LIVE UPDATES
Today's Iowa News ↓
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.
Man arrested by ICE in Sioux City has extensive criminal history
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said a man arrested by federal agents in Sioux City on Feb. 4 has an extensive criminal record. Raul Torres Olivares, 46, was arrested last week after running his vehicle into an ICE vehicle before attempting to flee from officers.
In addition to pending felony charges for forgery and defying an order of removal in 2023, ICE is pursuing additional charges against Olivares for assaulting officers and resisting arrest.
Federal court documents show he pleaded guilty to manslaughter in connection to the death of his girlfriend’s baby in 2003. After serving his sentence, Olivares was deported in 2011 and removed from the U.S. three additional times before his most recent arrest.
Des Moines police investigate damage to power station
MidAmerican Energy called the Des Moines Police Department (DMPD) Sunday morning to report an injured trespasser who had damaged equipment at a power substation, knocking out power to over 5,000 customers.
DMPD said its investigation indicated that around 5:45 a.m., a man climbed over a fence at the substation that provides electricity to downtown Des Moines. KCCI TV reported when first responders arrived, they found a man who was naked. Police said the man had burns that covered about 20% of his body. He was taken to a Des Moines hospital for treatment.
Power was restored in the area by 8:30 a.m. on Sunday.
Iowa’s snow drought impacts outdoor recreation and wildlife
Iowa’s dry start to the new year is affecting some winter activities and raising concerns about the ecosystem.
The National Weather Service reported that since meteorological winter began on Dec. 1, most of the state has experienced below-normal snowfall. This includes Sioux City, home of the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center.
Theresa Kruid, education director at the western Iowa nature preserve, said a snow drought has forced the cancellation of snowshoeing activities.
“It's been a roller coaster,” Kruid said. “I think it's been warm and then really cold. It was kind of weird, with lots of snow in December and not very much since then.”
Kruid is also worried about the impact on plants and hibernating animals. She said plants can sprout too early, and animals burn through their fat reserves too quickly if they are forced to wake up more frequently due to weather conditions.
Fairfield high school teacher accused of sexual exploitation
A Fairfield High School teacher has been placed on administrative leave after being accused of making inappropriate contact with a student.
Vannen Crabtree, 57, of Richland, has been charged with sexual exploitation by a school employee, grooming and lascivious acts with a minor. The Fairfield Community School District’s website shows Crabtree is an industrial arts teacher.
KCRG reported authorities began investigating Crabtree on Jan. 28 after a parent notified police that Crabtree had communicated with their teenage daughter through social media.
Republican Matt Windschitl drops out of 4th District race, endorses Chris McGowan
Former Iowa House Majority Leader Matt Windschitl has dropped out of the race for Iowa’s 4th Congressional District. The Republican from Missouri Valley said after recent developments in the race, it became clear that staying in would not best serve the people of the district.
Last Thursday, President Donald Trump endorsed Republican candidate Chris McGowan, who leads all candidates in fundraising. McGowan is the president of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce.
Windschitl is now backing McGowan in the Republican primary on June 2.
Two other Republicans are still in the race: Iowa Tea Party Founder Ryan Rhodes of Ames and software consultant and farmer Christian Schlaefer of Lakota.
Democratic candidates include: former state Rep. Dave Dawson of Lawton, Ashley WolfTornabane of Storm Lake and Stephanie Steiner of Sutherland.
Current 4th District Republican Rep. Randy Feenstra is running for governor of Iowa.
Public education advocates say school districts are in a financial crisis
Iowa per-pupil spending has grown, on average, by 2% per year since 2012. At the same time, the state has expanded school choice programs in recent years, like Education Savings Accounts, and enrollment at Iowa’s public schools has dipped.
Former Ankeny High School social studies teacher Nick Covington said public schools are now being asked to do more with fewer resources.
“I saw enriching course offerings cut and students in special education failing to have their needs met,” Covington said. “All the while, elected representatives scolded us to do more and more with less and less.”
Joshua Brown, president of the Iowa State Education Association, said one reason school districts across the state are cutting staff and programs is a growing interest in Education Savings Accounts pushed by Republican lawmakers.
“And now our status has shifted from a top tier academic performer to one in which private school vouchers define excellence and our traditional academic rankings have slipped to the middle of the pack,” Brown said.
A state Senate subcommittee recently advanced a proposal to increase state aid by 1.75%, which would put per-pupil funding at around $8,100. Gov. Kim Reynolds is suggesting a 2% per-pupil funding increase. Both proposals are below current inflation rates.
Lawmakers are nearing a self-imposed deadline to decide on a school funding plan by Thursday.
New federal guidelines support whole-fat dairy products, while nutritionist say more research needs to be done
New federal dietary guidelines endorse whole-fat dairy products, ending a longstanding recommendation for low and nonfat alternatives. Nutrition experts say the science behind which is healthiest is a little less clear cut.
Saturated fat is known to raise a person's cholesterol level and increase their risk of heart disease, which is why nutritionists have recommended low- and nonfat dairy products for decades. But in recent years, a growing number of studies have found people who consume whole milk and full-fat yogurt are not more likely to develop heart disease.
Sander Kersten, director of the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell University, said so far researchers can't explain why these products are different than other sources of saturated fat.
“This is such a complex subject, and you can weigh the evidence very differently," Kersten said.
That's why he thinks sticking mostly to low-fat dairy is still the healthiest choice.
Mario Kratz, a former academic researcher who has studied dairy's impact on heart health, said there’s still more research to be done.
"If we don't have clear data to suggest that one form of dairy is better than the other, maybe we should just leave the choice to the consumer,” he said.
But Kratz says the guidelines go too far in recommending butter as a healthy fat. He said research has clearly shown that butter raises cholesterol levels, therefore increasing a person's risk for heart disease.
Livestock producer say tickborne allergy to meat affects their health and livelihood
Alpha-gal syndrome, a tickborne allergy to red meat and diary, affects nearly half a million Americans, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For farmers and ranchers, who are in close contact with livestock everyday, the allergy can be especially challenging to navigate – and is pushing some to leave the industry altogether.
