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Iowa Capital Dispatch
State identifies second dairy with bird flu, expands testing
State agriculture officials will test dairy farms for bird flu if they are near a poultry flock that is infected by the disease, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced Friday. The new surveillance measure is meant to help reveal the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Iowa, which has been detected […] The post State identifies second dairy with bird flu, expands testing appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
A rarity: No state beaches have swim warnings
None of the state’s more than 40 monitored beaches has a warning against swimming because of unsafe bacteria or toxins this week, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. That did not happen during the monitoring season last year, which typically goes from late May to early September. There were at least two beaches […] The post A rarity: No state beaches have swim warnings appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
D.C. Dispatch: Immigration, Trump trial, Fauci and farm bill delays
President Joe Biden’s immigration executive order, Dr. Anthony Fauci and a GOP letter to Biden over Donald Trump’s trial were all major focuses for Iowa lawmakers this week. Efforts to renew the farm also could see delays as Democrats and Republicans debate over Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Here’s a roundup of how Iowa’s […] The post D.C. Dispatch: Immigration, Trump trial, Fauci and farm bill delays appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
ISU signs $124,000 settlement with second university employee
Iowa State University has agreed to pay a university employee $124,000 as part of a settlement agreement after she raised allegations of “harassment and retaliation,” according to settlement documents. Caitlynn Miller, the executive assistant to the ISU senior vice president for operations and finance, settled with the university just months after Shawn Norman, the former […] The post ISU signs $124,000 settlement with second university employee appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
‘Democracy begins with each of us,’ Biden says at site of D-Day invasion in Normandy
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden, speaking from the site of the D-Day invasion in Normandy, France, said Friday that those who support democracy must remember what World War II soldiers sacrificed and to live up to those ideals. Biden’s remarks came during commemoration of the 80th anniversary of D-Day and sought to tie the threats […] The post ‘Democracy begins with each of us,’ Biden says at site of D-Day invasion in Normandy appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Central College creates two new dean positions
Central College has added two new dean positions, overseeing faculty and undergraduate education. According to a news release, the Pella private college promoted Leslie Keuning Duinink to the role of dean of undergraduate education and Aaron Roerdink to dean of faculty. Both are Central College alumni. “As Central continues to evaluate the changing needs and […] The post Central College creates two new dean positions appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
DMACC Transportation Institute receives $1 million federal investment
U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn visited Des Moines Area Community College Thursday with news of federal investment in its transportation institute. Nunn announced at DMACC’s Ankeny campus that the community college will receive $1 million in federal funds for its transportation institute, which is currently being updated and modernized to better serve a larger crop of […] The post DMACC Transportation Institute receives $1 million federal investment appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Celebrating the people behind an Iowa community’s living history
They held a garden party. I didn’t go. Not because I did not want to see old friends, but I wasn’t invited. I could have gone anyway, and I would have been welcomed. I, however, would have felt like the kid who showed up for the first two practices for football, dropped out and then […] The post Celebrating the people behind an Iowa community’s living history appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Feenstra challenger Kevin Virgil eyes rematch in 2026
Two weeks ago, Congressman Randy Feenstra, R-Hull, touted polling that showed him with a commanding 54 percentage point lead against his relatively unknown challenger in this week’s primary, Kevin Virgil. “Our 54% lead is proof that Iowans want a Congressman who delivers,” Feenstra said in a May 23 press release. There was reason to have […] The post Feenstra challenger Kevin Virgil eyes rematch in 2026 appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Subsoil moisture has recharged with consistent heavy rainfall
Despite drier than typical conditions last week in Iowa, the abundant rainfall of preceding weeks has continued to percolate into deeper soil that can be important for crop growth, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. About 92% of the state’s subsoil has adequate or surplus moisture for growing crops. That is a modest increase […] The post Subsoil moisture has recharged with consistent heavy rainfall appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
On 80th anniversary of D-Day invasion, Biden and Macron honor WWII veterans at Normandy
WASHINGTON — “They were brave, they were resolute, they were ready,” President Joe Biden said Thursday at the Normandy American Cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach, one of five along France’s northern coast where Allied troops invaded in 1944 and turned the tide in World War II. Biden and dozens of U.S. lawmakers traveled to Normandy to […] The post On 80th anniversary of D-Day invasion, Biden and Macron honor WWII veterans at Normandy appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Ombudsman warns jails to protect inmates’ religious rights
