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Water quality advocate Chris Jones launches run for Iowa secretary of agriculture

on Fri, 01/16/2026 - 20:01   by Anonymous

by Cami Koons, Iowa Capital Dispatch
January 15, 2026

Chris Jones, an author, researcher and Iowa water quality advocate, launched his campaign for Iowa secretary of agriculture Thursday outside of Des Moines Water Works. 

Jones’ platform for the role includes a more diversified agricultural landscape, more regulations on polluters and concentrated feeding operations and greater access to locally grown food. 

“We need a secretary of agriculture that is for the people … and not just for corporate agriculture,” Jones said. “And so that’s what I endeavor to do if I’m elected secretary of agriculture.” 

Judge orders Muscatine Co. jail release ICE detainee

on Fri, 01/16/2026 - 02:31   by Clark Kauffman

by Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch
January 15, 2026

A federal judge has ordered the Muscatine County Jail to release an ICE detainee who had been incarcerated for almost a year after a judge ruled in his favor on an asylum request.

Court records indicate Jose Yugar-Cruz, 36, entered the United States in July 2024 after fleeing his home country of Bolivia. In court filings, Yugar-Cruz alleged that while living in Bolivia, he operated a small business and had “refused to facilitate the drug trade by police officials” who then detained him and tortured him.

In the court filings, Yugar-Cruz said he fled to Mexico, entered the United States on foot at the Arizona border, and then “sought out and surrendered” himself to federal immigration officials. He was then taken into custody and jailed, after which he applied for asylum based on the threat of persecution in Bolivia.

Iowa Board of Educational Examiners sued for soliciting complaints about teachers’ anti-Kirk posts

on Wed, 01/14/2026 - 03:41   by Clark Kauffman

Iowa Capital Dispatch
January 13, 2026

The Iowa Board of Educational Examiners is now being sued for soliciting complaints about teachers who made negative public comments about Charlie Kirk in the wake of the conservative activist’s death last fall.

Teachers Katherine Mejia of Manchester and Jennifer Smith of Johnston are suing the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners and its executive director, Michael Cavin, in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.

The lawsuit challenges Cavin’s written solicitation of professional licensing complaints related to the shooting death of Kirk in September 2025. That solicitation, the teachers argue, resulted in complaints of unethical conduct filed against them by their employers. The lawsuit alleges the actions of Cavin and the board have violated the teachers’ First Amendment right to comment on matters of public concern.

Florida billionaire leads $50 million investment in Lee Enterprises; new CEO and chairman of the board part of the deal

on Thu, 01/01/2026 - 03:04   by news

Florida billionaire David Hoffmann will be the new chairman of the board of Lee Enterprises, Inc. after leading a $50-million investment in the struggling media company headquartered in Davenport.

As a result of the planned private equity deal announced Tuesday (12/30), Lee's long-time President and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Mowbray will retire and receive $1.5 million as part of his severance package. Mary Junck also will step aside as chairman of the board. It was unclear if she will remain on the Lee board.

Lee Enterprises cancels special shareholder meeting; session was to consider unusual 'rights' issue

on Wed, 12/24/2025 - 02:43   by news

With no explanation, Lee Enterprises, Inc. canceled a special shareholders meeting seeking approval of a "rights offering" intended to raise $50 million for working capital and company operations.

In a three-sentence filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) posted Thursday, Dec. 18, the company stated it "decided to cancel the special meeting" set for the next day, Dec. 19, and had "withdrawn from consideration the proposal set forth in the Proxy Statement."

The company – owner of some 70 print and online publications including the Quad City Times and Dispatch/Argus – announced Nov. 13 it was planning to seek approval of the unusual "rights offering" as a way to pay for its "digital transformation" and lower the interest rate on its $450 million debt.

Judge: USDA inspectors must report violations uncovered at dog-breeding operations

on Fri, 12/12/2025 - 21:32   by Clark Kauffman

Iowa Capital Dispatch
December 11, 2025

A federal judge has ruled federal animal-welfare inspectors can no longer conduct “courtesy visits” at dog-breeding operations while allowing violations to go unreported.

The ruling could have major implications for animal-welfare inspections in Iowa, which is home to roughly 265 federally licensed dog breeders and dealers — more than any other state except Missouri, Ohio and Indiana.

The ruling was handed down recently as part of a federal lawsuit filed four years ago in the District of Columbia by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals against the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, or APHIS.

QC Times owner loses $37.5 million in fiscal 2025; loss for fourth quarter totals $6.4 million

on Fri, 12/05/2025 - 01:32   by news

Lee Enterprises, Inc. – owner of the QC Times, the Dispatch-Argus and some 70 other newspapers and online new sites nationally – lost $37.5 million during its 2025 fiscal year ended Sept. 29.

For the fourth quarter, the media company headquartered in Davenport lost $6.4 million.

Despite the underwater earnings, Lee President and CEO Kevin Mowbray pronounced in the earnings news release Nov. 26 that the company "was pleased with our fourth quarter results as we continue to outperform the industry.

"Digital subscription revenue increased 16 percent on a same-store basis, marking five consecutive years of industry-leading performance," Mowbray stated. "This consistent strength reflects the effectiveness of our Three Pillar Digital Growth Strategy and the exceptional execution of our team."

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