by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch
September 11, 2025

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has withdrawn a January 2024 proposed rule that would have reduced the discharge of nutrients and pollutants from meat packing plants and slaughterhouses. 

The agency said it chose to withdraw the rules in an effort to prioritize the nation’s food supply and to keep food prices down. 

by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch
August 27, 2025

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources will hold two public hearings in September for a review of water quality standards, as required every three years by federal regulations. 

Per the hearing agenda, DNR plans to discuss water quality standards as they relate to antidegradation, human health criteria, per and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, lake nutrients and rights reserved for tribal nations. 

by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch
August 22, 2025

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced it would restrict the use of federal subsidies for solar energy projects in favor of protecting farmland, but clean energy advocates say solar gives farmers a higher production value per acre than any traditional crop. 

A press release from USDA notes specific funding programs can no longer be used for wind and solar projects. The action, the release said, furthers the department’s goal to end taxpayer support of  “unaffordable and unreliable ‘green’ energy sources and ensure the supply chain consists of American products and manufacturing.” 

by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch
August 12, 2025

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has rescinded its previous decision to add seven segments to Iowa’s list of impaired waters due to their high nitrate concentrations. 

In November the agency decided the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ list of impaired waters only “partially” met the requirements of the Clean Water Act to identify waterways with identified pollutants in excess of water quality standards. 

Iowa Capital Dispatch
August 11, 2025

A state agency that denied having inspection records for a Cedar Rapids home health agency now admits it has the records but considers them confidential.

The records are related to Compassion North America, a home health agency whose practices came under scrutiny earlier this year after the Iowa Board of Nursing presented evidence of falsified records, billing for services that were never delivered, and the employment of an unlicensed nurse to provide patient care.

On July 9, the Iowa Capital Dispatch asked the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing for a copy of a private accreditation agency’s inspection report for Compassion North America.

Lee Enterprises, Inc. – parent company of the Quad City Times and Dispatch/Argus newspapers – slashed compensation costs by $12 million in the third quarter, but still lost $2 million during the three-month period ended June 29.

The company narrowed its third quarter red ink from a year ago, a loss of 31 cents per share ($2 million) compared to a loss of 73 cents per share ($4.4 million) for the same period a year ago.

by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch
August 7, 2025

State Auditor Rob Sand, who is running as a Democratic candidate for governor, said Thursday he is still “learning” and “listening” to stakeholders to develop a plan toward what some have called a water quality crisis in Iowa. 

Sand spoke with reporters after a tour of Des Moines Water Works, and said he agrees that water quality issues have reached a crisis point in the state, and he wants to develop a “realistic and well informed and achievable” plan to address the issue. 

by Allison Prang, Iowa Capital Dispatch
July 26, 2025

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has submitted a proposal to scrap a years-old finding that greenhouse gas emissions threaten the environment and public health, a move that former agency officials say would gut the EPA’s authority to reduce emissions and is sure to end up in the courts.

The EPA sent a draft proposal to the White House late last month calling for scrapping what’s referred to as the endangerment finding on top of vehicle emissions standards for certain cars and trucks. The White House Office of Management and Budget could finish reviewing the draft on Monday and some expect an announcement on the issue the last week of July, Joe Goffman, a former assistant administrator for the EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation, said in an interview.

by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch
July 17, 2025

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst praised the cuts to U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) included in the bill passed in the early hours of Thursday to cancel $9 billion in federal funding for foreign aid efforts and public broadcasting.

Ernst spoke in support of the cuts made through the rescissions bill, requested by President Donald Trump’s administration, that will claw back federal funding that had previously been approved, some of which were provisions targeted by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) service earlier in 2025.

The Iowa Republican has regularly criticized USAID spending and supported the DOGE cuts and the closure of the foreign aid agency.