The state ombudsman is warning Iowa county jails to not deny inmates’ religious requests for improper reasons. The warning comes after a jail employee denied an inmate access to tarot cards used in folk Catholicism, Ombudsman Bernando Granwehr said in a news release. Granwehr said inmates are entitled to First Amendment religious protections without government […] The post Ombudsman warns jails to protect inmates’ religious rights appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Iowa primaries finalize Statehouse races as legislative leaders look to November
With the primary election finished, incumbent state lawmakers and newcomers aiming to fill vacancies who won in state House and Senate races Tuesday are now preparing for the general election campaign season. The primary election determined which candidates will appear on ballots in the Nov. 5 general election. Though candidates from both parties went unopposed […] The post Iowa primaries finalize Statehouse races as legislative leaders look to November appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
The 100 deadly days of summer: New Iowa law ramps up risks for teen drivers
Summertime! Last day of school! Graduation parties! Cookouts! Camping! What a great time to be a young teen enjoying the roller coaster rush into summer. Getting that first paid job is a summer rite of passage. It’s been an age-old ritual for many teens to impatiently wait to work until they’re issued a driver’s license […] The post The 100 deadly days of summer: New Iowa law ramps up risks for teen drivers appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Bird flu found in Iowa cattle for first time
A highly transmissible avian flu has infected dairy cattle of an O’Brien County herd in far northwest Iowa, according to state agriculture officials. It is the first detection of bird flu in Iowa cattle and follows recent discoveries of the virus in poultry flocks in nearby counties. Cows usually recover from the infections within two […] The post Bird flu found in Iowa cattle for first time appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
U.S. Senate GOP prevents contraception access bill from moving ahead
WASHINGTON — An attempt to reinforce Americans’ access to contraception failed Wednesday when U.S. Senate Republicans blocked a bill from advancing toward final passage. The 51-39 procedural vote required at least 60 senators to move forward, but fell short after GOP lawmakers said the measure was too broad as well as unnecessary. Alaska Sen. Lisa […] The post U.S. Senate GOP prevents contraception access bill from moving ahead appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
U.S. Senate panel divided over climate as cause of rising insurance premiums
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate Budget Committee debated the cause of the insurance crisis plaguing homeowners around the country at a Wednesday hearing, with Democrats identifying climate change as the ultimate driving force of rising premiums and Republicans pointing to high government spending and inflation. Homeowners insurance premiums have skyrocketed in recent years following billions in damages, which […] The post U.S. Senate panel divided over climate as cause of rising insurance premiums appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Progressives urge Alito recusal from Jan. 6 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court
WASHINGTON — Progressive lawmakers and organizers on Wednesday urged U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito to recuse himself from cases related to the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and to testify before Congress about two flags sympathetic to insurrectionists that were displayed outside his two homes. With the Supreme Court as their backdrop, […] The post Progressives urge Alito recusal from Jan. 6 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Iowa congressional primaries: GOP incumbents win, Baccam defeats Vine
In three contested congressional primary races, two GOP incumbents defeated competitive challengers while the 3rd District Democrat primary was decided early Tuesday. The primary election is the final step in deciding which Iowa candidates will appear on the general election ballot in November. While there are no statewide elected positions or U.S. Senate seats on […] The post Iowa congressional primaries: GOP incumbents win, Baccam defeats Vine appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
U.S. Senate Dems decry limits on abortion access, House Dems unveil contraception bill
WASHINGTON — The national debate over whether laws or patients should determine abortion access dominated a U.S. Senate committee hearing Tuesday, when a panel of six experts testified about the complicated nature of treating pregnancies and miscarriages. The two-hour hearing in the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee was at times genuine and heartfelt. At […] The post U.S. Senate Dems decry limits on abortion access, House Dems unveil contraception bill appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
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Iowa has long enjoyed a reputation for clean government. But what would happen if nobody was watching? The Iowa Capital Dispatch is a hard-hitting, independent news organization dedicated to connecting Iowans to their state government and its impact on their lives. The Capital Dispatch combines state government coverage with relentless investigative journalism, deep dives into the consequences of policy, political insight, and principled commentary. We deeply believe in sharing the stories of people outside the halls of power, connecting the actions of state leaders to their impacts on Iowans. We also believe that without strong community journalism, Iowans risk losing the government integrity and accountability they have long valued. The Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers. The Iowa Capital Dispatch retains editorial independence.
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