Stories written by Freelance Writer

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 23, 2026 The Iowa Senate sent legislation to the governor’s desk Monday for the state’s per-pupil funding for Iowa K-12 schools for the 2026-2027 year. Senate File 2201 was amended from the last time it was debated on the Senate floor. Senators initially passed a 1.75% State Supplemental […]

by Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 23, 2026 Declaring that a citizen was “targeted because he criticized the police department and city leadership,” a federal judge has ruled that the City of Newton violated the rights of a critic by twice having the man arrested at city council meetings. The decision means that Noah […]
Feb 25 2026 | Posted in
State News |
Read More »

by Mike Comfort The Marshalltown Times declared that the first season “proved a great success”, but also declared that every team lost money, including Marshalltown who lost $1000. Naturally, this led to speculation of a change in membership. Muscatine, Clinton, and Quincy (IL) attempted to join the league, with Muscatine needing to build a good […]

by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 18, 2026 A bill that advanced from a House subcommittee Wednesday would create an event permit for farm-to-table meals, expand the permissible sales of raw milk and allow cottage foods to be sold in grocery stores. House File 2444 was introduced by Rep. Chad Ingels, R-Randalia, who said […]

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 18, 2026 Iowa could avoid state government shutdowns if the Legislature does not pass a budget before the next fiscal year starts under a measure advanced by a Senate subcommittee and committee Wednesday. Senate Study Bill 3176 would establish a continuing appropriation for fiscal years when the Iowa […]

by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 17, 2026 The Iowa Department of Natural Resources released a draft version of its 2026 biennial integrated report Tuesday, which listed more than 700 segments of rivers, lakes or wetlands in the state as impaired. The impaired list looks at retroactive data and determines if a water segment […]
Feb 18 2026 | Posted in
State News |
Read More »

by Mike Comfort Criticism of the umpires continued as the season marched to its end. In July, Redmond, the former Ottumwa pitcher who had been hired to umpire during the season after complaints about other umpires, was released by President Norton. In his spot he hired none other than William Tiley, who had just recently […]

by Amanda Watford, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 14, 2026 Criminal justice has emerged as one of the most wide-ranging and politically charged areas on lawmakers’ agendas in this year’s state legislative sessions. Across the country, legislators are weighing proposals that affect nearly every part of the criminal justice system, including policing, gun policy, solving crimes, […]
Feb 17 2026 | Posted in
State News |
Read More »

by Brooklyn Draisey, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 13, 2026 As Iowa officials drill down on their fight to understand and address high cancer rates in the state, a mapping tool developed by University of Iowa researchers is informing their and other states’ work — and the network is set to keep growing. Where previously only […]
Feb 17 2026 | Posted in
State News |
Read More »

by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 13, 2026 It’s no secret that Iowa is home to large geological formations that are rich in hydrogen-producing rocks, but the question in recent years has turned to whether or not that hydrogen can be extracted in meaningful quantities. If the answer is yes, it’s likely Iowa would […]
Feb 17 2026 | Posted in
State News |
Read More »