Iowa Dems Trying To Get Back First In The Nation Caucuses
(Des Moines, IA) — The Iowa Democratic Party trying to get back first in the nation caucuses. The Democratic National Committee took the historic first-caucus status away from Iowa in 2023. Iowa Democratic Chair Rita Hart says a delegation is going to Washington D.C. this week to pitch the DNC to put Iowa Caucuses first in the nation again for the 2028 Presidential election cycle. Iowa Republicans still have their party’s first-in-the-nation caucuses.
New Iowa Vape Tax To Fund Pediatric Cancer Research
(Des Moines, IA) — Alternative nicotine products such as vapes and nicotine pouches will be taxed a nickel more in Iowa. Under a bill signed into law today by Governor Kim Reynolds, the first three-million dollars generated by the tax is being earmarked for pediatric cancer research at the University of Iowa. The remainder of the funding will go to a Medicaid fund.
Central Iowa Rivers Report Increasing Levels Of Nitrates
(Des Moines, IA) — Nitrate levels in Central Iowa rivers are rising. The Raccoon River in Van Meter monitoring sensor shows the nitrate level at 18-point-four milligrams. That’s nearly double from almost a week ago. The Des Moines River at 2nd Avenue station measured eleven-point-three milligrams Tuesday. A week ago it was at nine-point-seven. The EPA says safe drinking water can have no more than ten milligrams. Central Iowa Water Works says the drinking water is filtered and is safe to drink. Six-hundred-thousand Iowans get their drinking water from the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers.
Applications Open for Iowa State Fair Farmers Market, Kids Makers Market
(Des Moines, IA) — The countdown to the 2026 Iowa State Fair continues, and applications are now open for this year’s State Fair Farmers Market and Kids Makers Market. Iowa vendors and gardeners have until July 1st to apply to bring their products to this year’s State Fair Farmers Market. The 2026 Iowa State Fair will also feature the second annual Kids Makers Market, where kids ages 5 to 17 can sell their their handmade creations. The deadline to apply for the Kids Makers Market is July 23rd or until space is sold out.
Four Iowa Beaches Not Safe For Swimming Due To High E. Coli Levels
(Des Moines, IA) — Four Iowa beaches are deemed not safe for swimming due to high levels of E. coli. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources says Backbone Beach, Beeds Lake Beach and Pine Lake South Beach in northeast Iowa, along with Bobwhite State Park Beach in southern Iowa, all exceeded state safety standards in the first round of testing this season. The DNR monitors water quality at state-owned beaches across Iowa, testing weekly from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
