Good morning from Iowa Capital Dispatch.
“The fact that both of these races are within the statistical margin of error in a survey where the same voters selected Trump by double digits speaks volumes about where these races stand right now.” — David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center, on the organization’s new poll in Iowa’s governor and U.S. Senate races.
Wind turbines along west-bound Interstate 80 on March 29, 2025. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
An analysis of renewable energy siting bills across the U.S. during 2026 legislative sessions found the majority of introduced bills were aimed at restricting renewable energy infrastructure, though most of the enacted bills were permissive to the industry.
Researchers who worked on the report with the Siting Solutions Project, a nonpartisan initiative focused on energy siting and permitting, said in a webinar Wednesday they anticipate data center growth and continued concerns around energy affordability will make 2027 the “biggest year yet” for state bills related to energy siting.
Facebook owner Meta agreed to pay nearly $18 billion to an array of U.S. states over claims its platforms intentionally addicted teens. (Photo by Anne-Marie Caruso/New Jersey Monitor)
Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, on Wednesday agreed to pay 47 states, the District of Columbia, and a handful of U.S. territories, up to $17.1 billion in penalties over claims that its social media platforms are addictive and a danger to children, Stateline reports.
Iowa’s share of the settlement totals over $135.7 million, according to the Iowa Attorney General’s Office.
Though Iowa has seen major Republican victories in the last several election cycles, a poll from Suffolk University Political Research Center published Wednesday found the races for U.S. Senate and governor are shaping up to be highly competitive.
Iowa Rep. Josh Turek said Wednesday his work across the aisle to support pediatric cancer research and funding in the state Legislature shows he would be the best candidate to advocate for these priorities in the U.S. Senate.
A former Iowa State University athlete is suing the National Collegiate Athletic Association over her inability to compete in indoor track during the 2026-27 school year.
State regulators have charged four Iowa nurses with incompetence or acting in a manner that put patients at risk.
The University of Iowa is partnering with a graduate healthcare institution to provide UI graduates more opportunities to further their education in different areas of medicine.
Democrat-led states and voting rights groups re-filed lawsuits Wednesday to block the Trump administration from executing a new regulation to restrict mail-in voting, while a federal judge lifted a nationwide pause on the policy in line with this week’s U.S. Supreme Court decision that handed the administration a procedural win.
COMMENTARY
“Iowa policymakers should require full disclosure of healthcare ownership and financial arrangements, including management fees, debt, dividends and real estate transactions,” guest columnist Jeff Danielson writes.
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