(Iowa City, Iowa) – The Iowa Capital Dispatch reports National Institutes of Health grant terminations hit the University of Iowa the hardest, out of the dozens of universities housed in the state this summer. The Dispatch says that’s according to a national project working to compile grant dollars that have been frozen or canceled entirely as President Donald Trump and his administration seek to end federal funding for certain research. There are eight National Institutes of Health grants identified by Grant Witness to have seen termination in Iowa, with only one seeing possible reinstatement. They run the gamut of research — from cancer to cochlear implants, Alzheimer’s to vaccine messaging, genomes to access to research careers.

Many of the projects were multiple years into their work before facing termination, having already received hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of grant funds.The longest-running project to see its funding terminated has received federal funding since 2013, according to USAspending, an open data source tracking federal spending. The study was set to run through a portion of 2028 and receive a total of $5.7 million, but funding was canceled in May and the project reportedly ended in July.

Researchers at the University of Iowa saw federal funding for their research cut this year, in medical and other areas. (Photo courtesy of University of Iowa)

According to the project summary reported by NIH, the canceled study was looking into using different materials on the surfaces of cochlear implants — a surgically implanted device to aid people with severe hearing impairment — in order to reduce bacteria and lower the risk of infection and other issues. A UI program aimed at increasing research accessibility also saw its federal grant terminated this year. Other canceled medical research included one study diving into potential therapies for people with early Alzheimer’s disease and another studying new therapies for those dealing with triple-negative breast cancer, which the project summary stated is the only type of breast cancer with no targeted therapy. University of Iowa researchers were also studying responses to a certain therapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Two of the terminated grants provided funding to studies diving into topics the Trump administration has spoken about previously, namely vaccines and rural health care.

The only grant to have been possibly reinstated, deals with differences in polygenic scores based on sex. Research into polygenic scores has traditionally left out groups like gender minorities, according to the description, and the study seeks to close the gap by developing a new method for study of sex-related differences for both genomic and general research. Its end date is slated in the award summary for July 31, 2026, with $1.4 million of the $1.6 million obligated amount processed.

The grant was ruled to be reinstated this summer according to Grant Witness’s data, but the organization states on its website grants under this category are being listed as “possibly reinstated” because its members do not know what the reinstatement process will look like or how long it will take

(Radio Iowa) – Four Iowa communities are hosting fundraising walks this month that are designed to support efforts to prevent suicide. Dan Lehmann, of Le Mars, says he’ll be taking part in the Sioux City walk this Saturday in remembrance of his son, who took his own life. The events are called Out of the Darkness Walks. “This weekend, I had a total stranger come up and say, ‘I’ll join you in that walk. Here’s $20 towards the fundraising,'” Lehmann says. “I’d never met him. I knew of his kid because his kid went to the same school as mine. He goes, ‘Can I be on your team?’ and I said, ‘Absolutely, you can be on my team that walks.'”

More than 49-thousand Americans died by suicide in 2023, and more than half used a firearm. The walks are being organized by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Lehmann is hoping to have a good showing from Le Mars at this weekend’s event. “My son that passed away, his former employer will have several of his former coworkers come and join,” he says, “so I’m hoping to have 20 or 30 people come.”

The Out of the Darkness Walks are being held in some 300 communities over the next few weeks. In addition to Sioux City, Manning is also hosting a walk on Saturday, with another in Ankeny on Sunday, and the Quad Cities’ walk is in Bettendorf on September 27th.

https://afspwalks.donordrive.com/OOTDWalks

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa chapter of the Sierra Club and some landowners called Tuesday for the Iowa Utilities Commission to reject Summit Carbon Solutions’ petition to amend its pipeline permit. (Read the petition: For Immediate Release_ Summit Amendment Request ).

The Iowa Capital Dispatch says the petition, filed Monday, requests changes to the initially proposed route and pipe size for the carbon sequestration pipeline project, which had been approved by the IUC in 2024. That approval came with requirements that Summit could not begin construction until it received route permission from North Dakota and South Dakota, and storage permission in North Dakota. 

Since the IUC’s initial approval, South Dakota has enacted a law preventing the use of eminent domain in CO2 pipeline projects, and has denied two of Summit’s permit requests. In North Dakota, Summit’s permits were approved, but are facing legal challenges.

