Here First

Bird flu has been detected in two northern Iowa poultry flocks in the past week. Congress has until December 20th to pass a new farm bill or reauthorize the current one. And more people are using food pantries in the Des Moines area.

Low Medicaid reimbursement rates are causing dentists in northwest Iowa to stop accepting those patients. Black Hawk County Democrats are hopeful a special election next month could change the Board of Supervisors. And Governor Kim Reynolds wants her tax policies to be the country's tax policies.

Nursing home advocates are asking a federal judge to allow the enforcement of new federal nursing home staffing requirements. Some birth control users are concerned about possible future restrictions to access the medications. And Iowa Republican lawmakers want to focus on property tax regulations.

State Senate Republicans want to pass work requirements for Iowans who receive Medicaid benefits. John Deere has announced another round of layoffs at its Waterloo plant. And what type of ecosystem prevents flood damage?

Iowa Republicans cast more absentee ballots than Democrats in the 2024 General Election. Des Moines police have named the man who was killed by officers last week in a shooting. And the airport in Des Moines is acknowledging the sunflower symbol.

Business groups are calling on Iowa utility regulators to make some changes in how they evaluate rate increase requests. Some environmentalists say they worry Iowa’s growing Republican legislative majority will mean less money for environmental protection. And a Des Moines university is partnering with a historically Black university in South Carolina to bring in more students.

Iowa ranks 39 out of 49 states for new rates of lung cancer, according to a new report from the American Lung Association. Simpson College students are researching how cells respond to changes to gravity with help from a NASA grant. And about 60 percent of Iowa communities experience a shortage of mental health care.

Gov. Kim Reynolds says she wants to restrict cell phone use in Iowa schools to ensure kids aren’t distracted from learning. The governor also says she’ll name her new lieutenant governor “really soon.” And Davenport Democratic Rep. Monica Kurth has won another term in the Iowa House after a vote recount.

Anti-hunger advocates are asking Iowa again to join a federal food assistance program. School districts have limited time to use federal money for unhoused students. And which Des Moines suburbs will keep using DART?

A new Iowa House committee will review all higher education in the state, including community and private colleges. Iowa Senate Democrats have elected their new leader. And where do all those pumpkins come from for pumpkin pie?