From the KCRG-TV9 Newsroom:
Farmers are behind schedule as they battle wet field conditions following one of the wettest Septembers on record. Iowa’s Agriculture Department says 95 percent of the state’s corn crop has reached maturity, which is on par with the five-year average. 14 percent has already been harvested; that’s 20 percentage points behind the five-year average. 31 percent of soybeans have been harvested, which is 28 percentage points behind the five-year average
In North Liberty, the city may take action on its automated license plate readers amid growing backlash to the use of Flock Safety Cameras. The North Liberty Police Department implemented the cameras back in 2025, saying they help find vehicles connected to crimes. But some community members say they have privacy concerns. Some communities, such as Coralville, have already halted the use of the cameras.
The EPA announced a plan to protect demand for corn ethanol—and Iowa farmers who grow it. It comes after the agency let a number of small oil refineries skip a requirement to mix ethanol into their gasoline—a move that threatened demand for hundreds of millions of gallons of biofuel. Yesterday, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced from Peosta revisions that could require larger refiners blend more biofuels into their products to make up the lost volume. The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association’s Monte Shaw says without this proposal, Iowans could lose jobs.
A longtime memorial to honor Iowa service members who died in action could be moved. Iowa’s Deputy Adjutant Gen. William McClintock said the memorial at the Iowa Capitol honoring those who died while serving in the Middle East could soon be replaced with a wall to honor past governors. Late yesterday afternoon, the Governor’s Office denied it. The wall is called the Iowa’s Fallen Service Members memorial. It’s located just outside the Governor’s Office and was established in 2006. Right now, there are around 100 Iowa service members listed. The plans that were announced would move the memorial to a smaller but more highly trafficked part of the Capitol–but it wouldn’t include the pictures, potentially just name plates and dates.
