AGP Executive Report

U.S. Senate race: Former President Barack Obama endorsed Iowa Democrat Josh Turek in a basketball video, pushing Democrats to make the seat held by Joni Ernst competitive. Public health & policy: Democrat Rob Sand says he’d consider raising Iowa’s cigarette and tobacco tax if elected governor, while also backing smoke-free casino floors. Education: Iowa Department of Education awarded more than $2.35 million for therapeutic classroom grants to 10 districts statewide. Environment: The Iowa DNR is treating the West Okoboji Lake canal for Eurasian watermilfoil and is asking boaters to help stop spread. Local government & housing: Milford approved a final plat and urban-renewal plan for the Harvest Hills development near a new elementary school, adding 120+ lots. Economy & daily life: Gas prices remain high across the Tri-States, with Iowa’s average regular unleaded around $3.74. Justice & animals: Van Buren County filed dozens of animal neglect charges against a puppy mill operator after 32 dogs were seized.

Health & Kids Fundraiser: Miracle Treat Day is back Thursday, July 30, with participating Iowa Dairy Queens selling Blizzards and donating $1+ per treat to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, aiming to raise more than $60,000. Aging Services: Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging CEO Greg Zars was elected to the USAging Board of Directors as Region VII representative, covering Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Regional Health Care: CNOS and Avera announced Avera will acquire CNOS’s Dakota Dunes practice, effective Jan. 1, 2027, with CNOS renamed Avera CNOS. Lottery & Business: Scientific Games expands its Iowa Lottery Scratch Game partnership and adds an enhanced player loyalty program across digital and retail. Public Safety: A West Branch man was charged after a 72-day-old infant was hospitalized at UI Health Care with dehydration, a bite mark, and healing fractures. Local Spotlight: Postville’s AgriStar plant fire prompted a water conservation request and a smoke advisory; a community support fund is now accepting donations. Sports: Iowa’s Kingsley-Pierson softball finished 12th in final 1A rankings; and the Iowa Girls Coaches Association named multiple local players to All-State softball teams.

Water & Environment: NASA is funding a new University of Iowa project to forecast nitrate levels in Iowa water using satellite data plus local monitoring, aiming to help utilities plan supplies and treatment more efficiently. Energy: DTE Energy will issue an Aug. 11 RFP for 800 MW of wind and solar projects in multiple states, including Iowa, with projects due online by Dec. 31, 2030. Public Health & Care: UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids earned the American Heart Association’s Stroke Gold Plus award for stroke outcomes and care quality. Health Insurance: Wellmark tied for top member satisfaction in the Heartland region in a JD Power study. Weather & Safety: A soggy end to the work week is expected with 1–3 inches of rain possible and localized flash flooding risk. Local Infrastructure: Iowa DOT plans a spring 2029 bridge replacement on US 69 in Hancock County, with a detour during construction. Road Closures: Highway 3 in Hampton will close Aug. 3–8 for railroad crossing panel replacement and pavement work. Crime & Courts: A Mason City man accused of arson in 2025 has pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal mischief; sentencing is set for Aug. 31. Business & Community: Central Iowa Water Works lifted outdoor watering restrictions after record nitrate levels dipped. Sports: Iowa’s Kade Pieper was named to the Big Ten preseason honors list.

Iowa Homestead Overhaul: Bremer County officials say a new state law is shifting Iowa’s homestead benefit from a state-funded tax credit to a homestead exemption, with qualifying homeowners getting an exemption equal to 10% of taxable value (min $5,500, max $20,000) as the 2026 assessment year rolls in. Cybersecurity for Schools: U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Marsha Blackburn reintroduced a bipartisan K-12 cyber bill, with Iowa Rep. Zach Nunn backing the House companion, aiming to help districts defend against ransomware and data breaches. Heat & Power Reliability: The U.S. Department of Energy issued an emergency order that could let the Southwest Power Pool dispatch extra generation during heatwave conditions, with Iowa included among affected states. Iowa Quality-of-Life Boost: Iowa moved up to No. 12 in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026 Best States rankings, ranking top-10 in Opportunity and Fiscal Stability. Local Sports & Community: Des Moines County crowned Lily Nalley as Fair Queen 2026, while Iowa’s high school softball scene saw 13 KMAlanders earn IGCA first-team All-State honors.

