Montana but earned graduate degrees in archaeology and landscape architecture from Iowa State University.
Alan Kelley, a deputy tribal historic preservation officer for the Iowa Tribe, was a close friend of Foster’s.
“He knew everything that you can imagine, and he had good memory, too. He can tell you the date when this happened on the tribe back in 1800s or 1700s or...he remembered all that stuff.”
Meskwaki tribal member Suzanne Buffalo says Foster leaves behind big shoes to fill and sound advice to follow. His name translates to “Finds-What-Is-Sought.”
Cuts to Des Moines’ sustainability office face pushback from the community
Des Moines City Manager Scott Sanders says he laid off the two workers in the city’s sustainability office last week because of budget constraints.
The two employees coordinated the city’s climate action plan, Adapt DSM. The plan lays out a route for Des Moines to reach net zero emissions by 2050. But at Monday night’s city council meeting, Sanders said the city is expecting a $17 million deficit in its budget for the next fiscal year.
“I want to make it clear that work on sustainability in Des Moines did not end with those positions. Sustainability is not the responsibility of one employee or team, but rather a commitment as an organization.”
Laying off the sustainability staffers saves about $271,000 in the city budget.
Climate activists questioned how the city will meet its goals without a centralized office.
Reynolds to discuss 2025 priorities during annual speech
Gov. Kim Reynolds has offered very few clues about the policy agenda she will outline Tuesday night in the annual Condition of the State speech at the Statehouse.
In the past, Reynolds used the speech to unveil tax policies. During a Republican Party fundraiser Monday morning, she reviewed a few of them.
“I’m really proud of what we’ve done, and as you all know, we’re not done yet.”
But that was it for hints about taxes. Late last year, Reynolds said she would ask legislators to address cell phone use in Iowa schools. This month, New Hampshire’s new Republican governor used her inaugural address to call for a ban on cell phones from the state’s classrooms. Last summer, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders approved $7 million in state funding so Arkansas schools could buy phone storage pouches or locks.
By the end of 2024, at least 19 states had policies in place that ban or restrict cell phone use in schools.
The Condition of the State begins at 6 p.m., with Reynolds addressing a joint session of the Iowa House and Senate. It will be available to watch on ipr.org.
Iowa blood center sends life-giving fluid to Los Angeles hospitals
Blood from eastern Iowa donors is now helping struggling hospitals in the Los Angeles area, as the still-burning wildfires have claimed at least 24 lives.
Amanda Hess, a spokeswoman for ImpactLife in Davenport, says they are part of a national coalition of blood centers that routinely share supplies wherever needed.
“Our responsiveness in disaster situations, whether we’re talking about severe weather or whether we’re talking about wildfires, that is possible because of volunteer blood donors.”
Blood collection efforts in LA and the surrounding region are very limited by the fires, and for patient care to continue, hospitals are seeking outside support.
This is the second time this month that ImpactLife has been asked to support the blood supply in response to a major crisis. The first time was following the attack in New Orleans on New Year’s Day.
EPA confirms additional 7 waters segments should be added to Iowa’s impaired water list
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has affirmed its decision from November to add seven segments to Iowa’s impaired waters list.
Every two years, the EPA requires states to submit a surface water quality report and a list of every impaired waterbody or segment. The state works with the EPA to set pollution reduction targets and create restoration plans for each impaired water.
The agency said nitrate levels in sections of the Cedar, Des Moines, Iowa, Raccoon and South Skunk rivers exceeded safe drinking water limits.
Over 70 residents, nonprofits and water utilities, including Central Iowa Water Works, submitted public comments in support of the EPA’s action.
The Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Fertilizer Institute and Iowa Department of Natural Resources were in opposition.
DNR Director Kayla Lyon said in a letter the state agency agrees nitrate is a harmful pollutant but that the EPA violated federal law by holding Iowa to a standard it does not enforce elsewhere.
A DNR spokesperson declined further comment when IPR asked about next steps.
Iowa’s high court reverses murder ruling involving daycare owner
The Iowa Supreme Court has reversed a western Iowa daycare provider’s conviction on murder and child endangerment charges.
