Here First

An Iowa agriculture leader says President Trump's initiatives for farmers aren't enough. A bill would raise the minimum speed limit on some highways. And lawmakers are considering a bill that aims to recruit health care professionals to certain areas of the state.

Commercial drivers would have to pass an English proficiency test under a bill. Republican candidate for governor Randy Feenstra says he wants to lower the state income tax even more. And will federal funds for rural health care be enough to offset losses from Medicaid cuts?

A bill on the governor's desk could help child care workers with their own children. Several small newspapers in Iowa may not have to close. And the National Weather Service is recruiting severe weather spotters.

Iowans across the state rallied as part of the No Kings protests. Enrollment in federal food assistance has dropped. And the USDA cancelled a grant program for underserved producers.

Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill that will temporarily raise taxes on HMO health insurance plans. Residents in Cedar Falls are concerned about a proposed cryptocurrency mine. And how Kansas communities deal with tumbleweeds.

A new report looks at environmental factors and Iowa's cancer rates. Candidate for governor Eddie Andrews will be on the primary ballot. And Governor Kim Reynolds shares some thoughts on property tax proposals.

The mayor of Palo is showing support for Google's data center plans. A few candidates were kicked off the primary election ballot. And lawmakers are considering towing regulations.

Abortions in Iowa dropped last year. A bill on the governor's desk would let health care providers decline to participate in services if it conflicts with their conscience. And residents in Linn County are concerned about plans for a gas-fired power plant.

There was a rally against a bill that would end some H-1B visa employment at Iowa colleges. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on if Roundup should have a cancer warning. And the latest on the Iowa legislative session.

The Center for Intellectual Freedom at the University of Iowa went way over budget on an event. A library book club in central Iowa was cancelled after community backlash over the book. And taking a look at perspectives on laws regulating big cat ownership.

A bill would allow so-called 'magic mushrooms' for treating some mental illnesses. A bill about foster parents' beliefs on gender identity and sexual orientation is advancing. And the Sioux City Library budget won't shrink as much as originally planned.

A new poll shows most Iowa voters support raising the tobacco tax. The Iowa House has passed a bill that would create stricter employment verification for people working at schools. And there are new gubernatorial endorsements.

A proposed tax increase on HMO health insurance plans is moving ahead at the Iowa Statehouse. A proposal to keep school districts from rejecting partnerships with community-based preschool program providers is also moving ahead. And Waterloo’s Grout Museum District is speaking out against the city’s proposal to reduce its funding.

A blizzard across Iowa Sunday into Monday didn’t drop a lot of snow – but it did close major interstate highways because of low visibility. New reports suggest bills aimed at cutting tuition at Iowa’s public universities could have wide-ranging effects on the campuses. And a federal wildlife refuge in central Iowa is making plans to renovate and reopen a visitor’s center that was damaged by a 2024 storm.

Revenue estimates show the state likely won't bring in enough money to cover the next state budget. A billionaire with Iowa ties is testifying in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. And a high school senior is raising money for immigrant and refugee students to go to college

Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law that will likely affect cities that have local gender identity anti-discrimination protections. More candidates for governor and a U.S. Senate seat are submitting paperwork for the primaries. And a look at the effort to change Iowa's Medicaid income limits for people with disabilities.

A northwest Iowa school district is trying to address racist bullying. The Iowa House has passed a bill that bans mothers without legal status from a federal food assistance program. And why are there more FFA chapters being created in urban schools?

Candidates for governor have started filing to get on the June 2nd primary ballot. A bill would allow health care providers to withdraw from doing a medical procedure if it conflicts with their conscience. And Linn County supervisors are considering regulations on gas fired power plants.

The remains of soldiers from an Army Reserve based in Des Moines were returned to the U.S. over the weekend. New research shows algae could be a natural filter for microplastics. And the latest on the Iowa legislative session.

All of Iowa's representatives in Congress voted against a measure to rein in Trump's Iran war powers. The state education licensing board has a budget shortfall. And there's a new report about data center development in Cedar Rapids.

A second Iowan solider has been identified as among the first Americans killed in Kuwait on Sunday. Google is changing locations of a proposed data center in eastern Iowa. And a bill would require checks on legal status to get an Iowa driver's license.

An Iowa solider was among the first casualties in the U.S. war with Iran. A bill would ban some H-1B visa holders from working at Iowa colleges. And the Sioux City Council is considering cutting a quarter of the public library budget.

A Republican has officially filed paperwork to be put on the primary ballot for governor. A bill would add regulations to prior authorization. And an Iowan is going to the Paralympics in hopes of getting a fourth gold medal.

Iowa's Republican representatives in Congress share their point of view of what's happening in Iran. There are a few bills that could impact immigrants in Iowa in the state legislature. And a research project is trying to see if the amount of nitrogen fertilizer impacts crop yields.

Governor Kim Reynolds is defending her use of a state-owned plane for official travel. Driver's license tests would only be offered in English under a bill in the state legislature. And ISU basketball player Audi Crooks is breaking records ahead of March Madness.