Most people with alpha-gal syndrome experience allergic reactions after ingesting meat – such as beef, pork or venison, while some also have reactions to dairy or gelatin products.
But others have severe anaphylactic reactions when they come into physical contact with livestock – whether through blood or amniotic fluid or dander in the air. Experts aren’t sure whether these reactions are truly alpha-gal syndrome or if this immune system hyperreactivity is triggered by the condition.
“I think there's not great data,” said Dr. Scott Commins, an allergist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and one of the leading alpha-gal researchers in the U.S. “I think it is an area where you could certainly say that there's uncertainty because patients are saying one thing and giving us reports of symptoms and reactions and, on the scientific side, we don't really have great research to say, “Yes, fumes and yes, fluids.”
A national survey of farmers and ranchers diagnosed with alpha-gal found that 69% of respondents reported they had to modify work tasks due to their diagnosis, while 57% said they experience signs and symptoms associated with the allergy daily.
Shaun Cross, a researcher at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, behind the survey, said they heard from people who’ve had to hire more help, stop raising livestock or leave farming altogether.
Iowa sees rise in carbon monoxide poisonings
The Iowa Poison Control Center has seen an uptick in calls about carbon monoxide poisoning as people are spending most of their time indoors.
Janna Day, a poison center spokeswoman and licensed practical nurse, said she hasn’t heard of any carbon monoxide deaths in the state this winter, but there have been plenty of poisoning cases.
“Carbon monoxide is actually known as the silent killer because it is invisible and it’s odorless and it’s tasteless,” Day said. “You don’t know that it exists in your home unless you have a carbon monoxide detector.”
Day said several home appliances are the most common causes of carbon monoxide poisonings, such as water heaters, furnaces, fireplaces and stoves.
“When fuels like gasoline or natural gas are burned, we get carbon monoxide as a byproduct,” Day explained. “If those appliances in your home aren’t well maintained, you might get a carbon monoxide leak.”
Day warned that some appliances, like generators, should never be used inside. If your house loses power, position the generator at least 20 feet away from your home.
Another big risk Day pointed to comes from something many Iowans do frequently during the winter: warming up your car.
“You would want to make sure that your car is outside of your garage because that carbon monoxide can come into your home,” she said.
She said warming up a snow blower in the garage could create the same risk.
Day recommended getting annual check-ups on your furnace and having at least one carbon monoxide detector in your home, and better yet, at least one on each level.
The Sioux City-based Iowa Poison Control Center responds to more than 23,000 cases each year and makes more than 50,000 follow-up calls to ensure patients remain safe. More than half of all cases involve children under the age of 19.
Grain bin accident leaves 83-year-old man dead
A northwest lowa man has died in a grain bin accident.
Crawford County Emergency Management reported that Robert Kroll, 83, was killed Thursday morning after he was trapped in a grain bin outside of Charter Oak.
First responders from 10 different communities were called in to try to save Kroll. They used a grain vacuum and cut access holes into the side of the grain bin. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Cancer researchers share key findings in early phases of state-funded project
University of Iowa researchers are about a fourth of the way through a state-funded research project looking into what’s driving Iowa’s high cancer rates.
The state has invested $1 million into the project, which is being led by the University of Iowa College of Public Health.
Initial modeling for breast and prostate cancer shows the number of excessive cases drop overall when comparing Iowa’s rates to similar states and controlling for some demographic and behavioral factors, according to researchers.
However, Jacob Oleson, with the University of Iowa, said some counties do continue to have higher than expected rates.
“These would be counties that, in the next phases, might be of interest to look into some of the other factors that we want to look at,” Oleson said.
Researchers said they will next extend the modeling to other common types of cancer and will start looking into genetic and environmental factors.
DHS arrests man in Sioux City after a car chase ended in a crash
A man was arrested by a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) unit after a chase and car crash Wednesday in Sioux City.
Raul Torres Olivares, 46, is currently being held at the Woodbury County Law Enforcement Center after the incident Wednesday morning. Authorities said federal agents tried to stop Olivares before his car hit an SUV driven by a DHS officer.
A spokesperson for the Sioux City Police Department said he isn’t sure of the size or scope of any federal operation in Sioux City.
In a statement to the Sioux City Journal, the police chief said his department will respond to calls for service within city limits, but they are not actively involved with any DHS investigations.
Data center ordinance passes first round of voting by Linn County supervisors
The Linn County Board of Supervisors has approved the first of three readings of an ordinance addressing large data center development in unincorporated parts of the county. Some residents raised concerns that the proposed ordinance doesn’t draw a clear enough line between which developers may be approved and which won’t.
Supervisor Brandy Meisheid said if the ordinance feels broad, it’s to allow the county to address specifics that can vary widely based on the developer.
“We have to make sure that the ordinance that we’re writing not only protects our residents but also is broad enough that it captures anybody wanting to come,” Meisheid said. “Then we can dive down into those specifics to make sure we have further protections based upon how they operate.”
The board of supervisors will consider adding amendments addressing decommissioning, light pollution and residential well protection at their next meeting on Feb. 9. The third and final reading is scheduled for later next week.
Eastern Iowa police shoot and kill 18-year-old man threatening officers with a machete
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is looking into an officer-involved shooting that happened in Marion Wednesday morning.
Police said an 18-year-old man approached two officers with a machete and wouldn't listen to their verbal commands for him to drop the weapon. They used an electric taser, but said he continued to move toward them.
An officer then fired one shot at the man, who quickly became unresponsive and was later pronounced dead after being transported to a local hospital.
The officers have been placed on leave while Iowa DCI, the Linn County Attorney’s Office and the Iowa Attorney General’s Office conduct a review of the incident.
New push for Iowans to learn CPR and help save lives
Heart disease is the number one killer in Iowa, claiming more than 7,000 lives each year. As part of American Heart Month, Cara Whipple, with the American Heart Association, is urging Iowans to learn CPR.
Whipple said if people know how to help, they can do more than just call for assistance if someone is having a heart attack.
