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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
by Brooklyn Draisey, Iowa Capital Dispatch December 10, 2025 Local governments in Iowa should pause the use of automated license plate readers, civil rights advocates said Wednesday, arguing the devices infringe on the privacy of drivers who have not violated any laws. Researchers and technical and legal experts released a report Wednesday on automated license […]
by Jacob Fischler, Iowa Capital Dispatch December 8, 2025 The federal government will provide $12 billion to U.S. farmers who have been hurt by “unfair market disruption,” President Donald Trump said at a White House roundtable event Monday. Trump said repeatedly the funding was available thanks to tariff revenues, framing his aggressive trade policy as […]
by Estefanía Pinto Ruiz, Iowa Capital Dispatch December 7, 2025 As farmers face historic headwinds and market hardships, calls to the national Farm Aid hotline and the Iowa Concern hotline — where farmers can get support in times of mental health crisis or need — are increasing. This fall, the Iowa Concern hotline saw four […]
by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch December 2, 2025 Nitrate concentrations, exacerbated by a wet spring that followed years of dry conditions, reached near record highs in Iowa rivers this summer. Concentrations are typically elevated in the summer. The past several years, nitrates have dropped to near-zero concentrations in late summer through early winter. But […]
by Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch November 26, 2025 The City of Ottumwa’s fired director of community development is now suing the municipality for allegedly retaliating against him as a whistleblower. Zachary Simonson is suing the City of Ottumwa in U.S. District Court, alleging violations of his rights as a veteran and a whistleblower. Court […]
by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch November 26, 2025 The cost of a classic Thanksgiving dinner set for 10 people, at $55.18, is 5% less than the cost in 2024, annual data from the American Farm Bureau Federation shows. While key meal items like turkey and dinner rolls decreased in price this year, fresh vegetables […]
by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch November 25, 2025 Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said his recent trade mission to southeast Asian countries revealed “exciting market” opportunities for a variety of agricultural products. Naig, speaking to reporters after the governor’s turkey pardoning Tuesday, said Thanksgiving is a “unique time” for Iowans to think about […]
