Here First

An Iowa pork producer says he won’t make changes to his hog operation to comply with a California animal confinement law. Iowa’s network of water quality sensors that track nitrate and phosphorus levels could lose state funding under a bill that’s on the governor’s desk. Plus, residents of Mt. Pleasant in southeast Iowa struggle with the town’s identity once it loses Iowa Wesleyan at the end of the month.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was in Iowa over the weekend as he mulls a run for president. A bill that’s awaiting the governor’s signature is expected to offer child care assistance to more Iowans. Plus, a conversation with Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart on trying to correct her party’s struggles.

The US Supreme Court has rejected a challenge to a California law requiring more space for pigs.Tuition would go up by 3.5 percent at Iowa State University, the University of Northern Iowa and the University of Iowa under a plan presented to the Iowa Board of Regents. Plus, a look at the science of storing carbon.

Thursday marks the end of the federal public health emergency for COVID-19. Gov. Kim Reynolds has signed a bill that will allow physician assistants to practice medicine unsupervised. Plus, an investigation into potential illegal gambling by authorities in Iowa has identified more than 40 college athletes in the state.

The Iowa Board of Regents will consider raising tuition at the state’s three public universities when it meets this week. The University of Iowa’s nursing program is getting a state funding boost it says will help bring in more students to eventually address the state’s nursing shortage. And the USDA is giving Iowa more money to help get locally-grown food to food banks throughout the state.

The University of Iowa and Iowa State University say a total of 41 of their student athletes are suspected of wagering on sports in violation of NCAA rules. Students at Drake University will soon be able to pursue a new zoo and conservation science degree. And, Iowa is eliminating the requirement that those who apply for a teaching license in the state be at least 21 years old.

Power is back on for most people following a round of severe storms that rolled across Eastern Iowa. The Iowa Supreme Court has reversed itself. Plus, we get an explainer on the federal Farm Bill and why the looming debt crisis could complicate the massive food and farming package.

The 2023 Iowa legislative session ended. Starting May 31st, families can apply for state funding to help pay for private school tuition. Plus, a Dubuque shipyard is one of 350 small yards in the country to get federal funding to expand their operation.

The Iowa Democratic and Republican parties are fighting over the caucuses. Republicans in the Iowa Senate sent a bill to the governor’s desk that would loosen some child labor laws. Plus, how pregnant people enrolled in Medicaid risk losing that coverage just two months postpartum.

Iowa lawmakers voted nearly unanimously to send a property tax relief bill to the governor’s desk. Republicans in the Iowa House passed a scaled-back version of the child labor bill. Plus, the Mayor of Cedar Falls opposed a city proclamation naming June LGBTQ Pride Month but decided to sign it.