AGP Executive Report

Politics & Trade: House Republicans are venting tariff frustrations in a closed-door meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, with Iowa Rep. Zach Nunn saying he wants the administration to “take care of folks back home” as the U.S.-Canada trade war escalates. Banking & Deals: ExchangeRight’s Net-Leased Portfolio 74 DST was fully subscribed, closing a $63.34 million offering with monthly distributions tied to long-term leases across multiple states including Iowa. AI Infrastructure Backlash: A new pushback campaign targets AI data centers, aiming to soften voter resistance in battleground areas where opposition to new facilities is rising. Iowa Workforce & Education: Iowa’s ICN selected a new group of high school students for the Statewide Youth Broadband Advisory Council, pairing tech learning with cybersecurity training and projects. Local Business: Rio Burritos is planning a second Cedar Rapids location at 2300 Edgewood Road SW, with a new menu and year-round tamales. Community & Health: Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice is recruiting volunteers for fall training in West Burlington, expanding in-home and virtual support options. Agriculture & Policy: Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins defended a White House beef import deal after ranchers pushed back at the Iowa State Fair.

Iowa Water & Agriculture: Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig pushed back on “blame the farmers” claims at the Farm Progress Show, pointing to a 2025 Polk County study linking farm pollution to central Iowa nitrate levels and highlighting the Sept. 9 deadline for cover-crop signups under the $319M “Farm to Faucet” plan; the state is also expanding a cattle conservation effort as beef prices stay high but herd numbers remain low. Statehouse & Business Climate: Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate was named co-chair of the NASS Business Services Committee, underscoring Iowa’s work on business identity theft and fraud prevention; meanwhile, Gov. Kim Reynolds says Iowa employers will get the lowest possible unemployment insurance tax rates for a fifth straight year. Education Savings: State Treasurer Roby Smith announced a third ISave 529 fee reduction, cutting the plan’s only fee to 0.15% ($1.50 per $1,000) effective Sept. 1. Fraud Watch: BBB Scam Tracker data shows Leon, Iowa tied for 15th in the state for July scam reports, with losses including a romance scam; separate Iowa City and other local updates continue to show phishing and online purchase as common themes. Local Economy & Growth: The Greater Des Moines Partnership will hand out 2026 Economic Impact Awards to seven companies, including American Equity’s downtown HQ move and a major expansion by Holmes Murphy. Higher Ed & Workforce: UNI received $970,000 for upgrades to its Foundry 4.0 Center, and Kirkwood opened job-shadow applications for the 2026-27 school year.

M&A & Manufacturing: Stellar Industries, an employee-owned Iowa firm, bought Minnesota’s Midwest Fire, keeping Midwest’s Luverne operations and adding the fire apparatus business to Stellar’s portfolio. Energy & AI Power Demand: Berkshire Hathaway CEO Greg Abel said AI data centers are a major opportunity for Berkshire Hathaway Energy, noting data centers already account for about 8% of its Iowa load. Local Real Estate: A Des Moines developer paid $1.6M for a historic 1895 warehouse at 108 E. Fourth St., proposing a $13.7M renovation into office space using historic tax credits. Business Climate & Regulation: The FTC and 22 states sued Amazon over claims it secretly inflated ad prices for more than seven years, including Iowa. Agriculture Data: USDA is launching a satellite-and-tech pilot to improve crop acreage and yield estimates after farmer complaints about staffing cuts and data accuracy. Sports & Community Deals: UNI will sell naming rights for the UNI-Dome for the first time, and The Huddle is set to open in Waukee’s Kettlestone Central development. Public Finance Watch: Iowa City Schools faces a state review after a new oversight committee found a “systemic breakdown” starting in fiscal 2023.

Amazon Antitrust: Iowa and 21 other states, joined by the FTC, sued Amazon alleging it used manipulated ad auctions to overcharge sellers by tens of billions, with costs allegedly passed to consumers. Ag Policy Clash: At Iowa’s Farm Progress Show, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins defended new foreign ground-beef imports aimed at lowering prices, while Tyson Foods disputed claims it would restrict buyers to American-owned firms. Racetrack Deal: Polk County and Prairie Meadows approved a long-term lease that keeps the property publicly owned, shifts obligations away from taxpayers, and is projected to generate more than $500M for the county plus major private investment. Banking Investment: NBA champion Harrison Barnes bought a $25M stake in a Paton, Iowa bank, highlighting how pro athletes are putting money into rural finance. Health Care Watch: University of Iowa Health Care bought Mission Cancer + Blood for $280M, raising concerns about higher patient bills after a billing change not disclosed to the Board of Regents. Workforce & Education: Jaron Wilde was named Tippie associate dean of undergraduate programs, and Western Iowa Tech marked 60 years with yearlong events. Public Safety: Iowa officials warned about kratom and synthetic variants after confirmed deaths, as a new state job posting targets accounts payable and P-card processing.

