https://www.radioiowa.com/ Iowa's Radio News Network Tue, 23 Jun 2026 17:30:58 +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/2026/06/23/iowa-sees-thousands-of-people-lose-snap-benefits/ Tue, 23 Jun 2026 18:00:27 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180863 Nearly 25,000 fewer Iowans are enrolled in a federal food assistance program than before the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill became law. The wide-ranging law reduced federal funding by 20-percent for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Ryan Bobst, executive director of the North Liberty Community Pantry, says they’ve seen a 36-percent increase in […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/23/iowa-mosquito-numbers-havent-seen-a-boom-yet-this-year/ Tue, 23 Jun 2026 17:30:58 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180875 As we enter summer Iowa has yet to see much mosquito activity. Iowa State University professor Ryan Smith leads the state mosquito surveillance program and says there are some mosquitoes out there. “So far this year, we’ve yet to see those big boom of some of those nuisance or biting mosquitoes that usually occurs at […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/23/iowa-ag-department-provides-cover-crop-funding-in-22-counties/ Tue, 23 Jun 2026 17:25:32 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180872 The Iowa Department of Agriculture announced a plan Monday to provide money for water quality projects in 22 counties above the Des Moines metro watershed. The program uses funds in the Farm to Faucet water quality package approved by the legislature and recently signed into law by the governor. The plan provides cost-share payments for […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/23/judge-blocks-snap-waivers-for-iowa-and-other-states/ Tue, 23 Jun 2026 16:50:10 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180870 A federal district court judge has blocked waivers given to Iowa and five other states on how federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP benefits can be used. Iowa’s waiver allowed the state to keep people from buying food that is not considered to be healthy, like pop and candy, with SNAP benefits. The judge’s […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/23/grassley-saving-social-security-may-mean-changes-to-wage-cap-retirement-age/ Tue, 23 Jun 2026 13:48:51 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180859 Without action by Congress, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says Social Security recipients will face a deep reduction in benefits late in 2032. Grassley, a Republican, is scheduled to chair a Senate Finance Subcommittee hearing Wednesday on the future of Social Security. With our population aging and the birth rate dropping, he says we face a […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/23/survey-shows-some-iowa-landfills-are-filling-up-faster-than-expected/ Tue, 23 Jun 2026 11:00:55 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180835 Iowa has some three dozen major landfills, several of which are nearing the end of their lifespans. Garrett Prestegard, president of the Iowa Society of Solid Waste Operations, says a survey last year found about a third of Iowa’s landfills are less than 30 years from being filled up and forced to close, and once […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/22/iowa-congresswoman-hinson-wants-briefing-on-iran-deal/ Mon, 22 Jun 2026 21:20:29 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180855 Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, a Republican from Marion, says she wants Congress to get a briefing on the Iran peace deal. “We were not in session last week. So as many of these documents and potential agreements were coming out, they were being reported in the press, but we have not gotten an official briefing […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/22/new-business-coming-to-newton-independence-expansion-with-state-tax-credits/ Mon, 22 Jun 2026 21:15:51 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180853 The Iowa Economic Development Authority Board is giving two businesses economic incentives with the promise of creating 65 new jobs. IEDA spokesperson Kanan Kappleman says Pries Enterprises, which makes aluminum parts, will get more than $1.3 million in tax credits.  “They plan to expand their facility in independence with a new 124,000 square foot building. […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/22/safety-team-calls-on-iowans-to-take-note-of-blue-signs-at-rail-crossings/ Mon, 22 Jun 2026 18:00:58 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180842 Small blue signs are posted at thousands of rail crossings in Iowa and those signs can be lifesavers if there’s trouble on the tracks. The Iowa Department of Transportation’s rail safety team is working to raise awareness about what are known as Emergency Notification System (ENS) signs. Amanda Martin, the Iowa DOT’s rail director, says […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/22/iowa-state-to-sell-alcohol-at-football-basketball-games/ Mon, 22 Jun 2026 16:34:16 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180850 You’ll be able to buy an adult beverage inside the stadium at Iowa State home football and basketball games this season. Iowa State University Athletic director Jamie Pollard released a letter saying they will offer beer, wine, and pre-packaged ready-to-drink cocktails at Jack Trice Stadium and Hilton Coliseum. Pollard says its an effort to increase […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/22/le-mars-wellman-ogden-win-state-grants-for-community-projects/ Mon, 22 Jun 2026 16:10:37 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180848 The Iowa Economic Development Authority Board approved Community Attraction and Tourism or CAT grants today for three communities. IEDA spokesperson Kanan Kappleman says Le Mars is receiving one of the grants.  “The community of Le Mar’s was awarded one million dollars to enhance their city park with the construction of pickleball courts, outdoor fitness, and […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/22/iowa-state-fair-begins-renovation-of-historic-swine-barn/ Mon, 22 Jun 2026 15:36:11 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180845 Renovation is underway for another of the historic animal buildings at the Iowa State Fair. State Fair CEO Jeremy Parsons says the renovation of the swine barn will cost nearly $20 million. “When completed, it will be the largest renovation project in fair history. And it’s a three-year overhaul of a building that was first […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/22/radio-iowa-baseball-coaches-association-high-school-poll-6-22-26/ Mon, 22 Jun 2026 14:24:41 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180837 Class 4A 1. Sioux City East (28-1), LW #1 2. Indianola (19-2), LW #2 3. Cedar Rapids Prairie (19-3), LW #3 4. Cedar Rapids Kennedy (19-4), LW #5 5. Waukee (16-6),LW #7 6. Pleasant Valley (17-5), LW #4 7. Urbandale (18-7), LW #6 8. Cedar Falls (14-6), LW #8 9. Fort Dodge (23-5), LW #9 […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/22/new-central-iowa-coalition-to-focus-on-cancer-prevention-early-detection/ Mon, 22 Jun 2026 13:02:56 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180833 Health officials in central Iowa are creating a cancer plan to reduce the effects of the disease in the area. The Polk County Cancer Coalition is made up of community members and healthcare professionals who will look at ways to increase access to prevention, early detection and after-cancer care. Juliann Van Liew, director of the […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/22/eastern-iowa-museum-launches-club-for-couture-devotees/ Mon, 22 Jun 2026 11:00:47 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180759 Iowa’s fashion mavens and aspiring seamstresses have the opportunity to join a new members-only Collection Couture Club designed for people who admire style, but also want to study it, and get close enough to see the stitches. Christina Kastell, curator of history and anthropology at the Putnam Museum and Science Center in Davenport, says the […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/22/iowas-pearl-button-industry-featured-in-smithsonian-exhibit/ Mon, 22 Jun 2026 09:43:46 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180825 Pearl buttons from Iowa are on display at the Smithsonian’s Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C., part of an “America 250” exhibit of rare objects and specimens from all 50 states. Dustin Joy, director of the National Pearl Button Museum in Muscatine, said someone from the Smithsonian contacted him about the project and the […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/19/iowa-supreme-court-rules-in-human-trafficking-case/ Fri, 19 Jun 2026 20:14:32 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180828 The Iowa Supreme Court has upheld a lower court opinion dismissing a human trafficking charge against a Polk County man. Kevin Lind was charged with human trafficking after police say he negotiated with an undercover police officer to have sex with her and what he thought was her underage daughter. He was shown fake photos […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/19/outgoing-iowa-governor-shares-opinion-of-annual-gas-tax-increases/ Fri, 19 Jun 2026 18:05:40 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180823 Governor Kim Reynolds says state gas tax revenue isn’t keeping up with what’s needed to build and maintain Iowa’s roads and bridges and it may be time to have regular increases in the gas tax that are tied to inflation. “We have to be careful about that because of how you decide what it is,” […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/19/iowa-home-sales-up-17-3-in-may/ Fri, 19 Jun 2026 16:31:54 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180819 Iowa Realtors Association data shows the number of Iowa home sales in May jumped 17.3% compared to April. Iowa Realtors President Erik Melloy says Iowa’s housing market was active and balanced in May. Homes were on the market for about 10 days, compared to 12 days in April. The median sales price for a home […]]]> https://www.radioiowa.com/2026/06/19/iowas-rural-mainstreet-index-up-eight-points-this-month/ Fri, 19 Jun 2026 16:09:10 +0000 https://www.radioiowa.com/?p=180816 A monthly survey of rural bank CEOs in the Midwest finds nearly 58% see stable or modest growth in the small businesses in their area. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss said that and other survey responses pushed the “Rural Mainstreet Index” to its highest level in three years. “It’s not just the farming and ranching […]]]>