DES MOINES – Iowa Republicans have come to an agreement for the upcoming fiscal year budget following a week-long dispute between the chambers that pushed the 2025 session into overtime. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports the state will allocate $9.425 billion for the next 12 months — $28 million less than the Iowa House GOP proposed and $8 million more than the Senate and Governor’s joint proposal. The compromise included funding for paraeducators first approved in 2024 and additional money for community colleges. MUSCATINE – Two Muscatine residents were sentenced for federal child pornography charges in court this week. Thirty-seven-year old Jessica Rochelle Peters and 29-year-old Calvin Shawn Crater each received extensive federal prison time for possession and production of explicit photos and video of minors. Carter received 27 years of time and Peters was sentenced to 45 years in prison. IOWA – A senior deputy of Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird has been nominated to serve as the U.S. Attorney for Northern Iowa, according to the Des Moines Register. Leif Olson was selected by President Donald Trump to sever as the senior federal prosecutor and legal officer in the district. Olson has served as chief deputy attorney general since 2023.

DES MOINES – The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved a request by Governor Kim Reynolds to approve a state project for hunger as the state opted out of federal assistance. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports Healthy Kids Iowa aims to work with existing summer food programs. Iowa is one of 11 states not participating in a federal program that provides $40 a month. Families with children ages four to 18 in households at or below 185% poverty are eligible for Reynolds plan. WEST DES MOINES – A second Democrat has announced intentions to run against Representative Zach Nunn in what is expected to be a competitive U.S. House race in 2026. The Des Moines Register reports Iowa House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst has announced plans to challenge for the seat. She’s the second Democrat to do so, as State Senator Sarah Trone Garriott also announced her campaign earlier this week. ELKADER – The Central Community School District has held off on letting go of its superintendent for now. KCRG-TV reports the school board claims an agenda item caused too much confusion as it replated to a contract extension for Nick Trenkamp. He’s accused of making homophobic comments on social media and has been on administrative leave since. The district’s board president did not clarify what action could be taken in the near future related to the contract.

MADISON COUNTY – One day after a legal petition against the Madison County Board of Supervisors was dismissed, the county’s auditor resigned. WHO-13 reports Teri Kaczinski attempted to hire her campaign manager several times and held reduced hours. Kaczinski also missed state training sessions she claimed to attend. The auditor will end her tenure on July 4th.DES MOINES – The recently appointed lieutenant governor has announced a run for a different role in state government. KCCI-TV reports Chris Cournoyer will run for state auditor. The Republican was selected as the Lt. Governor in December following the resignation of Adam Gregg. CEDAR FALLS – A practitioner in Cedar Falls facing multiple criminal charges has had his license suspended. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports James Haag is accused of assaulting female patients last summer. He faces two counts of sexual abuse and two counts of intent to do so in criminal court. The state board alleges Haag abused his role in medicine and knowingly engaged in unethical conduct and practice harmful to the public.

IOWA – While some producers were able to get into their fields, precipitation continued to delay planting in many parts of the state, allowing only roughly three days suitable for fieldwork during the week ending May 4th, according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. Corn planted reached 49 percent, 3 days ahead of last year but 2 days behind the 5-year average. Corn emerged reached 10 percent, 2 days ahead of last year’s pace and 3 days ahead of normal. Thirty-eight percent of the expected soybean crop has been planted.CHARLES CITY – An Iowa nonprofit organization that works with immigrants announced it received a letter from a state lawmaker demanding information from the group. The Des Moines Register reports the Iowa Migrant Movement for Justice was asked to turn over a membership list and tax documents by Representative Charley Thomson. The group was warned not to discuss the letter with anyone, and it appears the letter was an official request from the Iowa House Government Oversight Committee, who has declined to comment. WEST DES MOINES – A Democratic state senator has announced a bid for Iowa’s third congressional district. Iowa Capital Dispatch reports Sarah Trone Garriott will prepare a run against Representative Zach Nunn, an incumbent Republican since 2022. Trone Garriott has won two narrow races to keep her seat in the Iowa Legislature.

IOWA CITY – The reigning WBNA player of the year made a homecoming return Sunday to Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Caitlin Clark dazzled in a preseason game with the Indiana Fever in Iowa City, scoring 16 points and hitting a signature “logo” three behind the spot marked on the gym floor with her number, according to the Des Moines Register. Clark and her teammates played against Brazil in exhibition in front of a sold-out crowd. WAUKEE – The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is investigating a fuel spill in Dallas County. KCCI-TV reports an agricultural site reported an issue over the weekend, as a storage tank began leaking nearly 4,000 gallons of diesel. The Iowa DNR reports residents in Waukee complaining of a fuel smell near Little Walnut Creek. FREMONT COUNTY – A Kansas City man was killed after he was hit while walking on Interstate 29 in Fremont County on Saturday. The Iowa State Patrol reports 46-year-old David McClean was in the travel portion of the northbound lanes when he was struck by a semi truck and trailer. He was pronounced dead at the scene and the driver of the vehicle was unharmed.