Cass County resident Alison Elaine Dorsey was convicted in 2023 of second-degree murder and child endangerment resulting in death, in connection with the death of a child in her care in Massena.
It was Dorsey’s second trial. The first, held in Cass County, ended in a hung jury. In November 2024, Dorsey’s lawyers appealed her conviction.
They argued that the change of venue from Cass County to Pottawattamie County was improper, substantial evidence did not support the verdict, evidence of the victim’s rib injury was improperly admitted, she was unfairly deprived of her right to call additional character witnesses regarding certain traits and the court erred in denying her motion for a new trial.
In its opinion, the court said, “Dorsey’s conviction is reversed, and the case is remanded for a new trial.”
A date for her third trial has not yet been set.
Central Iowa school administrator dies in weekend crash
The assistant principal at Fort Dodge Middle School died Saturday morning in a one vehicle accident.
The Webster County Sheriff’s Office reported that 35-year-old Aaron Miller was traveling eastbound on 235th Street near Highway 20 south of Fort Dodge when his 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV entered a ditch.
His SUV went airborne and Miller was ejected from the car in the crash. He was pronounced dead at a Fort Dodge Hospital.
Miller became assistant principal at Fort Dodge Middle School last year after serving as a teacher for the past 11 years. He was involved in coaching duties for the Fort Dodge schools.
The Fort Dodge school district will provide support for students and staff this week as they mourn the loss of Miller.
A murder suspect was arrested in Sioux City cold case
An arrest has been made in a four-decade-old cold case in Sioux City.
Terri McCauley disappeared after a night out with friends in September of 1983 when she was 18. The Omaha Tribe of Nebraska member was last seen getting into a vehicle near downtown. Her body was found in a wooded area several days later.
A grand jury convened in Woodbury County last week and indicted Thomas Duane Popp for first degree murder. Popp was arrested in Washington state over the weekend and is being held on a $3 million, cash only, bond.
Former Sioux City Police Detective Tony Sunclades says that after investigating the death initially in the '80s, he recommended that Popp be arrested, but the county attorney at the time didn’t think there was enough evidence for a conviction.
“I'm just so happy for the family,” says Sunclades. “They've been suffering, and they still have a tremendous loss, but at least there's closure now, and we'll have to see what happens in court, but I'm confident that our current county attorney's office is going to be able to convince a jury that, yes, he did this, and there is no reasonable doubt.”
Iowa agriculture economy remains soft, despite corn crop reaching highest yield per acre recorded in the state
Iowa’s corn crop in 2024 reached the highest yield per acre ever recorded in state history and it was the second largest corn crop ever produced in the state, according to an annual USDA report with state and national summaries.
Iowa’s soybean crop also ranked as the second largest in state history.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said in a press release that “the combination of low commodity prices and high input costs means Iowa’s ag economy remains soft.”
Naig said building and expanding markets for Iowa’s products will remain his focus in the year ahead.
Cedar Rapids flood control study to be expedited by federal law
A new federal law will help speed up construction of Cedar Rapids’ flood control system. The Water Resources Development Act of 2024 includes a provision that will expedite a feasibility study of the city's system, meaning the project could become eligible for federal funds.
Cedar Rapids was hit with heavy flooding in 2008 and 2016. It began receiving state and federal funding to build a flood protection system in 2018. Since then, the city has made significant progress.
Speaking on IPR’s River to River, Cedar Rapids flood control manager Rob Davis says a feasibility study can take around 18 months to complete.
“One thing is, we have to be patient. The federal aid process for any flood control project is not a short one. And this is step one of many steps.”
Davis says the last time a feasibility study was done was in 2011. He says there are new items being built that can only be eligible for federal funds if another study is conducted.
Lawmakers return to the Legislature for another session of Republican control
Iowa lawmakers are back in Des Moines on Monday for the first day of the 2025 legislative session.
This is the ninth year in a row with full Republican control of the Iowa Legislature—and now, both the House and Senate have GOP supermajorities.
Republican leaders say they’ll prioritize property tax relief this year. House Republicans are also looking at changes to higher education, while Senate Republicans want to try again to enact work requirements for some Iowans who get health coverage through Medicaid.
