Here First

There's a bill in the Iowa House that would ban eminent domain for carbon pipelines. A Democrat has announced a campaign for state secretary of agriculture. And what did Gov. Kim Reynolds have to say in her Condition of the State last night?

Nitrate levels are high in drinking water sources in the Des Moines metro. Iowa Senate Republicans have a proposed plan for property tax reform. And the Cedar Rapids Community School District is considering closing several schools.

It's the first day of the 2026 Iowa legislative session. People mourned Renee Good and protested ICE over the weekend. And the USDA has released details for financial assistance for crop row farmers.

U.S. Representative Zach Nunn broke with GOP party leaders on a vote for an ACA tax credit extension. Flu is surging in Iowa. And what would closing the so-called "hemp loophole" mean for growers and producers?

Iowa is part of a federal tax credit program that provides more support for private schools. U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon was in Iowa yesterday. And there's a petition in the Quad Cities to take down automated license plate readers.

A legislative panel met ahead of the 2026 legislative session to discuss subacute mental health access. The federal recommended child vaccine schedule has dropped shots for six diseases. And more lawsuits have been filed against a gymnastics studio in central Iowa.

Gov. Kim Reynolds has created a nuclear energy task force. The superintendent of Sioux City Public Schools has officially resigned. Democratic lawmakers in the Iowa House are proposing tax rebates for homeowners and renters.

The U.S. has captured Venezuela's president and his wife. Iowa's campaign ethics board wants deepfakes that are used in election ads to be disclosed. And a central Iowa food pantry will have culturally specific foods.

Democrats have retained a seat in the Iowa Senate after yesterday’s special election in the Des Moines metro. Traffic fatalities in Iowa could end 2025 at a 100-year low. And the state is seeing high levels of flu activity.

Iowa will receive $209 million next year as part of the Rural Health Transformation Program authorized by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed by Congress. While Interstate 35 was closed for parts of Sunday and Monday because of blizzard conditions, motorists sought shelter in nearby communities. Citations instead of warnings will be issued for those violating Iowa's new hands free driving law st...

Beginning in the new year, some grocery items in Iowa will no longer be available to recipients of the federal food assistance program known as SNAP. Iowa’s cattlemen are urging state lawmakers to include spending on bird flu vaccine development in next year’s budget. And expanded gambling in Nebraska is cutting into casino profits in Council Bluffs.

The speaker of the Iowa House says he wants tougher penalties for people convicted of multiple crimes. A new survey has found the number of Iowans who identify as a caregiver is growing. And a change in state law may mean big changes for Johnson County’s board of supervisors.

Iowa will participate in a federal summer food assistance program after two years of opting out. Some public schools are joining a campaign to push for more funding. And Democratic leaders share their thoughts on eminent domain ahead of the 2026 legislative session.

Congress members went home for the holidays without a health care deal. State Republicans are going to try again for property tax relief in the upcoming legislative session. And Iowa K-12 school enrollment is down.

Leaders in the Iowa legislature discuss a potential IPERS study. There's been another detection of measles in Iowa. And a researcher has been trying to make cotton seeds edible.

The remains of two Iowa National Guard members arrived in the U.S. yesterday. Iowans in the Sioux City area are worried about their medical care. And what was it like for new college graduates to search for a job this year?

Iowa's attorney general says Roblox is harming children and is suing the gaming company. Republican leaders in the Iowa legislature talk about eminent domain. And Democratic candidate for governor Rob Sand is using his Christian faith to connect with voters.

The names have been released of the two Iowa National Guard Soldiers who were killed in Syria over the weekend. House Republicans have released a health care plan. And the challenge of mental wellness after surviving cancer.

Two Iowa National Guard soldiers and a U.S. civilian interpreter were killed in Syria. Federal homelessness funding is in limbo. And tax credits for home solar expire at the end of the year.

Iowa's U.S. Senators voted for the health care plan that would provide health savings accounts instead of ACA tax credits. Iowa state leaders talk about the expected deficit for next year. And how are some states stepping up for animals that are losing federal protections?

Iowa's largest teacher union is voicing their principles. Four international students at the University of Iowa have had their statuses restored. And what does a study show about data privacy with automated license plate readers?

Public employees shouldn't see changes to Iowa's public pension system anytime soon. Iowa land values are slightly up from last year. And who won last night's special election for an Iowa House seat?

A farmer bailout has been announced. A Somali immigrant rights advocate is speaking out against President Trump's recent hateful comments about Somali immigrants. And Iowa Democrats want to be first or early in the nation for the 2028 presidential nominating process.

Conservative political commentators spoke at the inaugural event for the new Center for Intellectual Freedom. Some federal grants for museums and libraries were reinstated. And a power company has gotten approval for a project that would provide more power to new data centers in eastern Iowa.

Unionized Starbucks workers in Des Moines and Iowa City are striking. Retiring ISU President Wendy Wintersteen reflects on her career. And Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson wouldn't say if she supports extending ACA tax credits.