Iowa City is moving toward a goal of full electrification of its city vehicles, leading the way among municipalities across Iowa. Last week, it unveiled an electric Iowa City Police patrol vehicle, thought to be the first fully electric vehicle being used by law enforcement for patrol in Iowa.
Justin Glisan, the Iowa state climatologist since 2018, said Friday that he is preparing to help National Weather Service employees by taking some of their climate work if the federal government shuts down next week.
Across major corn-growing states, climate change is fueling conditions that make watching the corn grow a nail-biter for farmers. Factors like consistently high summer overnight temperatures, droughts and heavier-than-usual rains at the wrong time can all disrupt the plants’ pollination.
More than 70 million Americans sweated through the muggiest first two months of summer on record as climate change has noticeably dialed up the Eastern United States' humidity in recent decades, an Associated Press data analysis shows.
Five years ago, destructive prolonged wind gusts of up to 140 mph blew through Iowa, felling trees, flattening crops, ripping down power lines and tearing away building walls and roofs. It was the most costly thunderstorm in U.S. history. Derechos aren’t uncommon. What made this one so destructive? And how are derecho forecasts improving?
“They hit the ceiling, and then they fell to the ground,” Leann Clement-Nash told ABC News. “And the carts also hit the ceiling and fell to the ground and people were injured. It happened several times, so it was really scary.”
Here’s how Iowa City’s Climate Action and Outreach Department is working to reduce emissions by the city, businesses and residents
As cities, farmers and businesses plan for an uncertain future, researchers are attempting to determine how much weather history should be included when we’re assessing what constitutes drought.
Plant hardiness zones are shifting northward nationwide as the country continues to warm, affecting farmers, gardeners and producers across the country. The biggest changes in the coming decades are predicted to be in the Upper Midwest.
Tom Vilsack, former governor of Iowa and head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for 12 years, said Thursday that Iowa leaders need to look toward “and” conversations rather than “or” discussions to solve some of the state’s biggest issues.
While Iowa’s problems are uniquely severe, nitrate levels are a rising concern in other regions, from California to the Chesapeake Bay.
The U.S. butterfly population — not just Monarch butterflies — declined 22 percent in two decades, according to recently-published research.
“Spring leaf out” is occurring earlier than average in northern states due to a warm March. In Iowa, in the Interstate 80 corridor and areas south, spring leaf out is occurring nearly two weeks earlier than normal.
Iowa City launched a two-year fare free pilot program in
The Iowa Faith & Climate Network – formerly known as Iowa Interfaith Power & Light – changed its name in February and is launching their ‘climate informed ministry cohorts’ program
© 2025 The Gazette | All Rights Reserved.
Daily Newsletters