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Former state agency directors call new Iowa Medicaid fraud task force a ‘sham’

on Sat, 08/01/2026 - 18:21   by Clark Kauffman

by Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch
July 31, 2026

Two former directors of the state agency that oversees Medicaid fraud investigations said Friday that Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird’s newly formed fraud task force is “political theater.”

Dean Lerner and Kevin Techau, who served as directors of the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals under Democratic governors Tom Vilsack and Chet Culver, said Bird, a Republican, is “leaving millions of dollars on the table” by not working to fully fund Iowa’s existing Medicaid Fraud Control Unit.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate advocates for more Iowa wetlands and grazing land

on Tue, 07/28/2026 - 07:57   by Anonymous

by Kadin Luhmann, Iowa Capital Dispatch
July 27, 2026

FORT DODGE — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand discussed plans to combat Iowa’s water quality issues and advocated for more mental health funding Monday at a town hall in Fort Dodge.

Sand, who currently serves as state auditor, said he is “not satisfied” with Iowa’s efforts to address water quality. He  advocated for a data-driven approach to tackle the issue, and more wetlands that would improve soil health, water quality, biodiversity and recreational activities.

“I want us to have the single biggest expansion of wetlands and grazing land that we have ever seen in the state of Iowa,” Sand said. “You can fish, you can photograph, all kinds of fun stuff that you can do in wetlands. We want our kids to take part.”

Researchers identify thousands more Iowa livestock facilities than state database shows

on Fri, 07/24/2026 - 22:27   by Anonymous

by Mónica Cordero, Iowa Capital Dispatch
July 24, 2026

Iowa’s official database of animal feeding operations, which serves as the state’s primary regulatory inventory of livestock facilities, does not include thousands of facilities that researchers say contribute to the state’s growing manure burden and potential water pollution. 

After spending about a year reviewing aerial photographs, satellite imagery and state records, researchers with the Environmental Working Group (EWG), an environmental advocacy organization, identified 15,309 livestock facilities across Iowa using data current through July 2025, more than 4,000 additional operations beyond the roughly 11,000 listed in the Iowa Department of Natural Resources database. 

Incoming interim Bettendorf superintendent runs side business while earning more than $180K as deputy superintendent with state education dept.

on Sun, 07/19/2026 - 20:53   by news

Bettendorf's incoming interim superintendent has been operating a side business that sells consulting services to school districts, even while serving as second-in-command of the Iowa Department of Education overseeing all public schools.

John Elkin is founder and co-owner of PremierEdLeader.com, a company that conducts training seminars for educators both within and outside Iowa. The firm charges each seminar participant $300.

Asked in an email about the potential conflict of interest by Bettendorf.com, Iowa Department of Education General Counsel Thomas Mayes stated: "there is no evidence to suggest that Mr. Elkin or his consulting organization obtained any 'advantage or pecuniary benefit' from his organization's identification of him as a leader in the Department."

Mr. Elkin did not respond to voicemails asking him for direct comment on his business operations.

Replacing state income taxes with sales taxes will help the rich and hurt the rest of us

on Sat, 07/18/2026 - 20:30   by Anonymous

by Ed Tibbetts, Iowa Capital Dispatch
July 18, 2026

If Iowans want a glimpse of their future, they might just look to the south. To Missouri.

Republicans there are asking people to approve a constitutional amendment next month to eliminate the state income tax and authorize an expansion of the sales tax to make up for the lost revenue.

This would be a big change — and not a good one.

Bettendorf school board pays Supt. Morse $720,000 for her resignation; interim replacement to get $218,000

on Wed, 07/15/2026 - 19:35   by news

Bettendorf's school board paid Supt. Michelle Morse $720,000 to get her to resign.

The same day that settlement was made public, the board signed off on a contract to pay her one-year interim replacement $218,000.

The huge pay-out agreement – held secret by Board President Paul Castro for nearly two weeks – indicates the board had no reason to seek to terminate the superintendent for cause, and was willing to pay Morse three year's of her salary in exchange for her resignation.

Morse had served as superintendent for the district for the past six years and had two years remaining on her contract with the district.

Bettendorf school board president withholds settlement agreement two weeks after closed door deal for superintendent's resignation

on Wed, 07/15/2026 - 01:25   by news

Nearly two weeks after the Bettendorf School Board agreed behind closed doors to a settlement to obtain Supt. Michelle Morse's resignation, Board President Paul Castro has yet to turn over the agreement for public dissemination.

"I'm waiting for (Paul) Castro to give it to me," Communications Director Celeste Miller said Tuesday afternoon when asked about the settlement document by Bettendorf.com."I don't have a copy of it yet."

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