Amazon Ad Lawsuit Hits Iowa: The FTC and 22 states, including Iowa AG Brenna Bird, sued Amazon over alleged “hidden surcharges” that secretly inflated prices in its ad auctions, with claims of tens of billions in overcharges affecting about 1.2 million advertisers. Local Business & Community: Ernst named Henningsen’s Meat Processing (Atlantic area) and The Bread Board (Pella) as Small Business of the Week, highlighting Iowa’s food makers. Ag & Farm Economy: Iowa will host the annual Farm Progress Show in Boone, featuring 550 companies, while USDA reports Iowa corn is 6% mature and 77% rated good-to-excellent. Education & Civic Pipeline: Eastern Iowa’s Civics Bee is back for 2027, with applications opening Sept. 7 for grades 6-8. Tourism: Iowa Travel Industry Partners recognized Gov. Kim Reynolds for her support of the state’s tourism economy. Weather & Operations: Low Mississippi River levels are forcing costly changes for Dubuque-area marina operators ahead of Labor Day.

Amazon Ad Lawsuit: The FTC and 22 state attorneys general, including Iowa AG Brenna Bird, sued Amazon alleging it secretly inflated sponsored-ad prices for more than 1 million advertisers over seven years, potentially extracting over $20 billion and pushing higher costs onto consumers; Amazon denies wrongdoing and calls the case misguided. Local Gaming Finance: Polk County approved a 15-year lease with Prairie Meadows that could bring about $500 million in total lease revenue through 2041, with Prairie Meadows taking on more property and maintenance obligations. Small Business Spotlight: Sen. Joni Ernst named Henningsen’s Meat Processing (Cass County) and The Bread Board (Marion County) as Small Business of the Week winners. Healthcare Costs: An Iowa cancer patient pressed gubernatorial candidates on why drug prices are higher in the U.S. than abroad, as both campaigns pitch different approaches to affordability. Food & Safety: Iowa-based Revival Animal Health recalled certain feline milk replacers after testing found low vitamins and trace minerals for newborn kittens. Agriculture & Rail: A fertilizer industry group warned a proposed Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern merger could hurt competition and rail reliability for fertilizer deliveries to Iowa farms. Public Safety: A federal fugitive wanted since 2018 in an Oklahoma wire fraud case was arrested in Ottumwa.

Energy Prices: Diesel hit a low of $5.04/gal at one station in Des Moines County for the week ending Aug. 22, while the county averaged $5.33 and Iowa’s statewide average also sat at $5.33. AI & Labor: Meta’s robots in Iowa-area data centers are being tested for routine maintenance, but economists warn the pattern can still “deskilling” work into lower-paid, procedural tasks. Local Business & Trade: Consul generals for Israel and Canada discussed how Midwest trade ties—especially in agriculture—are being strengthened, with Canada-Iowa-region commerce running into tens of billions annually. Tech Manufacturing: Reinforce3D’s CFIP is being positioned as an easier add-on inside existing 3D printing workflows, with a new sales partnership to push adoption across Central and Eastern Europe. Consumer Safety & Fraud: BBB Scam Tracker updates show small but persistent scam activity across Iowa cities, with reported losses tied mostly to online purchase schemes. Policy & Water: Candidates at the AMOS “We the People” convention made fresh pledges on water quality, school funding, and a statewide alert system for missing vulnerable adults. Meta Settlement: Iowa is expected to receive about $136 million from the Meta settlement, likely paid out over 10 annual installments. Community Economy: A Bonaparte pottery market highlighted local artisans and heritage tourism, while Iowa City’s student-run flea market drew hundreds of shoppers. Banking Milestone: TS Bank marked 100 years serving southwest Iowa, touting long-term community and wealth-management growth.

Small-Business Spotlight: A 12-year-old in Davenport, Jaxon Songer, turned a backyard hobby into J’s Produce, selling tomatoes, sweet corn, watermelon and more with help from family. Healthcare Costs & Operations: University of Iowa Health Care parking rates are set to jump sharply for North Liberty and Iowa River Landing employees, with some monthly costs rising from $20–$50 to $53–$117 by 2028. Construction & Contracting: Two subcontractors tied to UIHC’s North Liberty hospital are suing over unpaid bills totaling about $2.4 million. Banking & Community Finance: TS Bank in Treynor marked 100 years in business, highlighting a century of local lending and added services. Fraud Watch: BBB Scam Tracker data shows Davenport among Iowa’s higher-report cities in July, with losses topping $1,000 in one “win a free vacation” scheme. Iowa Economy & Policy: Iowa’s Iowa Electronic Markets at the UI College of Business helped spawn Polymarket and Kalshi, showing how a capped, election-focused prediction model became a major industry. Energy Materials: Regen Fiber in Fairfax, Iowa, is mechanically recycling wind turbine blades into inputs for concrete, mortar and asphalt.

