Good morning from Iowa Capital Dispatch.
“While revenue growth and the overall economy are positive, concerns remain over persistent inflation, increased borrowing costs due to higher interest rates, and heightened geopolitical uncertainty with respect to gas and diesel prices.” — Jennifer Acton, member of the Revenue Estimating Conference and director of the Fiscal Services division of the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency, on the panel’s revenue estimates for Iowa.
From left, Jeff Plagge, director of Northwest Bank in Spencer; Kraig Paulsen, the state budget director, and Jennifer Acton, director of the Fiscal Services division of the Legislative Services Agency, met for the October Revenue Estimating Conference at the Iowa Capitol Oct. 16, 2026. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
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.
The panel predicts Iowa’s revenue will grow by 2.8% in FY 2027 in comparison to the previous fiscal year, taking in an estimated $8.54 billion. Though it represents roughly $60 million more in state revenue than previously projected, it remains below the $9.65 billion state budget approved by lawmakers earlier this year for the fiscal year that ends June 30, 2028.
Several deer at Jester Park in Polk County on Nov. 7, 2024. (Photo by Karsan Turner for Iowa Capital Dispatch)
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.
DNR tracks deer populations and hunter data throughout the year. Its 2026 spring spotlight survey, which scans for wildlife after sunset along gravel roads throughout the state, observed the lowest relative abundance of white-tailed deer in over a decade.
THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES
A group of Iowa landowners opposed to a carbon sequestration pipeline say the issue of property rights is still “one of the biggest issues in the state of Iowa” though fewer than 70 candidates on the upcoming ballot responded to a questionnaire about eminent domain.
The federal government has added two Iowa nursing homes to its list of the worst care facilities in the nation.
Iowa gubernatorial candidates Rob Sand and Zach Lahn contrasted their proposals Wednesday during a televised debate on how to fund Iowa priorities amid both a state budget deficit and high inflation rate.
Republican Chris McGowan and Democrat Dave Dawson, candidates in Iowa’s 4th Congressional District, outlined their potential policy plans and decisions in foreign relationships, agriculture and technology during an “Iowa Press” debate Oct. 14.
As U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson and state Rep. Josh Turek met for the second — and final — U.S. Senate debate Tuesday, both candidates said they did not support President Donald Trump’s move to lift sanctions against the “import sale, delivery, offloading, or importation” of Russian diesel in response to high fuel costs.
After years of litigation over its nonprofit status and use of a hallucinogenic controlled substance, an Iowa-based church is one step closer to being able to import the drug.
A former Iowa prison inmate is suing the state’s Department of Corrections over her alleged sexual exploitation by a prison counselor.
Healthcare, manufacturing and community projects in rural Iowa are set to receive millions in loan and grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development office.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin said Sunday in Iowa that the federal agency is processing “updates” on Iowa’s list of impaired waterways amid a lawsuit challenging the decision to delist seven waterways that had been added due to nitrate impairment.
A partnership between Starlink, the space satellite internet company from Elon Musk, and National 4-H Council is bringing broadband connectivity to rural communities, including several in Iowa.
State, city and county inspectors have cited Iowa restaurants and stores for hundreds of food-safety violations during the past several weeks, including expired and moldy food.
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson asked Iowans at a Davenport rally Friday to send U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks back to Congress — telling the crowd, “I gotta have her,” as she runs in one of the nation’s most competitive U.S. House races in November.
NEWS FROM THE MIDWEST AND IOWA'S NEIGHBORS
Drinks and interruptions: Pritzker, Bailey meet in only governor debate of election cycle | Capitol News Illinois
Increases in farm building assessments fuel calls to revisit Indiana’s property valuation system | Indiana Capital Chronicle
Kansas funding for new Chiefs stadium moves forward, setting sales tax revenue district | Kansas Reflector
Michigan engineer who helped expose Flint Water Crisis files for injunction to block EPA policy | Michigan Advance
Minnesota secretary of state office targeted amid probes into mailed election threats across US | Minnesota Reformer
New Missouri nonprofit pours $2.9 million into campaign to reinstate abortion ban | Missouri Independent
Omaha’s planned $80M public market sprouts from old roots | Nebraska Examiner
Pipeline spill contaminates dry creek bed in northwest North Dakota | North Dakota Monitor
Ohio appeals court rules state’s private school voucher system unconstitutional | Ohio Capital Journal
Up to $6 million in tax rebates approved for South Dakota’s largest wind project | South Dakota Searchlight
Milwaukee County covers Flock cameras, moves away from controversial tech | 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:
Federal judge blocks Trump administration from moving Forest Service headquarters to Utah | Utah News Dispatch
ACLU of New Mexico sues ICE over detention contract documents | Source New Mexico
Trucking industry doubts Trump’s diesel order will dial down fuel prices | Louisiana Illuminator
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