Senate President Amy Sinclair says she’s looking forward to getting back to work on behalf of Iowans.
“I know there will be individual priorities of members of my caucus and members of the House Republican caucus, and we’ll work with the governor’s office to make Iowa the best place to live and work and raise your family.”
Gov. Kim Reynolds says she’ll propose restricting cell phones in classrooms.
Even though Democrats won’t have much of a say in the state policy agenda, House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst says Democrats will continue to fight for their constituents’ voices to be heard.
“They deserve to have a voice at the capitol, just like those who are represented by Republicans. And so we continue to hold Republicans accountable for legislation that does not match what voters are asking us for.”
Collard enthusiasts are using science and preservation to lift up rare varieties of the leafy green
Collard enthusiasts across the country are coming together to study, preserve and popularize tastier, hardier varieties of collard greens that could also be better suited for the changing climate.
Two decades ago, Ed Davis, a geographer and scholar of agriculture at Emory & Henry University in Virginia, drove thousands of miles around the Southeastern U.S. with some colleagues looking for people growing unique collard greens.
These proud gardeners are known as seed savers. Over the years, families would grow collards and keep the seeds to pass along to future generations.
Across the South, Davis asked the farmers for a spoonful of seed and explained that it was for long-term preservation of the genetic diversity of collards.
The seeds ended up in a bank run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, named for the places they came from.
“Beyond preserving some of the genetic legacy in terms of seed, it's also preserving some of the cultural legacy around the names and locations where these were stewarded, which is really cool,” said Antonio Brazelton, a researcher with the Washington University Danforth Center.
In the last few years, a group of people have been working on getting these family varieties onto more people’s plates through the Heirloom Collard Project.
The U.S. could protect monarch butterflies as a threatened species
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing for the monarch butterfly to be listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, which would give the species federal protections.
Monarchs, like many other pollinators, have seen a drastic drop in numbers because of climate change, habitat loss and pesticide use. Roughly 80% of eastern migratory monarch populations have declined, while its western migratory populations have seen a 95% drop.
Kristen Baum, director of conservation group Monarch Watch, says there’s been a lot of successful voluntary conservation efforts, but the monarch's population was still the second-lowest on record in 2023.
“And I will say, we're not particularly optimistic about what the numbers are going to be this year. So, you know, more needs to be done.”
The proposal would provide more protections for the butterfly, including designated habitat in California.
The Fish and Wildlife Service is accepting public comments until March 12.
Will Meeks, Midwest regional director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, says the comments the agency receives will help to shape the proposal.
Report finds a new casino in Cedar Rapids would grow the gambling industry, but hurt competition
Two new studies, paid for by the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission, highlight the financial give and take that the proposed casino in Cedar Rapids could cause in Iowa’s gambling industry.
The research finds casino revenues could grow by over $60 million statewide if the casino is built, and gambling tax revenues could increase by more than $10 million.
However, not everyone is on board. The new casino could take $68 million from its competitors, despite the overall increase in state revenue. The Washington County Riverboat Foundation and Riverside Casino have filed a petition to challenge a 2021 Linn County vote to build the new casino in Cedar Rapids.
The commission will decide whether to approve the county’s license to build a casino in early February.
Waterloo mayor reflects on the city’s gains and losses in State of the City address
In his State of the City speech Thursday night, Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart pointed to a 25% drop in violent crime and several new housing initiatives for all income levels as successes in the past year.
Despite those positives, Waterloo lost hundreds of jobs, as John Deere laid off about 1,300 workers in the Cedar Valley. Hy-Vee and CVS Pharmacy also closed stores in the city. Hart acknowledged those hardships.
“These setbacks hit hard. And when you lose jobs that are supporting your family, or the ability to buy groceries near where you live, that’s not the reality that we want for our community.”
He added that the city is starting to collaborate with other large employers in the area to generate more jobs for residents. One of those initial solutions is expanding International Paper’s presence in the city with a warehouse that would create nearly 100 jobs.
Iowa education board approves 6 new charter schools
Six new charter schools were approved Thursday by the Iowa State Board of Education. The number of charter schools across Iowa continues to grow since the state allowed groups to open them without ties to local school systems.