The University of Iowa's Center for Intellectual Freedom has low enrollment. The Iowa Senate has passed bills focused on immigration status checks. And Iowa cities and counties wouldn't be able to issue community IDs under a bill in the state legislature.

Coralville will remove its automated license plate readers. Private colleges that are part of a state scholarship program would be banned from having DEI offices under a bill. And ag groups have been urging President Trump to avoid tariffs on agricultural inputs.

University of Iowa alumni are expressing concern about the potential loss of several programs. Another Iowa Senator is being treated for cancer. And specialty crop growers say they need more federal aid to offset financial losses.

U.S. Representative Randy Feenstra (R) says he would sign a controversial pesticide label law as Iowa governor. The search firm Des Moines public schools used to hire former superintendent Ian Roberts is countersuing the school district for defamation. And the latest on the legislative session.

FEMA announced funding for some western Iowa communities affected by natural disasters. Over one hundred people rallied at the state capitol yesterday against a so called "Cancer Gag Act" bill. And how does funding play a role into 988 services for each state?

Linn County supervisors say their new ordinance should be a model for data center regulation in Iowa. Disabled Iowans say other states are better for advancing their careers. And the feds are overseeing the investigation of a pipeline explosion in Washington County.

The Iowa City school district is trying to fill a financial gap after the superintendent says the district went beyond its limits. A bill would require data centers to report how much electricity and water they use. And another bill is facing pushback from state boards that oversee early childhood and family services.

A hearing was cancelled for a bill that would have further restricted abortion in Iowa. State lawmakers are considering a bill that would regulate Automated License Plate Readers. And Sioux City schools are rolling out EV buses this week, despite a hold on federal funding for them.

A Democrat has dropped out of the race for Iowa's open U.S. Senate seat. A bill would change foster care training requirements. And state lawmakers are considering a few proposals that would further restrict abortion.

Ranchers pushed back on an executive order from President Trump that increased Argentina beef imports. A bill in the state legislature would eliminate vaccine requirements in schools. And funding for USDA Climate Hubs that help farmers is uncertain.

Ames has passed anti-discrimination protections for gender identity. A bill in state legislature would create a domestic abuse offender registry. And how are local musicians impacted by music venues closing in central Iowa?

Congress must figure out DHS funding by Friday to avoid a partial government shutdown. Coralville is considering revisiting what it uses automated license plate readers for. And a young couple moved out of Iowa after state lawmakers removed gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights Act.

Abortion pills would have to be dispensed in person under a bill in the Iowa Senate. Local government's civil rights codes would have to match the state's civil rights code under a bill in the Iowa House. And how has immigration enforcement impacted Iowa's population growth?

A Republican has dropped out of the 4th Congressional District primary race. Iowa is in a snow drought. And it's Legislative Monday with IPR's Katarina Sostaric.

A controversial bill would repeal police training requirements for de-escalation and bias prevention. Researchers are finding some counties in Iowa have higher cancer rates than expected. And how is Alpha-gal syndrome impacting farmers?

Gov. Kim Reynolds has proposed a bill that regulates local government civil rights rules. Linn County supervisors are drafting data center development regulations. And there's a bill that wouldn't allow some partnerships between public schools and public libraries.

Weekly organizing for immigrants' rights is continuing in Cedar Rapids. U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley says he will probably vote for new controversial voter ID requirements. And international artists say it's becoming harder to work in the U.S.

Hundreds of people attended a legal observer training in Cedar Rapids. A Democrat has announced his run for state treasurer. And a conversation with the first Iowan to make the U.S. Olympic speedskating team.

Iowa Democrats will get a chance to make their case for one of the early slots in the 2028 presidential nominating process. Iowa farmers are hopeful about President Trump’s call to expand the sale of E15 gasoline. And Johnson County supervisors recently met with residents of local mobile home parks to learn more about their list of concerns.

There are bills proposed in response to the arrest of former Des Moines superintendent Ian Roberts. Political party leaders are getting ready for the Iowa Caucuses. And how are dairy farmers dealing with dropping milk prices?

House Republican state lawmakers are proposing bills they say would be tough on crime. John Deere is hiring back some workers it laid off last year. And how are Iowa farmers accessing mental health services?

President Trump spoke in Iowa in an effort to rally Republican votes for the 2026 midterms. Senate Democrats in Congress say they won't vote to fund the Department of Homeland Security without limits on ICE. And most of the Republican candidates for governor share their stance on abortion laws.

Black lawmakers are expanding their caucus to include other racial minorities. A state lawmaker is being treated for uterine cancer. And a few congressional candidates have dropped their campaigns. An earlier version of this podcast stated the Black and Brown Caucus has 12 members. It has 10.

Iowans protest ICE's presence in the Twin Cities. President Trump is set to speak in Iowa tomorrow. And the latest from the Iowa Capitol.

Former superintendent of Des Moines schools Ian Roberts has agreed to a plea deal rather than go to trial. House Democratic lawmakers have proposed a water quality bill. And how are scientists trying to hybridize wheat?