https://www.radioiowa.com/ Iowa's Radio News Network Wed, 10 Jun 2026 21:57:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://cdn.radioiowa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/LEARFIELD_FAVICON-150x150.png https://www.radioiowa.com/ 32 32 https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/10/iowa-libertarian-laehn-running-for-us-senate-qualifies-for-nov-ballot/ Wed, 10 Jun 2026 20:17:50 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180614 Greene County Attorney Thomas Laehn, the first Libertarian elected to office in Iowa, has qualified to run for Iowa’s open U.S. Senate seat. “The people of Iowa are ready for a third party candidate,” Laehn said during an interview with Radio Iowa. “…Independents, disaffected Republicans, disaffected Democrats — we are the majority.” Laehn grew up […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/10/reynolds-responds-to-critics-of-state-contracts-with-amazon-cognizant/ Wed, 10 Jun 2026 18:02:14 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180611 Governor Kim Reynolds is responding to critics of her decision hire Amazon to manage all state computer systems and networks — and to outsource state government IT services. Governor Reynolds announced Tuesday that Cognizant Government Solutions will provide IT services for state agencies and all state websites and executive branch data will be moved to […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/10/banned-from-lawn-watering-tips-so-iowans-can-keep-their-grass-alive/ Wed, 10 Jun 2026 18:00:56 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180602 Some 600,000 central Iowans are now forbidden from watering their yards in most cases, but an expert at the Iowa State University Extension says it won’t necessarily mean our lush, green grass is doomed. Aaron Steil, a consumer horticulture specialist, says many Iowans’ lawns are comprised of Kentucky bluegrass and fescues which naturally go dormant […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/10/attorney-general-settlement-provides-reimbursement-to-iowans-for-covid-tests/ Wed, 10 Jun 2026 16:31:33 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180608 Iowa’s Attorney General announced a multi-state settlement today with a company that allegedly overcharged for COVID testing. Iowa and 17 other states allege that GS Labs overcharged patients, unlawfully charged administrative fees, and failed to deliver timely COVID-19 test results from 2020 to 2022. The settlement includes around $430,000 in administrative fees for Iowans, $59,000 […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/10/radon-detection-training-scholarships-for-who-people-pledge-to-work-in-rural-iowa/ Wed, 10 Jun 2026 16:24:46 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180605 Scholarships are now available for Iowans who complete the training for radon detection certification and agree to work in rural Iowa. Radon is an odorless, colorless gas that’s the leading cause of lung cancer among Iowans who do not smoke. When radon test kits reveal a home or building has elevated levels of radon, certified […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/10/iowa-at-risk-for-more-storms-hail-and-twisters-this-afternoon-tonight/ Wed, 10 Jun 2026 13:04:21 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180588 Forecasters say more severe weather is possible for Iowa, especially between 3 o’clock this afternoon and 11 tonight, with the highest risk in eastern and southern Iowa. Meteorologist Jeff Zogg, at the National Weather Service, says it includes the chance for high winds, hail, heavy rain — and potential tornadoes. “We’re expecting some isolated shower […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/10/state-board-reviews-finances-of-iowa-city-public-schools/ Wed, 10 Jun 2026 09:04:59 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180583 A state panel is calling on officials from one of the state’s largest public school districts to return in October for more testimony about its budget issues. Susan Battani, a retired CPA who used to work in the state auditor’s office, is a member of the School Budget Review Committee that met yesterday. She said […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/10/pate-lauds-new-iowa-law-targeting-fake-business-filings/ Wed, 10 Jun 2026 09:03:18 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180585 Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate says a new state law is a good first step to address scammers using an actual Iowa address when filling out online forms to register the name of a fake business. “What they’re doing to these poor homeowners is now setting them up for concern about what liabilities they […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/10/famed-big-band-leader-to-be-celebrated-with-sw-iowa-festival/ Wed, 10 Jun 2026 09:00:58 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180573 The southwest Iowa town of Clarinda will honor its most famous native son with the 51st annual Glenn Miller Festival, opening tomorrow. Several renown big bands will perform, in addition to scholarship competitions, educational programs and new attractions. Shari Greenwood, executive director of the Glenn Miller Birthplace Society, says 20 of the top student musicians […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/09/julian-garrett-iowa-legislator-since-2011-has-died-at-age-85/ Tue, 09 Jun 2026 20:23:11 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180581 State Senator Julian Garrett of Indianola has died at the age of 85. Garrett announced in March he was being treated for prostate cancer and would not