Iowa

Iowa attorney general pushes federal review as farmers warn refinery exemptions hurt corn market

Published

4 months ago

November 18, 2025

Iowa attorney general pushes federal review as farmers warn refinery exemptions hurt corn market

Johnson County farmers have expressed general disapproval of policy exemptions for facilities that turn crops into fuel across the state. Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird urged an investigation into these facilities across the state.

Bird sent a letter to federal agencies alleging some of Iowa’s small biofuel refineries may be cutting production to qualify for ethanol exemptions, a tactic that farmers say is contributing to lower prices and lost income on their crops.

The Renewable Fuel Standard, or RFS, is a federal program requiring U.S. fuel suppliers to mix renewable fuels into gasoline and diesel with the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, with the 2025 target calling for renewable fuels to account for about 13 percent of the nation’s gasoline and diesel supply.

Small refineries — those unable to satisfy the 75,000-barrel-per-day threshold — can claim an exemption from this requirement by submitting an application that is then reviewed by the EPA.

According to the letter, which was sent on Oct. 29, these companies are claiming hardship while simultaneously telling investors they’re thriving.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Iowa produces over one-fourth of the nation’s ethanol, making Iowa particularly exposed to these kinds of exemptions. When small refineries bypass mixing requirements, it cuts directly into the demand for fuels.

George Swenka, a farmer and rancher in the Tiffin area, agreed with Bird and said he was unhappy with these exemptions, adding it does not make sense to avoid the 10 percent when it helps “everyone.”

“It gives them [refineries with exemptions] an unfair advantage in the marketplace,” Swenka said.” It’s a renewable resource. It helps the producers. It helps every state that’s involved. At the end of the day I just don’t think it’s achieving the goal that should be a common goal for all of us.”

RELATED: Iowa cattle farmer sentiment falls alongside beef futures following Trump’s beef import comments

Chad Hart, an agriculture and finance economics professor at Iowa State University, said this lack of demand has caused financial hardship for farmers.

“It’s a combination of them having ample supplies right now and not seeing as much demand as they would need to take prices higher again. So, if you have the sort of overwhelming supply combined with demand uncertainty, they’re feeling financially squeezed,” Hart said.

Swenka spoke personally about how the lack of demand has affected his farming and said it is especially difficult as farming prices continue to rise.

“Right now, the prices that we’re receiving are just at breakeven, and without an extra marketplace without another source to market our goods, it really makes it tough,” Swenka said.

He said the issue is a common conversation for farmers, calling it “coffee talk,” but he also worries that refinery issues will not be taken as seriously.

“Farmers make up less than 1 percent of the population, so we really feel sometimes that we’re a minority and we feel that we lack any kind of political clout,” he said.

However, he hopes those outside of agriculture realize it affects the broader Iowa community.

“There’s such a high percentage of jobs, especially in Iowa, directly or indirectly touched by agriculture. So, when the attorney general does good, we all do good, especially in small rural Iowa,” Swenka said.

Great American Insurance Group’s Iowa’s 2025 Digital Yield Tour projects Iowa’s 2025 corn yield could hit 223.7 bushels per acre, which would be well above recent averages, with the average last year being 205 bushels per acre. Hart cited statistics like these as a potential reason why Bird decided to write to the federal government, as many farmers are looking for “usage of their bountiful harvest.”

Hart said the last time Trump was in office, a large number of exemptions were granted to these smaller refineries, and then later overturned in court cases, with Trump issuing 85 exemptions in his first term according to an EPA report.

“There’s also this idea that we may see a similar wave of that here during President Trump’s second term,” Hart said.

Timothy Hagle, a political science professor at the UI, said if changes aren’t made, people may see farms go out of business. According to a Bloomberg Law report released in April, farm bankruptcies grew 55 percent from 2023 to 2024 and are trending even higher in 2025, with Iowa leading all other states with 12 bankruptcies.

“You’re going to have some farmers that would not be able to continue because of financial reasons, so they may go out of business. You may have some people that would switch crops to the extent they can do,” Hagle said.