Extreme Heat & Power Risk: The U.S. Department of Energy authorized Southwest Power Pool to tap backup power sources for 17 states, including Iowa, through Aug. 3 as heat pushes grid strain and blackout fears. Farm & Weather Watch: USDA and Pro Farmer data show Iowa corn and soybeans still mostly rate good to excellent, but corn conditions slipped sharply after weekend triple-digit heat. Kids Online Safety: Gov. candidate Rob Sand unveiled a plan to protect Iowa children online, including banning social media accounts for kids under 16 and adding parental consent and tighter data rules for teens. Local Schools: Iowa Falls adopted a “Middle School First” athletics policy for 8th graders, with limited case-by-case moves up, and both Iowa Falls and Alden approved a unified elementary study committee. Public Safety: Aplington police arrested a man on first-degree harassment; Iowa Falls charged another man with first-degree theft; and a Highway 18 head-on crash left two seriously injured. Community & Events: Iowa Irish Fest returns July 31–Aug. 2 in Waterloo, and Central Iowa Water Works ended its water restrictions after nitrate levels dropped below federal standards.

Equal Pay Ruling: Iowa State University has been ordered to pay a former professor nearly $2.8 million after a jury found it willfully underpaid her for years, and the school says it will appeal. Iowa Politics & Ag: Democrats held an Iowa Farmers Union forum in Elkhart, pitching the farm bill as a way to boost farm income and fund practices like cover crops and no-till. Public Health: Polk County says its first 2026 measles case is no longer an outbreak risk after 21 days, citing a fast response and community cooperation. Weather & Safety: Iowa is under continued heat pressure, with storm chances lingering; meanwhile, a wrong-way crash in Floyd County sent two people to the hospital. Sports Spotlight: Caitlin Clark’s WNBA All-Star weekend ended with Team Spoon’s win, while Bridget Carleton advanced in the 3-point contest and Iowa’s Kinnick alcohol sales have coincided with a surge in ejections. Education & Meals: The Iowa Department of Education finalized rules for free and reduced-price meals under federal programs.

Midwest Storm Damage: Strong thunderstorms with damaging winds tore through parts of eastern South Dakota and northwest Iowa, with gusts reported up to 92 mph near Tea, knocking down trees, damaging fences and roofs, and causing power outages. Local Public Safety: Clear Lake police are asking for help identifying a suspect believed to be trying to enter homes after an incident reported around 10:30 p.m. July 20. Community Grants: Newton is using Prairie Meadows Community Betterment Grant money to buy new fire radio equipment and add bleachers at tennis courts. Local Governance: Jasper County is putting a question on the ballot that would shift township trustee and clerk roles from elections to appointments if communities can’t find candidates. Elections & City Hall: Hastings will hold a special election Sept. 1 for a vacant at-large city council seat. Health & Care: An Iowa mother is undergoing historic surgery for her son, highlighting major medical care efforts in the state. Weather Watch: Iowa heat remains a concern, with extreme heat advisories and cooling centers opening in Dubuque as heat index values near or above 100.

Extreme Heat & Storm Watch: The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Warning for Sunday (noon–9 p.m.) across parts of Iowa and the region, with heat indexes near or above 110, plus an Extreme Heat Advisory Sunday night into Monday for northeastern Iowa counties. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is also in effect for northern/central Iowa into early Sunday, with damaging wind gusts and large hail possible. Iowa Politics & Elections: Iowa’s Democratic leaders are pushing volunteers to win over independents and Republicans, while national party decisions keep Iowa out of the early 2028 Democratic nominating calendar. Election Security Debate: Iowa officials say New Jersey’s voter-roll glitch doesn’t affect Iowa, but the issue is fueling renewed arguments about voter eligibility and election safeguards. Public Health & Water: KCCI Investigates reports Iowa’s nitrate removal facility was turned off after running 193 days this year, and health officials are tracking Iowa cyclosporiasis cases that may connect to a national outbreak. Sports (Iowa): Dubuque Wahlert won its first state softball title, and the Iowa Shrine Bowl ended with Team North beating Team South 17-7. Local Crime: A South Dakota woman was arrested in connection with alleged theft and financial exploitation of an elderly dependent adult tied to activity at a casino near Larchwood.