“Rates of cardiac arrest outside of the hospital, it’s around 70%,” she said. “When that happens, nine out of 10 times when they don’t have cardiac arrest in a hospital, they do not survive.”
Whipple attributes the low survival rate for heart attacks outside a hospital to a lack of bystander action.
The American Heart Association said more than 417,000 Americans die from cardiac arrest every year. Whipple said it’s vital that anyone can step in as a first responder until the real first responders arrive.
“We really need folks to understand that cardiac arrest can happen anywhere. It could be the grocery store or a school event or perhaps while you’re at the gym,” Whipple said. “Our EMS providers in this state are fantastic, but we have a lot of volunteer responders and response times can be long.”
The American Heart Association routinely offers free CPR courses, both in the classroom and virtually. Whipple encourages everyone — even younger people — to start thinking about heart health because it could save a life.
Suspect arrested for arson in western Iowa
An arrest has been made in a string of arson fires in western Iowa. The Monona County Sheriff's Office charged David Ira Bryan, 43, with arson in the second degree.
Fire severely damaged the grandstand at the Monona County Fairgrounds in Onawa on Jan. 28, causing an estimated $750,000 in damages. The grandstand was more than 100 years old and a local landmark.
Authorities said the suspect was seen on video surveillance footage near the grandstand.
Investigators said two other fires were deliberately set two days earlier.
Police investigate Atlantic teacher over claims involving a student
A western Iowa school board has refused to accept the resignation of a high school counselor under investigation by local police.
The resignation was expected to happen during a special school board meeting Wednesday morning in Atlantic. The meeting didn’t take place as scheduled, but a roomful of parents still expressed their outrage.
The Atlantic Police Department said it's aware of an incident involving a school staff member and students and takes the safety of children and the community very seriously. A spokesperson told IPR News that no other information will be released at this time.
Fear, visa delays and costs are keeping international artists from the Midwest
Under the Trump administration, rising visa costs and stricter immigration enforcement are keeping more international artists and musicians from coming to the U.S.
To perform or share their art in the country legally, international artists must apply for specialized visas, most commonly the P-3 visa for culturally unique groups, or the O-1 visa for individuals with extraordinary ability.
Arts organizers across the Midwest have said a variety of challenges, including long visa processing delays and mounting visa fees and travel costs, are making it harder for international artists to participate in short-term U.S. engagements, and increasingly determining whether international artists perform in the U.S. at all.
For Midwestern presenters, especially in rural communities, the result can mean lost revenue and fewer opportunities for cultural exchange.
In recent months, an Austrian guitarist canceled his entire U.S. tour, including a stop in Missouri, citing the country’s “social and political climate” and the rising costs of visa processing. In Iowa, a mural commissioned from a Colombian artist had to be creatively constructed and unveiled without her after she was denied entry into the U.S.
Iowa gubernatorial candidates organize supporters on caucus night
The 2026 Iowa caucuses are history. Monday night’s gatherings gave activists from both major parties a chance to talk about their party platforms, and voters got to hear from some candidates.
Iowa’s 4th District Republican Rep. Randy Feenstra, who’s running for governor, spoke to several precincts in the Des Moines area — including 16 precincts meeting together in a West Des Moines school cafeteria.
Feenstra told reporters “hundreds” of volunteers spoke on his behalf at other caucuses around the state.
“This is the time the Republican Party gets together, talks about policy and talks about how we are going to make sure that we keep this state red,” Feenstra said. “This is the grassroots. These are the people who door knock, put out the signs and everything like that.”
Other Republican candidates for governor organized on caucus night, too. According to social media posts, Zach Lahn of Belle Plaine spoke at three different precinct sites in Scott County, and Adam Steen’s campaign had over 450 people sign up online to speak at their local precinct gatherings.
State Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat who’s running for governor, spoke to voters in his own precinct in Des Moines.
State auditor finds Tama County employee misspent over $250,000 in public funds
A report from the State Auditor’s Office found financial irregularities in Tama County with nearly a quarter million dollars spent by a former county official.
Tama County officials requested the special investigation following the firing of former Human Resources Manager Tamara Wise in February 2025. The report found Wise made thousands of dollars of questionable, improper and unsupported purchases using county funds for more than five years.
State Auditor Rob Sand said the investigation shows Wise did not have enough oversight when making county purchases.
“Credit card statements weren’t getting reviewed on a regular basis. They should be. Purchases were not getting pre-approved. They should be,” Sand said. “And they did not have a formal policy in place for a lot of different things.”
Sand said his office is going to leave it up to state and county prosecutors to determine if they will file charges.
Meet Zach Stoppelmoor, the 1st Iowan to compete on U.S. Olympic speed skating team
Zach Stoppelmoor is on his way to the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy. The 26-year-old from West Des Moines is the first Iowan to make the U.S. Speedskating team at the Olympics.
Stoppelmoor started playing roller hockey around the age of 6 after he saw a flyer from school. He said the coach was quickly impressed by his skating skills.
“He was like, ‘Hey, you're pretty fast. You should try out speed skating.' And I was like, ‘OK, I'll give it a chance,’” Stoppelmoor said.
That chance roughly two decades ago has resulted in a speed skating world record and has earned him a spot on Team USA at the Winter Olympics.
“The goal as a kid was just always go to the Olympics, try to win a Olympic medal,” Stoppelmoor said, adding that he set that goal when he was around 8 years old.
The Valley High School graduate practiced inline speed skating at Skate South in Des Moines. At 19 years old, he moved to Utah to pursue speed skating on ice.
Stoppelmoor is set to compete in the Men’s 500m race on Feb. 14.
Listen to his conversation with IPR’s Morning Edition Host Meghan McKinney.
Verification code added to Iowa temporary tags for newly purchased vehicles
The temporary paper licenses on newly purchased vehicles in Iowa are now digitized.
The paper cards hang inside the back window of a vehicle, indicating that the vehicle’s new owner has submitted the paperwork to the Iowa Department of Transportation to register the vehicle as their own. As of Jan. 1, auto dealers have been providing cards that can be scanned by law enforcement officers.
