(Des Moines, IA via the IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH) – A House panel advanced legislation Tuesday that would require land restoration efforts following the initial construction of electric transmission lines in Iowa. According to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, under House Study Bill 526, transmission line owners would be responsible for repairing tile drainage, tilling impacted soil and reseeding cover crops or other ground cover in the easement area following construction.

Kevin Kuhle, speaking on behalf of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, said land restoration following electric transmission projects is a “really important issue” for Iowa farmers.  The bill language states that electric transmission owners must “restore the land to its original condition to the extent practicable.” The Iowa Utilities Commission would implement the rules and impose civil penalties if electric transmission owners do not comply with the restoration requirements.

Similar language was included in Gov. Kim Reynolds’ proposed energy bill from 2025, which did not make it to the floor for debate.  Several other farm groups, and environmental groups registered in favor of the bill, while utility companies remained undecided on the bill. While HSB 526 applies only to electric transmission lines, Kuhle with Iowa Farm Bureau Federation said “it’d be great” if lawmakers extended the restoration requirements to other projects, including natural gas and liquid hazardous pipelines.

The bill passed unanimously from the subcommittee, led by Rep. Shannon Latham, R-Sheffield.

(Des Moines, IA) – Townhouse complexes with six or fewer units would not be required to have sprinklers for fire protection under a bill given initial approval Tuesday by an Iowa Senate subcommittee. The IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH reports Senate File 310 proposes eliminating from the state building code required installation of fire protection sprinkler systems in “a series of attached single-family residences consisting of fewer than seven units” — meaning townhouses with six units or less in the property. The measure would also prohibit local building regulations from requiring sprinkler systems for these townhouse properties.

Sen. Scott Webster, R-Bettendorf, said this proposal is an amended version of legislation discussed in 2025, which had language saying six or less residential “units” would not have to have sprinklers installed. The previous language would have removed sprinkler requirements for multi-level apartment and condominium buildings. The changed language specifies that only townhouse properties — residences with multiple attached units that share one or more wall — will not have to install sprinklers. While several firefighter and public safety advocates said they appreciated the changed language, many of these groups still registered in opposition to the measure.

David Schipper, fire rescue chief of Le Mars and past president of the Iowa Fire Chiefs Association, said removing this requirement also means new townhomes being constructed in rural Iowa would not be subject to building inspections for fire safety standards that currently come with sprinkler installation. In Le Mars, he said, fire marshals conduct inspections of new construction for sprinklers, which may not occur if this requirement is removed. “Who is going to be inspecting then in rural Iowa … I don’t think the Legislature plans on adding a bunch of inspectors to (the Department of Inspections, Licensing and Appeals) making sure that if we’re not sprinkling them, we’re doing the proper sheet rocking for fire protection?” Schipper said. He said removing this provision and not having building inspections in place will make fires more dangerous “for volunteer firefighters, especially, that show up maybe 13 to 15 minutes after a fire started in one of these, and instead of having one on fire, one condo on fire, we have all six on fire, making it more risky for people who live there, of course, our firefighters who have to put these fires out.”

Lobbyists with organizations like the Iowa Association of Realtors and Home Builders Association of Iowa said they supported the measure as a means to make housing more affordable in Iowa. However, Chelsea Hoye with the Iowa League of Cities said while she understood concerns about housing affordability, she said “possible higher insurance costs might offset that cost savings” from not installing sprinklers. Webster said he personally has had experience as a home builder, insurance agent and insurance adjuster, and said the insurance company he worked for issued a surcharge for properties with sprinkler systems because of mold concerns. He said the sprinkler requirements, alongside many other building code requirements, were brought up at at International Residential Code, Federal Building Code or other regulation-setting meetings where private enterprise and business officials and gave lunches and gift cards to public officials as “the way that private enterprise gets their product shoved into the building code and required all in the name of safety.”

