by Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch
January 26, 2026

A federal judge has criticized what he calls the “indefensible” actions of federal immigration enforcement agents in Iowa, ruling they illegally detained a man in the Muscatine County Jail and then attempted to “cover their tracks” through misleading legal filings.

The case involves 28-year-old Jorge Gonzalez Ochoa of Iowa City, who came to the United States from Colombia in 2024, seeking asylum and alleging he was fleeing persecution in the form of threats and extortion.

In October 2025, while still seeking permission to remain in the United States legally, Gonzalez Ochoa was charged by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with unlawful use of a Social Security number and immigration documents. Prosecutors allege he worked under a false name, using a fraudulent Social Security card and permanent resident card to obtain a job at The Bread Garden Market, a restaurant in Iowa City, where he was arrested.

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch
January 22, 2026

Iowa House Democrats released a proposal Thursday aimed at improving the quality of Iowa’s drinking water and waterways through increased monitoring and more incentives for farmers and landowners to implement best practices.

Water quality has been a major topic in the state among environmental advocates for years, who have warned about the impacts of farm runoff and chemicals like PFAS in the state’s water. But these concerns have been further elevated in the past year as central Iowa faced elevated nitrate levels in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers in 2025.

by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch
January 15, 2026

Chris Jones, an author, researcher and Iowa water quality advocate, launched his campaign for Iowa secretary of agriculture Thursday outside of Des Moines Water Works. 

Jones’ platform for the role includes a more diversified agricultural landscape, more regulations on polluters and concentrated feeding operations and greater access to locally grown food. 

“We need a secretary of agriculture that is for the people … and not just for corporate agriculture,” Jones said. “And so that’s what I endeavor to do if I’m elected secretary of agriculture.” 

by Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch
January 15, 2026

A federal judge has ordered the Muscatine County Jail to release an ICE detainee who had been incarcerated for almost a year after a judge ruled in his favor on an asylum request.

Court records indicate Jose Yugar-Cruz, 36, entered the United States in July 2024 after fleeing his home country of Bolivia. In court filings, Yugar-Cruz alleged that while living in Bolivia, he operated a small business and had “refused to facilitate the drug trade by police officials” who then detained him and tortured him.

In the court filings, Yugar-Cruz said he fled to Mexico, entered the United States on foot at the Arizona border, and then “sought out and surrendered” himself to federal immigration officials. He was then taken into custody and jailed, after which he applied for asylum based on the threat of persecution in Bolivia.

Iowa Capital Dispatch
January 13, 2026

The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners is now being sued for soliciting complaints about teachers who made negative public comments about Charlie Kirk in the wake of the conservative activist’s death last fall.

Teachers Katherine Mejia of Manchester and Jennifer Smith of Johnston are suing the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners and its executive director, Michael Cavin, in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.

The lawsuit challenges Cavin’s written solicitation of professional licensing complaints related to the shooting death of Kirk in September 2025. That solicitation, the teachers argue, resulted in complaints of unethical conduct filed against them by their employers. The lawsuit alleges the actions of Cavin and the board have violated the teachers’ First Amendment right to comment on matters of public concern.

Florida billionaire David Hoffmann will be the new chairman of the board of Lee Enterprises, Inc. after leading a $50-million investment in the struggling media company headquartered in Davenport.

As a result of the planned private equity deal announced Tuesday (12/30), Lee's long-time President and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Mowbray will retire and receive $1.5 million as part of his severance package. Mary Junck also will step aside as chairman of the board. It was unclear if she will remain on the Lee board.

With no explanation, Lee Enterprises, Inc. canceled a special shareholders meeting seeking approval of a "rights offering" intended to raise $50 million for working capital and company operations.

In a three-sentence filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) posted Thursday, Dec. 18, the company stated it "decided to cancel the special meeting" set for the next day, Dec. 19, and had "withdrawn from consideration the proposal set forth in the Proxy Statement."

The company – owner of some 70 print and online publications including the Quad City Times and Dispatch/Argus – announced Nov. 13 it was planning to seek approval of the unusual "rights offering" as a way to pay for its "digital transformation" and lower the interest rate on its $450 million debt.