Here First

Community members attended a town hall for the former Des Moines Public Schools superintendent. The Johnson County Sheriff is now seeking a bond initiative to fund a new jail. And what can agricultural employers do to prepare for federal immigration officers showing up on U.S. farms?

Sen. Chuck Grassley says he isn't sold on President Trump's proposal to use tariff revenue for farmer aid. Early radon testing at Iowa public schools show some have high levels of the radioactive gas. And work-based learning is becoming more common in Iowa schools.

The Des Moines Public School Board has accepted Ian Robert's resignation from superintendent. DMPS students walked out of classes yesterday in connection with ICE detaining Roberts. And DMPS is now under investigation for what the Department of Justice is calling race-based employment.

The Des Moines School Board has placed Superintendent Ian Roberts on unpaid leave as he remains in federal detention, and the state has revoked his education license. Abortions provided by clinicians in Iowa dropped significantly in the first half of this year. And one of the Republicans running for Congress in northwest Iowa has dropped out of the race.

The Des Moines School Board voted over the weekend to place Superintendent Ian Roberts on paid administrative leave, following his arrest Friday by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. On Saturday, supporters for Roberts protested outside the Woodbury County Law Enforcement Center in Sioux City, where Roberts is currently being held. Farmers' soybeans may be stranded this harvest as China, the biggest buyer of soybeans on the international market, has yet to make a single purchase from the U.S. for the upcoming year.

Tax changes in President Trump's “Big Beautiful Bill” will reduce Iowa's revenue by about $400 million this fiscal year. Iowa says its efforts to help a few dozen struggling public schools are showing encouraging results. And the University of Northern Iowa is set to kick off a year-long celebration for its 150th anniversary.

Gov. Kim Reynolds says Iowa school performance is progressing because of her administration's policies. New law enforcement technology is coming to an eastern Iowa town, despite residents' pushback. And UnityPoint nurses in central Iowa say the company is trying to stop union efforts.

A Mount Pleasant man is suing the Trump Administration over a new immigration policy. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand backs the Oskaloosa school board for firing a teacher over comments about Charlie Kirk's death. And a community land trust is coming to the Des Moines area.

More law enforcement agencies in the Midwest are working with ICE. The director of the state's largest agency has resigned. And an AmeriCorps program in Waterloo is back up and running.

The Oskaloosa art teacher who was fired over a social media post about Charlie Kirk's death is now suing the school district. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird talks free speech on college campuses. And Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was in Iowa over the weekend.

The council has been formed for the Center for Intellectual Freedom on University of Iowa's campus. Another Republican has announced a bid for Iowa's second congressional district. And how is the new Area Education Agency law impacting school districts?

An Oskaloosa teacher has lost his job after alleged social media posts that celebrate Charlie Kirk's death. Several Iowa university employees are on leave and being investigated for social media comments on Charlie Kirk's death. And more people want to buy locally-raised meat.

An Iowan is going to Rome to meet with the Pope. Some blind Iowans are concerned about changes to a state program. And Iowa Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver has stepped down.

Democrats will have a bit more power in the Iowa Senate when it comes to governor nominees for some state positions. There was a vigil last night for Charlie Kirk on University of Iowa's campus. And the Iowa DOGE Task Force had its final meeting.

U.S Republican Representative Ashley Hinson has formally launched her U.S. Senate campaign. Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen was in Iowa over the weekend. And the USDA is still making plans to reorganize its structure.

The Oskaloosa Community School District is investigating a teacher who allegedly posted comments that appeared to celebrate Charlie Kirk's death. The Iowa DNR is starting a new project to try to reduce E. coli in some Iowa water. And why are some Iowans concerned about Flock cameras?

People who accompany immigrants with immigration check in appointments say it's getting harder to do so. The Iowa Supreme Court is trying to decide if school administrators can be held individually responsible for discrimination in their schools. And what Trump policies could impact where Iowa gets its energy?

No charges will be filed against the Denison police officer who shot and killed a homeless migrant last month. A northern Iowa school district issued a shelter-in-place protocol yesterday after reports of immigration officials in town. And the state of Iowa has settled a sexual orientation and gender identify discrimination lawsuit.

An appointee from the Trump Administration is running for Iowa's second congressional seat. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins was in Des Moines yesterday. And the recidivism rate in Iowa is the lowest it's been in ten years.

President Trump is backing Ashley Hinson for U.S. Senate. Another Republican is trying for Iowa's fourth congressional district seat. And Iowa business leaders say unresolved U.S. tariff policies is a concern.