He said the sprinkler requirement “went overboard,” and that while many local entities have attempted to remove the provision, they are “getting forced to put it back in” by state regulation. But removing this provision is part of the balance as lawmakers try to “find a way to make more affordable in Iowa while holding on to safety standards.” He and Sen. Mark Lofgren, R-Muscatine, signed to move the measure to the Senate Local Government Committee. Senate Minority Leader Janice Weiner did not support the bill advancing, pointing to “serious safety concerns” about fires spreading in these properties as well as perspectives that this provision may not reduce housing costs.

DES MOINES, Iowa —President Donald Trump will make a visit to Iowa next week. According to KCCI-TV, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles told pool reporters during Trump’s visit to Switzerland that the president will travel Tuesday to Iowa. He will give a speech focused on energy and the economy. Officials have not yet provided details on the time or exact location of Trump’s speech.

Trump last spoke publicly in Iowa in July when he delivered an hour-long speech at the Iowa State Fairgrounds to kick off America250.

(Creston,IA) – The Creston Police Department reports a woman was arrested early Tuesday afternoon, on a Probation Violation charge. 28-year-old Makayla Ann Dewees, of Creston, was arrested at the Creston/Union County Law Enforcement Center. She was transported to the Ringgold County Jail in Mount Ayr, where Dewees’ bond cash or surety bond was set at $2,000.

(Radio Iowa) – Students in multiple schools across Iowa took part in the “Free America Walkout” on Tuesday afternoon to protest recent actions by ICE agents in Minneapolis. Almost 200 high schoolers protested outside of North High School in Sioux City. Junior Raiden Parvu helped organize the gathering. Parvu says, “Showing that people are together like this will allow a sense of community among everyone here, and I think right now that’s vital for the safety of Americans and really anyone, civilian or not.” The walkout took place on the first anniversary of President Donald Trump’s second inauguration.

The students’ voices pierced through the cold January air, chanting and repeating: “No more ICE. No more ICE. No more ICE.” North High is one of the most racially diverse schools in Iowa, and student Laura Gale says she wants all students to feel safe.

Photo by Sheila Brummer, Iowa Public Radio

“I constantly feel this feeling of like I want to be involved in my community and I want to fight back against things I think are wrong,” she says. Gale helped organize the protest along with, Parvu, who thought only a few students would show up. “Enlightening to see that there’s this many people banded together,” Parvu says, “and I hope that some of the others can feel the same way that have been scared under this regime.”

A spokesperson for the Sioux City Community District says the students exercised their right to peacefully protest. Protests were also planned for schools in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and Grinnell.

(Des Moines, IA) –  Officials with Drake University, Tuesday, announced the selection of Joseph M. Valenzano III as the University’s next provost. In a news release, Drake officials said Valenzano, an accomplished academic leader and communication scholar, currently serves as the Dean of the College of Communication at Butler University. He will officially begin his duties at Drake on July 1, 2026, upon the planned retirement of Provost Sue Mattison, announced in March 2025. As provost, Valenzano will serve as the chief academic officer, overseeing Drake’s seven colleges and schools.

Joseph M. Valenzano III (Photo from a Drake University press release, 1-20-26)

“Dr. Valenzano is a visionary leader who understands firsthand the transformative power of a private, mission-driven liberal arts education,” said Drake University President Marty Martin. “His proven track record of collaborative leadership, commitment to student success, and ability to foster innovation in service to mission makes him the ideal person to guide our academic enterprise. I am incredibly thankful for the work of the faculty-led Provost Search Committee, for the countless faculty and staff who provided input on the candidates, and for Provost Mattison’s decade-long service.”

The appointment follows a comprehensive national search led by a Provost Search Committee comprised of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and a trustee chaired by Professors Sandy Henry and Chuck Phillips. Valenzano was selected from a pool of more than 80 applicants. The search process included extensive vetting and on-campus forums during which finalists engaged directly with Drake faculty, staff, and students. The Drake Board of Trustees unanimously approved Valenzano’s appointment at their January board meeting.

(Atlantic, IA) – Local organizers of a “Free America” rally say approximately 20 people gathered along Highway 6 between Chestnut and Poplar Streets in Atlantic, Tuesday afternoon as part of what were intended to be more than 500 such peaceful rallies throughout the United States.

