Erin Jordan

Foreign investment in Iowa farmland more than doubled in the last 10 years, but Iowa still ranks in the bottom half of states for acres with foreign investment. Iowa’s foreign acres are less than 2 percent of privately-owned agricultural land.

With more interest in local politics comes more ‘creative’ campaign activity and more threats and harassment of campaign disclosure board staff.

Iowa has more than tripled the number of acres of corn left standing to protect roadways from blowing snow since 2016, but the Iowa Department of Transportation is looking for more farmers to boost the program.

The two top vote-getters were Molly Abraham and Lisa Williams, both with about 23%. Charlie Eastham and Mitchell Lingo both had about 21%. The next-highest was Micah Broekemeier with 5%.

Laura Bergus was reelected to Iowa City Council with 66 percent of the vote, despite Mayor Bruce Teague asking voters to back her opponent.

Anne Hagie is a Jew, Yaser AbuDagga a Muslim. Their families live on opposite sides of a generations-old conflict. But the Eastern Iowans both fear for their loved ones in the Middle East and wish there was a way for Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace.

Veteran suicide rates have declined in recent years, but they are still higher than the general population. Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough encouraged veterans to use new mental health services available through the the COMPACT Act.

Red Star Yeast Company in Cedar Rapids has agreed to pay a $37,705 fine and buy local first responders $35,864 in equipment as part of a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over hazardous waste violations.

Questions about what types of political activities are allowed for churches and church leaders arise before Nov. 7 local elections and 2024 caucuses.

“Marching band is a lot of work,” Lisbon native Renae Hasselbusch said. “There are times when we're on the field and it’s cold in November and it's no fun.” But there are more good times. Like when the Cyclones went to the Cheez-It Bowl in Orlando in 2021.

The Cedar Rapids water tower along Boyson Road got a makeover this month, with painters adding the city’s name and logo to the white tank for the first time.

Iowa farmers bought 4.94 million metric tons of fertilizer from July 1, 2022, through June 30, down 6% from the previous year, but 10% higher than the 10-year average of 4.49 million metric tons, according to

Navigator Heartland Greenway announced Friday it will cancel its carbon dioxide pipeline through Iowa, citing the “unpredictable” regulation and approval process in Iowa and South Dakota.

Johnson County Extension will cut ties with Big Brothers Big Sisters — ending decades of sponsorship — after its insurer says it won’t provide coverage because of one-on-one mentoring that is part of Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Iowa City is asking residents to consider mulching fallen leaves into the grass or putting them on garden beds as a shortcut to enriching soil that has less of an environmental impact from transportation emissions and staff time needed to compost leaves at the landfill.