Unemployment Rate Rises Slightly to 3.7 Percent DES MOINES, IOWA – In June, for the second consecutive month, 3,900 Iowans entered the labor force. The increase in workers brought Iowa’s labor force participation rate to 67.4 percent, up from 67.3 percent in May. At the same time, Iowa’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose slightly in […]
by Tim Henderson ǀ Stateline, Iowa Capital Dispatch July 14, 2025 Global clashes and trade wars hammered Midwestern states’ agricultural economies early this year, while a continuing boom in Southeastern states’ housing and tech jobs kept their economies humming along. Some Southeastern states were seeing a strong agricultural economy because of still-rising poultry and egg […]
by Jennifer Shutt, Iowa Capital Dispatch July 15, 2025 WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate on Tuesday night moved one step closer to canceling $9 billion in previously approved funding for several foreign aid programs and public broadcasting after GOP leaders addressed some objections. Nearly all the chamber’s Republicans voted to begin debate on the bill, […]
DES MOINES, Iowa (July 14, 2025) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig commented on the Iowa Crop Progress and Condition Report released by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. The report is released weekly April through November. Additionally, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship provides a weather summary each week during this […]
OSKALOOSA — The Southern Iowa Fair is underway, with grandstand events, free entertainment, youth showcases, and a new court of queen contestants giving locals plenty of reasons to head to the fairgrounds through Saturday, July 19th. Racing fans can look forward to the 7th Annual Caleb Hammond Memorial Race on Wednesday, July 16th, at the […]
OSKALOOSA, Iowa — A special election will be held on August 5, 2025, to fill the vacant At-Large Oskaloosa City Council seat following the resignation of Council Member Charlie Comfort. The City Council voted to hold a special election after receiving a valid petition requesting that voters decide who will fill the seat. Prospective candidates […]
OSKALOOSA — A new state law that prohibits nearly all handheld use of cell phones and other electronic devices while driving is now in effect across Iowa. Law enforcement agencies, including the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office, have pushed for stricter distracted driving measures for years to address the growing number of crashes linked to phones. […]
by Shauneen Miranda, Iowa Capital Dispatch July 11, 2025 WASHINGTON — A national private school voucher program is now law, though the school choice initiative comes with a huge caveat. States also choose — whether or not to participate. It’s a setback for advocates who hoped to see the program — baked into the mega […]
by Ariana Figueroa, Iowa Capital Dispatch July 10, 2025 WASHINGTON — A federal judge in New Hampshire Thursday issued a preliminary injunction against President Donald Trump’s executive order that would rewrite the constitutional right to birthright citizenship, and granted a class certification to infants who would be affected by the order. The ruling from U.S. District […]
by Kevin Hardy ǀ Stateline, Iowa Capital Dispatch July 10, 2025 For nearly a month, hundreds of thousands of Iowans have not been allowed to water their lawns — even though there’s no drought. Local authorities previously asked the public to refrain from washing cars and filling pools. And some cities turned off splash pads […]