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Iowa

DCI agent say he was fired for questioning Iowa college gambling probe

Published

9 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

DCI agent say he was fired for questioning Iowa college gambling probe

A former Iowa investigator is suing the state, claiming he was fired for criticizing a high-profile college sports gambling probe.
Mark Ludwick alleges his termination was retaliation for testifying that investigators conducted illegal searches and were told to mislead students.
The gambling investigation, which led to charges against dozens of student-athletes, has faced legal challenges over its methods.

A longtime investigator for the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation says he was forced out of the agency because he voiced reservations about a high-profile investigation into gambling in college athletics.

Mark Ludwick was hired by Iowa’s top investigative agency in 1997 and was terminated in November 2024, according to a lawsuit filed Feb. 20 in Polk County. According to his complaint, Ludwick was fired after two “frivolous” investigations, one claiming he’d exceeded the speed limit driving to a murder scene, and the other for assistance he provided to a domestic abuse victim.

The real reason, Ludwick alleges, is that officials were embarrassed after Ludwick testified under oath about what he regarded as weaknesses in their sports wagering investigation, which resulted in dozens of Iowa State University and University of Iowa student-athletes facing suspensions, 25 being criminally charged and 19 pleading guilty to underage gambling.

Ludwick testified in early 2024 he believed investigators had conducted illegal searches to identify the online gamblers and that he and other agents had been directed to lie to students about whether they were subjects of the investigation. He also alleged that stress about the case contributed to another agent’s fatal heart attack, although the agent’s relatives disputed the connection.

Now Ludwick is accusing the state of violating Iowa’s whistleblower protection statute. He declined through his attorney to comment. The Iowa Attorney General’s Office also declined to comment, and the Iowa Department of Public Safety, which includes the DCI, did not respond to an inquiry about the case.

Gambling investigation raised constitutional concerns

In the gambling investigation, DCI investigators used software tools provided by GeoComply, a Canadian company that contracts with online sportsbooks like FanDuel and DraftKings, to look for evidence of illegal gambling activity. Using a GeoComply system, the investigators created a so-called “geofence” around college athletic facilities that allowed them to detect student athletes using wagering accounts registered to parents and friends to place bets ― sometimes on their own games.

Although the investigation resulted in numerous arrests and suspensions, it also drew controversy, in particular for agents’ failure to obtain warrants before conducting their location searches. GeoComply, which had encouraged Iowa to use its service, responded by cancelling the state’s access.

A large group of current and former students sued the state, accusing investigators of violating their constitutional rights. In November 2025, a federal judge ruled that the state’s investigation “does not comport with the Fourth Amendment,” which provides protection from illegal searches.

Nonetheless, the court dismissed the lawsuit, finding the officers involved were entitled to immunity. An appeal is pending.

Ludwick’s reservations emerge in depositions

Ludwick was an experienced investigator for the DCI, working on high-profile cases including the 2015 murder of Shirley Carter, whose son was tried and acquitted, and the 2017 deaths of two girls in a fire started by a relative.

While not the lead agent on the 2023 gambling investigation, Ludwick was tapped to assist by interviewing some of the student athletes. He later testified he grew concerned that the state’s geofence searches amounted to illegal, warrantless searches, and declined to participate in the case any further. He alleges that other DCI agents shared his concerns and also maneuvered to avoid being involved in the case.

Ludwick says he reported his concerns to his superiors. In January 2024, he was deposed by defense attorneys for four of the students, and “testified truthfully during his deposition that he believed an illegal search had been conducted.” Defense attorneys cited Ludwick’s remarks within days in filings covered by numerous media outlets, including the Des Moines Register, which “caused embarrassment and increased scrutiny for the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Commissioner Bayens, and other employees,” Ludwick’s suit states.

According to the complaint, officials launched an investigation into Ludwick for speeding on March 5, weeks after the embarrassing testimony was reported. On Aug. 8, officials initiated a second investigation after, Ludwick says, “he attempted to help a victim of domestic abuse flee her abuser.” He denies his actions violated Iowa law or department policy.

