AGP Executive Report

STEM & Schools: Iowa educators gathered for the BEST STEMposium in Earlham, with tours and a new STEM BEST 250 initiative tied to America 250. Math Talent: The Iowa Department of Education invited 785 top-scoring third graders to apply for National Math Stars, with mentoring and STEM summer experiences. Local Education Moves: Dubuque schools approved buying the Keystone Area Education Agency facility for $2 million to expand its Re-engage Dubuque program and online classes. Workforce Training: Iowa Western Community College is set to expand skilled trades training with nearly $1 million in federal funding for new labs and equipment in Atlantic and Clarinda. Community Celebrations: Ottumwa’s fifth annual Juneteenth celebration drew big crowds to Central Park for music, vendors, and performances. Culture & Music: The Iowa Rocks Talent Contest is now accepting applications for young musicians statewide, with video submissions and a chance at recording time. Sports Business: Iowa State announced it will start selling alcohol at Jack Trice Stadium and Hilton Coliseum this fall as athletics budgets face rising costs. Voting Rights: The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review an Arkansas case that advocates say further weakens enforcement of the Voting Rights Act.

LGBTQ+ Community Spotlight: Fort Dodge’s fifth annual Pride Festival returns Saturday on Central Avenue, aiming to center LGBTQ+ voices and support local LGBTQ+ businesses and allies. Higher Ed & Academic Freedom: Iowa’s new law requiring University of Iowa, Iowa State, and UNI students to take American history and government courses starting Fall 2028 is sparking debate over legislative control versus university oversight, with the Center for Intellectual Freedom designated as the only UI unit allowed to offer the required classes. Local Culture & Education: Iowa PBS will air the 2026 Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase July 6, featuring hundreds of student performers from across the state. Community Health & Public Safety: Metro Waste Authority hosted tours for more than 100 families to explain landfill fire risks, especially lithium-ion batteries, after dozens of fires this year. Arts & Community Events: Ottumwa’s first annual Dog Day Jam BMX contest helped launch the new All Wheels Skate Park, blending youth sports with community fun. Policy & Food Access: A House GOP reconciliation plan would cut SNAP by nearly $300 billion through 2034, threatening food assistance for millions.

Pride in Iowa City: Thousands packed downtown for the Iowa City Pride Parade and Festival, with floats, performers, and groups pushing messages like “Protect Trans Rights” and “The Library Is for Everyone,” underscoring the city’s long LGBTQ+ advocacy roots. Juneteenth in the Quad Cities: Downtown Davenport’s Juneteenth festival moved to Second Street, centering music, food, and education while organizers stressed telling the full story of American history. Education Savings Accounts fight: A Register report says Iowa ESA regulators denied an Iowa family’s application over the mother’s non-permanent visa status—even though the law focuses on state residency—raising fresh questions about how school choice is enforced. Public health & environment: A Texas investigation links Parkinson’s disease risk to pesticide exposure in the Rio Grande Valley, a reminder that farm chemicals can follow communities beyond the fields. Local listings: West Des Moines published a week of religious gathering schedules, and Iowa’s DNR flagged multiple beaches with elevated E. coli where swimming isn’t recommended.

LGBTQ+ Community & Culture: Iowa City Pride Parade and Festival drew thousands downtown, with performers and organizers pointing to rising urgency for visibility and safety after Iowa’s 2025 law removed gender identity from the civil rights code. Public Health & Outdoor Life: Iowa’s DNR warned swimmers to skip several popular beaches due to elevated E. coli levels, as bacteria alerts spread beyond the state. Immigration & Civic Life: A national story highlights how a noncitizen with a final deportation order was quietly removed from voter rolls only after a federal conviction—raising questions about how many ineligible registrations linger. Education Policy: An Iowa couple on a non-permanent visa was denied an education savings account despite meeting residency rules, spotlighting how immigration status can collide with school-choice policy. Arts & Community Events: Davenport’s Redstone Room hosts the Yogev Shetrit Trio for a Third Sunday Jazz Series concert blending Andalusian-jazz and North African influences. Local Heritage & History: A deep dive revisits the Villisca axe murders, still unsolved after 1912, with attention on how early investigation missteps kept the case open. Fairgrounds & Family Fun: The Iowa State Fair’s historic Swine Barn is getting a $19.6M makeover for accessibility and storm-water upgrades, with phase one set to finish before the 2026 fair.

