Tessera

I had the amazing opportunity to reconnect with the Washington family in Fort Dodge after interacting with them at the Messenger last year. The family has been involved in activism and community organizing in Fort Dodge for decades. iowacapitaldispatch.com/2026/06/18/k...

'Keep it alive and never forget:' Iowa family looks to preserve meaning of Juneteenth • Iowa Capital Dispatch

For the Washington family of Fort Dodge, the annual Juneteenth celebration in the Pleasant Valley neighborhood symbolizes the family's history of activism.

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U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley and Tina Smith touted a new study by S&P Global about the potential benefits of biofuels on the farming economy. Grassley also made remarks on the Senate floor, advocating for the nationwide sale of E15 fuel. iowacapitaldispatch.com/2026/06/16/m...

Midwest senators tout new study calling biofuels a ‘catalyst’ for agriculture • Iowa Capital Dispatch

GOP U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley celebrated the findings of a new biofuel study by S&P Global Tuesday during a capitol hill briefing.

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The Iowa Democratic Party held its state convention in Des Moines Saturday. I had the chance to ask State Auditor Rob Sand about accusations Zach Lahn, the Republican running for governor, made about Sand’s immigration stance. iowacapitaldispatch.com/2026/06/13/d...

Dave Muhlbauer accepts Democrats' lieutenant governor nomination • Iowa Capital Dispatch

Democratic Party state convention delegates officially nominated Crawford County Supervisor Dave Muhlbauer for lieutenant governor.

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Communities and advocates in Iowa have implemented alternative mental health systems that have produced positive outcomes for patients. Although significant gaps still remain, the people I spoke with our hopeful for the future. iowacapitaldispatch.com/2026/05/29/i...

Iowa communities look to fill gaps in statewide mental health care • Iowa Capital Dispatch

Rather than waiting for statewide solutions, some Iowa communities have experimented with localized mental health models.

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Former Director of Iowa Administrative Services Adam Steen addressed a death threat against his campaign earlier this week during a campaign event in Ames. iowacapitaldispatch.com/2026/05/22/g...

GOP gubernatorial candidate Adam Steen addresses death threat against campaign • Iowa Capital Dispatch

Republican gubernatorial candidate Adam Steen, speaking Friday in Ames, addressed an earlier death threat against his campaign.

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Iowa residents spoke at the monthly Iowa Utilities Commission meeting today, where landowners urged the agency to deny Summit Carbon Solutions plan to build its pipeline over Iowa land, while ag groups asked the commission to approve the new filing. iowacapitaldispatch.com/2026/05/20/s...

Summit pipeline opponents, supporters seek action from utilities commission • Iowa Capital Dispatch

Iowa property owners asked the Iowa Utilities Commission Wednesday to deny Summit Carbon Solution’s plan to modify its pipeline project.

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🐝 Happy World Bee Day! 🐝 I wrote my first enterprise story as an intern for Iowa Capital Dispatch today, as experts highlight the significance of an early swarm season, the environmental impact of bees, local impact and the challenges pollinators face. iowacapitaldispatch.com/2026/05/20/b...

Bee season starts 17 days early, potentially damaging hives, experts say • Iowa Capital Dispatch

An unusually early North American bee swarm season could reshape bee populations, pollination patterns, honey production and more.

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Over the past week, I had the opportunity to interview and write profiles for three canine running in the 2026 Iowa gubernatorial election. 🔽🔽🔽 Steen: iowastatedaily.com/338589/news/me… Sand: iowastatedaily.com/338540/news/me�� Feenstra: iowastatedaily.com/338536/news/me…

All five Republicans looking to win their party’s nomination for Iowa’s governor’s race were interviewed in Clive on Friday. The candidates answered the same five questions from Iowa Republican Party Chairman Jeff Kaufmann about various topics. iowacapitaldispatch.com/2026/05/05/q...

Q&A: Iowa GOP gubernatorial candidates on abortion, eminent domain, ESAs • Iowa Capital Dispatch

All five GOP gubernatorial candidates answered questions on abortion, eminent domain, private school funding and more.

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An Iowa group is looking to solve political polarization through ranked-choice voting. Better Ballot Iowa believes that the proposed voting system would allow more candidates, more competitive elections and a more productive government. iowastatedaily.com/332025/news/...

Iowa group looks to solve political division through ranked-choice voting

As political polarization continues to rise across the United States, a nonprofit group in Iowa is pushing for solutions to reduce partisan division. Better Ballot Iowa, founded in 2020, advocates fo...

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For two months, I took a deep dive into Iowa's ESA with the goal of reporting what information is public, what is kept private and what oversight exists over a program that costs taxpayers hundreds of millions. I spoke with prominent Iowa politicians, including Rob Sand and Sarah Trone Garriott.

Transparency concerns grow over Iowa’s $314 million private school program

As Iowa’s Education Savings Account (ESA) program continues to expand, questions remain about how the state oversees the program and what information about its spending is publicly available. Created ...

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Iowa group looks to solve political division through ranked-choice voting

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