Good morning from Iowa Capital Dispatch.
“There’s a big difference between $1 billion a year, invested in healthcare across all kinds of providers and a competitive grant program that only provides about $250 million a year to hospitals.” - State Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, speaking at an event focused on cancer about the impacts of Medicaid cuts compared to funding through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program.
The tricolor bumble bee, pictured, is one of 13 species identified by volunteers in the Iowa Bumble Bee Atlas. (Photo by Megan Houle/USFWS)
Volunteers across Iowa conducted nearly 500 bumble bee atlas surveys in 2025, which was more than three times the number of surveys conducted the year prior.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is hosting several field days in July to help train volunteers who want to participate in the citizen science project that helps to assess bumble bee species distribution, population shifts and habitat associations across the country.
An Iowa nurse recently agreed to surrender her Iowa nurse’s license after federal grand jury indictment charging her with eight counts of tampering with consumer products and three counts of acquiring controlled substances by subterfuge or fraud. (Photo by Darwin Brandis/iStock Getty Images Plus)
Almost two years after the State of Nebraska revoked a nurse’s ability to practice there for posing a “significant risk to public safety,” Iowa’s Board of Nursing has agreed to accept the nurse’s surrender of her license to practice in Iowa.
The decision by the Iowa board comes after Brandy Wicks, a registered nurse from Treynor, was accused of stealing patient medications from a hospital, a home-hospice program and at least two nursing homes, and after her indictment on 11 federal criminal charges.
Democratic congressional candidate Sarah Trone Garriott said Tuesday she believed an important step in addressing Iowa’s cancer crisis was making sure Iowans have consistent, easy access to healthcare — something she said could be accomplished through measures like a national public option and reversing Medicaid cuts.
The Iowa Dental Board has charged two dental hygienists with misleading patients as to their purported need for extensive dental work.
State Medicaid agencies are concerned that many sick and disabled enrollees will lose their coverage because the Trump administration is narrowing the definition of who is “medically frail” enough to get an exemption from new work requirements.
A host of high-profile Democrats called for Graham Platner, the party’s nominee to take on Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine in November’s election, to drop out of the race as they tried to save the party’s chances to retake the Senate majority.
This Sunday: Catch a concert and support local news
Don’t forget: Iowa Capital Dispatch is hosting a benefit concert July 12, featuring HomeBrewed, a bangin’ Iowa City-based blues-rock band, at Uptown Garage Brewing Co. in Ankeny. Ticket information is here. Bring some friends and enjoy a great show while contributing to our important work to cover Iowa news. We’d love to see you!
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