Jazmine Sneller, general manager of Ver Hoef Automotive in Sioux Center, said each card has an embedded number from the Iowa DOT, so the driver can confirm they own the vehicle.
“So, if you get pulled over, they can run that number and it will automatically show up in your name,” Sneller said.
Sneller said the change is providing reassurance to customers who’ve been wary of leaving the dealership with the temporary tag in the rear window.
“If they had to cross state lines, they were worried about getting pulled over and not being able to provide enough documentation,” Sneller added.
Dealers issue the temporary tags for a vehicle after tax, title and license fees are paid. Now, all paperwork is handled electronically. Iowa DOT officials say the updated system makes it easier to verify legitimate vehicle registrations.
Grassley plans to back the SAVE Act, a bill requiring new voter ID laws
Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley said he’s leaning toward voting for a controversial bill that would impose new voter ID requirements.
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act — known as the SAVE Act — mandates documentation proving citizenship in order to register to vote in the U.S. The bill has already passed the U.S. House.
Several groups, including the League of Women Voters, are urging the Senate to reject the bill, saying it would disenfranchise tens of millions of U.S. citizens who can’t produce documents like a birth certificate or passport. Grassley said the Senate can address some of these concerns, and said the bill is a needed step toward securing elections.
“I think that I'm going to vote for the bill because I think I want to make it very clear to Iowans that if you aren't a citizen of the United States, you shouldn't vote, and we ought to have that certainty that comes with it,” he said.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote on X Monday that the SAVE Act would be “dead on arrival” in the Senate and likened it to Jim Crow voting laws.
Grassley said noncitizen voting was a “problem” in the 2024 election. He pointed to an audit by Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate that found of the nearly 1.7 million ballots cast in the state in 2024, 35 were by noncitizens.
Weekly demonstrations continue outside Cedar Rapids’ immigration office
Large crowds are continuing to accompany immigrants to their check-in appointments at a federal immigration office in Cedar Rapids. Organizers are trying to build a broader network to respond quickly to situations involving immigration enforcement.
Escucha Mi Voz, Indivisible and 50501 are just some of the organizing groups whose members are showing up at the weekly demonstrations.
NellMari Barrios, with the Justice and Liberation Coalition and Advocates for Social Justice, said organizers have been working on building a broader coalition over the past few months.
"Since everything exploded in Minneapolis, we’ve had groups from Johnson County and Marion reaching out, saying ‘Hey, can we all just make a network and connect? Because this is getting serious,’” Barrios said. “So, right now, we are in the process of taking notes from Minneapolis.”
Organizers have also held legal observer trainings aimed at educating people on how to act when witnessing immigration enforcement officers conducting their operations.
West Des Moines Democrat makes IPERS a top priority in the race for state treasurer
John Norwood, a Democrat from West Des Moines, has entered the 2026 race for Iowa state treasurer. He pledges to safeguard Iowa’s financial future as he challenges Republican incumbent Roby Smith, who announced his reelection bid in December.
Norwood said he will fiercely protect the Iowa Public Employees’ Retirement System, known as IPERS, which includes around 400,000 people.
“It's foundational to the Iowa economy because it helps the state recruit and retain workers and then provide, through their working careers, the form of a pension when they retire,” Norwood said.
He said he also wants to expand retirement options for other Iowans.
Norwood previously served as the Polk County soil and water commissioner before running for Iowa secretary of agriculture in 2022. The Yale graduate started his own consulting firm and helps small businesses through a program with Goldman Sachs.
Judge refuses to dismiss charges against Sioux City man known as the ‘Manhole Michelangelo’
Charges will not be dismissed for a Sioux City artist known as the “Manhole Michelangelo.”
Brandon Bradshaw gained notoriety for painting flowers on manhole covers. In November, police arrested him for fourth-degree criminal mischief and drinking alcohol in a public place.
Last month, he asked a judge to drop the charges, but that motion was denied. His next court proceeding is scheduled for next month.
ICE legal observer training draws hundreds in Cedar Rapids
Nearly 600 people gathered in Cedar Rapids over the weekend to learn how to respond to ICE activity. The legal observer training was hosted by the immigrants’ rights group Escucha Mi Voz at St. Paul’s Methodist Church and included a simulation with actors dressed as ICE officers conducting a mock arrest.
The Rev. Jonathan Heifner said people told him they felt more informed about their rights after the training.
“I think the biggest learning was in the debrief after the first simulation,” Heifner said. “We asked, like, ‘Pay attention to your behavior. What is it that you did in these moments, and then consider who you want to be in these moments. And let’s dive into that the second time.’”
One attendee said she feels tremendous empathy for Renee Macklin Good and Alex Pretti, two Minnesota residents who were shot and killed by federal immigration officers last month.
Videos of the training circulating online have prompted calls from conservative social media influencers for the church to lose its tax-exempt status. Heifner said nothing in the training threatened the church’s status.
The training comes after weeks of protests across the country in response to the Trump administration’s heightened immigration crackdown.
DNC will allow Iowa Democrats to compete for early date for 2028 caucuses
Iowa Democrats were approved to present their case to national Democrats on why the state’s Democratic caucuses should go in the early presidential nominating window in 2028.
At the Democratic National Committee (DNC) Rules and Bylaws Committee (RBC) meeting Saturday in San Juan, Puerto Rico, members reviewed the applications from 12 states that submitted waivers to hold their presidential nominating contests ahead of Super Tuesday.
All 12 state parties that submitted requests for early contest waivers to the DNC — Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia — were approved to present at later RBC meetings.
Iowa Democrats are competing against Michigan and Illinois to become the Midwestern state to hold an early contest in 2028. Iowa submitted its application to return to an early state spot Jan. 16, telling members of the RBC in the proposal that “no other state has the knowledge, infrastructure and history of giving long-shot presidential candidates a fair chance.”
Read more from the Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Farmers and biofuel producers hope Trump’s promise to expand E15 gas becomes law
President Donald Trump told a crowd in Clive last week that he supports E15 gasoline sales year round across the country.
E15 includes up to 15% ethanol, which is made from corn.
