Iowa
Capitol Notebook: Iowa Gov. Reynolds signs meat substitute labeling requirements into law
Also, FEMA canvassing Iowa neighborhoods hit by tornadoes
Meat substitute products, like vegetable and plant-based burgers, must feature prominent labeling that makes clear the product is not meat under a measure signed into law Wednesday by Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds.
The new law also prohibits lab-grown products from being used in school lunches and bars low-income Iowans from using food assistance benefits to purchase egg alternatives.
Reynolds signed the bill into law at an Iowa County farm near Ladora.
“This legislation prohibits companies from exploiting the trust consumers have with our livestock producers and misleading consumers into buying products they don’t want,” Reynolds said in a statement. “This is about transparency. It’s about the common-sense idea that a product labeled chicken, beef or pork should actually come from an animal.”
Under the new law, the state Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing will create rules and impose civil penalties on food manufacturing plants that mislabel non-meat foods.
Republican lawmakers said the measure will promote transparency in food production and help promote Iowa’s meat and agriculture industry.
Late in the legislative process, Republicans in the Iowa House amended the bill to add the provision that says Iowans enrolled in food assistance programs like SNAP for low-income individuals and WIC for low-income mothers cannot use those benefits to purchase egg substitute products.
Because those programs are jointly funded and operated with the federal government, Iowa must apply for a federal waiver to enforce that policy.
Lab-grown meat products also are prohibited from food assistance purchases or in school meals.
The bill passed both chambers on mostly party-line votes, with Republicans supporting and Democrats opposing. Senate File 2391 passed the Iowa House, 60-34, and the Iowa Senate, 33-12.
FEMA canvassing areas hit by Iowa tornadoes
Federal Emergency Management Agency officials on Wednesday began canvassing neighborhoods in Iowa to assist those impacted by last month’s by tornadoes.
According to the National Weather Service, more than 20 tornadoes struck Iowa on April 26, killing one in the hard-hit town of Minden in western Iowa.
FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance teams will be working in Pottawattamie and Shelby counties in Iowa, then visiting other Iowa counties impacted by the severe weather.
President Joe Biden approved a major disaster declaration for eight Iowa counties that were hit last month by tornadoes. The declaration opens federal funding for families and businesses impacted by that day’s destructive storms in Clarke, Harrison, Mills, Polk, Pottawattamie, Ringgold, Shelby and Union counties.
FEMA personnel can help homeowners and renters apply for money to pay for a temporary place to live, home repairs, medical expenses and other needs not covered by insurance. They also provide referrals to additional community resources, according to a news release.
Residents are reminded to ask for official photo identification before providing personal information to anyone.
FEMA has opened two disaster recovery centers in Nebraska, and Iowa residents are welcome to visit those centers. Work is underway to identify a location in Iowa, according to FEMA.
The Nebraska disaster recovery centers are at the Omaha Police Department in Elkhorn and the First Lutheran Church in Blair. Both centers are open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.
After a spectacular senior year with Iowa basketball, point guard Bennett Stirtz won Iowa Athletics’ men’s Athlete of the Year and men’s Hawkeye of the Year awards at the athletic department’s 10th annual Golden Herky awards ceremony.
Stirtz, who made stops at Northwest Missouri State and Drake before his lone season at Iowa, finished with a career Division I average of 19.5 points, 5.0 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game on 48.7% field goal shooting, 37.2% 3-point shooting, and 82% from the free-throw line.
This past season, the 6-foot-4, 190-pounder from Liberty, Missouri, averaged 19.8 points and 4.4 assists per game on 47.7% field goal shooting and 35.8% 3-point shooting, to accompany 4.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.4 steals through approximately 37:44 of action in his 37 games played.
At the end of the season, Stirtz’s play earned him AP and USBWA honorable-mention All-America honors, first-team All-Big Ten recognition, and the winner of the prestigious Chris Street Award.
In addition to Stirtz’s men’s Athlete of the Year award, Iowa’s men’s basketball team took home four additional Golden Herkys.
Redshirt freshman Cooper Koch was named men’s Breakthrough Athlete, freshman Tate Sage was named men’s Freshman of the Year, and the team earned the awards for men’s Outstanding Team and Best Moment for defeating No. 1 seed Florida to advance to the Sweet 16 in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
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CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – A University of Iowa student critically injured in an April 19 shooting at the Pedestrian Mall is off a ventilator after multiple surgeries.
Miranda, who suffered the most serious injuries in the shooting, was taken off a ventilator and breathing through her tracheostomy with oxygen support as needed, according to a May 2 update on a GoFundMe page organized by her sister, Janjay Peters. The fundraiser has raised more than $195,000.
Doctors said if Miranda continues to do well with her breathing, she may be moved out of the ICU soon. The family expressed appreciation for the support they have been receiving.
The shooting happened at the Pedestrian Mall in Iowa City, around 1:45 a.m. on April 19. Five people were hurt, one critically.
Iowa City Police said 17-year-old Damarian Jones of Cedar Rapids was involved in a fight before he retrieved a gun from another person and fired six shots into the crowd, hitting five people.
Authorities said there is no evidence Jones targeted any of the victims, and none were involved in the initial fight.
Iowa City Police are still searching for Jones. He is facing five counts of attempted murder among several other charges.
The Iowa City Police Department said it expects to arrest more people in addition to the charges for Jones.
Copyright 2026 KCRG. All rights reserved.
IOWA (KWQC) – Iowa Democrats responded to Vice President JD Vance’s visit and endorsement of Rep. Zach Nunn in a press release.
The statement addressed Vance’s comments on tax cuts for American manufacturers. Democrats said corporate greed and policies pushed by Republicans including Vance and Nunn have led to the ongoing closure of Burlington’s CNH plant.
The release stated that from 2015 to 2024, CNH made $11.6 billion in profit and the CEO made $113 million during that time period. The statement said the money could have provided as much as $5 per hour per employee and could have been used to keep plants open in the U.S. and Iowa.
Vance discussed opening regulation for E15 fuel so Iowa farmers can have another revenue source, along with recent progress made for the Farm Bill.
A farmer from central Iowa remarked on the recent Farm Bill, saying a new Farm Bill has just passed the House, but it is not future-looking and continues to support big operations. The farmer said the bill gives money for precision agriculture development and purchases for farmers.
The statement referenced the president’s February executive order to purchase metric tons of beef from Argentina instead of supporting Iowa’s beef production.
Copyright 2026 KWQC. All rights reserved.
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