Two election-related bills clear Iowa House
The Iowa House has passed a bill that would give the secretary of state authority to hire a vendor to check for non-citizens on Iowa voter registration lists. Representative Austin Harris, a Republican from Moulton, cited the secretary of state's recent announcement...
Large bond set for man charged in the death of Iowan Sarah Root
Bond has been set at $100 million for the Honduran man charged in the death of Sarah Root of Council Bluffs in a 2016 traffic accident in Omaha. Eswin Mejia fled the country after being arrested following the accident and was extradited back to the U.S. last week....
Committee could help growing, shrinking Iowa districts find new athletic conference
The governor will soon decide whether to establish a new committee to help navigate the re-alignment of high school athletic conferences. Senator Sandy Salmon of Janesville today said state education officials believe they lack the authority under current law to help...
UI grad students fear loss of contracts, research jobs due to federal cuts
Graduate students at the University of Iowa say they're concerned about possible changes to their employment and admissions contracts. Two days before Spring Break, grad students in the English Department got an email from the department chair saying the UI could no...
Iowa board approves funding for poultry robot, solar roofing
The Iowa Economic Development Board recently approved funds for three start-up businesses. IEDA spokesperson Kanan Kappelman says Ames-based Janas Materials was awarded a $100,000 loan to help refine its product. "They developed sustainable technology for the coating...
Bill would ensure Iowans have a right to garden
A "Freedom to Garden Act" has passed the Iowa Senate unanimously. "This bill addresses a growing concern -- literally growing our own food," Senator Cherielynn Westrich of Ottumwa, the bill's floor manager, said to start debate. The bill would forbid state and local...
Grassley says he’ll quiz Social Security nominee about cuts, closures
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley today will be questioning President Trump's nominee to head the Social Security Administration, what DOGE leader Elon Musk calls "the biggest Ponzi scheme of all time." Grassley says he's been hearing from Iowans who are upset about...
Iowa’s 2024 floods spell a shortage of spring seeds for farmers
Seed supply shortages could cause problems for farmers in Iowa this spring. Flooding early in the season last spring devastated parts of southern Minnesota and northwestern Iowa, and Casey Staloch, with Albert Lea Seed Company in Minnesota, says seed production really...
Iowa Senate adjusts, then approves bill on restrictions on cell phone use in class
The legislature is still tinkering with the governor's plan to require that Iowa school districts adopt policies that restrict students from using smart phones when they're in classes. Senator Lynn Evans, a Republican from Aurelia, said the bill is designed to "give a...
Lightning can be present even if a storm warning isn’t issued
It's Severe Weather Awareness Week, and National Weather Service meteorologist Peter Rogers says today is focused on lightning safety. "I think one of the big things for people to realize is that sometimes they're waiting for some kind of a warning, a severe...
GOP lawmakers urge carbon pipeline opponents to keep up the pressure
Republicans who oppose the use of eminent domain to seize land for the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline are urging Iowans to lobby members of the Senate to protect property rights. During a news conference at the Iowa Capitol today, Senator Doug Campbell of...
Iowa sees shortage of foster families as kids face going to emergency shelters
Iowa saw more children in foster care who were referred to a home last year than there were licensed foster families, according to Four Oaks, the state’s contractor for licensing foster and adoptive parents. Kai McGee, director of foster care and adoption at the...
Food product manufacturers in Ankeny, Cedar Rapids win state economic incentives
Two food product companies are getting state economic development incentives for expansions. Iowa Economic Development Authority spokesperson Kanan Kappelman says Mrs. Clark’s Foods to plans to expand in Ankeny. "The company manufactures liquid food products,...
Iowa names Ben McCollum its new basketball coach
Iowa native Ben McCollum has been named the head coach for theIowa men’s basketball program, it was announced by Athletic Director Beth Goetz. McCollum is the 23rd head coach in program history. “We are excited to welcome Coach McCollum and his family back to Iowa...
Two bodies found in SW Iowa are now identified
The Cass County Sheriff's Office is releasing the names of two men whose bodies were found late last week in southwest Iowa. About 1:18 p.m. Friday, deputies responded to a property southeast of Anita, after a body was found on the ground near an outbuilding. The...
Program aims to help five Iowa towns boost curb appeal
Five Iowa communities are being picked to take part in what's known as the First Impressions program, which is designed to strengthen tourism, attract new residents and cultivate a community’s quality of life. Diane Van Wyngarden is a state tourism specialist with the...
Iowans are reminded to prepare for twisters, lightning and other severe weather
Some Iowans don't need the reminder, since we had powerful thunderstorms and a massive blizzard just last week, but today marks the start of Severe Weather Awareness Week. Page County Emergency Management Coordinator Jill Harvey says the National Weather Service is...
