Good morning from Iowa Capital Dispatch.
“There’s always a lot of harsh feelings, especially on college campuses after elections happen, and I think if we’re at least open-minded, like leading up to it, even if we know we can’t change each other’s minds, we have to listen to each other so we can build respect for each other.” — Josie Thompson, Drake College Republicans president, on efforts to build more civil discourse before and after this year’s elections.
Drake University students, from left, Josie Thompson, Gabrielle Brooks, Jack Harrington and Sebastian Meyers speak on a panel about political civility on Oct. 23, 2026. (Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
College Republican and Democratic party leaders at Drake University said Friday they want to see people bring an open mind and an interest in learning to the political conversations they participate in, both before and after ballots are cast in the upcoming elections.
Drake University hosted a teach-in event Oct. 23, with faculty and expert discussions and panels for students to share their thoughts on political civility and their reasons for voting and encouraging others to do the same.
University of Northern Iowa President Mark Nook announced on Friday his plan to retire at the end of the academic year. (Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
University of Northern Iowa President Mark Nook has announced his upcoming retirement as the institution celebrates record-breaking fundraising and 150 years in existence.
The Cedar Falls university president, who began his tenure in February 2017, shared with the UNI community Friday morning his intentions to retire at the end of the 2026-2027 academic year with the commitment to stay at UNI until his successor arrives.
THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES
Iowa’s nursing home inspectors issued more citations for insufficient staffing last year than regulators in any other state in the nation, an Iowa Capital Dispatch review of federal data shows.
While President Donald Trump came to Sioux City Thursday to rally with Iowa Republicans facing contentious elections in November, he spent a portion of his speech defending Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and criticizing Minnesota U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar.
An Iowa State University student has filed a petition against the City of Ames, alleging its policy prohibiting firearms on city buses violates state law.
Two asylum-seekers from Togo are seeking their release from an Iowa county jail where they’re being held by federal immigration enforcement and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Farmers will be eligible to receive one-time payments from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide relief for high fuel and input costs.
Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Democrat Christina Bohannan emphasized their willingness to break from party lines during the 1st Congressional District debate Tuesday — while also trading barbs on issues like rising costs and immigration.
Less than two weeks after the head of the U.S. Department of Agriculture said the agency was stepping up enforcement of the federal Animal Welfare Act, the USDA’s lawyers are arguing in court that it’s not required to enforce that law.
The interim director of the Center for Intellectual Freedom at the University of Iowa alleged in a report to lawmakers that university and Iowa Board of Regents officials broke the law in attempts to obstruct the center’s development.
Marie Herring, an organizer with the group Indivisible 515, said the Saturday event looks different from previous No Kings rallies held in Des Moines because it was not meant as a day of protest, but a day for organizers to get out the vote in Iowa.
A new exercise oncology research clinic at the UI is helping Iowans dealing with cancer and its aftermath build back strength and trust in their bodies through exercise training.
Iowa is expected to spend over $1 billion more than it raises in revenues in the current fiscal year, the Revenue Estimating Conference found Friday — but Iowa Department of Management Director Kraig Paulsen said this prediction remains in line with Republicans’ expectations about the initial impacts of income tax cuts.
Cooler temperatures and harvested crop fields are welcome conditions for deer hunters in the state who have already started for the season or are gearing up to begin hunting, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
NEWS FROM THE MIDWEST AND IOWA'S NEIGHBORS
Illinois regulators move to bring video gambling under self-exclusion program | Capitol News Illinois
White House visits, overseas conferences among Indiana officials’ $132K in travel expenses | Indiana Capital Chronicle
Proposed Kansas nuclear reactor stock drops 50% after critical report calls it a ‘money pit’ | Kansas Reflector
How much PFAS is in Minnesota fish? We often have no idea | Minnesota Reformer
Follow the money: Who’s bankrolling Missouri’s final election push? | Missouri Independent
Nebraska DED director defends grant management amid questions by state lawmakers | Nebraska Examiner
Data center legislation begins to take shape in North Dakota | North Dakota Monitor
‘Just wrong.’ Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine tells Ramaswamy to immediately take down controversial ad. | Ohio Capital Journal
‘Not only convenient, but necessary’: Voices of mail-in voters | South Dakota Searchlight
Healthcare, small business advocates urge reversing healthcare cuts, boost Democrats | Wisconsin Examiner
FEDERAL FALLOUT
States Newsroom relentlessly reports on how changes at the federal level are affecting people at the state level — and how state governments are responding in this volatile political climate. We post new stories each day; here are just a few:
Colorado activists call for transparency measures as they attempt to track ICE flights out of Denver | Colorado Newsline
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