Good morning from Iowa Capital Dispatch.
“This could … wait and be done at the beginning of the session. … But when you’re a billion dollars in debt, I don’t want to go into session and rush to give away hundreds of millions of dollars in credits, in refunds and rebates and all these different options that they’re working on.” — State Sen. Tony Bisignano, D-Des Moines, on the possibility of a special legislative session to consider an incentive package to lure a steel plant to southeast Iowa.
The Iowa State Capitol as seen April 8, 2026. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
A Democratic state senator on the Senate’s tax-writing committee said Friday that timing on a potential special session reported Friday is “suspicious” as the 2026 general election draws near.
A steel company considering locating in southeast Iowa is seeking an incentive package “passed in the very near future,” according to House Democratic staff.
Iowa Rep. Josh Turek, who is running for the U.S. Senate seat in 2026 against U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, held a roundtable discussion Sep. 25, 2026 in Des Moines about rising fuel costs. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson and state Rep. Josh Turek both reiterated their calls for Congress to reduce fuel prices as they campaigned Friday for the state’s competitive U.S. Senate seat.
Hinson reiterated her calls for the House to return to Washington, D.C., to work on lowering fuel prices and bringing the war in Iran to a close. Turek held a roundtable Friday with several Iowans who said the surge in fuel prices — due in large part to the ongoing war with Iran — are making it difficult for their businesses and families to stay afloat.
U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson held a news conference in Des Moines Sep. 25, 2026 calling for the U.S. House to return to Washington, D.C. to vote on a measure lowering fuel costs. (Photo by Cami Koons/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services plans to collaborate on research with other federal agencies as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency evaluates the human health risks of the widely used pesticide glyphosate.
A pharmacist fired from the state-run Iowa Veterans Home is now suing the state, alleging discrimination based on age, gender and disability.
The University of Iowa is crafting a new artificial intelligence framework in order to better understand the technology’s impacts, good and bad, and identify opportunities for innovation across all areas of campus, university leaders say.
U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn is calling for the suspension of President Donald Trump’s initiative allowing more foreign beef into the U.S. and for congressional oversight of future beef import decisions from the executive branch.
Nearly half of the Center for Intellectual Freedom at the University of Iowa’s advisory council membership have resigned from their roles after issues were voiced about the Iowa Board of Regents’ dismissal of their concerns relating to control of the center and finding its permanent leader.
The Office of Consumer Advocate is asking the Iowa Utilities Commission to require additional information and a hearing for an Iowa gas peaker plant planned for Cerro Gordo County.
Diesel prices hit a record average of $6.51 a gallon Monday, and some in President Donald Trump’s own party are breaking their support for the ongoing war in Iran that has driven fuel prices to staggering levels in the United States and across the globe.
Iowa State University researchers and partners are working to learn about how modern fires impact firefighters’ health due to toxic contaminants on their gear and to find practical solutions to keep them safe.
Iowa gubernatorial candidates Zach Lahn and Rob Sand both have said corporate or out-of-state ownership of Iowa farmland is a problem and have suggested policies that would tax Iowans at lower rates than out-of-state or investor landowners. Here’s what ag land experts say.
U.S. Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana told a crowd of Iowa conservatives Saturday he believes current high inflation is being caused by the U.S.-Iran war — but said he sees an end to the conflict within six months.
Vice President JD Vance told Iowans Friday that President Donald Trump’s trade and tax policies have helped farmers and working-class families, as he worked to rally support for gubernatorial candidate Zach Lahn and other Iowa Republicans in the midterms.
A Republican student group at Drake University is asking university administration to decry social media posts that it says celebrate the assassination of right-wing podcaster Charlie Kirk. The university states it cannot do so due to the anonymity of the posts.
NEWS FROM THE MIDWEST AND IOWA'S NEIGHBORS
Illinois attorney general claims victory in lawsuit against Trump administration | Capitol News Illinois
Indiana superintendents say they’re cutting jobs because of property tax reforms | Indiana Capital Chronicle
Kansas State agricultural economist predicts diesel prices remain high through 2027 | Kansas Reflector
Carbon capture proposals draw mixed responses from environmental groups in Michigan House committee | Michigan Advance
Unionized hospital doctors reach deal with Allina Health after historic 4-day strike | Minnesota Reformer
Missouri Supreme Court hears appeal of school library ‘explicit sexual material’ law | Missouri Independent
Cameron the Capitol Cat statue effort revised after commission skepticism of ‘whimsical’ idea | Nebraska Examiner
Free school meal ballot measure debated at North Dakota policy summit | North Dakota Monitor
Ohio GOP lawmakers tee up votes for gas tax holiday after Acton, then Ramaswamy, back idea | Ohio Capital Journal
Trump ‘can make his own decisions,’ governor says after witnessing president’s rant about journalism | South Dakota Searchlight
Federal immigration policy may be worsening Wisconsin’s caregiver shortage, leaders say | 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:
As federal protections shrink, fate of NH wildlife increasingly in state lawmakers’ hands | New Hampshire Bulletin
War-zone surveillance comes home as Predator drones fly loops over Arizona border towns | Arizona Mirror
Planned Parenthood files legal challenge to investigation, document demands by Tennessee AG | Tennessee Lookout
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