Farmers and biofuel leaders have long advocated to remove regulations on E15. But U.S. House lawmakers left the provision out of a recent budget bill.
Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw said E-15 could create consistent demand for U.S. corn farmers who are facing a tough market.
"You take prices from where a lot of farmers are not making money to where every corn farmer would be making money,” Shaw explained. “So, this is literally the one bright light at the end of a very dark tunnel that we're in right now, for farmers."
Shaw said price and demand changes won’t happen right away, so he hopes the president’s comments turn into quick action from Congress.
Help scientists document Midwest light pollution by looking at Orion
Stargazers can help document Midwest light pollution by looking at the constellation Orion and reporting what they see.
Globe At Night, a citizen science project that helped scientists figure out that U.S. skies are getting 10% brighter per year, turns 20 this month. But the project has a lot of gaps in its data because relatively few participants in rural areas and states like Iowa submit data.
This month, you can help by scoping out Orion and comparing it to several star charts on the Globe At Night website. When you pick the chart that matches what you see, it helps scientists know whether light pollution is blocking stars from your view.
Read more about the project from Harvest Public Media.
Johnson County supervisors meet with owners of manufactured home park after reported rent hikes and water quality issues
The Johnson County Board of Supervisors is sharing concerns raised by manufactured home residents in the area after years of reported problems. The supervisors met with representatives from Havenpark Communities, a private equity firm that owns three manufactured home parks in Johnson County.
Residents have reported steep lot rent increases, poor water quality and communication issues with the park owners.
County Supervisor Rod Sullivan said he will follow up with residents in the coming months about whether improvements are being made.
“We hope that this was a productive meeting,” he said. “It was cordial, and although we ultimately had some areas of disagreement, hopefully things will get better for folks that live there. That’s the ultimate goal.”
Members of the Iowa Manufactured Home Residents Network are planning a lobby day at the state Capitol on Thursday. Organizers say state laws have prevented local regulators from being able to stop private equity firms like Havenpark from sharply increasing lot rent prices.
Hinson outraises other candidates in Iowa’s U.S. Senate race in 2025
The latest round of federal campaign finance data shows Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ashley Hinson received the most in campaign contributions in 2025.
U.S. Rep. Hinson received nearly $4 million in contributions, according to the most recent campaign finance filings from the Federal Election Commission. She’s followed by Democratic state Sen. Zach Wahls, who raised just over $2 million.
Wahls’ Democratic opponents, state Rep. Josh Turek and former Knoxville Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Nathan Sage, reported receiving $1.7 million and $1.3 million, respectively.
Republican former state Sen. Jim Carlin reported contributions far behind the other candidates, at just under $60,000.
Candidates are competing for Republican U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst’s open seat, as she is not seeking a third term. Primary elections are set for June 2.
Judge to decide if Trump’s lawsuit against pollster Ann Selzer can proceed
Lawyers for the Des Moines Register and former political pollster Ann Selzer are asking an Iowa judge to pause part of a lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump.
The president filed a lawsuit against Selzer, the newspaper and its parent company, Gannett, in 2024 over a poll that showed former Vice President Kamala Harris leading Trump in Iowa ahead of the election.
A lawyer for Trump wants to proceed with swapping information and evidence about the case. But Selzer’s attorney, Robert Corn-Revere, wants to pause until the president pays a bond of at least $300,000 and is no longer president. He said Trump’s executive role and privileges could complicate fact-finding.
“A stay is necessary to avoid the difficult questions that necessarily arise when the president is a private litigant,” Corn-Revere said.
Another group of defendants that includes the Register and Gannett is asking a judge to put the process on hold while they request the case be dismissed.
Selzer’s attorney also wants to wait until a similar suit involving a Register subscriber has been resolved.
The judge in the case said he would issue an order on the ruling in about two weeks.
An onslaught of challenges is worsening farmers' mental health
There's a growing mental health crisis gripping Americans in all corners of the country, and Iowa’s farmers are facing unique challenges. From economic shifts to generational pride, the stress of it all can take a toll — not only on their livelihood, but on their mental well-being.
For Doug Fuller, running his family’s 1,000-acre farm became too much as he dealt with depression and the death of his beloved cat, Ellie.
“I just went downhill, really bad,” he said. “I was able to help put the crop in that spring. But by fall, I didn’t even work. I was just incapable of doing much of anything.”
Fuller said that painful experience, coupled with the pandemic, launched him into a long bout with severe depression. He ended up spending two months in the hospital.
“I was very suicidal,” he said. “It didn’t happen, but it was on my [mind] all the time. And I can’t tell you how many goodbye notes that I wrote.”
Fuller shared the farm with his brother. The two were the fourth in their family line to inherit the farm. A few years after Fuller’s battle with depression, his brother died by suicide.
The brothers are not alone in their mental health struggles. Farmers are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population, according to the Rural Health Association.
Keep reading more from IPR’s James Kelley.
Iowa caucuses to take place Monday night to discuss party business
Even though it’s not a presidential election year, the Iowa caucuses will be held Monday night. Both parties will pick central committee members, local delegates and discuss their platforms.
Republicans and Democrats will meet at their precinct locations at 7 p.m.
Ryan Akerberg, chair of the Woodbury County Democrats, said the election this fall is just as important as a presidential election year.
“These are the times of gathering, facilitating the necessary steps to make sure that we're a strong enough party to where we can make a difference in those ultra important years, and frankly, we have midterms coming up this year,” he said.
Iowa Democrats have applied to restore the state’s position as holding the party’s first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses. Iowa is expected to hold the first Republican caucuses in 2028.
—
This story was corrected to state that party members meet at different places, not one location.
Reynolds endorses Ashley Hinson for U.S. Senate
Gov. Kim Reynolds has endorsed Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson for the U.S. Senate.
In a statement on X, Reynolds said she is “continually impressed” by Hinson's grit, preparation and commitment to Iowa.
Hinson announced she was running for the Senate seat last fall shortly after Sen. Joni Ernst announced she would not seek a third term.
Hinson has also received endorsements from other top Republicans, including President Donald Trump.