Immigration & Education: An Iowa family legally living in the U.S. on a visa says the state denied their education savings account because the mother’s visa isn’t “permanent,” even though the ESA law only requires Iowa residency—raising fresh questions about how school-choice rules are applied. Arts & Community Events: Davenport’s Redstone Room hosts the Yogev Shetrit Trio for a June 21 Third Sunday Jazz Series show with an Andalusian-jazz vibe. Food & Local Culture: The Bookworm of Edwards brings a June 24 talk on the history of bacon and how it went from taboo to mainstream. Juneteenth & Bridge-Building: Des Moines’ Lutheran Church of Hope+Elim welcomed activist musician Daryl Davis to discuss building bridges during unrest. Iowa State Fair: The Swine Barn at the Iowa State Fair is getting a $19.6M makeover, with phase one finishing by Aug. 13. Summer in the Neighborhoods: Sioux City launched “Pop-up Park” events with family activities, including nutrition classes through Iowa State University. Local Economy: The Iowa Economic Development Authority approved job-creating expansions in Independence and Newton, plus tourism grants including $1M for Le Mars pickleball courts. Policy Watch (Higher Ed): Iowa’s Board of Regents will review DEI/CRT content in general education at the state’s public universities every two years starting in 2026-27.

Education & Youth Sports: The Iowa State Board of Education approved rules letting 8th graders compete in high school athletics starting Aug. 1, with schools deciding which teams to open up and the “No Pass, No Play” rule not applying to 8th graders. School Leadership: Union Community School District in La Porte City named Michael Bruns as its next middle school principal, bringing years of district activities and at-risk coordination experience. Farm & Community Safety: South Tama County Elementary hosted a farm safety day with Iowa State Extension, Tama County Farm Bureau, and Public Health, including grain bin and ATV safety lessons. Health & Community Education: A “Cancer in Iowa: 99 Counties Project” presentation at Iowa Central aims to boost cancer education, prevention, and early detection. Local Culture & History: Tama County’s Flag Day celebration tied America’s 250th anniversary to local history with performances, historic portrayals, and cultural dancing. Tourism & Arts: Gov. Kim Reynolds attended Clear Lake’s Surf District ribbon cutting after a Destination Iowa grant helped fund revitalization, including Surf Ballroom upgrades and the Oaks Hotel. Community Art: Fairfield students and the school’s GSA painted a new downtown mural, commissioned through Leadership Fairfield and supported by local grants and businesses.

Iowa State Fair: The historic Swine Barn at the Iowa State Fairgrounds is getting a $19.6 million, multi-phase renovation—the biggest in Fair history—starting with accessibility upgrades and new restrooms for the 2026 Fair, plus a larger overhaul planned for 2028. Local Food & Community: A new Iowa Farm Bureau Food & Farm Index survey finds shoppers want closer, more trusted connections to producers, with many buying directly from local meat lockers and farmers. Ag Education: Sioux County Ag Expo supporters held a ribbon-cutting for the Ag Discovery Barn, built to expand youth and year-round community agriculture learning. Arts & Learning: A Smithsonian America 250 exhibit is spotlighting a rare Iowa artifact—freshwater mussel shell buttons—linking Iowa’s early-1900s manufacturing history to today’s cultural storytelling. Juneteenth in Iowa: The African American Museum of Iowa hosts a free Juneteenth Festival Saturday in Cedar Rapids, with music, vendors, family activities, and museum access. Public Spaces: Le Mars won a $1 million CAT grant for pickleball courts, an outdoor fitness area, and upgrades to its golf clubhouse event space. Culture & Sports: Marquette women’s tennis added Emmerson White, an A-10 First Team standout transferring home after three seasons at Saint Louis. Health & Policy: The FTC and several states sued WPATH, alleging the transgender health group intentionally misled parents about experimental treatments for minors.

Education & Youth Sports: Iowa’s State Board of Education approved emergency rules letting eighth graders compete in high school varsity sports starting Aug. 1, with schools keeping local control over which sports to offer. Community & Inclusion: Ottumwa’s nearly finished Inclusive Play Space is adding accessibility features like sensory walls, special swings, and wheelchair-friendly design, with a grand opening set for Aug. 1. Arts & Family Fun: Bettendorf opened SunShine Arts Studio, a hands-on creative space with mosaics, sensory-friendly open studio time, and a black-light Splatter Paint Room. Culture & History: Iowa Juneteenth held its Jubilee in Des Moines with awards, music, and historical displays, plus a Neighbor’s Day celebration planned for Saturday. Public Health & Workforce: Gov. Reynolds and Iowa HHS announced a federally approved $49.5M Graduate Medical Education expansion to train more physicians statewide, alongside new Healthy Hometowns dashboards. Preservation: Des Moines Heritage Trust released its annual Most Endangered Buildings list, including a historic school and an entire neighborhood added for the first time.