A new study links air pollution and animal feeding operations. The Meskwaki Nation and Iowa's top law enforcement officials have reached a settlement on how tribal police pursue suspects. And a food bank program that supports local food will continue for another year.

Des Moines' public transit system is taking public input on reducing its services. Several environmental groups are pushing back against a wastewater permit requested for a coal plant in Ottumwa. And Linn County has finalized zoning regulations for nuclear energy production.

Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says she's not seeking a third term – and fellow Republican Representative Ashley Hinson has quickly jumped into the already-crowded race for Senate. Also, the former Catholic bishop of Des Moines is calling for stronger gun laws following a shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis last week.

Des Moines' bus system proposes reducing services by about 10 percent under a new plan aimed at avoiding a major budget shortfall. A Democrat who was running for the US House now says he'll run for Senate instead. And health experts say this flu season could be a severe one – and they want more Iowans to get a flu shot.

Rep. Ashley Hinson says Iowa has a fair redistricting system, but other states should not be forced to copy it. Iowa officials are looking to expand exports for a predicted record corn crop. And immigrant workers in Ottumwa are struggling financially after the Trump administration revoked their legal statuses.

The Trump administration has told 40 states, including Iowa, that they must remove all references to gender identity in sex education. Former state lawmaker Dave Dawson is running for the Democratic nomination for Iowa's 4th Congressional district. And Harvest Public Media reports that planned solar projects across the country are being halted after the EPA announced it's terminating $7 billion in federal Solar for All funding.

The Republican supermajority in the Iowa Senate has been broken. Gov. Kim Reynolds spoke about teacher and medical professional shortages with other governors. And all of Polk County's ARPA funding has been allocated.

An eastern Iowa county is preparing for energy demands from AI and data centers. Grocers in 12 states are trying to figure out how to implement new SNAP limits that start in the New Year. And what are the benefits and possible cons of a four day school week?

Some water utilities in Iowa are getting settlement money from chemical companies. An EPA program has ended that was supposed to help with areas affected by pollution. And 50 immigrants became U.S. citizens at the World Food and Music Festival in Des Moines.

Ottumwa is hosting a parade tomorrow celebrating what supporters call traditional marriage. A regional ICE detention facility will be in Nebraska. And two Iowa counties are taking a hazardous pipeline ordinance to the U.S. Supreme Court.

About two-thousand nurses are trying to unionize in Des Moines. Iowa has opted to implement federal Medicaid work requirements early in 2026. And what's behind Iowa's shortage of OB/GYNs?

Iowa City has passed a resolution upholding equal protection for LGBTQ residents. Another Republican has announced a run for governor. And a Democratic state lawmaker is running for Congress.

Police in western Iowa have released the name of the man who died in an officer-involved shooting. Des Moines utility bills are going to get higher. And Johnson County leaders say a new jail is needed.

A Muscatine man without U.S. legal status was detained after two people allegedly tried to steal his car. Over 50 protested in Denison after an officer-involved shooting. And how is the Cedar Rapids school district reducing group violence?

Des Moines Water Works leaders say the EPA was wrong to take some of the rivers off the impaired waters list. A Head Start program director says new federal enrollment requirements could bring extra paperwork for families. And how are some communities mitigating light pollution?

Joni Ernst says she has a good relationship with President Trump. A refugee resettlement nonprofit in Iowa says private donations have helped them continue their work. And a large portion of a bicycle trail in central Iowa has been paved.

There are now five Democrats running for U.S. Senator Joni Ernst's (R) seat. The head of the EPA won't say why five Iowa rivers were removed from the impaired waters list. And Gov. Kim Reynolds has directed twenty Iowa National Guard troops to support immigration enforcement efforts.

Another undercover video of a state university employee allegedly working around DEI laws has been released. A proposed policy would require educators at the state universities to avoid teaching from one perspective. And new federal policies for wind and solar projects are causing uncertainty.

A Starbucks in Des Moines is unionizing. A new map from the Iowa DNR shows the destruction to trees from the 2020 derecho. And what did U.S. Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins and Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego (D) have to say at the state fair?

Graduate students at the University of Iowa are accusing the president of the school of joining right-wing efforts. Federal funding for healthy food access for low-income people is going away. And a Boston-qualifier marathon is coming to Iowa next year.

Iowa will help the Trump administration's deportation agenda. Colleges now have to verify applicants' citizenship status for some education programs. And the Iowa DOGE task force met again to discuss ways to save the state money.

Requests for mutual aid for transgender support are going up. Many immigrant workers in Iowa meatpacking plants are at risk of deportation. And how are some trying to reduce nitrates in Iowa drinking water?