In light of these actions in other states, Summit has requested to amend the permit in Iowa, changing language to reflect that “additional options for storage and pathways to storage are developing and may provide a better solution.” The request would remove language referencing North Dakota and South Dakota, changing the petition to state construction cannot begin until it has “secured access to one or more sequestration sites and permits or agreements to allow it to reach such storage.”

Landowners and advocates who oppose the pipeline project or the use of eminent domain in gaining land easements necessary to complete the route, released statements Tuesday calling for the IUC to reject the proposed language change.

Though Summit said in its petition that the move away from state-specific language would not diminish “protections against a ‘pipeline to nowhere’” in the permit, people opposed to the project said the shift is too substantial of a change to be approved as an amendment, while criticizing the business for not providing further details on a new route or storage options.

“This isn’t an amendment, this is a last-ditch effort and half-baked proposal for an entirely new project because South Dakota said no,” Wally Taylor, attorney for the Sierra Club Iowa Chapter, said in a statement. “Summit needs to realize that Iowa is saying no, too.”

(Red Oak, Iowa) – An issue with farm equipment was the apparent cause of a field fire in Montgomery County early Tuesday afternoon. Firefighters from Red Oak, Elliott, Stanton and Essex were called to the scene located in the area of 250th Street and I Avenue, a little after 12:50-p.m.

According to Red Oak Fire Chief John Bruce, a combine at that location experienced a minor mechanical failure, which caused a small fire in the corn field. Farm equipment operators, Bruce said, extinguished the fire before it spread into standing corn.

Red Oak FD Facebook page photo (9-16-25)

He thanked the equipment operators for their assistance, as well as farmers who responded with their disc implements, in case the firewere to spread.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department, Montgomery County Emergency Management and Montgomery County Communications assisted in handling the incident.

(Des Moines, Iowa) – Iowa Republican Jack Whitver says he’s stepping down from his role as state Senate majority leader. He also announced he is not running for reelection in 2026. Whitver, who lives in Grimes, is 45-years-old. He represents Iowa Senate District 23, which includes parts of Dallas and Polk Counties. He was diagnosed last year with a brain tumor, and had been receiving radiation and drug therapy. Whitver has served in the Iowa Senate since 2011.

Whitver was reelected last November to serve as majority leader, a role he’s held since 2018. Iowa Senate Republicans will need to elect someone new to fill the position. It is not clear how soon that election will take place.

In making his announcement, Whitver said “I first started campaigning for the Iowa Senate hours after my oldest daughter was born. I ran because taxes were too high, and I wanted to make it easier to work, start a business and raise a family in Iowa. I believe I have accomplished my goals.  I am proud of the work we have accomplished in limiting government, controlling spending, reducing taxes and expanding the rights and freedoms of the people of this great state.”

“My oldest daughter is now driving and my three children are very active, making family life is busier than ever. I continue to battle a brain tumor and while progress remains positive, I still have a long way to go. My work in the Senate may be coming to a close, but my commitment to making Iowa the best state in the country will always be a part of my life.”

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said in a statement Tuesday evening, “Jack Whitver’s announcement today that he is stepping down as Senate Majority Leader and will not run for re-election is both admirable and bittersweet.

“Jack became Majority Leader in March 2018, in my first legislative session as Governor. From that moment, I saw in him a partner who did more than guide legislation—he made things happen. Together, our administration and the legislature embarked on one of the most consequential periods in modern Iowa history. It was under Jack’s leadership that we passed the largest income tax cuts in state history, reformed state government, protected the unborn, gave parents choice in their child’s education, and so much more.

Senator Jack Whitver (official photo)

(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Auditor’s Office, today (Tuesday) reports two more candidates have filed to run for city offices as of the end of business today:

Jackson Bissell has filed to run for re-election to the Massena City Council, and Eyon Steffensen has filed to run for a seat on the Anita City Council.  A reminder: The deadline for candidates to file their papers ahead of the November 4th City/School Elections is this Thursday, Sept. 18th, at 5-p.m.  With today’s filings, the complete list of candidates whose names will appear on the ballot in Cass County, for city offices in Cass County (as of Sept. 16th) include:

The current list of candidates now is as follows:

Anita City Council (Vote for 3):

• Deanna Andrews (Incumbent, term expires 1/1/26)
• Shelly Hogueison
• Kim Miller
• Eyon Steffensen

