(Radio Iowa) – Governor Kim Reynolds says she’s O-K with a one-year delay in her proposed state grant program for state-funded preschools and licensed child care centers that partner to provide all-day care for four-year-olds. Reynolds first discussed the plan in January, with a July 1st start date.

Another one of the governor’s policy bills that’s stalled in the legislature addresses energy policy. It would give the state’s major utilities, like MidAmerican and Alliant, the first chance to decide whether to build new energy projects before other companies could compete for the work. The Trump Administration has called the policy anti-competitive. Reynolds says requiring competitive bidding means a year or more delay before projects could start.

Reynolds says natural gas supplies are limited in north central and southwest Iowa as well and her bill will ensure energy projects of all kinds get off the ground as quickly as possible.

The governor’s second try at cutting the business tax used to pay unemployment benefits is also pending in the legislature. House Speaker Pat Grassley doesn’t rule out action on the governor’s unresolved policy priorities, but Grassley says finding common ground among Republicans on state spending is the focus right now.

Members of the Iowa legislature are just “on call” for votes if Republican Governor Kim Reynolds and G-O-P legislative leaders strike deals on budget bills. Another complication is that a dozen Senate Republicans have launched a budget boycott, refusing to support spending bills until the senate votes on restrictions for the proposed carbon pipeline route through Iowa.

(Iowa Capital Dispatch) – A federal judge has extended a temporary restraining order barring the Department of Homeland Security from deporting four international students at the University of Iowa while she considers whether to convert that order into a preliminary injunction. The students are suing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for revoking their status as students.

While the students have been pursuing their case under a series of “John Doe” pseudonyms, U.S. District Court Judge Rebecca Goodgame Ebinger ruled Monday (today) that the students will have to publicly identify themselves or drop out of the case within the next 24 hours. The students’ identities have already been revealed to Homeland Security, but lawyers for the four had argued their clients shouldn’t be forced to publicly reveal their identities in order to pursue their lawsuit against the government.

Judge Ebinger found the students’ generalized fear of harassment didn’t meet “the very high standard” for granting them anonymity, citing past court rulings that say court proceedings “are only truly public when the public knows the identities of the litigants.” Also on Monday, Ebinger agreed to extend, for 14 days, her temporary restraining order protecting the four international students from being detained or deported by ICE or Homeland Security. She said she plans to rule on whether to grant a preliminary injunction to that effect before the restraining order expires.

According to the lawsuit, each of the plaintiffs was admitted to the United States on an F-1 student visa. The students claim the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has violated their due process rights by terminating their student status without legal justification or explanation. Named as defendants in the case are Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, of which Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, is a part. Also named as a defendant is Acting Director of ICE Todd Lyons.

In granting the students’ initial request for a temporary restraining order, Ebinger concluded the students had “demonstrated a likelihood of success” as to their legal claims and had also shown they could otherwise be subjected to irreparable harm. The judge noted there had been no suggestion that any of the recognized, lawful reasons for terminating the plaintiffs’ status as students — such as providing false information to the government, engaging in unauthorized employment, or failing to engage in an approved course of study — appeared to exist or were even argued by Homeland Security as a justification for its actions.

Since beginning their studies, the lawsuit claims, the plaintiffs have maintained their status as students, are in good academic standing and have not committed any serious criminal offenses. Three of the four are studying chemical engineering, economics or exercise science, while the fourth is working for the State of Iowa as an epidemiologist.

(Radio Iowa) – One month after the Trump administration announced sweeping tariffs on imports to the U-S, the pork and soybean industries are closely watching how countries respond. Weekly export sales for U-S pork recently hit a marketing year low, in part because China cancelled a contract for 12-thousand metric tons. Iowa State Extension economist Chad Hart says agricultural export sales fluctuate, but aggregate data over the last four months shows countries are buying less U-S pork.

Hart says the majority of soybean export sales have already been made and delivered for the current marketing year, which ends in August. He says the U-S/China trade war could have a much greater impact on the soybean industry if retaliatory tariffs are still in place this fall.

