Iowa Senate Republicans called for an audit of Des Moines Public Schools after the arrest of former superintendent Ian Roberts — prompting pushback from State Auditor Rob Sand. Also in this week’s Capitol Notebook: Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird joins a multistate coalition backing Trump’s National Guard deployments.
Reynolds plus a 20-person Iowa delegation — including Iowa Agriculture Sec. Mike Naig, Iowa Economic Development Authority Director Debi Durham, and Iowa agriculture, business and education leaders — completed the trade mission this past weekend.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds’ announcement that she will not seek another term in office creates an open seat for the 2026 election. It’s been nearly two decades since Iowa had a gubernatorial election without an incumbent. Here’s who is — and isn’t — running for the office.
Food banks in Iowa will get $200,000 in new funding this year to address food insecurity by buying fresh food — such as dairy products, meat, poultry, eggs, grains, honey and produce — from local producers.
The Iowa Department of Ag announced this week a pilot project that will provide $3 million to encourage farmers and landowners in the watersheds upstream from the Des Moines and Cedar Rapids metro areas to add perennial buffers to fields along streams.
Also in today’s Capitol Notebook, Iowa AG Brenna Bird joins a bipartisan coalition urging artificial intelligence firms to protect children from harmful chatbots.
Asked about protesters who attended a Thursday groundbreaking in Des Moines, demanding action on agricultural pollution and linking it to high cancer rates in the state, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds told reporters that “regulation is hardly ever the answer” and “is a killer in most instances — it takes out innovation.”
Also in the Capitol Notebook, Iowa nonprofits have sent a letter to Sens. Ernst and Grassley warning of harmful provisions in Trump’s tax bill
Iowa was about 8 degrees colder than normal last week. About 95 percent of corn has been planted, and it needs some warmth to grow.
Also, Iowa Treasurer Roby Smith has endorsed Congressman Randy Feenstra for governor
Farmers in northeast Iowa planted more corn and soybeans last week than in all of the three weeks prior, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
In Cedar Rapids, the state department of agriculture plans to invest $177,625 as part of a planned $500,000 project by the Linn County Conservation Board to build a wetland and improve water quality near Morgan Creek Park.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig is considering a run for governor in 2026, but said he still is talking over the possibility with his family and close supporters.
A recent boost in federal funding from the infrastructure bill has helped the state take on more coal mine land reclamation projects. Some 120 mines out of over 300 have been reclaimed so far in Iowa.
Also, Iowa Agriculture Secretary re-establishes advisory council eliminated by lawmakers
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