AI & Rural Iowa: A new wave of AI data centers is raising alarms nationwide over farmland loss, water and power strain, and local impacts—concerns that hit close to home for Iowa’s farm communities. Democrats & Iowa’s Role: The DNC chose South Carolina to lead off the 2028 presidential nominating calendar, leaving Iowa out of the early-state lineup and shifting influence away from the state. Health Watch: A cyclospora outbreak response is being criticized as nearing “catastrophic” levels, with officials calling for a stronger, independent look at how the crisis is being handled. Weather: Heat advisories are in effect for parts of Iowa and nearby areas this weekend, with heat index values climbing above 100. Local Schools: Hampton-Dumont School Board will weigh fuel bids, updates to its technology handbook, and other district items. Power Plant Disruption: A fire at Cedar Falls Utilities’ power plant caused outages for thousands, with service restored later that morning. Sports: Waukee Northwest won the Class 5A softball state title, and Indianola captured its first baseball championship.

Democratic Presidential Calendar: South Carolina was picked to lead off the 2028 Democratic presidential nominating schedule, pushing Iowa out of the early lineup and drawing sharp criticism from Iowa Democrats. Local Government: Fayette County supervisors will meet Monday to discuss road updates, a proposed public hearing on selling the Alpha shop property, and bridge replacement contracts. Health & Safety: An extreme heat watch is in effect across much of KMAland, with heat index values up to around 112 and warnings to check on neighbors. Education & Workforce: Northeast Iowa Community College is celebrating 72 graduates earning high school equivalency diplomas across Calmar, Dubuque, and Oelwein. Agriculture: Iowa Corn announced 2026 Board of Directors election results for its grower and promotion boards, with directors starting Sept. 1. Sports (High School): State softball championships wrapped in Fort Dodge, including Wahlert Catholic’s first-ever Class 3A title and Clarksville’s Class 1A win. Public Safety/Crime: A federal grand jury indicted two Southeast Iowa men tied to a multi-million-dollar Ponzi scheme, with trial set for April 26, 2027.

Public Health: The CDC expanded its cyclosporiasis outbreak probe to nine states, adding Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania to the original list; Iowa is included because recalled iceberg lettuce tied to Taylor Farms de Mexico was distributed there, and the FDA is still warning people not to eat the recalled product. Agriculture & Markets: USDA reported June cattle placements ran slightly below expectations, with Iowa on-feed numbers down 1% year over year while placements and marketings rose. Conservation Funding: USDA’s NRCS is offering $3 million for wetland mitigation banking projects, with Iowa listed among priority states; applications are due Sept. 8. Iowa Disaster Response: Gov. Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for Franklin and Hardin Counties after severe weather, unlocking state individual assistance grants and disaster case advocacy. Politics: The DNC’s rules committee picked South Carolina to lead Democrats’ 2028 presidential primary calendar, pushing Iowa out of the early lineup. Crime & Courts: A Redfield man, Gideon Lee Corbett, was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison for meth and gun charges. Local Spotlight: Shriners Children’s hosted a camp ahead of the Iowa Shrine Bowl, featuring patients working with players and cheerleaders.

Iowa Water Quality Tech: The University of Iowa is partnering with Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Des Moines Water Works on a NASA-funded nitrate forecasting and early-warning system to help track nitrate levels in drinking-water sources. Local Government Watch: Tama County supervisors moved through roads work, approved an amended 28E juvenile detention agreement, and passed multiple permits and contracts. City Hall Update: Tama City Council accepted Police Chief Jason Bina’s resignation, citing health, after more than a decade leading the department. Public Safety & Rules: A crash involving an electric motorcycle in Tama sparked renewed discussion of how Iowa law treats these vehicles on city streets and trails. Election Prep: Reinbeck voters will decide in November on a $4 million fire, rescue and emergency services building measure after earlier ballot setbacks. Jobs Snapshot: Iowa’s unemployment rate held at 3.2% in June, with the state adding about 600 jobs. Sports (State Baseball): Indianola beat Valley 8-1 in a Class 4A semifinal, while Pleasantville and Sioux City East also made headlines in the state tournament slate. RAGBRAI Culture: Riders poured into Green Mountain for breakfast, boosting a local push to restore the historic windmill.

