Rural Health & Growth: Cass Health in Atlantic will break ground June 11 on a major expansion and interior renovation, adding space for surgery, emergency, and rehab services to meet growing local demand. Kids & Education: Iowa’s Kids Count report lands the state at No. 10 nationally, but education indicators are slipping—preschool participation, reading, and math proficiency all lag, with most eighth graders below math proficiency. Community Schools: Des Moines Public Schools is kicking off the first Reimagining Education groundbreakings, starting with middle school CTE maker spaces and classroom additions funded by last fall’s $285 million bond. Local Politics: Democratic gubernatorial nominee Rob Sand named Crawford County Supervisor Dave Muhlbauer as running mate, leaning into western Iowa farm roots for the general election push. Healthcare Careers: Central Lee senior Jayden Mueller received a $2,000 scholarship from the Iowa Hospital Education and Research Foundation to pursue nursing at the University of Iowa. Culture & Music: Brigitte Calls Me Baby brings its post-punk-meets-20th-century flair to Des Moines, promoting its new album. Agriculture & Food Safety: Iowa Pork Industry Center offers an online Pork Quality Assurance Plus advisor certification session July 7.