Good morning from Iowa Capital Dispatch.
“It’s children who live in a house of lower-educated adults or parents who are bearing the major burden of this vape tax policy.” — Jason Semprini, assistant professor of public health at Des Moines University, on his research into the effect a tax hike on vapes would have on children’s exposure to second-hand smoke.
President Donald Trump headlines a 2026 midterms rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, at the Nebraska State Fairgrounds with thousands in attendance. (Photo by Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)
President Donald Trump, rallying voters Monday in Grand Island, Nebraska, announced an executive order that allows anyone to use red-dyed diesel, waiving the off-road requirement and allowing anyone to purchase it for any reason.
Diesel prices have hit record levels due to the Iran war, just as farmers are starting harvest season. Trump said the order should “assure” Nebraska Sen. Pete Ricketts and Gov. Jim Pillen of reelection.
A Des Moines University researcher has published a study showing $1 e-cigarette taxes can lead to higher rates of secondhand smoke exposure. (Photo by Douglas Sacha/Getty Images)
As states increasingly implement taxes on alternative smoking products, research from a Des Moines University professor showed the policies could lead people to reach for cigarettes instead — impacting more than just themselves.
Des Moines University Assistant Professor of Public Health Jason Semprini found in a study of state taxes on items like vapes and e-cigarettes and secondhand smoke exposure that increasing the tax by $1 on average increases a child’s chances of exposure to secondhand smoke by 16%.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is levying thousands of dollars in fines against companies that violated various environmental regulations.
Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Monday she was appointing former Iowa Rep. Jon Dunwell, a Republican from Newton, to serve on the Iowa Utilities Commission.
After one of the wettest Septembers on record, corn and soybean conditions are dipping slightly as farmers have had scarce opportunities to harvest, according to the latest crop progress and condition report.
A physician sanctioned in other states for sexual misconduct involving a patient is now seeking licensure in Iowa.
The Iowa Supreme Court has suspended for 90 days the license of a Johnson County lawyer who admits he cannot properly account for his use of clients’ money.
President Donald Trump wants to sharply curtail mail ballots but he is now urging his supporters to vote in the midterm elections any way they can, including by mail.
Democrats expect they’ll gain a majority of seats in the U.S. House following November’s midterm elections, giving the party a platform to serve as a check on the president’s power.
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