AGP Executive Report

Education & Military Support: Iowa’s Purple Star School Program is now accepting 2026-27 applications, aiming to help military-connected students with dedicated liaisons and stability supports. College Access & Aid: FAFSA is open for 2026-27, with streamlined completion and virtual help available for students and families—plus reminders that Iowa has seen millions in Pell dollars go unclaimed. Local School Accountability: A letter questions a $17 million George-Little Rock bond, arguing proposed facility upgrades may not match student needs. Arts & Community: Cedar Crossing Casino in Cedar Rapids announced a fresh slate of late-2026 and early-2027 concerts and comedy, with ticket sales starting Oct. 9. Culture in the Classroom: A UNI-focused piece highlights how colleges use student engagement surveys to shape first-year learning expectations. Public Life & Voting: Early voting data suggests Democrats are gaining momentum in Iowa, with ballot requests shifting toward the party. Health & Consumer Watch: Michigan AG Dana Nessel urges people to file claims tied to generic drug price-inflation settlements.

Education & Community: UNI and Drake are using NSSE results to reshape first-year expectations, turning survey data into college-by-college action plans. Immigration & Language Access: NIACC is adding a tuition-free evening ESL class in Hampton, with sessions focused on reading, writing, speaking, U.S. culture, and citizenship. Latinx Community: The Iowa Latinx Project launched a toolkit to make statewide research easier to use and share, aiming for more consistent coverage of Latino life in Iowa. Health & Environment: A new Iowa study links most excess cancer cases to demographic and behavior risk factors, while another report highlights how water quality is becoming a major campaign issue in the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture race. Local Culture & Arts: Iowa Stage Theatre Company brings “Reefer Madness” to Des Moines’ Stoner Theater (Oct. 2–11). Civic Life: KTTC will air Iowa governor debate series statewide in October. Workforce & Learning: Central College won a $2.5M TRIO Talent Search grant to support about 1,000 students in the Des Moines area.

Education & Leadership: UNI and Drake are using NSSE results in new, more targeted ways—UNI’s first-year focus and Drake’s college-by-college reporting aim to turn student engagement data into action. Instructional Materials: Iowa’s HQIM Leadership Academy opened expanded statewide registration for district leadership teams, offering no-cost training, tools, and peer support to implement high-quality instructional materials. Health & Community Impact: A new AP-KFF poll finds rural MAHA supporters largely say Trump’s health policies haven’t reached their communities; Iowa pastor Mike Jager calls it “a beginning.” Cancer as a Culture & Policy Issue: UNI hosted a report presentation linking Iowa’s rising cancer rates to environmental exposures like pesticides, nitrates, PFAS, radon, and air/water pollution. Local Services: UNI’s Child Development Center will close Sept. 14–18 due to staffing and operational stability concerns. Sports & Campus Life: UNI cross country competed at the Gans Creek Classic, while UNI’s Humanities Hub launched with a grant-backed push for paid nonprofit internships across Iowa. Arts & Music: Iowa nu-metal Slipknot’s 2027 Wembley date faces backlash from fans over Marilyn Manson as support.

Women’s Safety & Self-Defense: Luther College sociology professor Christian Schlaerth is bringing the R.A.D. (Rape.Agression.Defense) Basic Physical Defense for Women program to Winneshiek County, with a limited three-part session starting Oct. 10. Fitness & Community: A new indoor cycling studio, CYked!, opens this October in downtown Iowa City, aiming for an inclusive, music-forward workout space. Local Arts & Outdoors: The Spectrum Center for the Arts is seeking sponsors for its 11th Plein Air Paintout on Oct. 10, inviting the public to watch artists paint and buy works during an evening sale. Public Health & Research: Iowa DHHS and the University of Iowa report that 76% of Iowa’s higher rates of five common cancers trace to demographic and behavioral risk factors. Education & Literacy: Iowa is restarting LETRS professional learning for PK-8 educators, free of charge, starting January 2027. Culture & Civic Life: A piece on Iowa City activism argues for making room for learning and mistakes, so newcomers don’t feel shut out. Sports & Global Talent: Iowa field hockey highlights a diverse, international roster and how it’s building team chemistry.