FDA & Health: An FDA advisory panel voted 9-0 to back Moderna’s experimental flu shot for adults 50-64 and also found it similarly beneficial for seniors, setting up a likely decision by Aug. 5. Education & Youth Sports: Iowa’s State Board of Education approved emergency rules letting eighth graders play in any high school sport starting Aug. 1, with local schools choosing how to implement it. Local Leadership: Iowa City Community School District has 19 applicants for its interim superintendent role as it begins interviews. Culture & Community Art: Windborn Group and Quad City Arts selected 19-year-old Madeline Dieters for a new public mural in downtown Aledo, unveiled July 3. Faith & Community: The Christian Reformed Church of North America wrapped Synod 2026 in Grand Rapids, including debates over church governance and Pride-related concerns. Wildlife & Indigenous Significance: A rare white bison calf born at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge died; officials say they’re gathering details and coordinating with tribal nations. Politics & Rights: Iowa AG Alan Wilson joined a multi-state brief defending pro-life Pregnancy Care Centers’ First Amendment hiring rights. Arts & Learning: IVCC-LPO Hall of Fame Class of 2026 names five inductees spanning nursing, paleontology, public service, fundraising, and chemistry research.

Rural Health in the Air: MedForce flight nurse Miranda Benner says her southeast Iowa team bridges the gap when serious cases hit rural fields or require fast transfers to Level I care at the University of Iowa. Arts & Community: Odyssey Theatre Ensemble’s Dance at the Odyssey spotlights krump’s spiritual side with choreographer Ricky Medina, including a world premiere work. Sports & Culture: Nike finally drops Caitlin Clark’s “Caitlin 1” shoe and apparel line, with sales set for Oct. 1 and possible early wear at an Indiana Fever game. Education & Accountability: Iowa Auditor Rob Sand says the Education Savings Account voucher program is costing nearly $330M, with thousands more students in private schools than expected. Local Life & Learning: Luther College lands a grant to weave career and vocation advising into students’ undergraduate journeys. Nature & Heritage: A rare white bison calf at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Prairie City has died, prompting renewed attention to its cultural significance. Health & Support: Iowa State’s counseling staff marks Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month by urging men to talk, notice friends’ changes, and seek help.

Transgender Healthcare Legal Fight: The FTC and Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird joined a federal lawsuit targeting WPATH, alleging the group misled parents and clinicians about the safety and necessity of gender-affirming care for minors, with claims tied to insurance coverage and profit. State Education Policy: Iowa’s Education Savings Account program is under fresh scrutiny after State Auditor Rob Sand released findings saying the program cost nearly $330 million this school year, with most tuition dollars going to students already in private schools. Local Nature & Culture: A rare white bison calf born in May at the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Prairie City has died, and officials say they’re working with tribal partners out of respect for the animal’s cultural significance. Community Building: Spencer cut the ribbon on the Oneota Nature Learning Center, a new outdoor education hub designed for school groups. Arts & Community Leadership: Iowa City Downtown District launched a search for a full-time Director to lead the Iowa City Arts Alliance and coordinate citywide arts initiatives. Weather Watch: Meteorologists are tracking a strong storm system with heavy rain and tornado risk across parts of the Midwest, including Iowa.

Education & Outreach: UNI is launching EdVantageUNI, a new hub for K-12 tutoring, professional learning, and district support, with the Board of Regents backing the plan. Youth Health: Cedar Falls teens are rolling out a Youth Against Radon program, offering education and free radon test kits through local clinics. Schools & Facilities: Keystone AEA approved selling a Dubuque property to the Dubuque Community School District for nearly $2M, with AEA shifting to a lease arrangement. Arts & Community: West Shore Community College is hosting Jamey Barnard’s “Go, Color. Go!” exhibition, a playful, color-forward show running through Sept. 18. Culture & Learning: A new career-interest study finds vocational interests keep shaping major life choices well into adulthood. Local Grants: The Community Foundation of Cedar County awarded $150,950 to groups boosting education, arts, recreation, and economic opportunity. Community Events: Bloomfield’s library teen board is bringing a Renaissance Faire to the Davis County Courtyard on June 20.

