Stories written by Freelance Writer

by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch November 20, 2025 Republican and Democratic legislators agreed Thursday that water quality is a pressing issue in the state along with property taxes and public health – all of which will be necessary to balance as the Legislature returns in January. Water quality, cancer and conservation efforts in Iowa […]
Nov 22 2025 | Posted in
State News |
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by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch November 19, 2025 Researchers and public health advocates said Wednesday that water quality and land use continue to be modifiable elements impacting public health, and in particular cancer, in Iowa. The experts spoke to a crowded conference room in the Olmsted Center at Drake University during the 2025 Iowa […]

by Robbie Sequeira, Iowa Capital Dispatch November 14, 2025 School districts have made some progress in addressing the national shortage of school bus drivers, but there still aren’t as many drivers as there were in 2019, according to a new study. The number of drivers has increased by 2,300, or 1.1%, since last year, according […]
Nov 18 2025 | Posted in
National News |
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by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch November 13, 2025 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will be issued to Iowans by Friday, Nov. 14, following the end of the federal government shutdown, according to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service directed the Iowa HHS to […]
Nov 14 2025 | Posted in
State News |
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by Jennifer Shutt and Shauneen Miranda, Iowa Capital Dispatch November 12, 2025 This report has been updated. WASHINGTON — The longest shutdown in U.S. history ended Wednesday night when President Donald Trump signed a spending package that reopens the government and funds most of it through January. The Oval Office ceremony came just hours after […]

by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch November 10, 2025 Iowa saw its first snowfall over the past week, which Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig said marked the “official end of the growing season.” While crop progress and condition statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture are unavailable due to the ongoing government shutdown, Naig […]
Nov 12 2025 | Posted in
State News |
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by Shauneen Miranda, Iowa Capital Dispatch November 4, 2025 This report has been updated. WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate Tuesday failed for the 14th time to advance a stopgap spending bill to fund the government, as the ongoing shutdown hit 35 days and is now tied with the shutdown of 2018-2019 as the longest ever. […]

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch October 28, 2025 U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra formally announced his campaign for governor Tuesday, saying he aims to “take Iowa to new heights” by working with President Donald Trump and keeping the governor’s seat Republican in 2026. Feenstra had filed the paperwork to run for governor with the Iowa […]
Oct 29 2025 | Posted in
State News |
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by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch October 28, 2025 U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley called for the end of countervailing duties on phosphate fertilizer during a Senate committee hearing Tuesday on competition in fertilizer and seed industries. Farmers, retailers and politicians from both sides of the aisle agreed that consolidation in the agricultural industry is making […]

by Jennifer Shutt, Iowa Capital Dispatch October 27, 2025 WASHINGTON — The stakes of the ongoing government shutdown rose Monday as the U.S. Department of Agriculture doubled down on its position that food benefits for November could not be paid and a union for federal workers implored lawmakers to pass a stopgap measure. As the […]