Two of the approved charter schools come from Ohio-based Oakmont Education, which already operates Great Oaks High School and Career Center in Des Moines.
Now the group plans to open a second location in south Des Moines and one in Davenport. The schools bring students who have quit school back into the classroom to help them get into careers.
Jerry Farley, Oakmont Education’s director of career technical education, says they attract students by putting them on projects that have a purpose.
“Whether it’s using 3D printing for making medical prosthetics or building the house for Habitat for Humanity, now what they’re doing matters.”
Charter schools receive enrollment-based funding from the state like traditional public schools. With the latest approvals, a total of 15 new charter schools have been approved since the law changed in 2021.
Polk County supervisors name interim administration after board members try to fight each other
The Polk County Board of Supervisors’ decision to make a sudden change in county leadership nearly caused a fight between board members, according to The Des Moines Register.
The board appointed Frank Marasco as interim county administrator this week, after placing John Norris on paid administrative leave.
Last Friday, deputies responded to the county administration building after an argument broke out over the move. According to a sheriff’s report obtained by The Des Moines Register, Supervisor Tom Hockensmith allegedly threatened other board members. Supervisor Mark Holm told deputies Norris also started yelling.
Norris previously served as chair of the Iowa Democratic Party and as chief of staff to Gov. Tom Vilsack.
50 years ago today, Iowa was hit by the deadly ‘Storm of the Century’
Exactly 50 years ago, a massive storm brought chaos to parts of Iowa. The blizzard, called the “Storm of the Century,” claimed 58 lives in the Midwest, including 15 in Iowa.
It hit the western and northwest part of the state on Jan. 10 - 11, 1975. Some areas saw up to 16 inches of snow, with 60 mph winds that created 20-foot-tall drifts. The National Weather Service called it one of the worst winter storms on record.
Ed Porter, now 90 years old, was a photographer for the Sioux City Journal at the time. After the wind died down, he took to the skies and saw vehicle after vehicle buried under the snow. Even a train plow was stuck on the tracks, he recalled.
“We were so cold coming back that we could hardly move. They had to cut me out of the seat belt because I was just about froze stiff.”
Gov. Robert Ray declared 40 counties in the region disaster areas. An estimated 100,000 head of livestock died, and thousands of people were stranded in their cars.
Bridgestone in Des Moines offers severance buyouts to 130 employees
John Deere manufacturing had many rounds of layoffs last year, and the slowdown in business is now impacting a tire factory in Des Moines.
Bridgestone’s Des Moines plant makes tires for agricultural equipment. The company laid off more than 100 people last June. Now, they’re offering severance packages to 130 more employees, as sales forecasts continue to predict a slump in the agricultural market.
Keenan Bell, the local United Steelworkers union president, says when business is slow for John Deere, it’s slow for Bridgestone.
“The whole market’s down. When John Deere is in the news, you know, probably every month with a layoff here or layoff there, that directly affects our production lines.”
Currently, 102 employees are interested in taking the severance package, which includes a $35,000 buyout. If there aren’t enough people taking the buyout, the company will begin to look at other options, like furloughs or layoffs.
Civil rights group drops lawsuit over Iowa’s election changes
A Latino civil rights organization dropped its lawsuit that challenged sweeping election changes made by the Iowa Legislature in 2021.
Republican lawmakers cut the time allowed for all methods of voting, moved up the deadline for voting by mail and limited other methods of returning absentee ballots. The League of United Latin American Citizens of Iowa argued these changes made it harder to vote and violated Iowans’ voting rights, especially for Latino voters and people of color.
The group’s most recent court filing does not say why they’re ending the lawsuit. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate says he’s glad to move on from what he calls a “baseless lawsuit.”
How and when to view the ‘Planet Parade’ in Iowa’s night sky

Iowans who bundle up to brave the evening chill will be able to see the “planet parade,” a relatively rare event in the January night sky.
Allison Jaynes, a physics and astronomy professor at the University of Iowa, says Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are all shifting into near-alignment, and two more planets will join the celestial conga line later this month.