According to a statement from Denise O’Brien, “Those gathered practiced their freedom of speech to protest President Trump’s plan to take control of Greenland and to voice their concern that billionaires, big oil and big business are receiving tax breaks while others struggle to pay higher prices for groceries and electricity. The violent actions of ICE have also raised concerns.”

The Free America rally was sponsored by the Women’s March 2026. The Women’s march adheres to a policy of non-violence in all of the activities it sponsors.

(Radio Iowa) – State officials started the process of closing the State Historical Research Center in Iowa City last summer — and a bill that’s cleared a Senate subcommittee would give the Iowa Department of Administrative Services authority to shut it down for good on June 30th. Republican Senator Carrie Koelker of Dyersville says Iowa taxpayers shouldn’t be footing the bill for the Centennial Building in downtown Iowa City when there’s no support from Johnson County or fees from people and organizations storing materials there.

“This center’s been there since 1957,” Koelker said. “…I have visited it before and I know on recent visits it seems to be very disorganized.” Two lawsuits have been filed to try to overturn the agency’s move to close the facility and transfer materials to the State Historical Building in Des Moines and other locations. A judge has already ordered a temporary halt to that removal process, but the building WAS closed to the public in December.

Bill Page, a historic preservation consultant, says that limits access to documents at the Iowa City facility cities use to quality for state tax credits that help finance restoration of historic buildings. “History is good business,” he said. “The Centennial Building is good for history.” Dave Baker, a 37-year-old writer who focuses on Iowa history, has used the collection in Iowa City for his research. Baker says closing the facility sends the wrong message about the importance of Iowa history.

“I’m a business person, I can appreciate wanting to save money, but there’s got to be other ways to do that,” Baker said. “We fund things that we feel are important and if we’re not adequately funding the Historical Society, to me that says that’s not a priority for Iowa.”

A bipartisan group in the Iowa House, including House Majority Leader Bobby Kaufmann, are co-sponsoring a bill to require that both historical research centers in Des Moines and Iowa City are staffed and open to the public. The deputy director of the Department of Administrative Services says the agency cannot afford to operate both.

(IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH) -All state university students would be required to pass specified U.S. history and government classes under legislation that is headed to the Senate Education Committee for further debate. According to the Iowa Capital Dispatch, Senate File 2033 would, if passed, require the Iowa Board of Regents to establish rules stating universities must require three-credit-hour, general education courses in American history and government for graduation, and provide credits for students transferring with similar courses already under their belt.

The board of regents would also need to review all general education requirements and core curricula for a report due to the General Assembly by the end of 2026. The bill advanced from a three-member Senate Education subcommittee today (Tuesday). The Center for Intellectual Freedom at the University of Iowa, Center for Cyclone Civics at Iowa State University and Center for Civic Education at the University of Northern Iowa would be required to create courses satisfying the new general education requirements, as well as establish ongoing lecture and debate series.

They would also have to submit annual reports of their achievements and the opportunities, challenges and obstacles they’ve faced to the board of regents, General Assembly and governor. Iowa Board of Regents State Relations Officer Jason Chapman, echoing comments he made during the subcommittee on the legislation’s House companion bill, House Study Bill 543, said the board is registered undecided on the bill but has concerns about transfer credits and how they’ll work with high school, community college and international students.

Connie Ryan, Interfaith Alliance of Iowa executive director and lobbyist for the organization’s action fund, also reiterated her concerns on the House bill, that it is an overreach of the Legislature that will negatively impact students as higher education costs continue to rise. She also said there should be allocations provided by the state to the centers of civic education if the Legislature expects them to develop and put on ongoing lecture and debate series.

Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, said no one questions the fact that American history and government are “clearly very important” topics, but requiring them as part of general education would be a huge lift for colleges, in terms of both finances and manpower. Quirmbach also raised questions about language in the bill prohibiting courses he said focused on the study of “subgroups of Americans or other nationalities,” and the fact that this mandate would be at the college level and only for universities governed by the Iowa Board of Regents.