Iowa Capital Dispatch
Latest from Iowa Capital Dispatch
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Here’s who will be on your Iowa primary ballot in 2026
The Iowa Secretary of State’s office Monday released the finalized list of candidates who will appear on the June 2, 2026 primary.
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Iowa bill preventing cities from protecting trans Iowans on governor’s desk
An Iowa bill that prevents cities or counties from protecting transgender Iowans is now awaiting Gov. Kim Reynolds’ signature to be signed into law.
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Criticism at city council meetings is legal, Iowa judge rules
Judge: City’s arrest of critic is ‘quintessential viewpoint discrimination’ by Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch February 23, 2026 Declaring that a citizen was “targeted because he criticized the police department and city leadership,” a federal judge has ruled that the City of Newton violated the rights of a critic by twice having the man arrested…
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ICE actions in Iowa ‘indefensible,’ lied to court, judge says
A federal judge has criticized what he calls the “indefensible” actions of federal immigration enforcement agents in Iowa, ruling they illegally detained a man in the Muscatine County Jail and then attempted to “cover their tracks” through misleading legal filings.
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Iowa Guard soldier killed in Syria was Meskwaki police chief’s son
The Meskwaki Nation police chief has identified his son as one of the two Iowa National Guard members killed in Syria Saturday.
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ICE almost deported Indigenous Des Moines woman
A day before Des Moines woman Leticia Jacobo was scheduled to be released from the Polk County Jail, jail staff told Jacobo she would be turned over to ICE agents—even though Jacobo is Native American.
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Overwhelming yes to $265M Des Moines school bond referendum
The $265 million Des Moines Public Schools bond proposal prevailed in Tuesday’s election, according to unofficial results, overcoming doubts about the measure’s prospects following the arrest of former district superintendent Ian Roberts.
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Iowa restaurant violations: Contaminated sausage, moldy pizza, months-old sauce
by Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch October 17, 2025 State, city and county inspectors have cited Iowa restaurants and stores for hundreds of food-safety violations during the past several weeks, including offenses related to dirty kitchens, unlicensed eateries and moldy and expired food. The findings are reported by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and…
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Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate warns of texts impersonating officials, candidates
by Robin Opsahl, Iowa Capital Dispatch October 15, 2025 Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate issued a warning for Iowans Wednesday about reported mass texts impersonating elected officials and candidates. The state elections official said fraudulent messages were reported in Franklin, Johnson, and Madison counties. According to a news release, the mass texts from “an…
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Iowa elementary school, grocery store, restaurants cited for food safety violations
Restaurant inspection update: Rodents, flies, larvae and gnats by Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch September 22, 2025 State, city and county inspectors have cited Iowa restaurants, schools and stores for hundreds of food-safety violations during the past several weeks, including offenses related to rodents, cockroaches, long-expired food, moldy hummus and operating without a license. The…