MercyOne Des Moines to lay off 67 employees
MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center is set to lay off 67 employees, according to a notice published on the Iowa Workforce Development website.
A spokesperson for the hospital said in a statement that Trinity Health, MercyOne’s parent company, is projecting annual revenue reductions of $1.5 billion due to "recent and future government funding policy changes."
The hospital system said it’s also struggling with low insurance reimbursement rates, staffing shortages and rising prices for drugs and equipment.
Earlier this month, MercyOne announced it will shut down its Ottumwa clinic at the end of February.
Still have your old Iowa driver’s license? It could cost an extra $45 to fly
Iowans who haven’t upgraded to a REAL ID with the gold star in the top right corner may have to pay a $45 fee at the airport if they want to fly starting Sunday.
Jessica Mayle, regional spokeswoman for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), said passengers 18 and older who don’t have a REAL ID or other acceptable form of government-issued ID will have to pay the fee through the TSA website before passing through a security checkpoint.
Mayle said the online payment form is short, but flagged that it only covers travel for 10 days.
“If you are there and back in 10 days, you can use that as a receipt more than once. If your trip is longer than 10 days, you would need to pay more than once,” she said.
If an individual doesn’t have a REAL ID, Mayle said they will have to verify the $45 fee has been paid at TSA.gov before getting in the security line. She said cash or credit card payments are not accepted at the checkpoint, so passengers should have their receipts ready either on their phones or printed out when they enter the TSA area.
Travelers who arrive at the airport without their receipt or an acceptable form of ID may miss their flight if they aren’t able to make the payment from a cellphone or laptop before passing through a security check.
More than 94% of travelers at TSA checkpoints nationwide already present an acceptable form of ID, according to Mayle.
Bird flu confirmed in Kossuth County game bird hatchery
Bird flu hit a game bird hatchery in Kossuth County with about 25,000 pheasants, quail and chukars, according to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. It marks the second confirmed case of the H5N1 virus this year for domesticated birds.
The first detection early this month involved roughly 7,000 game bird pheasants and over 100 chickens in Kossuth County.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the current public health risk is low, and there’s no recorded person-to-person spread at this time. However, poultry producers and backyard flock owners are encouraged to use biosecurity practices to prevent the spread of the disease.
Iowa sexual assault and domestic violence coalitions merge
Two Iowa nonprofits that support victims of sexual assault and domestic violence are merging.
The Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault, known as Iowa CASA, is joining with the Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The announcement came after Iowa CASA shared on social media that its board voted to dissolve the organization.
Maria Corona, executive director of the Coalition Against Domestic Violence, said merging into one will help both organizations withstand threats to funding.
The groups said services for sexual assault survivors are not affected by the change.
Ankeny man avoids jail time after running through flock of geese
An Ankeny man will serve six-months’ probation for running over a flock of geese on a local street.
Court documents show Joseph Lamb, 82, stopped on State Street at 6:30 a.m. on June 10, 2025, to let a flock of nine Canada geese cross the roadway. He then accelerated into the geese once they were in front of his vehicle. One goose died after being hit.
Canada geese are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Lamb was fined $2,000 along with the probation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Lamb could have been sentenced to up to six months in jail and fined $15,000 for killing a protected bird.
Court upholds conviction in Iowa State Fair funnel cake vendor murders
The Iowa Court of Appeals has denied the second appeal of a man serving life in prison for the deaths of two Iowa State Fair vendors.
Rodney Borushaski was convicted of first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of his mother and father-in-law, Marilyn and Bobby Blewer, at the State Fair campgrounds in August 1996. Prosecutors said he was part of the plot by his wife, Jamie Blewer, to hire hitman Jeremy Sneed to kill her parents to steal money from their fair funnel cake business.
Borushaski argued there was new evidence to show he was not involved, but the Iowa Court of Appeals ruled all the evidence had previously been considered and dismissed his appeal.
Jamie Blewer and Sneed are also serving life sentences for the murders.
John Deere reverses course on job cuts after Trump speech
Nearly 100 employees who were laid off will return to work at John Deere facilities in Davenport and Dubuque. The company made the announcement one day after President Donald Trump praised the industrial manufacturer at a rally in Clive.
John Deere laid off hundreds of workers in 2025, citing decreased demand and lower order volumes. The company said in a statement that demand is now increasing and that the callbacks help ensure there are skilled teams in place to support production.
The workers will return to the facilities in mid-February.
Iowa power line workers help Louisiana recover from ice storm
Utility crews from Iowa are helping restore power after the recent winter storm left more than 300,000 homes in the dark across Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee.
Geoff Greenwood, spokesperson for Des Moines-based MidAmerican Energy, said a team of 36 line workers and support staff was sent to Oklahoma on Friday, but that area didn’t end up seeing severe weather, so they redeployed to Louisiana.
“They moved and headed down to the Shreveport area, initially, to help Southwestern Electric Power Company with their storm cleanup down there,” Greenwood said.
The MidAmerican crew has moved again and is now in the area of Hornbeck, La., about two hours south of Shreveport.
“This area was very heavily impacted by ice, so the ice built up on trees, it built up on power lines, it took down infrastructure,” Greenwood said. “Our crews are helping the local utility restore those customers that were hit hard in that area.”
MidAmerican is part of a nationwide mutual aid network that lets utilities send crews to each other during emergencies. Greenwood said the partnerships help speed up restoration efforts when communities need it most.
John Deere gets shoutout from Trump at Iowa rally
President Donald Trump spoke to diners at the Machine Shed restaurant in Urbandale Tuesday before addressing a crowd of supporters at an event center in Clive.
The president told the crowd that the U.S. economy is booming after his first year in office. He said rolling back some vehicle emissions standards will be good for Iowa’s corn farmers, and he gave a shoutout to the CEO of John Deere.
“I even signed a John Deere hat for him. He said, ‘I’m going to put this in the museum.’ I said, ‘That’s good.’ It’s a great company,” Trump said during his speech. “And you just said you’re opening two massive plants because of tariffs. You’re opening up one in North Carolina and one someplace else.”