Juneteenth in Des Moines: A guide to local events marks June 19’s history and the holiday’s growing recognition, including a Steve Berry film night and Iowa Juneteenth’s Jubilee at the State Historical Building. Education & policy: The Iowa Board of Regents approved policy manual updates despite member worries about governance vs. management, including added review steps tied to search committees and general education course content. Higher ed, civics focus: UNI is set to renovate its Commons building for the Iowa Civic Educators Institute and the Chuck Grassley Center, bringing new seminar programming for teachers. Community & culture events: Savanna Museum & Cultural Center hosts singer-songwriter Carol Montag on June 26. Local arts/learning: The Des Moines area also gets more summer programming energy, from community celebrations to campus and museum-style events. Civic legal support: The Iowa Supreme Court approved $1.2M+ in civil legal aid grants for low-income Iowans, including housing, immigration, disability rights, and domestic violence services. Sports & coaching: Bellarmine named Jeff Rutter an assistant coach, adding decades of development experience. Local dispute: Alta’s homecoming return petition drew public comment at a school board meeting, spotlighting a long-running football and track location fight. Public safety: A fatal Boone-area crash killed an Ames man and injured a Des Moines driver.

Community Aviation & America 250: Keosauqua’s Fly Van Buren “Freedom Takes Flight” drew about 25 aircraft and hundreds of neighbors to the municipal airport for a pancake-and-sausage breakfast and a day of sky-high storytelling. Arts & Fundraising: Legacy Theater in Carthage launched a $2 million “A Vision for the Future” capital campaign for a covered entrance, expanded lobby, and multipurpose room, with public meetings set across the region. Local Business & Growth: Webster City approved a development agreement with Edible Gardens Prairie Hills for protein drinks at 401 Des Moines St., while the council also moved budget amendments and backed related city planning. Real Estate Changes: Five 1 Five Realty completed a downtown merger with Neighborhood Realty, keeping agents working under one name with offices at 711 and 633 Second St. Education & Accountability: A former Keokuk school board president formally asked for removal of Superintendent Dr. Kathy Dinger, citing leadership and accountability concerns amid district budget pressures. Sports & Community Pride: Iowa State’s Cameron Pettaway landed on the Jet Award preseason watch list, and NIACC’s 20-year adult-learner free tuition contest continues to open doors. LGBTQ Visibility: Burlington Pride’s “Pride in the Park” drew hundreds for acceptance-focused programming and local vendor support.

Library & Books: The New York Times spotlights how Iowa City Public Library is adapting after Baker & Taylor collapsed, leaving libraries scrambling to stock new releases. Community & Culture: Early Girl, a neon grunge indie punk band from Iowa City, is building a DIY scene with a DIY attic studio and a tomato-themed origin story. Education & Access: NIACC opens a contest for adult learners—two winners get a full year of free tuition and support, with entries due July 1. Local Events: Webster City Community Theatre’s “The Little Mermaid Jr.” opens June 19, and Caledonia’s Founder’s Day adds “Airing of the Quilts” plus a returning parade. Civic Life & Politics: Iowa Democrats and Republicans hold state conventions, with candidates rallying delegates ahead of November. Food & Health: A high-risk Alfredo sauce recall (possible Salmonella) includes distribution in Iowa. Workforce & AI: A 4-H survey finds many teens are changing career plans due to AI, but many still feel unprepared.

Iowa Education & Equity: The Iowa Supreme Court ruled the University of Iowa can’t swap a “black student” scholarship requirement to “first-generation,” sending the case back for a new plan. Local Culture & Community: Webster City’s City Council will hold public hearings on an Edible Gardens development agreement, budget amendments, and how new TIF money will be split. Public Safety & Youth: Newton High School reported 567 personal electronic device violations and plans to revise cellphone practices for the next school year. Health & Lifestyle: A local program in Chariton is offering free summer meals for kids, no charge for ages 18 and under. Civic Life & Pride: Des Moines tattoo shop Black Magic Tattoos spent 12 hours doing Pride Fest flash tattoos to raise money for LGBTQ youth. Conservation & Outdoors: Northeast Iowa residents can weigh in on REAP conservation funding at a June 24 assembly in Decorah. Human Rights Education: Van Diest Medical Center is hosting a free human trafficking awareness program June 30 in Ellsworth.