Hart says corn exports have been up despite the tariff chatter, but countries have pulled back purchases of U-S pork since January. He says the 10 percent baseline tariffs on almost all imports into the U-S could make it harder to find new trading partners for farm products.

(Radio Iowa) –  [In an update to our weekend post] – Governor Kim Reynolds has signed legislation to launch a “Purple Star Initiative” in Iowa schools. Representative Ryan Weldon of Ankeny says the program strengthens the connections between military families and the schools their children attend.

Senator Kerry Gruenhagen of Walcott, says 43 other states have similar laws.

The bill got unanimous support in the Iowa House and Senate. Representative Elinor Levin of Iowa City says lawmakers had great conversations with Iowa Department of Education officials, who will oversee the program.

Governor Kim Reynolds signed three military-related bills into law on May 2, 2025. (Iowa National Guard photo)

According to the Military Child Education Coalition, the families of service members on active duty, in the National Guard or the Reserves move every two to three years. Purple Star Initiatives seek to address the stress of these frequent moves by doing things like streamlining enrollment transitions and ensuring staff are notified when a student’s parent is deployed. Reynolds signed the bill creating a Purple Star Initiative in Iowa schools — along with a bill to expand the Iowa National Guard’s college scholarship program to include technical training that leads to certification of a skill, like welding.

(Radio Iowa) – Iowa State University will begin offering the state’s first four-year degree in digital and precision agriculture this fall. I-S-U associate provost Ann Marie VanDerZanden presented the program during the recent Board of Regents meeting, and says it will train students in technology and data analysis.

VanDerZanden says precision ag has come a long way.

VanDerZanden says surveys and discussions with ag equipment manufacturers shows a need for more people who understand the methods. And she says I-S-U students are anxious to get involved.

VanDerZanden says their projections show the program will take off quickly.

Several Iowa community colleges offer an associate degree or certificate in precision agriculture, and VanDerZanden says I-S-U will work with these colleges to develop articulation agreements. Information shows South Dakota State University is the only one in the Midwest that offers a major in precision agriculture, but it does not require the level of specialization that the I-S-U degree will require.

(Glenwood, Iowa) – The Mills County Sheriff’s Office reports four arrests took place over the past week:

31-year-old Marcus Allen Holstein, Jr., of Omaha, and 19-year-old Gavin Lee Burch, of Waterloo, NE, were arrested Sunday in Glenwood. Both were charged with Violation of Probation. Their bonds were set at $5,000 each.

On April 30th, 53-year-old Tamara Jane Copeland, of Sherwood Pulaski, AR, was arrested on I-29 near Glenwood, for Disorderly Conduct/ Loud Noise. Her bond was set at $300.

And, on April 29th, 35-year-old Cody Clark Gorham, of Glenwood, was arrested in Glenwood for Domestic Assault/Bodily Injury – 1st offense. His bond was set at $1,000.

(Glenwood, Iowa) –  The Glenwood Police Department reports the arrest on Sunday (May 4), of 42-year-old Jared Newman, from Glenwood. Newman was arrested on a Pottawattamie County Warrant. He posted a $5,000 bond and was released.

(Red Oak, Iowa) – Officials with the Red Oak Police Department report three men were arrested Sunday, following an alleged incident of shoplifting at the Red Oak Do It Best store. Authorities say 27-year-old Tucker Evan Webster of Shenandoah, 42-year-old Ryan Lee Wulfekuhl, of Gretna, Nebraska, and 45-year-old Gregg Stephen Hammer of Omaha, Nebraska, allegedly attempted to steal tools before running out of the store and fleeing in a 1998 Ford SUV. Red Oak Police were able to locate the vehicle heading northbound on G Avenue where a traffic stop was conducted at 180^th Street.

Tucker Webster was charged with Theft 4^th Degree and was held on $1,000 bond. Ryan Wulfekuhl was charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine), Theft 4^th Degree, and Child Endangerment. He was held on $5,000 bond. Gregg Hammer was charged with Theft 4^th Degree, Child Endangerment, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. He was held on $2,000 bond.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and Montgomery County K9 assisted with the incident.

