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Capitol Notebook: Iowa Gov. Reynolds signs meat substitute labeling requirements into law

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Capitol Notebook: Iowa Gov. Reynolds signs meat substitute labeling requirements into law


Also, FEMA canvassing Iowa neighborhoods hit by tornadoes

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds addresses reporters’ questions during a May 1 news conference in the governor’s office at the Iowa Capitol in Des Moines. Photo by Erin Murphy.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.





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Penn State earns commitment from Iowa State leading wide receiver via transfer

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Penn State earns commitment from Iowa State leading wide receiver via transfer


Penn State landed Iowa State’s pair of quarterbacks earlier Sunday, including starter Rocco Becht, in a splash move. Now, the Cyclones’ leading receiver is coming with them.

Wide receiver Brett Eskildsen committed to Penn State via the transfer portal, becoming the seventh Cyclone to join the Nittany Lions this weekend. He announced the move on social media.

Eskildsen recorded 30 receptions, 526 yards and five touchdowns as a sophomore in 2025. He also appeared in all 13 games as a freshman but made just two catches for 17 yards.

The 6-1, 200-pound wideout is from Frisco, Texas, and is a three-star in the 247Sports transfer rankings (No. 118 overall, No. 30 WR). He was a three-star out of high school as well, where he had more than 1,5000 career receiving yards.

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Becht’s top man from 2026 is now in place. He’ll also be able to throw to standout Penn State freshman Koby Howard and quick youngster Tyseer Denmark, who have confirmed their returns thus far.

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Iowa State picks up commitment from Arkansas State QB Jaylen Raynor

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Iowa State picks up commitment from Arkansas State QB Jaylen Raynor


Iowa State football has picked up a commitment from Arkansas State quarterback Jaylen Raynor, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on Jan. 3.

Raynor has one season of eligibility remaining. The 6-foot, 202-pounder from Kernersville, North Carolina, passed for 3,361 yards and 19 touchdowns this season. He was intercepted 11 times.

Raynor also rushed for 423 yards and seven touchdowns.

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He passed for 8,694 yards and 52 touchdowns in three seasons at Arkansas State.

“The (Iowa State) coaching staff is known for winning,” Raynor told Thamel. “The head coach is a known winner and done it on multiple levels.”

Raynor will join Arkansas State offensive coordinator Keith Heckendorf in Ames. Heckendorf was named Cyclones quarterbacks coach this week.

Raynor completed 19 of 33 passes for 222 yards in a 24-16 loss to Iowa State on Sept. 13, 2025.



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Seven Iowa High School Wrestlers Off To Dominant Starts This Season – FloWrestling

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Seven Iowa High School Wrestlers Off To Dominant Starts This Season – FloWrestling


The first month of the Iowa high school wrestling season has been filled with scintillating individual performances. Here’s a look at seven standouts who have been racking up bonus points in December. 

Drew Anderson (Riverside)  

The Class 1A state runner-up last year at 132 is up to 144 this season and he’s 14-0 with 11 technical falls, a pair of pins and a forfeit win. Anderson, a junior in his second season at the school, already owns the Riverside school record for technical falls with 28. Anderson is on pace to more than double the previous Riverside tech record of 23. 

Urijah Courter (West Marshall)

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Courter won the 2A title last season at 113 after placing third as a freshman at 106. He’s up to 120 this season. Courter is 14-0 this season with 10 pins and two technical falls. His ledger also includes a 6-5 win against Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont’s Simon Bettis in a rematch of last season’s state title bout. 

Cooper Hinz (Jesup)

Entering the holiday break, Michigan commit and two-time state medalist Cooper Hinz is 22-0 with 21 wins via pin, technical fall or forfeit. His other victory was a 4-1 overtime decision against returning state placewinner Cain Rodgers of North Fayette Valley. More impressively, all of Hinz’s pins and technical falls have all come in the first period. 

Lincoln Jipp (Bettendorf)

Jipp placed fifth at 138, third at 165 and second at 175 in Class 3A during his first three seasons. Now he’s up to 215 — 77 pounds more than where he started his career as a freshman. The North Carolina recruit pinned his way through the prestigious Dan Gable Donnybrook. He’s 16-0 with 10 pins, four technical falls and a forfeit.   

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Mason Koehler (Glenwood)

The returning 2A champ at 215 is 20-0 with 18 pins and a major decision. His only two matches that went the distance came at the Council Bluffs Classic, where he defeated Nebraska standout Ryan Boehle of Grand Island 14-4 and Minnesota hammer Joe Kruse of Totino-Grace 9-2. The rest of Koehler’s matches this season ended in first-period pins. He has already registered a six-second pin and another in nine seconds this season. 

Jaxon Miller (Carlisle)  

Miller is a three-time state medalist, a two-time finalist and returning state champ in Class 3A. He placed fourth as a freshman at 145 before making trips to the finals at 157 and 165. He’s 16-0 this season with 13 first-period pins, two technical falls and a forfeit. 

Keaton Moeller (Starmont)

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Moeller placed third in 1A as a freshman at 145 before winning a state title at 150 as a sophomore. He missed all of last season after suffering a torn ACL in football. Now he’s back as a senior at 190 and Moeller hasn’t missed a beat. He’s 13-0 with five pins, six technical falls and a pair of forfeits. He has yet to wrestle a full period this season. 

Iowa High School Premium Rankings

Check out the Iowa High School Wrestling Premium Rankings, which are generated by using an athlete’s complete match history to predict a wrestler’s performance against others in their weight class by considering factors such as win-loss records, the quality of their victories (pins, technical falls, major decisions), the strength of their opponents and overall historical performance patterns. The data is updated every Monday, sourced from the Trackwrestling season results. Since each team is responsible for maintaining their season results, any data discrepancies for a wrestler should be addressed by contacting their coach to manage the information within the season. This includes the weight class assigned. Wrestlers are eligible to be ranked after competing in five matches at a single weight.





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