Atlantic City Council Ward 2 (Vote for 1):

• Jim Behrens (Incumbent, term expires 1/1/26)

Atlantic City Council Ward 5 (Vote for 1):

• Dana Halder (Incumbent, term expires 1/1/26)

Atlantic City Council At-Large (Vote for1):

• Jeremy Butler

Atlantic – Mayor:

• Rob Clausen

Cumberland City Council (Vote for 3):

• Tatiana Thielen
• Randall Anderson Jr
• Matthew Dolch

Cumberland City Council – To Fill Vacancy (Vote for 1):

• Dori A Borras

Cumberland Mayor:

• Rachel McCann

Griswold City Council (Vote for 2):

• Troy Nicklaus
• Jesse Doty
• Nick Demanett

Griswold Mayor

• Brad Rhine (Incumbent)

Lewis City Council (Vote for 2):

• Russell Miller
• Jim Triller
• David Raymond

Massena City Council (Vote for 2) :

• Doug Venteicher
• Jackson Bissell (Incumbent)

Wiota City Council (Vote for 3):

• Charles Bechtold

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says the F-B-I was infected with politics when F-B-I director Kash Patel took over in February. Patel appeared before Grassley and the Senate Judiciary Committee today (Tuesday). “Since your confirmation you’ve been acquainted with the bureaucracy that you must reform and hold accountable,” Grassley said, “and that’s no simple task.”

Grassley says whistleblowers in the F-B-I along with records about an operation called “Arctic Frost” suggest the agency’s investigation of the January 6th riot at the U-S Capitol targeted 92 Republican groups. “Arctic Frost wasn’t just a case to politically investigate Trump,” Grassley said shortly after convening today’s hearing. “It was the vehicle by which partisan FBI agents and DOJ prosecutors could achieve their partisan ends and improperly investigate the entire Republican political apparatus.”

Grassley and a fellow Republican senator from Wisconsin are also calling on Patel to reveal whether the F-B-I has investigated allegations some confidential F-B-I sources made against President Biden. “We aren’t saying the allegations are true. We want to know what the FBI did to fully investigate their veracity or lack thereof, and what they concluded,” Grassley said. “Let’s put this matter to rest, one way or the other.”

Democrats on the committee accused Patel of firing F-B-I agents for political reasons and questioned why more records about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein haven’t been released. Patel says the F-B-I has no credible information that Epstein trafficked women or underage girls to anyone but himself.

Patel also discussed his agency’s investigation of Charlie Kirk’s assassination during the hearing.

(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa Environmental Protection Commission voted today (Tuesday) to continue a program with the state Ag Department to improve the watershed runoff into the Iowa Great Lakes. The D-N-R’s Ginger Murphy says the project has several benefits. “Water quality in the Iowa Great Lakes drives the economy, recreation, and quality of life in the region and also impacts source water for local communities,” Murphy says.

Information from 2019 shows an economic impact from travel to the region at nearly 378 million dollars. Murphy says those numbers are likely higher as travel has picked up since the pandemic. She says the plan seeks to improve the water quality. “The current watershed management plan for Iowa Great Lakes is focused on reducing turbidity driven by sediment and algal growth by reducing the phosphorus entering the lakes,” she says. The plan has a limit of up to 129-thousand-500 dollars using an E-P-A grant.

“Practices supported by the watershed management plan and this funding include in-field and edge-of-field best management practices on ag land. Wetland and shallow lake restoration on public and private lands. Shoreline stabilization on the lakes and urban stormwater best management practices,” Murphy says. The plan was first implemented in 2018. “Total sediment reduced during this time period is six-thouse-944 tons per year over all the practices that have been installed,” Murphy says. “Total phosphorus reduction has been 15-thousand-746 pounds per year, and that’s based on those practices staying in place and ongoing. And we calculate that using a model that we use across all of our watershed projects for all installed practices.”

Murphy says one success in the project is Lower Lake Gar, which met water clarity goals. “And that resulted in the 2024 delisting from the impaired waters list off lower Gar Lake. Lower Gar is kind of the end of the chain of lakes…it has its own watershed, but it also captures everything flowing through the bigger lakes that are to the north. And so this was great news and important milestone,” Murphy says.

Murphy says they still feel that phosphorus will continue to be the primary pollutant of concern in the Great Lakes and they want to continue seeing progress.