Hit by flood disaster in mid-2024, Spencer conducts housing study
A housing study estimates the population of a northwest Iowa city hit by flash flooding in 2024 has dropped by about 100, far less than expected. Keith Carl, the researcher who conducted the study in Spencer, said only 22% of the 750 vacant housing units he identified...
Trump administration changes could hamper Head Start programs in Iowa
A federal program that helps thousands of low-income Iowa children could see hundreds of requirements deleted under a Trump administration proposal. One change would mandate English-only instruction, except for tribal programs. Lisa Proctor is the director of Drake...
Dyersville’s Field of Dreams site hosting another music festival this weekend
The Field of Dreams Movie Site is hosting its second music festival after a successful inaugural year last year. The Velocity Festival featured Tim McGraw and Nickelback last year and country superstar Carrie Underwood headlines this year's event on Saturday night....
Summer heat will hover over Iowa through the holiday
Iowa is seeing a steamy start to the Labor Day weekend, as the Extreme Heat Warning is being extended through tomorrow night for 13 southeast Iowa counties, for cities including Davenport, Iowa City and Burlington. Meteorologist Mark Debruin, at the National Weather...
New Lansing, Iowa bridge at the Mississippi River to open earlier than expected
The Iowa DOT says the new Mississippi River bridge at Lansing is ahead of schedule and will open sometime in November, well ahead of the original projected opening in the spring of next year. DOT engineer Clayton Burke says everyone has worked well together, including...
Iowa Nuclear Energy Task Force releases recommendations
The Nuclear Energy Task Force established in January by the governor to evaluate nuclear energy opportunities in the state has released its recommendations. Those recommendations say the state should create a single point of contact within the state to facilitate...
Barn to be wild? Celebrate the sturdy farm structures on Iowa’s Barn Tour
Iowa's rich agricultural heritage runs deep and perhaps no other state has preserved as many historic barns, whether they're red or white, round or rectangular. A celebration of Iowa's barns will be held this month for the 26th year. The All-State Barn Tour opens the...
$1.6 million in grants awarded from Iowa’s opioid settlement funds
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird has awarded five grants totaling more than $1.6 million to agencies that are helping Iowans with an addition to opioids or programs that warn of the dangers of an opioid addiction. "These are organizations that are making a big...
Group: coal burned for electricity in Iowa has increased, wind still tops
A report from the Iowa Environmental Council shows an uptick in the use of fossil fuels for electric generation in the state. The IEC's Steven Guyer says wind is still the top source, but the amount of power coming from coal increased about 50% from 2024 to 2025. ...
Preparation for Iowa’s dove season impacted by the weather
Iowa's mourning dove season is underway and DNR biologist Todd Bogenschutz says getting the food plots planted to draw the birds in was not easy. "It's been a challenging year for them. Some, especially the guys in the south-central and southeast, you know, a lot of...
Advocate for the homeless fears Sioux City effort will bring harassment
Sioux City residents are being encouraged to report homeless encampments through a new online reporting portal. City officials say as they remove encampments, a Homeless Assistance Response Team will try to connect people with resources they need. Monique Scarlett,...
Sand pledges to reduce red tape the stymies housing construction in Iowa
Democrat Rob Sand says if he's elected governor, he'll pursue initiatives to speed up the permit process for home builders and to help first-time homebuyers. The Iowa Finance Authority awards $2500 grants to eligible first time homebuyers to cover downpayment and...
Iowa’s congressional delegation signs on to letter to Trump about cattle industry
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley and the four Iowans who serve in the U.S. House are among 53 Republicans in congress who've signed onto a letter to President Trump, warning that American farmers and ranchers face "significant headwinds." The letter says internvention in...
Some Iowa schools struggle to maintain quality with less money
Public school districts across Iowa face budget challenges from rising costs and falling enrollments. Creston Community Schools in rural southwest Iowa serves 1,300 students, but Superintendent Deron Stender says they've lost 50 to 60 students a year for almost a...
Almanac predicts Iowa’s winter ahead will be mild and wet (AUDIO)
Iowa's in the midst of what may be the year's final heat wave of 90-plus-degree days, so it could be refreshing for some of us to think about the promise of the cooler weather that's still a few months away. Tim Goodwin is senior editor of The Old Farmer's Almanac...
Auditors ID $122,000 in undocumented, improper spending at Guttenberg Chamber
A special investigation conducted by the State Auditor's Office has identified questionable transactions totaling $122,000 at a chamber of commerce in northeast Iowa. The investigation reviewed finances while Brandie Tomkins was director of the Guttenberg Chamber of...
Leader of Iowa Renewable Fuels Association sees mixed result in refinary waivers
The executive director of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association has a mixed reaction to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency decision to give 34 small refineries exemptions from mixing reneable fuels with gas. Monte Shaw describes the announcement as a "bad...
