Category archives for: National News

Panelists at nature summit: Certain ag practices are harming public health

Audrey Tran Lam, left, speaks at the Iowa Nature Summit along with Dr. Richard Deming, Adam Shriver and Jennie Zwagerman at Drake University Nov. 19, 2025. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

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 […]

National school bus driver shortage persists, despite recent gains

Officials remind drivers that passing a stopped school bus is illegal, and this year, the penalties for do so are increased. (photo by Ginger Allsup)

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 […]

Government reopens after 43 days: Trump signs bill ending record shutdown

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., talks with reporters inside Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol building on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)

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 […]

The End of the Penny — and Why the Nickel Could Be Next

Questions on how this penny will be spent continue to swirl in regards to LOST funding projects.

WASHINGTON — The United States Mint struck the final circulating one-cent coin on November 12, 2025, ending 232 years of penny production. The coin will remain legal tender, but no new pennies will enter general circulation. According to the Mint, it cost 3.69 cents to produce and distribute each penny during Fiscal Year 2024 — […]

Congress remains deadlocked, with government shutdown now on day 35

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, speaks at a press conference Nov. 4, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. He was joined by, from left, House GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain of Michigan, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, House Majority Leader Steve Scalise of Louisiana and House Education and Workforce Committee Chair Tim Walberg of Michigan. (Photo by Shauneen Miranda/States Newsroom)

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. […]

Upcoming federal food assistance pause intensifies shutdown fight

Canned foods on grocery store shelves. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

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 […]

USDA won’t shuffle funds to extend SNAP during shutdown, in about-face from earlier plan

Funding for federal food assistance is expected to halt starting in November due to the government shutdown. (Photo by Lance Cheung/U.S. Department of Agriculture)

by Shauneen Miranda and Ariana Figueroa, Iowa Capital Dispatch October 24, 2025 WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a memo Friday the agency’s contingency fund cannot legally be used to provide food assistance benefits for more than 42 million people in November, as the government shutdown drags on. The position is a reversal […]

Social Security payments to rise 2.8%, a tick below inflation rate

Social Security Administration

by Jacob Fischler, Iowa Capital Dispatch October 24, 2025 The 75 million Americans who receive Social Security benefits will see a 2.8% increase in payments next year, the Social Security Administration said Friday. The cost-of-living adjustment is just below the inflation rate of 3% announced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, also on Friday. The adjustment is […]

Iowa Youth Softball Team Wraps Up Season with International Friendships

Oskaloosa Youth Softball Team Builds International Friendships Through Global Exchange. (photo provided)

Musco Sponsors First Annual Global Youth Sports Exchange Program to China OSKALOOSA, IA – A youth girls softball team from the Oskaloosa, Iowa, area is finishing up their season with international friendships. These 11 players, along with their coaches and families, traveled to Shanghai, China, earlier this year to participate in the inaugural Global Youth […]

USDA announces plan to ‘strengthen’ beef industry

The U.S. Department of Agriculture rolled out a new plan to help the cattle industry and lower beef prices. (Photo by Preston Keres/USDA)

by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch October 22, 2025 The U.S. Department of Agriculture rolled out a plan Wednesday to help “strengthen” the cattle industry and lower consumer prices for beef. The plan comes three weeks into the government shutdown and shortly after a proposal from President Donald Trump to import beef from Argentina to […]

           

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