Good morning from Iowa Capital Dispatch.
“The Harvest Festival will highlight our agricultural roots and how they have shaped who we are as both Iowans and Americans throughout centuries.” — Gov. Kim Reynolds, announcing an ag-focused event Oct. 24 as part of national celebrations marking the country’s 250th anniversary.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources submits an annual report on safe drinking water violations in the state. (Photo by Cami Koons / Iowa Capital Dispatch)
A report from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources shows Iowa had 36 nitrate-related drinking water violations in 2025, which is more than double the number reported in 2024.
According to the 2025 report, nitrate contaminant levels above the EPA limit was the most common health-based standard violated by public water supply systems. The 36 violations occurred at 13 systems and impacted a total of 2,479 customers, according to the report.
A nurse gives an MMR vaccine at the Utah County Health Department on April 29, 2019, in Provo, Utah. The vaccine is 97% effective against measles when two doses are administered. (Photo by George Frey/Getty Images)
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday that a vaccinated Iowa adult has contracted the measles virus.
The confirmation marks the first case of measles in Iowa in 2026 after nine were reported in 2025.
A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by an Iowa immigration detainee who suffered “horrific abuse” in Sudan before being jailed in the United States for two years by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Iowa will host “America’s Harvest Festival” at the Iowa Capitol grounds Oct. 24 as part of national celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the country’s founding, Gov. Kim Reynolds, state officials and sponsors announced Wednesday.
A Howard County nursing home worker accused of stealing residents’ painkillers and working under the influence has agreed to surrender his license.
Upper Iowa University is responding to workforce demands with the introduction of new academic programs and pathways for undergraduate and graduate students, university officials say.
President Donald Trump is running out of time to decide what to do with a bipartisan bill meant to lower housing costs by making it easier to build.
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Medicaid and the Road Ahead
Spending Cuts, Work Requirements and What's Next for States, Providers and Families
Thursday, July 23
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Significant changes to Medicaid – the publicly-funded health insurance for people with low incomes – are expected to put new pressures on states, healthcare providers and those who depend on the coverage. Families and individuals are already feeling caught up in unpredictable and confusing changes, at times when they’re dealing with significant health crises.
Join healthcare policy experts from KFF and journalists from States Newsroom who cover these issues at the state and national level for an in-depth discussion on the impacts that federal funding cuts, work requirements and state policy are having on healthcare in the U.S. They’ll explain the latest developments and discuss the political debate around these changes.
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