Trump said the past year has been a “dramatic” turnaround for the county’s economy and told the crowd that it happened a lot faster than he thought it would.
GOP governor candidates support strict abortion policy at Moms for Liberty debate
Four of the five Republican candidates for governor say Iowa’s abortion laws should reflect their belief that life begins at conception. They made their comments Tuesday at a debate in Des Moines hosted by Moms for Liberty.
Adam Steen, state Rep. Eddie Andrews, Zach Lahn and Brad Sherman were asked when life begins. They all said “at conception.”
Steen, the former director of the Department of Administrative Services, said abortion is the most important issue of the governor’s race.
“There’s a few things I would love to see by the end of my time as governor here in the state,” he said. “The first one is, I would love to see Iowa being the most pro-life state in the union. I’d love to see a life at conception bill passed.”
“Life at conception” bills typically ban all abortions and could threaten certain fertility treatments or contraceptives.
Steen also criticized Iowa’s 4th District Rep. Randy Feenstra — the fifth candidate for governor and perceived frontrunner — for not being at the debate to answer questions about abortion policy. Feenstra was in Des Moines earlier Tuesday night for the president’s rally.
Hinson stands by Trump’s immigration enforcement policies
Second District Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson did not say whether she has confidence in Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem during her weekly press call on Wednesday. It comes as Democrats in Congress are calling for Noem’s impeachment and as President Donald Trump has changed who’s leading immigration enforcement efforts in Minneapolis.
Hinson said it’s a moment for strong leadership. She joined the president Tuesday in Clive for a rally where the economy, the midterms and immigration were addressed.
“Yesterday, when I was with him [Trump] in Des Moines, he talked a lot about this, and he said sometimes you do need to make changes in how you’re doing things. And that’s exactly what he did yesterday in sending Tom Homan to Minneapolis. So, I think we’re looking for some positives out of this,” Hinson said.
Republican Sens. Tom Tillis of North Carolina and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska are calling for Noem to leave her job at the Department of Homeland Security.
Congress is currently divided on a funding bill that would approve $10 billion for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Protesters call on Congress to ‘follow the Constitution’ outside Trump rally
Protesters lined the streets and took over the parking lot of a gas station in Clive Tuesday ahead of President Donald Trump’s rally on the economy.
They carried signs demanding the removal of immigration officers from Minneapolis and called out “Justice for Pretti, Justice for Good.”
Shirley Keenan of Des Moines said the president has allowed immigration officers to treat people inhumanely.
"He needs to have a heart and follow the Constitution, quite frankly” she said. “Congress needs to act as they are supposed to, as a third, equal branch of government and a check on the executive branch.”
Keenan said Congress should use the next spending deadline to cut funding for the Department of Homeland Security and force the administration to change its approach on immigration.
Trump touts his economic policies and fires up voters ahead of the midterms
President Donald Trump urged Republican voters to turn out for the midterms to continue advancing GOP priorities during his visit to Iowa Tuesday.
The president highlighted the “no tax on tips” and “no tax on overtime” parts of his massive tax and spending law, known as the One Big Beautiful Bill. He also touted his efforts to restrict immigration at the southern border.
Trump said the country was “dead” under former President Joe Biden and what he calls “radical left lunatics.”
“If we lose the midterms, you'll lose so many of the things that we're talking about, so many of the assets that we're talking about, so many of the tax cuts that we're talking about,” Trump said. “And it would lead to very bad things.”
The president's visit comes as Iowa heads into eventful midterm elections later this November. Iowa’s races for governor and a U.S. Senate seat are open, and half of the U.S. House races in the state are currently ranked “toss-ups” by the Cook Political Report.
Pulitzer-winning editor is the new president of ‘The Cedar Rapids Gazette’
The Gazette has a new president. Pulitzer Prize-winning editor Richard Green is now overseeing The Gazette and 11 other affiliated newspapers in Iowa, according to Adams MultiMedia, which purchased The Gazette and the other titles in December.
Green was president and publisher of the Des Moines Register from 2013 to 2015. His most recent job was executive editor of The Herald-Leader in Lexington, Ky.
In a statement published by The Gazette, Green said he is honored to work with The Gazette’s team to serve the paper’s readers and advertisers. He is taking over for Kelly Homewood, who announced her retirement earlier this month.
Sen. Grassley says he doesn’t want to see a government shutdown
Senate Democrats say they won’t vote for a budget bill funding the Department of Homeland Security until there are reforms in Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE has come under intense scrutiny for its actions in Minnesota, including the killing of two U.S. citizens.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, said although it includes some funding for ICE, the bill also contains needed disaster aid, and Democrats' refusal to vote on it could lead to another government shutdown.
“It won't accomplish what the Democrats want to accomplish because if they think they're defunding ICE, they aren't because the working families tax bill I just talked about has funded ICE through 2028,” Grassley said.
The bill Grassley was referring to is the One Big Beautiful Bill, which passed last year and triples ICE’s budget over the next few years.
Northwest Iowa communities impacted by historic flooding still waiting on FEMA to buy out properties
Communities in northwest Iowa, impacted by historic flooding in the summer of 2024, have requested buyouts for 267 properties, totaling more than $53 million. Almost half are in Rock Valley.
Some city leaders want quicker action by the federal government.
The city administrator of Spencer, Kevin Robinson, said he’s frustrated over the wait for buyouts for 41 homes. Spencer turned in their request more than a year ago.
“People continue to pay mortgages and property insurance on these properties, and so we've been fighting and advocating for them with the federal government and FEMA to get this done as fast as possible,” Robinson said.
Michael Cappannari, a spokesperson for FEMA, said cost analysis for nine communities in northwest Iowa continues, but approval takes time.
“You know, it never comes fast enough. But just know that we are doing everything we can to get these projects reviewed and approved as quickly as we can,” Cappannari said.
He said once the funding goes through, the homes will be torn down and replaced with green space, which could include parks and ballfields.
Republican candidate Shannon Lundgren ends campaign for Iowa’s 2nd District
Republican state Rep. Shannon Lundgren of Peosta has ended her campaign for Iowa’s 2nd Congressional District.