Northwest Iowa town of Hull hit hard by storm
Residents of Hull in northwest Iowa are cleaning up after a powerfull storm brought down trees and power lines last night. Sioux County Emergency Management Coordinator Ryan De Kruyf says storms that initially appeared likely to stay north of Sioux County shifted...
Three acclaimed UI health programs now under one new roof
The ribbon will be cut this afternoon on a quarter-billion dollar building at the University of Iowa housing three separate but related top-ranked programs. Ground was broken in October of 2023 on the new Health Sciences Academic Building, which is located just south...
Zach Lahn says state should back research into safety of Round Up
Zach Lahn, the Republican candidate for governor, says he isn't calling for a ban on certain farm chemicals, but he says the EPA is not telling the truth about the safety of some products. "We need to have independent research on the state level," Lahn said, "...just...
Regents discuss class selection for the University of Iowa’s Center For Intellectual Freedom
The executive committee appointed to oversee the University of Iowa's Center For Intellectual Freedom (CIF) discussed hiring a permanent director during their meeting Tuesday. Interim director Luciano Decastro is one candidate that they voted to support moving...
$5 million in FEMA assistance for central Iowa damage after torrential rains
President Trump, Congresswoman Ashley Hinson and Governor Kim Reynolds posted statements on social media last night announcing $5 million in FEMA funding has been approved for damage caused by severe weather in July. The state, cities and counties in Jasper, Polk,...
Iowa manufacturer acquires Minnesota company that makes custom fire equipment
A northern Iowa company that manufactures heavy duty truck-mounted equipment has acquired a Minnesota firm that makes equipment for fire trucks. Stellar Industries was founded in Garner 36 years ago. It's the first U.S. manufacturer to design and produce a hydraulic...
Dubuque lands $750K grant to restore landmark buildings in city park
The eastern Iowa city of Dubuque is getting a hefty grant to revive a centerpiece of its park system while also restoring the work of a prominent architect from nearly a century ago. Dubuque city planner Chris Happ Olson says Alfred Caldwell designed Dubuque’s Eagle...
Writer of novel “The Obsessed” to make one Iowa stop on book tour (AUDIO)
An author who earned her MFA at the University of Iowa will be returning to the state next week to promote her new book, "The Obsessed." Lizzie Buehler says it's a tale about the trials of modern dating as a brilliant and obsessive college student who studies...
Rollins says Trump Administration’s ‘putting beef right back at the center of policymaking’ in D.C.
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins visited the Farm Progress Show in Boone yesterday, touting announcements for the cattle industry that came after President Trump waived tariff charges on imported beef for 90 days to reduce ground beef prices for consumers....
August heat dome had a big impact on Iowa temperatures and rainfall patterns
State Climatologist Justin Glisan says the heat dome that settled over Iowa in August had an impact on both temperatures and the amount of rainfall. "The average temperature preliminarily is about 1.2 degrees above the 30 year climatology. So warmer than average...
Governor says there’s disturbing rise in kratom-related deaths in Iowa
State officials are warning Iowans not to buy a product called kratom that's being sold in some Iowa convenience stores and gas stations as well as shops that sell cigarettes or vapes. Leaves from a kratom plant are crushed to make an organic version and Governor Kim...
Grassley says EPA actions on ethanol recognize the importance of biofuels
The EPA has approved waivers for 29 small oil refineries, so they do not have to blend ethanol into gasoline -- the highest level since 2017. Iowa Agriculture Secretary Mike Naig calls the decision "unfortunate and unjustified." Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says he...
Warren County man dies in prison
A Warren County man convicted of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a woman in 1978 has died in prison. The Department of Corrections says 82-year-old Richard Steltzer died August 10th. Steltzer was convicted of first-degree kidnapping and second-degree sexual abuse...
Russell man charged after alleged threat against Fremont-Mills school board memebr
A south-central Iowa man was arrested Friday on a felony charge for allegedly threatening a Fremont-Mills School Board member before the August 19th board meeting. Deputies were able to determine the call came from 52-year-old Eric Ballanger of Russell. Authorities...
Ex-Madison County Treasurer accused of misconduct reaches plea deal
The former Madison County Treasurer accused of misconduct in office has reached a plea deal just before her trial, which was scheduled to start today. Amanda DeVos was charged with a string of felonies, including tampering with records, misconduct in office,...
Slow down, as harvest season in Iowa means farm equipment on rural roads
It's September 1st and as the days get shorter, Iowa's farmers will soon be headed into the fields and harvest time can be a particularly dangerous time on the state's rural roads. State Trooper Paul Gardner, headquartered in Fort Dodge, urges Iowa motorists to stay...
Iowa pheasant numbers down overall but many areas have plenty of birds
The DNR expert who runs the roadside pheasant survey says numbers are down, but he still sees a good season ahead. Wildlife biologist Todd Bogenschutz says the overall number of birds dropped 17% from last year. "But in many of the regions the the stats said there...
