Podcast Segments:

* Iowa Coast to Coast (statewide news)

* From KCRG: The University of Iowa announced Monday that its Summer Writing Festival will be discontinued. Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) has decided to discontinue the Summer Writing Festival due to ongoing funding challenges. The festival will be discontinued starting December 31, 2025. Iowa CLAS says the decision is based on the resources required and not a reflection of the dedication or effort of the staff. The Iowa Summer Writing Festival brought adult writers from across the country to lead in-person workshops in Iowa City every summer since 1987. The festival is for writers of all levels and backgrounds. The Iowa Summer Writing Festival says they’re forever grateful to all of the writers who have participated in the festival since 1987.

* Governor Reynolds orders Iowa Guard to Assist ICE - From KCCI: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds has directed the Iowa National Guard to assist in an immigration mission alongside federal agents. According to the governor's office, 20 Iowa National Guard soldiers will help Iowa-based Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents by providing administrative and logistical support beginning Sept. 8. “Just as we supported Texas when the Biden Administration left them to defend the border, Iowa will continue to assist in the enforcement of federal immigration laws — this time, by working with the Trump Administration to support U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in our state,” Reynolds said in a news release announcing the mission. “By providing administrative and logistical support, the Iowa National Guard will free up local ICE officials to continue their work outside the office to enforce the law and keep our state safe.” The authorization is approved through Nov. 15, according to the governor's office. During a conversation with Democratic State Rep. Angel Ramirez, Iowa's first Latina elected to the legislature, KCCI spoke with her about this move. "I think it's deplorable that the governor would scare her residents like that. I think it's deplorable that we would waste tax dollars on that," said Ramirez. "We're talking about such a small population of our people, our community. These are human beings. We are all people. We all want the same things: love, happiness, and success for ourselves, for our kids, for our parents, for our neighbors."

* Trump EPA takes impaired rivers off Iowa list - From Iowa Capital Dispatch: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has rescinded its previous decision to add seven segments to Iowa’s list of impaired waters due to their high nitrate concentrations. In November the agency decided the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ list of impaired waters only “partially” met the requirements of the Clean Water Act to identify waterways with identified pollutants in excess of water quality standards. The EPA review of the list identified seven additional segments with high levels of nitrate and nitrate plus nitrite. Despite pushback from the DNR, and comments that the EPA had a “patchwork approach” to regulating nitrate across the country, the federal agency finalized the decision in January. According to reporting from the Des Moines Register on Tuesday, the EPA office informed the DNR in July it had rescinded its decision. A spokesperson for the DNR confirmed the action in an email with the Iowa Capital Dispatch. Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Board president Jenny Turner said the EPA’s decision to rescind the segments from the list was “an affront to the health and well-being of Iowans.” “Issuing this reversal on the heels of Central Iowa Water Works first ever lawn watering ban and consistently high nitrate levels in these very same water segments is tone deaf, appalling, and dangerous,” Turner said in a statement.

* Cauc Talk (political news)

* Trump calls on National Guard in DC - From NPR: As hundreds of National Guard troops deployed on Tuesday in the nation's capital, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said homeless people in Washington, D.C., who refuse to move into shelters will face prosecution or fines. "Homeless individuals will be given the option to leave their encampment, to be taken to a homeless shelter, to be offered addiction or mental health services," Leavitt said during a press briefing, when asked by NPR about the expanding crackdown. "If they refuse, they will be subjected to fines or jail time." According to Leavitt, Metropolitan police and federal law enforcement agents in Washington will strictly enforce existing laws that force homeless people off the city's streets as part of an effort to "make DC safe and beautiful." "That involves removing mentally disturbed individuals and homeless encampments as well," Leavitt said. Posting on his social media platform, Trump also suggested homeless people will be forced out of Washington entirely: "The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY. We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital," Trump wrote.

* Wider Scope

* A.Iowa

* ICE is using AI - From CNN: ICE is reportedly purchasing technology to scan people’s eyes from several feet away. The agency issued a notice to purchase artificial intelligence technology that can scan people’s eyes to locate and identify those who are in the country illegally. The technology allows agents to capture someone’s iris from 10 to 15 feet away by using the camera on their iPhone with an app that matches the iris with a photo they already have. “The iris is the part of your eye that everybody sees. The color, it has stripes in it... They are unique to an individual,” Steve Beaty said. Beaty is a computer science professor at Metropolitan State University Denver. “You can do it from quite a distance away, depending upon the magnification of your device,” he said. It is important to note that ICE has not confirmed its plans to use the technology in the field. A spokesperson for ICE said the agency uses various forms of technology while respecting civil liberties.

Get full access to Iowa Revolution at iowarevolution.substack.com/subscribe