DES MOINES, Iowa, Sept. 9 -- The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issued the following news release: * * * 2025 Volunteer Fire Department - Wildland Fire Assistance Grants Available * The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forestry - Fire Program, working in coordination with the US Forest Service, has grant money available for Iowa's rural fire departments to help battle wildfires. Applications are due on Oct. 31. The grant provides 50 percent reimbursement for wildland fire e  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * As Pentagon Reportedly Moves to Cut Security Aid to Baltic Allies, Durbin Speaks on NDAA Amendment And Urges Trump to Continue Bipartisan Support for Baltic Security Initiative * September 09, 2025 Durbin introduced an amendment to the NDAA that would bolster security aid for the Baltics--among the highest nations in meeting NATO spending targets--as the Department of Defense aims to suspend  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 -- Primary Health Care, Inc. (PHC) has expressed significant concerns regarding the proposed 340B rebate pilot program outlined in HHS Docket No. HRSA-2025-14998. PHC, which has been serving the underserved populations of Central Iowa since 1981, sent a public comment letter to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) emphasizing the negative impact this pilot could have on community health centers (CHCs) and the millions of patients they serve. The organizati  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 -- Eagle View Community Health System, a federally qualified health center based in Illinois, has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration urging the agency to exempt community health centers from a proposed 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program. The health system, which serves thousands of low-income patients across western Illinois and southeastern Iowa, warns that the pilot program could   more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 -- The Iowa Hospital Association has submitted a public comment letter to the Health Resources and Services Administration regarding its proposed 340B Rebate Model Pilot Program. With the backing of 101 Iowa hospitals participating in the 340B Drug Pricing Program, the association voiced strong reservations about the pilot program's application process and its potential implications for health care services in Iowa. The Iowa Hospital Association expressed appreciation for HR  more

DES MOINES, Iowa, Sept. 9 -- The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issued the following news release: * * * New graduate fellowship established to support fisheries and water science research in the Iowa Great Lakes * Spirit Lake, Iowa - A new endowed graduate fellowship has been created to advance research in fisheries biology, water quality, and watershed management within the Iowa Great Lakes ecosystem. The Edward Thelen Graduate Fellowship in Fisheries Biology and Water Science Resear  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (TNSFR) -- The Office of Personnel Management is abolishing the Hennepin, Minnesota, nonappropriated fund Federal Wage System wage area. The final rule will redefine most of the counties within that area to the nearest nonappropriated fund Federal Wage System wage areas. Counties that do not have nonappropriated fund Federal Wage System employment will no longer be part of a wage area. The changes were recommended by the Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee due to a de  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, chair of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, posted the following news release: * * * Pentagon Agrees with Ernst Effort to Safeguard Innovation from China A key portion of U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Joni Ernst's (R-Iowa) INNOVATE Act, which reforms the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs to safeguard critical innovation fro  more

DES MOINES, Iowa, Sept. 9 -- The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issued the following news release: * * * Public hearings for proposed administrative code changes to be held in September * The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will hold five public hearings for proposed Iowa Administrative Code changes in September. Wildlife Administrative Rule Changes Chapter 95 - Game Harvest Reporting and Landowner-Tenant Registration This chapter has been reviewed consistent with Executiv  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 -- Rep. Jim Costa, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * Rep. Jim Costa Pushes to Enhance Federal Incentives for Water Conservation and Farmland Restoration * WASHINGTON - Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21), a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, introduced H.R. 5111 - The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Improvement and Flexibility Act (link is external), bipartisan legislation that would provide stronger incentives for farmers and producers to  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 -- Rep. Jason Smith, R-Missouri, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Big, Beautiful Success Story: Taxpayers Getting A Tax Cut Is Making News President Trump's working class tax cuts are making news. Media reports - including from local outlets around the country - are showing how the tax cuts deliver for workers, families, small businesses, and farmers in all 50 states, according to a recent study. "Taxpayers in ever  more

WASHINGTON, Sept. 8 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Senate Democratic Leadership Continues Unsustainable Obstruction of Law Enforcement Nominees * WASHINGTON - Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), for the second time in one week, requested unanimous consent to confirm 10 U.S. Attorney nominees who advanced the Judiciary Committee by a voice vote after intense bipartisan vetting in Committee. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (  more