From Jan. 2 - 25, all six planets will be visible, though binoculars or a telescope will be needed to see Uranus and Neptune. They will not be in a tight, straight line, as some graphics depict, but they will be in the same region of the sky. Jaynes suggests using a smartphone app, like Stellarium, to get oriented among the stars.
Iowan shares the dangers of fighting California wildfires from personal experience

An Iowan has first-hand knowledge of the problems firefighters in California are facing as wildfires rapidly consume homes and everything else.
Ryan Schlater, who works in the Department of Natural Resources’ wildfire program, was on an assignment in California in July. He says the Santa Ana winds, along with the land and sea breezes, are big factors in the large fire growth. Schlater says all the mountains and hills, drought conditions and vegetation also create a lot of issues for firefighters.
The fires, he says, have moved rapidly, despite all the resources Los Angeles County has on land and in the air to fight them. Schlater has been fighting wildfires for 20 years and says Southern California has been a place he never wanted to go to because of all the danger with the tough conditions there.
Nominations now being taken for Iowa local heroes
Nominations for the 2025 Iowa Character Awards are now being taken. The award recognizes Iowans who go above and beyond as leaders, volunteers and role models in their communities.
Amy Smit, a spokesperson for Character Counts and Drake University’s Robert D. and Billie Ray Center, says individuals, organizations, businesses and athletics teams can all be nominated.
“We’re looking for all of the people in your community who show the Six Pillars of Character: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Good Citizenship.”
Since the program’s launch, more than 100 individual Iowans and businesses have been recognized with an Iowa Character Award. Smit says nominating a person or business is simple.
“You have until May to get your nominations in. So I’d say, let’s get started now, that way you have plenty of time to put together your nomination… You could ask around for some letters of recommendation.”
The Iowa Character Awards nomination form is open through May 2, 2025. Winners will be announced in June.
Button making along the Mississippi led to the decline of river mussels. This proposal aims to save the endangered species
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing a critical habitat zone to protect endangered freshwater mussels along part of the state’s southeastern border.
The proposal to protect spectaclecase mussels covers 4,000 miles of rivers in 17 states, including a portion of the Mississippi River in Iowa. The proposed section would stretch from the Quad Cities to the dam in Keokuk.
Nick Utrup, a biologist with U.S. Fish and Wildlife, says mussel harvesting for button manufacturing in the late 1800s was one of the biggest reasons for their population decline in the Mississippi.
“So that was a huge problem. Once you knock back a species like that, it takes a long time to recreate the numbers and bring them back to where they used to be.”
The agency is taking public comments on the proposal until Feb. 11. However, Utrup said the proposal may not be approved until the fall.
DNR investigating lactic acid spill
The Iowa DNR is investigating a lactic acid spill that happened Tuesday night in Adair County.
The driver of a semi trailer owned by World Way Freight Transport noticed smoking tires and pulled over at a rest stop three miles east of the City of Adair. He was unsuccessful at extinguishing the trailer fire and called 911.
“The Adair Fire Department responded, got the fire put out, and then realized some of the totes of lactic acid were also on fire and then leaking and mixing with the fire water," says Alison Manz, an environmental specialist with the Iowa DNR.
An estimated 550 gallons of lactic acid were lost due to the fire and firefighting activities.
Manz says crews from the Iowa Department of Transportation placed sand in multiple locations to capture it. But some flowed into storm drains and onto adjacent farm ground with a field tile intake that discharges into a tributary of the South Fork Middle River.
An environmental clean-up company is neutralizing the lactic acid.
“Lactic acid has a pH of about 1.5, which is very acidic. They plan to neutralize that acid with soda ash on the concrete, and they’re also going to add that to the storm sewer intakes and that tile intake," says Manz.
Manz says they’ll vacuum out the mixture where it enters the creek. Contaminated soil will be excavated or treated on-site.
She says the landowner moved his cattle offsite and recommends anyone downstream do the same. The rest area will remain closed until clean-up is complete.
No dead fish have been observed in the river at this time. The DNR’s investigation is ongoing.
The DNR’s emergency spill line is (515) 725-8694.