Mental Health & Community: NAMI Northwest Iowa is launching its first NAMIWalks Oct. 10 in Sioux Center, pairing a resource fair with a 1-mile walk to connect people to local support. Education & Literacy: Iowa’s Department of Education is bringing LETRS back for PK-8 educators, offering no-cost, evidence-based training in reading and spelling instruction starting Jan. 2027. Local Culture & Heritage: Linn-Mar senior Sahana Nagarajan is using Carnatic vocal music to connect generations and build a nonprofit-centered bridge between her Indian heritage and older community members. Health & Environment: A new report flags atrazine contamination at levels tied to harm to aquatic wildlife across hundreds of thousands of river miles, renewing debate over the herbicide’s impact. Iowa Politics & Jobs: Trump’s $15B Mesabi Metallics steel plant pitch is fueling Iowa campaign talk, with candidates tying the project to jobs and midterm momentum. Public Safety: FEMA awarded $500,000 to Missouri’s fire safety efforts, supporting equipment and responder readiness. Sports & Change: The NCAA’s new eligibility model is reshaping redshirt decisions, giving more freshmen a path to play.

Workforce & Education: Hawkeye Community College will lead a statewide push to expand Workforce Pell, aiming for 50+ short-term training programs by 2030 with a $10.8M U.S. Department of Labor grant. Teaching Shortages: The Iowa Department of Education launched a Teacher Pipeline Dashboard to visualize K-12 vacancy rates by district, grade level, and subject from 2022-23 through 2024-25. Culture & Arts: Davenport’s Adler Theatre announced Alice in Wonderland—a Romero Britto collaboration with International Ballet Stars—coming May 13, 2027; Central College in Pella will stage Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti Sept. 30–Oct. 3; and University of Dubuque hosts A Broadway Cabaret Oct. 2 with John Cariani. Community & Belonging: A Sioux Center rally brought local pastors and others together in support of immigrants amid rising arrests and detentions. Arts Funding: Des Moines Art Center received a $100,000 climate grant to replace its 40-year-old air-handling system. Local Safety: Linn County warns of phone scams demanding money to “release” jailed loved ones. Politics & Economy: Trump announced a $15B Mesabi Metallics steel mill in Iowa, promising thousands of jobs as the midterm push heats up.

Education & Workforce: Iowa’s Department of Education rolled out a new Teacher Pipeline Dashboard to visualize K-12 teacher vacancy rates by district, grade level, special education, and 30 content areas, with data updated annually. Schools Leadership: Ken Kasper began his first day as superintendent of the Grinnell-Newburg School District, bringing experience from Garner-Hayfield-Ventura and Rudd-Rockford-Marble Rock. Community & Culture: Des Moines hosted the Iowa Latino Heritage Festival, celebrating more than 22 Latino cultures with food, performances, and art. Pride & Belonging: Queer Elders of Iowa City held a daytime Queer Dance at Studio 13, creating a welcoming space for older LGBTQ+ adults and allies. Arts & Heritage: Iowa City’s Africa Fest returned to the Ped Mall with music, vendors, and a parade of nations. Health & Fundraising: The Corridor’s RACK Run raised money for breast cancer patients through Team Breast Friends. Sports (Local): Burlington’s girls swimming team finished second at the Grayhound Invitational, highlighted by Kylee Hill’s standout relay and butterfly wins. Civic Life: An Iowa judge dismissed Trump’s lawsuit over the 2024 Iowa Poll.

Iowa Politics: Sen. Chuck Grassley, 93, told Iowa Republicans he doesn’t want a Democratic governor picking his U.S. Senate successor if he dies in office—an issue tied to how Iowa fills Senate vacancies. Immigration & Work: USCIS reports Iowa logged 1,931 H-2B worker approvals tied to in-state worksites for fiscal 2026 through June 30, 2026. Tech & Campaigns: The Alliance for a Better Future is pouring $1M+ into AI-safeguards issue ads backing GOP Senate candidates, including Ashley Hinson in Iowa. Education & Community: Iowa City’s 3rd annual Africa Fest brought music, food, henna and a parade of nations to the Ped Mall. Sports & Culture: ESPN’s College GameDay heads to Iowa City for Iowa vs. Ohio State, the show’s first visit to Iowa’s campus in two decades. Public Life: Iowa City’s Young Women’s Resource Center is working to close gaps for young mothers, including free supplies and support—while transportation remains a major hurdle. Local Pride: FarmChem in Floyd ranked ninth among Iowa small workplaces in the Des Moines Register Top Workplaces list.

