WASHINGTON, June 2 -- A coalition of 49 environmental and conservation organizations has submitted a public comment letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding potential future changes to the nationwide permits under the Clean Water Act. The letter stresses the need for the Corps to ensure that NWPs cause no more than minimal harm to rivers, streams, and wetlands, in compliance with statutory environmental protections. The letter outlines concerns that many current NWPs allow activitie  more

WASHINGTON, June 2 -- The Environmental Protection Agency issued the following news release: * * * Administrator Lee Zeldin Visits with Energy Producers, Farmers in Oklahoma City * Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - On Friday, May 29, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin traveled to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for several events focused on the Trump Administration's energy agenda and efforts to support American farmers. On Friday night, Administrator Zeldin addressed the  more

COLUMBIA, South Carolina, June 2 -- South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson issued the following news: * * * Attorney General Alan Wilson fights against DEI mandates at SCOTUS * (COLUMBIA, S.C.) - Attorney General Alan Wilson today joined a 15-state friend-of-the-court brief to the U.S. Supreme Court that supports a challenge to California's DEI mandates. The specific law requires doctors to receive instruction on implicit bias in order to keep their license to practice medicine. It also  more

MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota, June 2 [Category: BizLaw/Legal] -- Taft, a law firm, issued the following news: * * * The Big Long List of U.S. AI Laws * Did you ever think that AI, as a new technology, is barely regulated in the U.S.? Think again! Below, we catalog certain state laws regulating the development and use of AI systems and technologies, passed between 2019-2026. This list focuses on legislative initiatives that are currently in effect, or are expected to take effect soon, that impact  more

IOWA CITY, Iowa, June 2 -- The University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences posted the following news: * * * CLAS mathematics professor named American Mathematical Society Fellow * Raul Curto, professor in the Department of Mathematics in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, has been named a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society (AMS), one of the highest honors in the mathematical sciences. The AMS Fellows program recognizes members who have made outstanding contribut  more

WASHINGTON, June 3 -- The Democratic National Committee posted the following news release on June 2, 2026: * * * DNC Releases Comprehensive List of States Where Gas Prices Are Below $3 a Gallon While the Trump administration predicted that gas prices would fall back under $3 a gallon by summer, costs at the pump have continued to soar in states across the country. - Today, the DNC released a comprehensive list of states where gas prices have dropped below $3 a gallon since the beginning of  more

WASHINGTON, June 2 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Ernst Names Small Business of the Week, Fairfield Dental Clinic * RED OAK, Iowa - U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: Fairfield Dental Clinic of Jefferson County. Throughout the 119 th Congress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small business in each of Iowa's 99 counties. "For nearly 40 years, Fairfield Dental C  more

WASHINGTON, June 2 -- Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Wisconsin, issued the following news release: * * * Fitzgerald and Nunn Introduce TRAIN and BRIDGE Acts to Counter China's Belt and Road Initiative and Economic Coercion * WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Congressman Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05) introduced two pieces of legislation focused on countering China alongside Congressman Zach Nunn (IA-03): the Thwarting Regional Adversary Investments Now (TRAIN) Act and the Build Responsible Infrastructure Developm  more

OMAHA, Nebraska, June 3 -- First National Bank of Omaha, a subsidiary of First National of Nebraska Inc., issued the following news on June 2, 2026: * * * FNBO to Acquire Blue Ridge Bank and Trust Co. in Missouri First National of Nebraska, with its subsidiary FNBO (First National Bank of Omaha), today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Blue Ridge Bancshares, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary Blue Ridge Bank and Trust Co., headquartered in Independence, MO  more

WASHINGTON, June 2 -- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * Gillibrand, Colleagues Raise Concerns About Food Safety Amid Trump Administration Restructure Of Inspection Agency * U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), along with 19 of her Senate colleagues, raised concerns about the Trump administration's plan to reorganize the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The administration is forcing 200 FSI  more

PHOENIX, Arizona, June 2 [Category: ThinkTank] -- The Goldwater Institute issued the following commentary by Director of State Affairs Brian Norma to the Washington Examiner: * * * Embracing the Future: Say No to Driver-in Mandates * Picture a supply chain where goods move continuously across the country, less constrained by driver fatigue, rigid schedules, and mandatory rest periods. Trucks that don't get drowsy at 2 a.m., don't miss braking cues, and don't sit idle simply because a human o  more

DES MOINES, Iowa, June 2 -- Gov. Kim Reynolds, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Gov. Reynolds acts on final bills of 2026 legislative session * Today, Governor Kim Reynolds took final action on the remaining legislation passed during the 2026 legislative session. Governor Reynolds signed the following bills into law: SF 469 : A bill for an act creating an emeritus license to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery. SF 473 : A bill for an act re  more

DES MOINES, Iowa, June 2 -- Gov. Kim Reynolds, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Gov. Reynolds signs public safety bills into law * Today, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed House File 2542, House File 2787, and Senate File 2399, three bills relating to public safety and protecting Iowans from repeat offenders, into law. The enacted legislation ends warrant resolution clinics, requires magistrates to set bail at the scheduled amount, and establishes a new "three strikes" system, which e  more

