Author: Shelbi Swinscoe

The list of candidates for Iowa’s 2026 primary election is now finalized, giving voters a clearer picture of the races they will decide this summer.

The Iowa Secretary of State’s office announced the final list of candidates who filed nomination papers ahead of the March deadline. Voters will head to the polls on June 2nd to select party nominees for several statewide and federal offices.

For voters in Southeast Iowa, one of the key races will be Iowa’s First Congressional District. The district is currently represented by Republican Mariannette Miller-Meeks, who is seeking another term. She faces a Republican primary challenge from David Pautsch. On the Democratic side, candidates include former state representative Christina Bohannan and health care worker Travis Terrell.

Several statewide races will also appear on the primary ballot.

In the race for Governor, Republicans running in the primary include Congressman Randy Feenstra, State Representative Eddie Andrews, businessman Zach Lahn, and former state agency director Adam Steen. Democrats running for governor include State Auditor Rob Sand and political strategist Julie Stauch.

Iowa voters will also select party nominees for the open U.S. Senate seat. On the Republican side, Congresswoman Ashley Hinson is among the candidates seeking the nomination. Democrats running include State Senator Zach Wahls and State Representative Josh Turek.

Election officials say nomination papers can still be challenged through March 20, but once that process is complete, the candidates listed will appear on the June 2nd primary ballot across the state.

A new report from the Iowa Cancer Registry shows that farmers and people working in agriculture have lower rates of several types of cancer compared to the general population.

The findings come from the 2026 Cancer in Iowa report, which includes data from the long running Agricultural Health Study, a national research project that has followed thousands of farmers and their families for decades. Researchers found that overall cancer rates among farmers were lower than those seen in the broader population.

Experts say part of the difference may be linked to lifestyle factors common among farmers, including lower smoking rates and higher levels of physical activity. However, the report notes that farmers can still face unique health risks, particularly from pesticide exposure and other environmental factors associated with agricultural work.

Despite the encouraging findings for farmers, Iowa continues to face challenges related to cancer overall. The state still ranks among the highest in the nation for new cancer diagnoses, prompting ongoing efforts from researchers, health organizations, and state leaders to better understand the causes and identify ways to reduce cancer risk.

Researchers say reports like this help guide future studies and prevention strategies aimed at improving the health of Iowans across both rural and urban communities.

Residents of Henry County will have the opportunity to hear directly from the candidates seeking the position of County Attorney during a special forum hosted by KILJ Radio this week.

The Henry County Attorney Candidate Forum will take place Friday, March 13 at 9:00 a.m. and will feature candidates Abbie Liechty and Becky Wilson. The discussion will give voters a chance to learn more about each candidate’s experience, priorities, and plans for the Henry County Attorney’s Office ahead of the upcoming election.

The forum will be broadcast live on KILJ at 105.5 FM, 1130 AM, and 98.5 FM.

Community members are also invited to take part by submitting questions for the candidates. Questions can be emailed to kiljradio@kilj.com or submitted by calling the station at (319) 385-8728 before 9:00 a.m. Friday morning. KILJ staff say they will do their best to ask as many listener questions as possible, though time constraints may prevent every question from being included in the discussion.

For those unable to listen live, the full forum will be posted afterward on the KILJ Spotify page so listeners can access the conversation at their convenience.

KILJ will also rebroadcast the forum Monday evening at 6:00 p.m. for anyone who may have missed the original broadcast.

The Henry County Board of Supervisors is working to develop a formal policy regarding fees for Freedom of Information Act requests.

During Tuesday’s meeting, supervisors discussed creating a consistent process for handling requests that require staff time to search for records. County officials said they have reached out to other counties and consulted with Steven Giebelhausen from the Henry County Attorney’s Office for guidance while developing the policy.

Supervisors discussed the possibility of charging for staff time spent fulfilling information requests. One option being considered would bill by the hour and vary by department based on employee wages. For example, the Henry County Auditor’s Office rate would be approximately $42 per hour, while other offices could be closer to $45 per hour.

Board members said the goal is to create a fair and consistent system when requests require significant staff time. Supervisors expect to review a final draft of the policy and take a vote at next week’s meeting.

In other business, Gunner Sloan reported that interviews were conducted last week for an IT Technician position within the county’s IT department. The position has since been offered to a candidate following those interviews.

The Muscatine County Jail could see a significant increase in revenue for housing federal detainees under a contract amendment with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

According to newly released records, ICE amended its contract with Muscatine County in March of 2025, raising the maximum amount the county could receive for housing federal detainees from about $479,000 to roughly $839,000. That increase of $360,000 represents about a 75 percent rise in potential payments.

Most of the increase, about $340,000, is intended to cover the added costs of housing detainees, while $20,000 is designated for transportation services, such as taking inmates to federal court.

The amendment covers the period from April 2025 through March 2026, during a time when federal immigration detentions have increased.

The newly disclosed documents were released after officials initially said the contract could not be made public, but ICE later withdrew that claim.