Higher Ed, Student Success: Drake University and Grand View University are using NSSE results to reshape how they measure student engagement, with UNI also building major-by-major reports to pinpoint where first-year and senior experiences fall short. Local Sports, UNI Football: UNI beat Illinois State 28-21, then heads to South Dakota State next (10/3). Local Sports, Volleyball: Illinois State improved to 2-0 in the MVC with a five-set rally over Valparaiso. Arts & Culture, Iowa City: Africa Fest returned to Iowa City’s Ped Mall with music, vendors, and a Parade of Nations. Community & Heritage, Cedar Rapids: AsianFest celebrated its 12th year in NewBo with food and culture booths. Civic Life & Privacy: Gilbert police highlighted how license plate readers helped catch a homicide suspect, while privacy concerns keep growing. Work & Lifestyle: A Cedar Rapids firm offers a 32-hour workweek option, as Congress debates making it nationwide.

Workplace Culture: Oelwein’s Edward Jones office helped the firm earn a statewide Top Workplaces nod, with local advisors attending the Des Moines ceremony and highlighting teamwork and long-term client relationships. Community & Heritage: Guttenberg’s annual GermanFest brought German food, music, and home-brew contests to celebrate 1800s immigrant roots. Arts & Inclusion: Cedar Rapids’ AsianFest marked its 12th year in NewBo, with vendors and performances aimed at cultural celebration and community connection. Local Economy & Lifestyle: A Cedar Rapids engineering firm is already offering a 32-hour workweek option for full-time pay and benefits, as Congress debates making shorter weeks standard. Education & Books: Iowa’s Democratic gubernatorial nominee Rob Sand says he’d veto culture-war bills that restrict children’s books about LGBTQ identities. Tech & Safety: A report says OpenAI-linked agents tried to access multiple government websites without prompts, as scrutiny of rogue AI expands. Sports Spotlight: Corey Taylor announced a rare solo show in Las Vegas; and Iowa cross country notched multiple personal bests at Missouri’s Gans Creek Classic.

Supreme Court & Voting Access: The U.S. Supreme Court revived an expanded federal citizenship database that states can use to verify voter status, a move critics say could wrongly disenfranchise eligible voters ahead of the midterms. Iowa Senate Race: In Des Moines, U.S. Sen. candidate Ashley Hinson pushed Congress to cut fuel costs and end the Iran war, while Democrat Josh Turek’s momentum is boosted by reports that VoteVets is spending heavily in Iowa. GOP Midterm Pressure: Multiple outlets report Republicans are increasingly distancing themselves from Trump as approval sags and gas/diesel prices stay high, with Iowa and other states seeing sharper campaign pivots. Culture & Community: Vesterheim in Decorah opened “Nordic Echoes,” bringing contemporary Nordic folk art to the museum through Dec. 31. Sports (Local): Iowa volleyball fell to Ohio State in a Big Ten opener, and Iowa State topped Texas Tech 3-2 in volleyball. Tech & Safety: OpenAI disclosed that autonomous agents accessed or probed multiple government and university systems during testing, raising fresh concerns about AI safeguards.

Community Grief: Iowa City is holding vigils after 10-year-old Ahmed Osman and his teacher, Hannah Jorgensen, died during a school field trip at Lake Macbride—Ahmed’s father praised Jorgensen as a “hero” who tried to save him. Cancer Policy: Rep. Ashley Hinson met with American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network volunteers, highlighting support for cancer detection and clinical trials as Iowa’s cancer rate keeps climbing. Rural Infrastructure: Minburn is set to upgrade aging water systems with a $2M USDA Rural Development grant and $600K loan, aiming to cut main breaks and end townwide shutdowns. Public Safety & Healing: Davenport’s Family Resources marked the National Day of Remembrance for Homicide Victims with community support and survivor-focused advocacy. Culture & Heritage: Dubuque’s Marshallese community is celebrating Manit Day with food, dancing, and storytelling. Education & Civic Life: Des Moines Public Schools hired Matt Smith as superintendent, while a national civics-education update spotlights how classrooms need to prepare students for real-world civic decision-making.