Wind Energy & Recycling: Regen Fiber in Fairfax, Iowa is using an all-mechanical process to shred old wind turbine blades and turn the materials into inputs for concrete, mortar and asphalt, targeting 30,000+ tons a year. Health Care Spending: Perry, Iowa saw Medicaid billings for vision services jump 125.5% in 2024, reaching $2,370, with the category ranking among the top local Medicaid spend areas. Crypto & Small Business: A Des Moines-area crypto advocate argues digital assets could cut payment fees for local merchants and speed up transfers for consumers. U.S. Senate Watch: Iowa’s Senate race is framed around affordability and taxes, with candidates emphasizing cost-of-living themes as the contest is labeled a toss-up. Insurance Costs: Iowa homeowners are paying about 31% more than the national average for insurance, driven by severe-weather risk. Energy Regulation: Iowa regulators are reviewing Black Hills Energy after findings tied to safety and longer correction times. Local Finance: NBA’s Harrison Barnes is moving to acquire Community State Bank in Paton, Iowa, as the deal heads through regulatory review. Fraud Alerts: BBB Scam Tracker shows Ogden and Chariton each tied for 19th in Iowa for July scam reports, with losses reported across investment schemes.

Local Economy & Culture: A Des Moines drag king, Trade, is set to appear on national TV via “King of Drag,” bringing more attention to the East Village scene. Agriculture: Iowa apple season is underway, with orchards reporting 40+ varieties and Honeycrisp still shaping what growers plant and what shoppers pay for. Consumer Protection: BBB Scam Tracker shows Des Moines leads Iowa scam reports in July, while smaller cities like Ogden and Chariton tied for 19th with two reports each—losses included. Housing Costs: Iowa homeowners are paying about 31% more than the national average for insurance, driven by severe-weather risk. Energy Regulation: Iowa regulators are weighing penalties and corrective action for Black Hills Energy after findings tied to pipeline safety and longer fix times. National/Global Finance: The U.S. Treasury rolled out first “secondary” Iran sanctions, cutting off an Egyptian bank’s UAE branches from dollar access. Tech & Labor: Meta is testing robots in data centers in Altoona, signaling automation may keep spreading beyond offices.

Farmland Financialization: As crop prices slump and costs rise, some Iowa farmers are treating farmland like a real-estate investment—paying record prices based on soil value and rental returns rather than crop profits. Energy Regulation: Iowa regulators are weighing penalties and corrective steps after a hearing into Black Hills Energy’s pipeline safety and management practices, citing more probable violations and slower fixes than peers. Politics & Voters: Democrat Rob Sand is leaning into Iowa’s independent voters with a statewide, less partisan campaign strategy, aiming to challenge the state’s Republican tilt. Local Business Boost: Football season is driving restaurant traffic and community spending in Iowa towns, with chambers and small businesses pointing to gameday demand as a real economic lift. Consumer Fraud Watch: BBB Scam Tracker reports show West Burlington among Iowa cities with scam reports, underscoring ongoing fraud losses nationwide. Utilities & Rates: The Iowa Utilities Commission ordered natural gas rate reductions for IPL customers, adding to the week’s focus on energy costs.

Iowa Utilities Watch: The Iowa Utilities Commission announced Commissioner Erik Helland’s resignation effective Sept. 4, keeping the agency operating with a two-member quorum until a replacement is confirmed. Energy Costs: The IUC also ordered Alliant Energy to lower natural gas rates for Iowans, continuing a busy stretch of utility-rate decisions. Ag Markets & Policy: Grain prices rallied unusually in August as harvest-season expectations shifted, while cattle futures slipped to close the week amid drought-driven selling. Trade & Farm Impact: Trump’s plan to let small ranchers process their own meat sparked confusion among Iowa farmers, and the editorial pushback is sharp on a separate beef import plan that could pressure cattle prices. Food & Health: A guacamole recall was classified as FDA Class I amid a Salmonella investigation tied to jalapeño supplier Coast Citrus Distributors, and a Cyclospora outbreak continues to expand with new states added. Social Safety Net: Iowa’s SNAP hotline faces federal funding cuts starting Oct. 1, forcing food banks to cover more of the cost. Local Economy: Data-center plans in Salix and Woodbury County are still in motion as officials weigh process and community input. Business & Growth: DataVizion is moving to a new Des Moines office to support growth, and Scarano Marine attended a John Deere marine dealer meeting in Cedar Falls.