Iowa-based World Food Prize hosting D.C. dialogue about hunger
The Iowa-based World Food Prize Foundation is hosting an event in Washington, D.C. tomorrow (Tuesday) to focus on ideas for feeding the world's expanding population. Former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack, who took over as foundation's CEO March 1, said it's inspired by a...
Honduran charged with 2016 murder of Iowan extradited to Omaha
The Honduran man charged with killing an Iowa woman in 2016 is back in the United States, where he will stand trial for Sarah Root's death. Iowa Senator Joni Ernst was at the Omaha airport when Eswin Mejia arrived late this afternoon. "He will now face justice for...
Senator Grassley’s town hall features questions about Trump administration
More than 100 people attended a town hall meeting held by Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley today at the Franklin County Courthouse in Hampton. The meeting, which became heated at times, with one man questioning Grassley about where Congress is as President Donald Trump...
Iowa utility company brings in lots of crews and resources to repair blizzard damage
The blizzard this week saw thousands of people left without electricity and triggered a big response from the state's largest utility company. MidAmerican Energy spokesman Geoff Greenwood says they had some 97 utility crews and another 61 tree crews who...
Iowa House bill says private school students must be allowed on public districts’ teams
A bill that's cleared the Iowa House would mandate that Iowa's public school districts let local private school students join the district's sports teams if the private school isn't offering the sport. Representative Henry Stone, a Republican from Forest City, said...
State senator awaiting surgery for medical issue
A member of the Iowa Senate has announced she is "dealing with a medical issue" and is "awaiting surgery." State Senator Claire Celsi, a Democrat from West Des Moines, issued a brief written statement today, announcing she is unable to be at the Capitol in person at...
Donor opens 529 savings accounts for every student at Iowa middle school
Students at a central Iowa school are learning an important lesson about saving for their futures in a program that's the first-of-its-kind in the state. Every student at Harding Middle School in Des Moines is being given money to invest in a 529 savings account run...
House approves Governor’s maternal, paternal leave plan for state workers
The Iowa House has overwhelmingly approved a bill that would make state employees with a new child eligible for paid parental leave. "Maternity and paternity for state employees who currently have zero hours of paid family leave," said Representative Taylor Collins of...
North-central Iowa man charged with neglect, 11 animals removed
Webster City police searched a home Thursday to investigate allegations of animal neglect. During the search, authorities rescued 11 animals from the property. The living conditions within the residence were determined to be unsanitary and unsuitable for animal...
Perry company that builds research chambers wins top SBA award
The leaders of a central Iowa company that makes chambers for laboratory research are being named Iowa's Small Business Persons of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Joni Campidilli is a vice president at Percival Scientific, which employs 86 people...
Book festival in central Iowa gathers writers and readers
Book lovers from across the state and best-selling authors from around the world will gather in central Iowa this weekend for the annual Des Moines Book Festival. Organizer Jan Danielson Kaiser, from Beaverdale Books, says it's an ideal place to hear from and meet...
Iowa House approves bills on human trafficking, human smuggling
The Iowa House has passed a bill supporters say could make it easier to prosecute human traffickers and another that would make human smuggling a state crime. Legislators cited a lawsuit recently filed by six Guatemalans who say they were recruited to work at an egg...
Iowa’s governor applauds Trump move to dismantle Dept. of Education
Governor Kim Reynolds was at the White House Thursday as President Trump signed an executive order calling for the U.S. Department of Education to be dismantled. Reynolds called the event "historic" in a post on X and she thanked Trump for his "leadership and...
Judge won’t put hold on Cedar Rapids casino while lawsuit proceeds
A district court judge has declined a request for a temporary stay of a decision by state regulators to award a gambling license for a Cedar Rapids Casino. The operators of the Riverside Casino and its nonprofit organization sought the stay as they challenged the...
Iowa Secretary of State lists 277 people for potential voter fraud probe
Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate says he's confirmed through a federal database that 277 non-citizens were registered to vote in Iowa in 2024 and he's forwarded those 277 names to the Iowa Attorney General for potential prosecution. According to a news release from...
Hundreds of utility workers try to restore power following blizzard in western Iowa
Utility crews continue working to restore power across the state following Wednesday's blizzard. MidAmerican Energy company spokesman Geoff Greenwood says this was one of the bigger storms to impact the system. "I would say our peak was about 33,000 customers. But...
Bill would O.K. synthetic psilocybin prescriptions in Iowa, if FDA clears use
A bill under consideration in the legislature would position Iowa to immediately allow prescriptions of a synthetic version of psychedelic mushrooms if it gains FDA approval. Psilocybin is a naturally occurring compound found in so-called "magic mushrooms."...