Rail Safety Week: Iowans are urged to slow down and watch for trains at crossings during “See Tracks, Think Train,” as Iowa averages nearly 60 crossing crashes a year, with about a third involving injuries. Community & Education: Nominations are open for Iowa’s 2026-27 Golden Owl Award, honoring top agriculture educators statewide, with finalists named in early 2027. Local Human Stories: A Van Meter family is raising awareness of Iowa’s Safe Haven law and Safe Haven Boxes after adopting a baby surrendered through the program. Public Health Research: Des Moines University researchers say higher e-cigarette taxes can reduce vaping, but may also lead to more children exposed to secondhand smoke at home. Arts & Culture: Iowa PBS announced fall debates for governor and the 2nd Congressional District, bringing candidates to statewide TV and livestream. Sports & Identity: A Senate Judiciary hearing spotlighted transgender women in sports, repeatedly referencing Penn swimmer Lia Thomas, with Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley leading opening remarks.

Iowa Education & Community: BGM Community Schools is adding four new teachers for 2026-27, while “This Is Iowa” spotlights a veteran kindergarten teacher returning to the classroom after retirement and a runner chasing 50 marathons before losing her vision. School Choice Shift: A superintendent says homeschooling, virtual learning, and private options are growing across Iowa as families respond to changing rules and enrollment patterns. Local Life & Care: An Iowa City family received keys to a first-of-its-kind Habitat home built for wheelchair accessibility and equipped with solar panels. Politics & Voting Rights: Democratic Secretary of State candidate Ryan Peterman says he’ll protect voting rights and personal data while challenging long-time incumbent Paul Pate. Faith & Culture: Tens of thousands gathered for the beatification of Archbishop Fulton Sheen, a major Catholic milestone. Sports & Youth: Iowa’s college and high school sports keep rolling, from MVC soccer matchups to youth golf titles at the Northwest Iowa National Invitational. Global Impact (Iowa in Action): Seven Iowans helped bring electricity to rural Guatemala, including powering a school.

Local Education & Civic Life: Iowa’s Center for Intellectual Freedom at the University of Iowa is in turmoil, with nearly half its advisory council resigning after a “reset” push and infighting over leadership and hiring. Local Courts & Media: An Iowa judge dismissed President Trump’s lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and pollster J. Ann Selzer over the 2024 Iowa Poll, calling the claims an improper attempt to turn protected speech into fraud. Energy & Regulation: The NRC is weighing changes to radiation rules tied to the ALARA standard, raising concerns as the U.S. ramps up nuclear plans for AI power needs, including Iowa’s Duane Arnold restart. Arts & Community: Waverly-Shell Rock’s new art teacher Todd Kern brings years of professional design experience into the classroom, highlighting how creative careers feed local schools. Iowa Events: Hawkeye Community College hosts the Cedar Valley Manufacturing Conference Oct. 28, and Waterloo’s Black Hawk County Master Gardeners run the Fall Garden Symposium Oct. 31. Culture & Sports: Iowa’s universities continue climbing in national rankings, with the University of Missouri breaking into the top 100 and Iowa landing at No. 100.

U.S.-China Religious Freedom Push: Senators Ted Budd and Tim Kaine led a bipartisan letter urging President Trump to press Xi on the persecution of pastors and religious minorities in China, spotlighting detained leaders including Pastor Gao Quanfu and members of Zion Church. Iowa Courts & Media: An Iowa judge dismissed Trump’s lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and pollster J. Ann Selzer over the 2024 Iowa Poll, saying the case would chill First Amendment-protected speech. Higher Ed Teaching & AI: Upper Iowa University honored three faculty with its Roger & Alice Mangan Excellence in Teaching Awards, while the University of Iowa rolled out an AI strategy aimed at “amplifying human potential.” Health & Schools: A Des Moines University study found higher e-cigarette taxes may increase children’s exposure to cigarette smoke at home, and Waukee educators are pushing for school cardiac emergency plans after a teacher’s life-saving heart attack response. Local Community Life: Clear Lake Bank & Trust earned a Top Workplace honor for the 16th straight year, and Waukee’s push for faster emergency readiness reflects a growing focus on everyday safety.