Iowa Utilities Watch: The Iowa Utilities Commission questioned Black Hills Energy after a Spencer-area inspection found more than 100 safety issues across 16 categories, with concerns about staffing and compliance practices as the agency weighs penalties and required fixes. Ag & Input Costs: A Minnesota report highlights how nitrogen fertilizer volatility tied to global fuel disruptions is pushing farmers toward alternatives like Pivot Bio’s bacterial nitrogen product—an approach aimed at cutting pollution while easing price risk. Food Supply & Health: The FDA upgraded its cyclospora lettuce warning to the highest risk level and added Georgia, Tennessee and Texas to the outbreak list, with Iowa among the affected states. Consumer Finance: Ohio reached a $15.5 million settlement with mortgage servicer NewRez over “force-placed” insurance charges imposed on borrowers who already had coverage, requiring refunds and stronger monitoring. Iowa Business Notes: The Iowa Lottery launched a new multi-state “Game Show Experience” linked game featuring The Price Is Right and other TV brands, with Iowa among the first participating lotteries. Local Government & Services: Blue Castle Waste Solutions debuted new sanitation trucks in Ottumwa and is considering single-stream recycling, aiming to improve service without rate increases.

Food Safety: Whole Foods recalled multiple dips sold in 13 states, including Iowa, after jalapeños tied to a Salmonella concern were found in products like mango pineapple salsa and several guacamole varieties. Public Health: The FDA says cyclosporiasis linked to recalled iceberg lettuce has spread to 3 more states, bringing confirmed cases to 20 states nationwide, with Iowa among those affected. Agriculture & Energy Policy: Trump administration discussions reportedly weigh expanding small refinery waivers to protect biofuel producers, a move farm and biofuel groups warn could cut renewable fuel demand and raise rural costs. Beef Trade: Iowa cattle groups are pressing Trump to reverse a plan to import more foreign ground beef for 90 days, arguing it won’t meaningfully lower prices for shoppers. Iowa Business/Community: Des Moines budget cuts are set to hit development services and increase fees, while Dubuque is holding another public meeting on school consolidation amid a roughly $14 million spending cut plan. Environment & Local Government: Iowa DNR opened a $1 million special Derelict Building Grant round to help small towns remove asbestos from vacant buildings.

Meta Child-Safety Settlement: Michigan AG Dana Nessel announced a landmark multistate deal with Meta requiring major Instagram/Facebook youth-safety changes, with Iowa’s share pegged at $136 million from the broader $17 billion agreement. Iowa Politics & Access: A report says the husband of GOP Senate candidate Ashley Hinson is being scrutinized for arranging meetings with lawmakers through an insurance industry lobbying role tied to his private-sector interests. Banking Tech Push: Thirty-nine state bankers associations formed BankChain Alliance, aiming for a 2027 launch of a bank-owned blockchain network for tokenized deposits, stablecoins, and smart payments. Utilities & Rates: The Iowa Utilities Commission ordered a $2.5 million natural gas rate reduction for Interstate Power and Light after reviewing expenses from a prior rate case. Agriculture Watch: USDA extended crop-insurance premium payment flexibility, giving producers up to 60 extra days, as claims run ahead of last year in parts of the Corn Belt. Local Business: A Speedy Pie 24-hour pizza vending machine opened in Bettendorf, offering heated pizzas in minutes near a major sports complex.

Meta Settlement: Meta agreed to a $17.1B multistate deal over teen social media addiction, with Iowa set to receive about $124.4M over 10 years and new child-safety changes like overnight limits and simplified parental controls. Utility Oversight: The Iowa Utilities Commission ordered a permanent natural gas rate reduction for Interstate Power and Light after reviewing costs following its rate case, cutting residential rates by more than $2.5M. Energy & Prices: GasBuddy reports show Iowa fuel prices easing in pockets—midgrade and diesel lows were logged across multiple counties in the Aug. 15 week—while researchers flag 2027 as a likely surge year for energy siting bills. Ag & Inputs: Iowa’s free nitrogen soil sampling program is expanding to more counties this fall to help farmers fine-tune fertilizer use and protect water quality. Banking: Iowa banks reported steady Q2 conditions, with loans up slightly and deposits down, keeping the loan-to-deposit ratio at 82.5%. Local Business & Community: Council Bluffs opened a new private-donation pier on the Missouri River, and Iowa City approved a $1.8M arts endowment to back local nonprofits and artists.