Traffic & Safety: A two-vehicle crash at Eagle Ave and 310th Street in Clear Lake sent one driver to Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa; a 1-month-old passenger was unharmed. Racing: Iowa Speedway announced the USAC Silver Crown Series returns with the inaugural Iowa 100 on Aug. 8, right after NASCAR’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race. RAGBRAI & Veterans: A RAGBRAI cycling team honored fallen Iowa National Guardsman Nate Howard by installing a flagpole at his parents’ home in Marshalltown. Data Privacy: Chick-fil-A says a loyalty-program breach tied to its Chick-fil-A One accounts may have exposed customer info in Iowa and nine other states plus D.C.; passwords were reset and customers are urged to monitor accounts. Airport Security: TSA Gold+ would shift screening to private contractors at select airports, with Des Moines listed for a projected January 2027 start. Local Government: Monona swore in a new full-time firefighter/paramedic and recognized volunteer promotions to lieutenant. Environment & Courts: Cerro Gordo County sued Iowa to block a $500 million, 500-megawatt solar project, arguing local zoning approval is required.

RAGBRAI in Iowa: Reinbeck is gearing up for the Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa as thousands roll through on their way to Independence, with street shutdowns, vendor setup, and local business owners expecting a boost. Public Safety: A U.S. Postal truck and a Ford towing a boat crashed on Hwy. 30 in Linn County; the driver was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and others were not hurt. Iowa Sports (Hawkeyes): Iowa women’s soccer released its 2026 schedule, starting with an Aug. 1 intrasquad scrimmage and opening the regular season Aug. 12 vs. Milwaukee; goalkeeper Braelynn Galt also committed to join the program this fall. Health & Weather: Iowa’s fertility rate is falling but remains above the national average, while a Midwest heat wave could push Iowa heat indexes up to 115 degrees. Local Government: Ottumwa City Council tabled a vote on appointing Michael Lee as city finance director amid budget concerns. Tech/Security: TSA is rolling out a new private screening model, with Tampa, Des Moines, and Charleston among the first airports.

Foster Care Finance: Iowa is creating a new system to invest Social Security Survivor Benefits for foster kids, steering eligible payments into options like 529 plans, I-ABLE accounts, or new “Trump Accounts,” with officials saying it won’t change stipends for foster parents. Local Environment: A western Iowa hog-waste storage plan is being dropped after the developer behind the Monona County site said it failed to notify nearby landowners, following resident concerns about odors and impacts. Workplace/Business: Wells Fargo is cutting more jobs at its West Des Moines campus, with 20 employees slated to leave Sept. 19 and 43 more positions eliminated Aug. 22. Food Safety/Health: Corn growers are pushing for a faster Senate probe into the fertilizer industry after the FTC opened an investigation, arguing record-high prices need answers. Cybersecurity: Chick-fil-A says a credential-stuffing attack may have exposed some Chick-fil-A One account data in Iowa and nine other states, prompting account logouts and security upgrades. Ag Economy: Ethanol production is rebounding, supported by margins and demand, according to federal and Iowa State University reporting.

Field of Dreams, Iowa-Kansas: Iowa and Kansas are set to meet at the Field of Dreams ballpark in Dyersville on Oct. 10, with first pitch at 1 p.m. Airport leadership: Robert Ciszewski is taking over as director of the Southeast Iowa Regional Airport in Burlington as Sara Sandburg prepares to retire, with renovations and new service momentum in the mix. Soybean leadership: The United Soybean Board named Courtney Knupp as incoming CEO, starting Oct. 1. Public safety sentencing: Cedar Rapids man Kyle Netolicky was sentenced to 10 more years for a high-speed eluding chase, stacking on a prior 20-year term for a total of 30 years. Local government watch: Ottumwa may appoint a new finance director, and the city is also rolling out more summer sewer-related road closures. Data center debate: Palo passed a data center ordinance as Google eyes a build; Linn County is weighing a nuclear-power exception to its data center moratorium, while Dubuque is gathering public input. Iowa sports: Iowa City Liberty pushed Sioux City East to the limit in a state quarterfinal, and the Iowa high school baseball and softball tournaments continue to churn out results across classes. Vehicle thefts: A new study ranks Des Moines as Iowa’s top city for vehicle thefts.