PIERRE, South Dakota, June 2 -- Gov. Larry Rhoden, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Gov. Rhoden and Colleagues Urge Congress to Enact Secure America Act * PIERRE, S.D. - Today, Governor Larry Rhoden and 22 fellow Republican governors called on Congress to enact The Secure America Act to provide sustained funding to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). You can find the statement here. "Under President Trump's le  more

DES MOINES, Iowa, June 2 -- The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issued the following news release: * * * Grants available for forestry plans and programs in Iowa communities this fall * Through the USDA Forest Service Inflation Reduction Act, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is a pass-through partner for the Urban Forestry Development grants for communities. The Urban Forestry Development Grant provides reimbursable grants to complete projects such as creating community   more

WASHINGTON, June 2 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Grassley, Daines Urge Treasury to Crack Down on Tax Cheats Who Abuse Conservation-Easement Deduction * WASHINGTON - Senate Finance Committee members Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) are urging Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to faithfully enforce an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) settlement that holds tax cheats accountable and preserves the integrity of the conservation-easeme  more

WASHINGTON, June 2 -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Grassley, Warren Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Defense Contractor Transparency * WASHINGTON - Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) introduced a bill to improve transparency into foreign ownership of Department of Defense (DoD) contractors. The legislation would enhance commonsense safeguards to ensure foreign adversaries, illegitimate contractors and other bad actor  more

DES MOINES, Iowa, June 2 -- The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issued the following news release: * * * Help slow the spread of invasive species in your community * Invasive species, like emerald ash borer, Asian longhorned beetle, spongy moth and oriental bittersweet pose a serious threat to Iowa's forests. They can destroy native trees, crowd out native plants, and reduce the healthy habitats that support Iowa's wildlife. Iowa woodlands, wildlands and waterways draw hundreds of tho  more

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, June 3 -- The American Counseling Association issued the following news release: * * * History Is Made: Georgia Allows Counselors to Practice Across State Lines As part of the historic interstate Counseling Compact agreement, Georgia is the latest state that can now start granting privileges to licensed professional counselors to practice across state lines. Currently, other states that can grant these privileges include Arizona, Minnesota, Ohio, and Louisiana, with addi  more

WASHINGTON, June 2 -- Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * ICYMI: LaHood, Feenstra, Tokuda, and Schrier Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Rural Maternal Healthcare * Washington, D.C. - U.S. Representatives Darin LaHood (IL-16), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), and Kim Schrier (WA-08), and Randy Feenstra (IA-04) introduced the R ural Maternity Options for Medical Support (MOMS) Act of 2026 to strengthen and stabilize maternal healthcare in rural communities nationwide  more

IOWA CITY, Iowa, June 2 -- The University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences posted the following news: * * * Iowa alumnus nominated for Tony Award * University of Iowa alumnus Samuel D. Hunter's Broadway debut, Little Bear Ridge Road, received a Tony Award nomination for Best Play on May 5. The show, starring Laurie Metcalf and Micah Stock, won Best Play earlier in the week at the New York Drama Critics' Circle. The Tony judges call Hunter's Little Bear Ridge Road "bitingly fu  more

WASHINGTON, June 2 -- Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Illinois, issued the following news release: * * * LaHood, Feenstra, Sewell, Evans Reintroduce Bill to Strengthen Manufacturing and Agriculture * Washington, D.C. - Today, Representatives Darin LaHood (IL-16), Randy Feenstra (IA-04), Terri Sewell (AL-07) and Dwight Evans (PA-03) reintroduced the Modernizing Agricultural and Manufacturing Bonds Act to help small and medium manufacturers and farmers generate good-paying jobs in Illinois and throughout  more

WASHINGTON, June 1 -- Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, issued the following news release: * * * Murray, Klobuchar Raise Concerns About Food Safety and Inspection Service Reorganization * ICYMI : In Letter, Murray, Klobuchar Raise Concerns about Food and Nutrition Service Reorganization ICYMI : Murray, Klobuchar Raise Concerns about the USDA Research, Education, and Economics Mission Area Reorganization Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropri  more

WASHINGTON, June 2 (TNSFR) -- The National Park Service is accepting public comments on properties nominated for listing in the National Register of Historic Places across 10 states. The states are - Colorado, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Texas. The agency received these nominations from state and tribal historic preservation officers before May 16, 2026. The evaluations follow federal regulations governing historic preservation. Individu  more

WASHINGTON, June 2 -- The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee posted the following news release: * * * NOTUS: To Win in Iowa, Joe Mitchell Is Campaigning in Florida * "Mitchell's campaign spending at Mar-a-Lago -$77,390.18 -tops that of any other Republican running for Congress this cycle" [ NOTUS ] New reporting from NOTUS reveals that career politician, lobbyist, and Des Moines insider Joe Mitchell has spent more campaign dollars at Mar-a-Lago than " any other Republican running  more

