Here First

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?

Scientists studying Iowa's water quality say data collection is critical to improving water. Gov. Kim Reynolds says she's wanting to adopt MAHA policies in the next legislative session. And the Des Moines School board chair is running for a seat in the U.S. Senate.

The Iowa attorney general says investigating the University of Iowa over alleged violations of state anti-DEI laws will take a bit. Iowa's child care website is getting positive feedback. And Des Moines hosted the National Senior Games.

A temporary director has been appointed for the new Center for Intellectual Freedom at University of Iowa. Southern rust is more widespread in corn this year in the state. And how far does some food have to travel to get to the table?

The Iowa attorney general says she's investigating the University of Iowa. Over 200 meatpacking workers in Ottumwa may be deported. And disputes over a new jail in northwest Iowa are now in court.

President Trump is proposing cutting states' funding for investigating abuse against patients with mental illness. The U.S. will be leaving UNESCO. And Iowa has a high rate for brain drain.

Haitian refugees are losing their jobs soon before legal protections go away. Cuts to SNAP could especially impact fruit and vegetable farmers. And FedEx is laying off over 80 employees in eastern Iowa.

It's been a year since Iowa's fetal heartbeat abortion law took effect. Some hospital associations say the rural health care fund in the Big Beautiful Bill won't outweigh cuts to Medicaid. And a northwest Iowa school district won't allow religious groups to evangelize on its school grounds anymore.

Dozens of unpermitted wells have been discovered at the construction site of a new data center in Cedar Rapids, the high price of beef, a state library book-sharing program is temporarily paused due to budget issues, and the new definition of drought due to climate change concerns.

A successful takeoff for a satellite mission led by the University of Iowa, poultry experts raise concern about the upcoming bird flu season due to USDA cuts, Iowa's 4th Congressional race heats up, and an Iowa baby sets a world record.

Woodbury County supervisors have given initial approval to a zoning rule change that could bring a small nuclear power plant to the county. The state Board of Regents is postponing discussion of a policy that would stop requiring students to take courses related to diversity, equity and inclusion. And, Iowa has its eight confirmed case of measles.

Woodbury County discusses a zoning change later today that would allow a small nuclear power plant to be built in the region. The head of Iowa's Democratic Party says it's “disappointing” the state recently lost a seat on a key national committee. And Iowa's state tax collections dropped a bit over the last year, mostly because of a new business tax credit.

Iowa has a teacher shortage in more than two dozen specialties. Some school districts are turning to online instruction to fill those gaps. Sixteen Afghan families in the Des Moines area face eviction as money that has helped pay for their housing runs out. And Iowa is exploring several options to help people affected by the closing of the Black Hawk Bridge in Lansing later this year. It's being closed this fall, about two years before a new crossing is completed.

Congress has approved significant funding cuts for foreign aid and public media. There were several protests in Iowa over civil rights. And Virgina Gov. Glenn Youngkin was in Iowa last night.

Advocates worry cuts to some federal benefits could impact how many people receive WIC benefits. Congresswoman Ashley Hinson says she trusts the Trump administration to handle the Jeffrey Epstein controversy. And a new regional administrator for HUD went to Cedar Rapids.

The City of Des Moines is considering raising taxes on residents' utility bills for DART. The head of Des Moines Water Works talks about nitrate regulations. And what could the impact be if the USPS becomes private?