DES MOINES – Central Iowa Water Works has announced that commercial law watering can now resume, according to KCCI, as part of a phased return to the practice. A committee with the group voted to allow it again based on nitrate concentrations a low customer demand due to ongoing rainfall in the area. Residential bans related the first-of-its-kind move were lifted last week.

IOWA – One year since the state was placed under one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the nation, showed a reduction of the number of in-state procedures, but that travel to other states increased. WHO-13 reports Iowa Department of Public Health number shows 378 abortions have been performed in Iowa in 2025, and 1792 were in 2024 — 1,200 of which happened before the July 2024 ban went into effect. There was a 182% percent increase in year-to-year traveling traffic out of state during that time.

ROCK CREEK LAKE – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a fish kill at Rock Creek Lake. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports a swimming advisory is now in place until Thursday, as DNR staff was notified on Monday of concerns and have since observed dead fish several miles upstream in the lake’s watershed. Water testing showed conditions were acceptable for fish life. The advisory has been placed out of an abundance of caution.