Atlantic, IA – Officials with Cass Health in Atlantic, say they are thrilled to announce Emmy Benton, RN, BSN is the newest recipient of The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.® The award is part of The DAISY Foundation’s mission to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate care nurses provide to patients and families every day. Benton has been a nurse since 2016, and she joined the Cass Health Specialty Clinic team in 2020.

Benton says she “Always knew [she] would have a career where [she] would help people. It’s just how we were raised — it was instilled in us to always help others.” At the award presentation, she was surprised to hear her name called. “When we saw the banner announcing that the winner was in our department, I never would have guessed it was for me! I could tell you a reason why every nurse in this department is deserving of this award,” she said.

She was nominated by Brittany Knudsen—a fellow nurse at Cass Health— for the care that she provided to Knudsen’s grandparents. Knudsen wrote: “Emmy met them in their car and explained the provider’s new recommendations for plan of care. Emmy answered all the questions the patient and his wife had. Her compassion and determination allowed them to leave the hospital feeling calm and optimistic. I know how important and meaningful that was to the patient, because he is my grandpa.”

In the nomination, Knudsen also remarked, “Emmy goes above and beyond to ensure that each patient receives not only the best medical care but also holistic support during some of their most vulnerable moments. In addition to her clinical skills, Emmy is a team player who inspires those around her. She continually supports her colleagues, whether through mentorship, assisting with challenging cases, or offering a listening ear when needed. Her ability to remain calm and composed under pressure is a true asset, and her infectious positivity uplifts everyone she works with. Emmy embodies the core values of nursing: care, compassion, and commitment to the well-being of her patients.”

DAISY Winner Emmy with husband Beck Benton and children Lettie and Ames.

Benton said that it means a lot to be recognized with this award. “You do small things every day. And it doesn’t seem out of the ordinary to me, but those small things are what makes a difference to people.” Nurses at Cass Health are honored twice annually with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.® The DAISY Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, established in memory of J. Patrick Barnes, by members of his family. Patrick died at the age of 33 in late 1999 from complications of Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), a little known but not uncommon auto-immune disease. (DAISY is an acronym for Diseases Attacking the Immune System.)

The care Patrick and his family received from nurses while he was ill inspired this unique means of thanking nurses for making a profound difference in the lives of their patients and patient families. CCHS says one initiative of The DAISY Foundation is to express gratitude to the nursing profession. Additionally, DAISY offers J. Patrick Barnes Grants for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Projects, The DAISY Faculty Award to honor inspiring faculty members in schools and colleges of nursing, and The DAISY in Training Award for nursing students.

More information is available at http://DAISYfoundation.org. An online nomination form is available at https://www.casshealth.org/daisy.

(Radio Iowa) – State Senator Sarah Trone Garriott is running for the Democratic nomination in Iowa’s third congressional district, which Republican Zach Nunn has represented since 2023. Trone Garriott of West Des Moines is a Lutheran pastor who has served in the Iowa legislature since 2021. Trone Garriott says she’s running for congress to take on the political establishment and stand up for reproductive freedom.

State Senator Sarah Trone Garriott (D-West Des Moines) (official photo)

Trone Garriott, who is 46, says the General Election race in Iowa’s third congressional district will be one of the closest in the country.

In 2022, Republican Zach Nunn won the district by just two-thousand votes and won reelection last year by a nearly four percent margin. Trone Garriott says she’s no stranger to tough elections. Due to the once-a-decade reshuffling of district lines and the timing of elections, Trone Garriott has won three races in the past four years for a seat in the Iowa Senate. She’s the first Democrat to announce a run in the third district.

Trone Garriott has been a hospital chaplain and has served congregations in rural Virginia and suburban Des Moines. Since 2017, she been coordinator of interfaith engagement for the Des Moines Area Religious Council Food Pantry Network.