Stories written by Freelance Writer

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch April 27, 2026 The Iowa House passed a “right to repair” bill with bipartisan support Monday that aims to ensure Iowa farmers can more easily repair their own agricultural equipment. House File 2763, passed 70-18, would require manufacturers of agricultural equipment to make documentation, parts, software, firmware and tools […]
Apr 29 2026 | Posted in
State News |
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by Mike Comfort The start to the offseason of the Iowa League really began in August as Waterloo was sold for $500 to the owner of the St. Paul club. The sale was fortunate as Waterloo almost lost the franchise because of unpaid back pay. They had to raise $300 to pay salaries and keep […]

by Zach Sommers, Iowa Capital Dispatch April 25, 2026 On a Wednesday in April, after heavy rainfall, Paul Carlson of Ankeny drove to the end of a road under the Saylorville Dam and parked alongside Rock Creek. It was his sixth time this year at that location with a goal of testing the nitrate levels […]
Apr 28 2026 | Posted in
State News |
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by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch April 23, 2026 House and Senate Republicans have reached a budget agreement for fiscal year 2027, leaders said Thursday, but have not yet bridged differences on property tax legislation. Senate Majority Leader Mike Klimesh held a news conference Thursday to share details of a budget target agreement reached between […]

by Robin Opsahl, Kathie Obradovich and Brooklyn Draisey, Iowa Capital Dispatch April 21, 2026 Iowa lawmakers hit the goal end date for the 2026 legislative session Tuesday, but there are still several issues legislators must finish — or hope to tackle — before they can head home, including action on the state budget and property […]
Apr 22 2026 | Posted in
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by Mike Comfort Incidents between players and umpires continued into the second half of the season. Marshalltown’s Robert Corkill struck Umpire Anderson and kicked him in the face, knocking him unconscious for 5 minutes. Corkill “held an intense hatred for Anderson since the first game Anderson umpired here.” Corkill claimed that successive pitches hit him, […]
Apr 22 2026 | Posted in
Local News |
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by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch April 20, 2026 The bill passed by the Senate making changes to Iowa’s property tax system is not the final “compromise” between Senate and House Republicans on the issue — but House lawmakers took comments from the public on the proposal at a Monday subcommittee, and plan to hear […]
Apr 21 2026 | Posted in
State News |
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by Mike Comfort The Iowa State League season rolled into July and each team received $293.35 for attendance on 4th of July games. Oskaloosa led the league in attendance with 2,755 people, resulting in $851.40 in gate receipts. That continued a strong trend for the Quakers as they were 2nd in attendance with an average […]

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch April 15, 2026 Iowa Auditor Rob Sand and U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra launched political ads for their gubernatorial campaigns Wednesday as political pundits predict a tighter 2026 race than previously expected. Sand, a Democrat, released his first ad Wednesday titled “Stealing is Bad,” a 30-second spot that will play […]
Apr 16 2026 | Posted in
State News |
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by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch April 15, 2026 The Iowa House approved a bill Wednesday that would give nuclear energy facilities an exemption on sales and use taxes. House File 2757, which passed in a 94-1 vote, comes as work is being done to restart a decommissioned nuclear facility in the state — Duane […]
Apr 16 2026 | Posted in
State News |
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