Rob Sand proposes expansion of statewide voluntary preschool program
The State of Iowa currently provides funding for half a day of preschool for four year olds. Rob Sand, the Democrat running for governor, says the statewide voluntary preschool program should expand to a full day, for both three- and four-year-olds. "For every dollar...
National Taxpayers Union calls for neutral analysis of data centers
Data centers have become a flash point around the state, with some Iowa counties enacting moratoriums. Both candidates for governor have proposed tax changes for data centers. National Taxpayers Union President Pete Sepp said data centers will power America's economy...
Tree dropping leaves already? Iowa forester says it’ll likely be okay
Some Iowa homeowners may notice the leaves on certain trees are turning yellow or brown and dropping earlier than usual this season. According to the Iowa DNR, they could have a fungus called anthracnose, which thrives in wet conditions, like what we've had this...
Radio Iowa High School Football Poll 8/31/26
Class 5A 1. Dowling Catholic (1-0), LW #2 @ #2 Johnston 2. Johnston (1-0), LW #3 vs #1 Dowling Catholic 3. Iowa City Liberty (1-0), LW #4 vs #4 S.E. Polk 4. Southeast Polk (1-0), LW #6 @ #3 Iowa City Liberty 5. Cedar Rapids Prairie (1-0), LW #7 vs CR Kennedy 6. ...
New UI Center for Intellectual Freedom oversight panel meets tomorrow
A newly formed executive committee will meet tomorrow to discuss hiring a permanent director for the Center for Intellectual Freedom at the University of Iowa. Governor Kim Reynolds said it's taken a while to get the center operating as envisioned because there aren't...
As August ends, hot and muggy weather returns to Iowa
Thirty-one counties in south-central and southeast Iowa will be under a heat advisory from one o'clock this afternoon through 7 P.M. Wednesday. Meteorologist Abby Wyss, at the National Weather Service in Johnston, says we're headed back into a steamy, muggy spell to...
Missing woman is found alive in Hardin County after extensive search
Rescue crews from several north-central counties helped with a weekend river search and rescue in Hardin County. The Eldora Fire and Rescue Department was notified of a report of a woman missing along the river at around 5 p.m. Saturday. Both the Grundy and Hamilton...
Labor Day 2026 vacations will cost Iowans more than a year ago
The last holiday weekend of summer is just ahead and many Iowans are making plans to vacate the state for short Labor Day getaways. Brian Ortner, spokesman for AAA-Iowa, says the cost of vacationing has risen in recent months, but it isn't keeping many Iowans from...
Two events highlight stakes in Iowa’s top 2026 races
There were two big events this weekend focused on boosting the top candidates on Iowa's General Election ballot. U.S. Senate candidate Ashley Hinson played her violin with a band on stage as over a thousand Republicans gathered in Clive Saturday for a campaign...
Southeast Iowa city to host Holocaust exhibit
The Burlington Public Library is one of just 50 across the country to host a unique traveling exhibit about the Holocaust. Becky Nelson, the library’s manager of outreach and program services, says it's designed to transport you back to the 1930s and ‘40s and make you...
Iowa fugitive is arrested in Mexico, awaits extradition to Davenport
An eastern Iowa man who's been on the run for more than a year will soon be back in Iowa to face homicide charges. Davenport police say 41-year-old Alex Uthoff of Davenport was driving a motorcycle recklessly and drunk when he crashed in May of last year, killing his...
Iowa hunters have a shot at rabbits, squirrels, doves and ducks starting next week
Several popular hunting seasons will open in Iowa next week. DNR conservation officer Nate Carr says rabbit and squirrel seasons will open September 5th. Squirrel season typically brings out some 20,000 hunters who will harvest more than 100,000 squirrels a year,...
Johnson County dedicates plaza, statue to its new namesake
Johnson County will dedicate Dr. Lulu Merle Johnson Plaza during a ceremony tomorrow morning in Iowa City. Johnson was the first black woman in Iowa to earn a PhD, which she received from the University of Iowa. The service will include unveiling a statue of Johnson,...
Judge rules two Iowa Libertarians can’t be on fall ballot
A judge has ruled Libertarians selected earlier this month as replacement candidates for lieutenant governor and the third congressional district cannot be listed on the General Election ballot. The two candidates were nominated to replace Libertarians who were ruled...
Gamers get their geek on in Sioux City
It's said the meek shall inherit the earth, but the geek will inherit Sioux City this weekend. The Sioux City Geek Convention, or GeekCon, opens today. Organizer and president Skyler Gorsett says they'll be showcasing video and tabletop games of all types, anime...
State regulators question Black Hills Energy over safety issues in Spencer
The Iowa Utilities Commission held a hearing at their offices in Des Moines Thursday after an inspection last June of the Black Hills Energy service area in Spencer found more than 100 safety issues spanning 16 different categories. The IUC sayS none of the findings...