In September, Lundgren announced she was running for the U.S. House seat currently held by Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson, who’s running for the U.S. Senate. Lundgren said she’s an “original Trump supporter” because she endorsed Trump in 2015, and she had pledged to be unwavering in backing Trump’s agenda in Congress.
Lundgren has been a state legislator since 2017 and said she’s made “the difficult, but clear decision” to seek another term in the Iowa House instead.
Two other Republicans are running in Iowa’s 2nd District: Former state Rep. Joe Mitchell of Clear Lake and state Sen. Charlie McClintock of Alburnett.
Former Republican U.S. Rep Rod Blum of Dubuque withdrew his bid to return to the House last fall.
State Sen. Catelin Drey shares cancer diagnosis with Iowa Legislature
State Sen. Catelin Drey, D-Sioux City, said she’s been diagnosed with stage one uterine cancer.
Drey won a special election last year after the previous senator for her district died of pancreatic cancer.
In a speech on the Senate floor, Drey said Iowa is the cancer capital of the country. She said current health care policies make early cancer detection and treatment harder and more expensive, and she said silence perpetuates bad systems.
“I am not interested in pretending this is just a private matter. It is a public policy failure playing out in my body,” she said. “I am going to be transparent, not because I owe anyone my vulnerability, but because sunlight is a tool and I intend to use every tool available to me.”
Drey said she’s getting a hysterectomy Tuesday. After that, her doctors will determine if she needs additional treatment. Drey said she’ll be back at the Capitol as soon as she’s able to start working again.
More farmers would be eligible for federal loans under a bipartisan bill
New bipartisan legislation would modernize how the U.S. Department of Agriculture doles out loans to farmers. The bill would allow those with a 50% stake in a farm to apply for much-needed loans. Under the current system, a farmer or rancher needs to be the sole owner-operator.
Farm Credit Council CEO and President Christy Seyfert said it’s common for siblings to co-own farms these days. She said a USDA policy change would be a practical fix.
“Very, very simply, it will help provide access to this much needed capital to help farmers — the next generation farmers — to get out and get in the field, do what they need to do to keep agriculture going in this country,” Seyfert said.
Two Illinois lawmakers who sit on the House Committee on Agriculture, U.S. Reps. Mike Bost and Nikki Budzinski, introduced the legislation late last year and have attached it to the latest version of the Farm Bill, which is set to expire this September.
Read more from Harvest Public Media’s Will Bauer.
Democrat Jennifer Konfrst drops out of Iowa’s 3rd District race
Democratic state Rep. Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights announced she’s dropping out of the 3rd Congressional District race. Instead, she has endorsed Democratic candidate state Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott.
Konfrst thanked her family, supporters and campaign team in a statement. Konfrst said she will continue to fight to get Democrats elected in Polk County and across the state.
Konfrst previously served as the Iowa House minority leader, but stepped down from that role to focus on her congressional campaign.
Iowa's 3rd District seat is currently held by Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, who is running for a third term.
ISU researchers set out to develop low-cost batteries to store wind energy
Researchers at Iowa State University are working to overcome one of the biggest obstacles in wind energy: how to store electricity when turbines aren’t spinning.
Steve W. Martin, a professor of engineering at ISU, is working with his students on batteries that use inexpensive and easily sourced materials, including sulfur and sodium.
As one of the leading producers of wind energy per capita, Iowa is well-positioned to offer advancements in the field, Martin said.
“We just need to keep going, and one way to keep it going is by enabling storage,” he said. “We're kind of saturated [with] how much electricity we can generate from the wind turbines. So, if we can store that, then we can make the wind energy more reliable right here in Iowa.”
Martin said sodium is around 1,000 times cheaper than lithium, which is commonly in batteries.
Sodium-sulfur batteries aren’t a new technology, but Martin said what makes ISU’s model unique is the glass used as a “separator.” The separator keeps the battery from shorting out, while also conducting sodium ions.
Martin said it will take thousands of such batteries connected to each other to reach industrial-scale wind energy capacities.
ISU’s battery research is partially funded by the Iowa Energy Center, which is part of the Iowa Economic Development and Finance Authority.
Alex Pretti shooting sparks anti-ICE protests in Iowa City
Hundreds gathered in Iowa City on Sunday to protest the Trump administration’s expanded federal immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis.
The demonstration came a day after a federal officer shot and killed Alex Pretti, a U.S. citizen and Veterans Affairs nurse. Pretti is the second Minnesota resident to be killed by a federal officer this month.
Lily Froehlich, a student at the University of Iowa, said she was horrified seeing online comments implying that Pretti’s death was justified.
“I was just devastated by the fact that we’ve gotten to this point, as a country, where we’re excusing this — where we’re seeing this man, who spent his life helping veterans, helping others, helping a woman who had been tear gassed — and we have members of our community saying this is something that’s not a problem,” Froehlich said.
A federal immigration judge has barred federal officials from destroying or altering evidence related to Pretti’s shooting, as some congressional Republicans have joined Democrats in calling for an independent investigation.
Democrat Taylor Wettach drops bid for Congress to run for state auditor
Democrat Taylor Wettach has dropped his bid for Iowa’s 1st Congressional District and is now running for Iowa state auditor.
The trade and national security attorney from Muscatine announced the pivot Monday morning. Wettach said he’s running to stop waste, fraud and abuse in government.
The state auditor’s race is open, with current Democratic State Auditor Rob Sand running for governor.
Two Republicans have announced runs for seat so far: Lt. Gov. Chris Cournoyer and Iowa County Supervisor Abigail Maas.
RAGBRAI reveals 2026 route across Iowa
The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, known as RAGBRAI, will be the shortest in the ride’s 53-year history this year. The 391-mile route was announced over the weekend and marks the 10th hilliest ride to date.
Starting in Onawa, riders will stay overnight in Harlan, Guthrie Center, Boone, Marshalltown, Independence, Dyersville and cross the finish line in Dubuque.
Pass-through and meetup towns have yet to be announced.
The week-long ride, held July 18-25, attracts thousands of cyclists from all over the world.