William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com or 715-573-8166.

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Iowa

Official Site of The ECHL | ECHL announces Voluntary Suspension of Iowa Membership for 2026-27 Season

Published

21 hours ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

The ECHL announced today that the League’s Board of Governors has approved the request of the Iowa Heartlanders’ Membership for a Voluntary Suspension for the 2026-27 Season.

During the suspension period, the organization will evaluate strategic alternatives aimed at ensuring a sustainable long-term future for professional hockey in the Corridor, including potential investment or ownership partnerships that support the continued success of the Membership.

The ECHL will continue to work with the Heartlanders’ ownership group during the suspension period as the organization evaluates its future. The League remains committed to the continued growth and stability of its member teams and markets.

“This was an incredibly difficult decision that followed months of careful evaluation,” said Heartlanders owner Michael Devlin. “Despite significant efforts to stabilize and strengthen the organization, we concluded that stepping back for a season is the most responsible course while we review long-term solutions. As stewards of the team, we believe this step gives the organization the best opportunity to return on a stronger and more sustainable footing.”

“We worked through every potential path that might have allowed us to continue uninterrupted,” Heartlanders President Matt Getz said. “Ultimately, we believe this pause provides the organization the best opportunity to position the Membership for long-term success.”

The Iowa organization expresses deep gratitude to the fans, partners, players, staff and the City of Coralville who have supported the Heartlanders since the team’s founding.

The ECHL will play with 30 Members during the 2026-27 season.

About the ECHL

Formed in 1988-89 with five teams in four states, the ECHL has grown into a coast-to-coast league with 30 teams in 23 states and one Canadian province for its 38th season in 2025-26. There have been 778 players who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League after starting their careers in the ECHL, including 10 who have made their NHL debuts in the 2025-26 season. The ECHL has affiliations with 30 of the 32 NHL teams in 2025-26, marking the 28th consecutive season that the league has affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL. Further information on the ECHL is available on its website at ECHL.com.

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Iowa

Explore Effigy Mounds, Iowa’s ancient earthworks above the Mississippi

Published

1 day ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

Explore Effigy Mounds, Iowa’s ancient earthworks above the Mississippi

High on the bluffs overlooking the Upper Mississippi River, Effigy Mounds National Monument preserves more than 200 ancient earthen mounds shaped like bears, birds, and spirits of the natural world. Built by Indigenous peoples more than 1,000 years ago, these formations stand as powerful reminders that America’s story stretches far beyond European arrival. At this quiet landscape of forested ridges and sweeping river views, visitors can walk among sacred sites that continue to hold meaning for many Native nations today. Effigy Mounds is both a cultural touchstone and one of the most visually striking archaeological landscapes in the United States.

Location: Harpers Ferry, Iowa

Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/2WhrGJ8cqh2nsC8L6

Why it matters

Effigy Mounds honors the artistry, engineering, and spiritual traditions of Indigenous communities who shaped these hills centuries before the United States existed. As the nation marks 250 years, this landscape reminds us that America’s story begins long before 1776. The bear, bird and linear mounds — some perfectly aligned with celestial patterns — preserve cultural memory, identity and resilience. They stand as a testament to the first peoples who understood this land as home.

What to see today

Visitors can follow wooded trails to some of the most iconic shapes, including the Great Bear Mound and soaring bird effigies perched above the Mississippi. Interpretive exhibits explain the moundbuilders’ cultures, craftsmanship, and the region’s deep archaeological significance. Listen for wind moving through oak forests and watch eagles ride the river’s currents below. Rangers and tribal partners share stories of ongoing cultural ties, helping visitors understand these earthworks not as relics, but as living heritage.

Ask a local

Stop in nearby McGregor for a bite at Old Man River Restaurant & Brewery, where locals drift in for beers and scenic river views or the Backwoods Bar & Grill, a popular spot for casual American pub food.

Plan your visit

• Best time: Fall colors or late spring• Hours/admission: Visitor center open daily; free entry• Getting there: Parking at the visitor center; trails begin onsite• Learn more: nps.gov/efmo

Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.

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