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Trump signs order to loosen federal restrictions on marijuana, but it’s still illegal

A cannabis pre-roll is held at a legalization anniversary party in Cranston, Rhode Island, Dec. 1, 2023. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)

by Jacob Fischler, Iowa Capital Dispatch December 18, 2025 President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday to loosen federal restrictions on marijuana, which Trump said reflected the drug’s potential medical benefits while discouraging recreational use. The order moves cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III on the Federal Drug Administration’s list of controlled substances. Schedule […]

Report: Iowa ombudsman’s office handled 6,266 complaints last year

Iowa Ombudsman Bernardo Granwehr. (Photo courtesy Iowa Office of Ombudsman)

by Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch December 19, 2025 Iowa’s Office of Ombudsman, which investigates complaints related to local and state government, saw an almost 10% increase in cases opened during the last fiscal year. The agency’s annual report, published this week, indicates that during fiscal year 2025, the office opened 6,266 cases — a […]

Trump signs order to loosen federal restrictions on marijuana, but it’s still illegal

A cannabis pre-roll is held at a legalization anniversary party in Cranston, Rhode Island, Dec. 1, 2023. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)

by Jacob Fischler, Iowa Capital Dispatch December 18, 2025 President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday to loosen federal restrictions on marijuana, which Trump said reflected the drug’s potential medical benefits while discouraging recreational use. The order moves cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III on the Federal Drug Administration’s list of controlled substances. Schedule […]

Delayed jobs report: Unemployment ticks up to 4.6%, jobs up 64K

Recruiters discuss jobs with students at a July 2024 jobs fair at St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas. A new jobs report shows jobs nationwide rebounded after October losses, with a 64,000 gain in November. (Photo courtesy of St. Edward’s University)

by Tim Henderson, Iowa Capital Dispatch December 16, 2025 A shutdown-delayed jobs report released Dec. 16 showed an increase of 64,000 jobs in November, rebounding from a large loss of 105,000 jobs in October. Unemployment ticked higher to 4.6%, the highest since September 2021. The October loss was the largest since December 2020, during a […]

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird files lawsuit against Roblox

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird has filed a lawsuit against Roblox over allegations on child sexual exploitation. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch December 16, 2025 Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Roblox, the popular online gaming company, for allegedly putting Iowa children in danger of sexual exploitation. Roblox, an online game platform, has over 80 million daily users, “many of those are Iowans and most of whom […]

Miller-Meeks says her health care bill would address ‘root causes’ of high premiums

U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, spoke at a news conference in Washington D.C., Dec. 3, 2024, calling for regulating financial practices of pharmacy benefit managers. (Photo courtesy of Miller-Meeks’ office)

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch December 15, 2025 U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks said Monday the health care bill she is leading in the U.S. House would address the “root causes” behind rising health care premiums while not seeking to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies. The “Lower Health Care Premiums for All Americans Act,” sponsored […]

Reynolds orders flags lowered to honor Iowa soldiers killed in Syria

Iowa National Guard Sgts. William Nathaniel Howard and Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar were killed in an attack in Syria Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo via Iowa National Guard)

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch December 14, 2025 Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Monday ordered all flags in Iowa lowered in honor of the two Iowa National Guard members killed in Syria. The two service members were killed Saturday in Palmyra, Syria, by a lone gunman suspected to be affiliated with ISIS. The two […]

Former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad receives Iowa Award

Former Gov. Terry Branstad was presented the Iowa Award by Gov. Kim Reynolds at a ceremony conducted at the Iowa State Capitol Dec. 11, 2025. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch December 11, 2025 Former Gov. Terry Branstad, the nation’s longest-serving governor and a former U.S. ambassador to China, was granted the Iowa Award Thursday, the state’s highest citizen award. Branstad became the 26th recipient of the award, joining the ranks of other notable Iowans including President Herbert Hoover, Nobel […]

Iowa panel warns of ‘mixed’ economic picture, predicts slight revenue upturn

Members of the Revenue Estimating Conference, from left, Jeff Plagge, director of Northwest Bank in Spencer; Kraig Paulsen, the state budget director, and Jennifer Acton, director of the Fiscal Services division of the Legislative Services Agency, discussed projected state finances Dec. 11, 2025, at the State Capitol. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch December 11, 2025 Economic uncertainty due to tariffs and the effects of the federal government shutdown are expected to continue to impact Iowa’s economy, members of the Revenue Estimating Conference said Thursday as they met to discuss Iowa’s finances heading into the 2026 legislative session. Though the three-person panel […]

Trump administration tags $700 million for regenerative farming

Cows graze at Nice Farms Creamery in Federalsburg, Maryland. (Photo by Preston Keres/USDA)

by Shauneen Miranda, Iowa Capital Dispatch December 10, 2025 WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture will spend $700 million to support regenerative agriculture as part of the Make America Healthy Again agenda, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Wednesday. The USDA pilot program for regenerative agriculture […]

             

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