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federal government

Gavin McGough
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Iowa Public Radio
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visited the Iowa State Fair on Monday to tout support for U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn and to promote his $1.5 trillion defense budget proposal. Hegseth called Nunn an ally in Congress for military spending and the department's war efforts.
  • As the Olympics near, we spotlight curling — a sport often forgotten outside of the winter games, but one that thrives year-round in eastern Iowa. We hear from Emily Nelson, marketing and communications coordinator for Cedar Rapids Curling, on the sport’s history, its Olympic influence and why watching elite curlers inspires local players. Then, Charity Nebbe goes out on the ice with Kari Kozak, a founding member and events coordinator of Cedar Rapids Curling, for a crash course in sweeping and throwing stones. Later, historian Ricki King joins discusses her work preserving Iowa’s Black history amid efforts to rewrite or erase it.
  • After the devastating floods in the summer of 2024, northwest Iowa communities continue to wait for federal buyout funds for nearly 270 homes, leaving local leaders urging swifter government action.
  • Students across the country took part in the “Free America Walkout” on Tuesday to protest recent ICE actions in Minneapolis. In Sioux City, where the school district is one of the most diverse in the state, a large group gathered outside North High School.