A federal judge has blocked enforcement of Iowa’s ban on school mask mandates, for the time being. The ruling puts the decision of whether to require masks back in the hands of local school districts. There’s a special election today for an Iowa state house seat in Ankeny and rural Polk City. Plus, as the spread of COVID-19 remains at a high level in Iowa, IPR's Natalie Krebs explains some health care facilities are concerned about issuing vaccine mandates due to staffing shortages.

Enrollment at Iowa's three state universities are down this year. IPR's Grant Gerlock reports on the Iowa Supreme Court returning to oral arguments this week by revisiting a case where a jury found the Iowa Department of Corrections discriminated against a transgender employee. Plus, The Iowa Department of Corrections has paused a new policy requiring legal mail sent to inmates to first be photocopied.

A Polk County judge heard arguments Thursday on whether to block Iowa’s ban on school mask mandates. Republican Governor Kim Reynolds is criticizing Democratic President Joe Biden’s announcement of new COVID-19 vaccine requirements. Plus, there will be heightened security at the annual Cy-Hawk game in Ames this weekend.

As the rate of new COVID-19 infections remains high in Iowa, the state’s top health official says they are working on more rapid testing options. Gov. Kim Reynolds has announced that $100 million of the nearly $1.5 billion in federal coronavirus relief funds allocated to the state will go to build new homes. Plus, IPR’s Clay Masters reports on how misinformation about the outcome of the 2020 presidential election is already hanging over next year’s midterm in Iowa.

The Iowa Board of Regents approved a plan on Tuesday for the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to build a new hospital in North Liberty. A funeral has been set for the Iowa native who was among the 13 soldiers killed following a suicide bombing in Kabul. Plus, former President Donald Trump is planning an October rally in Iowa.

A Polk County judge will hear arguments later this week on whether to suspend a state law banning school mask mandates while a lawsuit works through the courts. Under a new law, Iowa’s county election officials no longer get to choose where to set up additional early voting sites outside of their offices. Plus, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is making progress on testing every public water supply system in the state for a metal that can contaminate drinking water.

Many Labor Day celebrations have been cancelled for the second year in a row because of the coronavirus pandemic and the rise of the delta variant. Five Iowans have filed ethics complaints against Republican state senators who voted to ban mask mandates in schools. Plus, Tyson and Perdue Farms agreed to pay a total of $35.75 million to broiler chicken farmers to settle a class action lawsuit.

State officials say they’ll start updating Iowa’s coronavirus data website three times a week, instead of once a week. One of the Iowans arrested for alleged involvement in the January 6th riot at the U.S. Capitol is going back to jail after violating the terms of his release. Plus, The USDA and conservationists say planting cover crops play a big role in preserving the soil. Harvest Public Media’s Seth Bodine reports on how some farmers in drier regions think differently.

More than 40% of confirmed coronavirus cases in Iowa were among children and people in their 20s. The Linn County Board of Health has sent a letter to its school districts strongly urging them to consider face coverings for students. Plus, sixty Iowa legislators are asking the Iowa Supreme Court to overturn a 2018 ruling that declared abortion a fundamental right under the Iowa Constitution.

The State Health Facilities Council has reversed its vote of six months ago and approved a plan for the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics to build a $230 million hospital in North Liberty. An organization founded in Iowa City has been working to help the people in Haiti still recovering from a major earthquake. Plus, the Farm Progress Show opened in-person this on Tuesday in Decatur, Illinois, despite the rise in COVID-19 infections.