Iowa will have to dip further into its reserves to cover a larger budget gap than expected as federal tax changes add to the impact of state tax cuts. Republican leaders say they have saved enough money to pay the state's bills, while Democrats say the majority party is mismanaging the state's finances.

Iowans who take in family members in foster care, known as kinship caregivers, can now receive financial assistance equal to foster care parents because of a 2023 federal rule.

State Auditor Rob Sand said he will audit the Des Moines school district because he received a qualifying request from someone in the district. The special audit follows the arrest of former Superintendent Ian Roberts for immigration and gun violations.

Iowa Sen. Claire Celsi, D-West Des Moines, died Monday after entering hospice care Sept. 18. The 59-year-old had been battling an undisclosed medical issue for several months.

Gov. Kim Reynolds is seeking federal approval to receive education funding as block grants. She said Iowa's improving K-12 public school performance shows the state is ready to have more control over federal funding.

Gov. Kim Reynolds announced that Kelly Garcia, who leads the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, will step down next month.

Blind Iowans marched outside of the Iowa Department for the Blind in Des Moines Tuesday as they protested changes to a state program that prepares people with impaired vision to live independently.

Iowa Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver will step down from his leadership position and will not seek reelection in 2026, he announced Tuesday, citing treatment for a brain tumor and his busy family life.

A member of Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Iowa DOGE Task Force apologized Monday for his ideas about performance-based teacher pay and IPERS pension plan changes being “misunderstood,” and sought to clarify his recommendations.

Over the past few months, Iowa tried a new way of fighting summertime food insecurity among kids by replacing Summer EBT with "healthy" food. The Healthy Kids Iowa program has faced many logistical challenges that have food pantry leaders questioning if it should return.