Good morning from Iowa Capital Dispatch.

“Because although nitrate pollution is a really prominent problem across the country, it is also an invisible pollutant, and it’s not something that a lot of folks are aware of.” — Samantha Puckett of the Izaak Walton League on the organization’s upcoming Nitrate Pollution Awareness Week events.

Social media would be banned for kids under age 16 under a tech safety proposal by Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand. (Stock photo by Daniel de la Hoz/Getty Images)

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand said he supports banning social media for children under age 16, setting age verification and parental consent requirements on certain apps and providing more safeguards for minors online, according to a kids’ online safety policy platform released Monday.

The plan, shared first with Iowa Capital Dispatch, is focused on restricting and providing more parental oversight for social media and other online platforms as a way to ensure children stay safe online, Sand said Friday in an interview — as well as make sure Iowa youth are socializing and developing life skills offline.

The lawsuit alleges that food-delivery drivers wind up working for less than the minimum wage once they are forced to “kick back” some of their pay to their employer in the form of uncompensated use of their personal vehicles. (Photo by Jim Obradovich for Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Another proposed class-action lawsuit has been filed in federal court on behalf of food-delivery drivers in Iowa, this time targeting a large Papa John’s franchise.

The lawsuit alleges that food-delivery drivers wind up working for less than the minimum wage once they are forced to “kick back” some of their pay to their employer in the form of uncompensated use of their personal vehicles.

State regulators have suspended the license of a Bettendorf chiropractor convicted of bank fraud and money laundering and accused of misuse of COVID-relief funds and the unlicensed practice of medicine.

The Izaak Walton League of America, the group that works with volunteers across the country to monitor nitrate concentrations in water with free test kits, is hosting its inaugural Nitrate Pollution Awareness Week. 

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand discussed plans to combat Iowa’s water quality issues and advocated for more mental health funding Monday at a town hall in Fort Dodge.

Iowa corn and soybean crops are generally in good to excellent condition, according to the latest report, even while parts of the state were hit with heavy rains that triggered disaster assistance from a federal agency for houses and businesses in certain counties.

The University of Northern Iowa is expanding its metal forging and casting education to students and adult learners across Iowa through a new industry partnership.

President Donald Trump on Monday called on the U.S. Senate to cancel its five-week August break, keeping lawmakers in session to advance several of his priorities, despite not having the votes.

The Trump administration on Monday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to halt a district court ruling that blocked President Donald Trump’s broad March 31 executive order restricting vote-by-mail.

Voting rights advocates worry that the growing presence of partisan poll watchers creates the possibility of even more conflict in the November midterm elections. 

COMMENTARY

“… Iowa already has the legal framework, an established Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, with strong federal, state, and local partnerships needed to combat Medicaid fraud,” guest columnists Dean Lerner and Kevin Techau write.

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