seek re-election this year. Garrett, a Republican, was first elected to the Iowa legislature in 2010. Garrett was a lawyer and he led the Consumer Protection Office in […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/09/governor-hires-private-companies-to-manage-executive-branch-it-services-computer-networks/ Tue, 09 Jun 2026 18:32:18 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180577 Governor Kim Reynolds has hired two private companies to manage and maintain all state government websites and computer systems. Reynolds has announced all the data centers and computer servers in the executive branch of government will move to a cloud-based system managed by Amazon Web Services. She’s also signed a contract with New Jersey-based Cognizant […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/09/grassley-supports-trumps-1-5-trillion-defense-spending-request/ Tue, 09 Jun 2026 18:00:18 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180571 Another deadline to avoid a federal government shutdown looms in September and there’s already bitter division between the two parties over defense spending. President Trump is asking for $1.5 trillion for the military, which Democrats say is far too much, but Republican Senator Chuck of Iowa says the war in Iran has turned the tables […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/09/ui-center-for-intellectual-freedom-advisors-discuss-expansion-plan/ Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:51:15 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180574 The University of Iowa’s Center for Intellectual Freedom will have to dramatically expand to fulfill a new state law. It will soon require all students at the three state-supported universities to take two civics classes in order to graduate and the Center for Intellectual Freedom is in charge of providing those courses for University of […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/09/600000-central-iowans-are-now-barred-from-watering-their-lawns/ Tue, 09 Jun 2026 13:55:41 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180568 Lawn watering in central Iowa is now banned, except for newly-installed sod or seed placed during the current growing season. Central Iowa Water Works says the ban is needed to preserve the region’s drinking water supply, as nitrate levels in its source waters remain high. Tami Madsen, executive director of the regional water authority, says […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/09/defenders-of-sioux-city-homeless-shelter-rally-outside-city-hall/ Tue, 09 Jun 2026 13:23:20 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180561 Sioux City Council Member Rick Bertrand reportedly called the community’s homeless shelter a “public nuisance,” which prompted a demonstration in front of City Hall on Monday to show support for the shelter. Shayla Moore is executive director of what’s known as the Warming Shelter. She says the downtown facility is an asset. “Your presence here […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/09/iowas-top-two-high-school-performers-head-for-broadway-stage/ Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:00:08 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180539 Two recent Iowa high school graduates are leaving this week on an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City after being named the state’s Triple Threat Award winners at last month’s Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase. Wrigley Mancha from Davenport Central and Peyton Haacke from Southeast Polk in Pleasant Hill will be in the […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/09/180556/ Tue, 09 Jun 2026 09:55:01 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180556 UnityPoint nurses marched from the Iowa Capitol to Methodist Hospital in downtown Des Moines yesterday to call attention to their efforts to join a union. UnityPoint nurses who work at four hospitals in the Des Moines area voted in December on whether to oin the Teamsters Union. March organizers say UnityPoint is filing baseless objections […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/09/81st-safe-haven-baby-in-iowa/ Tue, 09 Jun 2026 09:51:35 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180554 Custody of a baby boy born on May 25 has been turned over to state officials under Iowa’s “Safe Haven” law. The law was passed in 2002, a year after the body of a newborn baby was found abandoned in a snowbank in the small Iowa town of Chelsea. The law gives parents who believe […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/08/reynolds-uses-executive-authority-to-create-iowa-office-of-outdoor-recreation/ Mon, 08 Jun 2026 21:06:40 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180548 Governor Kim Reynolds has signed an executive order creating a new Iowa Office of Outdoor Recreation within the Iowa Tourism Office. “This office reflects a simple belief: Iowa should be a destination not only for business and opportunity, but also for adventure, exploration and recreation,” Reynolds said. Reynolds will appoint a 10-member task force to […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/08/iowa-guard-soldiers-prep-for-deployment-to-baltic-region/ Mon, 08 Jun 2026 19:17:23 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180550 About 80 Iowa National Guard soldiers are preparing to leave in July for a year-long deployment in Europe. The Iowa National Guard said the soldiers are part of the 734th Regional Support Group that’s based at the Camp Dodge Training Center in Johnston. The Iowa National Guard’s Adjutant General said the deployment “highlights the critical […]]]>