WASHINGTON, June 2 -- The Naval Sea Systems Command issued the following news: * * * NSWC Panama City Division, University of Iowa partner on research to better protect sailors * PANAMA CITY, Fla. - In the ongoing effort to maximize warfighter readiness, new data is emerging from a partnership between Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC PCD) and the University of Iowa. Sam Murphy, a doctoral candidate and Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program (NREIP) participant, i  more

WASHINGTON, June 2 -- Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa, issued the following news release: * * * Nunn, Fitzgerald Introduce Bills to Counter China's Belt and Road Initiative * DES MOINES, IA - Representatives Zach Nunn (IA-03) and Scott Fitzgerald (WI-05) today introduced two bills aimed at countering the Chinese Communist Party's Belt and Road Initiative and strengthening America's economic and strategic leadership around the world. The Thwarting Regional Adversary Investments Now (TRAIN) Act would  more

DES MOINES, Iowa, June 2 -- The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issued the following news release: * * * Proven Projects, Growing Opportunities: REAP Projects in Action * Iowa's premier funding program for outdoor recreation, conservation and historic preservation will be the focus of 19 meetings across the state, where Iowans can share ideas and visions for their county and communities. Established in 1989, the Resource Enhancement and Protection (REAP) program has funded nearly $430  more

DES MOINES, Iowa, June 2 -- The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship issued the following news: * * * Secretary Naig Applauds Signing of Bipartisan Iowa Farm Act * DES MOINES, Iowa (June 2, 2026) - Following the signing of the bipartisan Iowa Farm Act by Gov. Reynolds, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig issued the following statement: "The signing of the first-ever Iowa Farm Act is an important step forward for Iowa agriculture. I appreciate the strong support this legi  more

WASHINGTON, June 3 -- Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, chair of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee, posted the following news release on June 2, 2026: * * * Ernst Names Small Business of the Week, Fairfield Dental Clinic RED OAK, Iowa - U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chair of the Senate Small Business Committee, today announced her Small Business of the Week: Fairfield Dental Clinic of Jefferson County. Throughout the 119thCongress, Chair Ernst plans to recognize a small busi  more

WASHINGTON, June 3 -- Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, ranking member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Klobuchar, Colleagues Raise Concerns about Food Safety and Inspection Service Reorganization Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, is leading 19 of her colleagues in raising strong concerns about the plan to reorganize the Food Safety and Inspection Ser  more

EDWARDSVILLE, Illinois, June 2 -- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus posted the following news: * * * SIUE Names Amanda Duval Norwood Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources * Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has appointed Amanda Duval Norwood as its new Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources, bringing to campus a nationally experienced HR leader known for building employee-centered workplace cultures and advancing organizational excellence across higher e  more

KANSAS CITY, Missouri, June 3 -- The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics posted the following news release: * * * The Sooner Athletic Conference Highlights 2026 NAIA Softball All-American Honors with Both Pitcher and Player of the Year The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced the 2026 NAIA Softball All-Americans, Player and Pitcher of the Year honors following the World Series last week in Columbus, Ga. In addition to the three All-American team  more

NEW YORK, June 1 [Category: Business] -- The Toy Association issued the following news: * * * AI Companion Chatbot Legislation Update * As previously reported, policymakers continue to focus on regulating AI companion chatbots, particularly when these technologies are integrated into products designed for children. Several proposals advancing in California and New York could directly impact toys that incorporate AI-powered conversational features, while a growing number of states have enacte  more

IOWA CITY, Iowa, June 2 -- The University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences posted the following news: * * * Two CLAS faculty selected for Summer in Residence program * The University of Iowa's Center for Social Science Innovation (CSSI) in the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) selected three faculty members as 2026 awardees of its Summer Researcher-in-Residence program, which supports impactful, social science research addressing pressing social, civic, and health-  more

STANFORD, California, June 2 -- Stanford University School of Medicine posted the following news: * * * Two drugs synergize, may help cystic fibrosis, Stanford Medicine-led study shows * Two existing types of drugs synergize to improve the clearing of mucus from the lungs of animals with cystic fibrosis, a Stanford Medicine research team has found. The findings appear in the June 2026 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation. If replicated in humans, the discovery may provide a way t  more

IOWA CITY, Iowa, June 3 -- The University of Iowa International Programs issued the following statement on June 2, 2026, by Russ Ganim, associate provost and dean of International Programs: * * * Dean's Message: Celebrating graduates and Fulbrighters Dear all, Welcome to summer! Graduation marks the kickoff to longer days, warmer temperatures, and hopefully, a slower pace from the academic year. It is also a time to vaunt the accomplishments of our students, and International Programs (IP) h  more

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia, June 2 -- West Virginia University posted the following news: * * * WVU study shows pregnant women who sit less and move more have fewer adverse outcomes * A study by researchers at West Virginia University and two other university-affiliated medical centers found a greater-than-expected significance in the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, for women who spend more time sitting compared to those who include even li  more