Iowans can blame Texas for their dirty windshields
Iowans who parked outside during Wednesday's heavy thunderstorms are finding their vehicles now look like they've been dunked in mud. National Weather Service meteorologist Alexis Jimenez says those dirty smudges and brown polka-dots have far-away origins, thanks to...
Senate bill bans ranked choice voting in Iowa
Iowa would join 13 states that have banned ranked choice voting under a bill that's cleared the Iowa Senate with Republican support. Senator Ken Rozenboom, a Republican from Oskaloosa, said a ballot where all candidates in a race are to be ranked from first to last...
House votes to change nutrition standards for Iowa school meals
The Iowa House has passed a bill that would bypass some federal nutrition guidelines for meals served in Iowa schools by getting a federal waiver to emphasize serving animal-based proteins as well as vegetables and fruits. Republican Representative Derek Wulf of...
Bill would bar state economic development awards to Iowa’s 4 largest counties
Republicans on a House subcommittee have endorsed a moratorium on state economic development awards to businesses in Iowa's four most populous counties. Over a million Iowans live in Polk, Linn, Scott and Johnson Counties. Republican Representative Derek Wulf of...
Saying ‘The U.S. Mail is not for sale,’ Iowa rallies denounce Trump, Musk plan
Protests are planned outside main post offices in four Iowa communities late this morning to rally against what the head of the Iowa Postal Workers Union calls a looming "hostile takeover" by the federal government. Kimberly Karol, of La Porte City, is president of...
Blizzard closes roads and snaps power poles in Northwest Iowa
Blizzard conditions have shut down roadways and travel is not recommended in many areas of western and northwestern Iowa this afternoon. DOT Winter Operations Director Craig Bargfrede says a large area is impacted. "If you draw a line basically from just north of...
Black history is now more accessible in Waterloo
The African American Historical and Cultural Museum is now open in Waterloo, a big milestone for the organization. The opening marks the first time in the museum’s 29-year history that it will be open to the public without appointments. The regular hours are thanks to...
Iowa Senate votes for 60 mph speed limit on state highways
A bill that's passed the Iowa Senate would raise the speed limit to 60 miles an hour on two-lane state highways. Senator Kerry Gruenhagen, a Republican from Walcott, is the bill's sponsor. "Current law determines the default speed limit is 55 miles per hour unless...
Members of Iowa House Black Caucus urge D.E.I. defense
Democrats in the Iowa House Black Caucus are calling on the leaders of Iowa businesses and private colleges to lobby against the roll back of diversity, equity and inclusion programs in Iowa. Bills on the subject cleared the Iowa House with GOP support Tuesday and are...
Fort Dodge police probe man’s death, apartment fire
A man's death and an apartment fire in Fort Dodge are under investigation. First responders were called to a residence just after midnight this morning where someone had been reported shot. When they arrived, they discovered an unresponsive male on the sidewalk in...
Iowa’s carbon pipeline foes buoyed by South Dakota action
Iowa property owners who oppose having the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline on their land are asking state regulators to pause the review of plans to expand the route. Jess Mazour of the Sierra Club's Iowa chapter said a new South Dakota law banning Summit...
Rain changing to snow in developing blizzard, driving is getting iffy
The last day of winter is going out with a blizzard. Forecasters say a storm system will drop up to a foot of snow across a long stretch of Iowa today, from the southwest to north-central Iowa, with winds gusting up to 65 miles an hour. National Weather Service...
Blizzard or not, farmers are readying for spring planting season
While a large portion of Iowa may see thunderstorms or blizzard conditions today, farmers across the state are still preparing for the planting season ahead, as tomorrow's the first day of spring. Angie Rieck-Hinz, a field agronomist with Iowa State University...
Finalists selected for Iowa Beef Industry Council’s best burger
Iowa Beef Industry Council spokesperson Kylie Peterson says they have narrowed down the more than six-thousand nominations into their "Best Burger" contest to a final group. "These are the top ten for 2025 and these will be the ones that are now in the running for the...
Bills to restrict D.E.I. at Iowa’s public, private colleges clear House
A bill that's cleared the Iowa House would to prohibit the three state universities from requiring students take courses about diversity, equity and inclusion or critical race theory -- unless the subject matter is directly related to their majors. Another House bill...
Failed attempt to force Iowa Senate vote on eminent domain for pipeline
An attempt that could have forced the Iowa Senate to vote on restrictions for the proposed carbon pipeline has failed. During consideration of the Senate's operating rules, Democratic Senator Tony Bisignano proposed a route for bringing a bill up for debate. "It's...