The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it's investing more than $15 million to help rural communities make improvements to water systems in nine rural Iowa counties.
The money loans and grants is part of a nationwide package of $192 million being offered for 71 projects in 29 states to improve rural water infrastructure.
Two communities in the region getting the money include Dow City in Crawford County and Kimballton in Audubon County.
A legal advocacy organization has filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging a state law that farm organizations have used to shield themselves from undercover investigations by animal rights groups.
Lawyers for the Animal Legal Defense Fund and other animal rights organizations filed the suit against a pig farm in Arkansas.
The suit argues that the 2017 law barring undercover investigations at private businesses like large farms violates the First Amendment to the Constitution by banning a form of speech.
A federal judge struck down a similar law in Iowa in January.
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts has launched a new podcast that will feature conversations with lawmakers, sports coaches and other people of interest.
The first podcast released today is a conversation between Ricketts and U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer about current debates in Congress and her time in the Nebraska Legislature.
Ricketts says the podcast will give listeners the chance to hear from a variety of people who are involved with issues of great public interest.
Listeners can subscribe online on SoundCloud, a website with free music and podcasts.
The podcast is designed to help listeners connect with the work of the governor's office.
A Sioux City teenager faces charges in a deadly hit and run accident in South Sioux City on Monday night.
Police say 19-year-old Maria Gonzalez-Diego was driving drunk when she killed 62-year-old Antonia Lopez Da Ramirez as she walked across a street in South Sioux City.
Gonzalez-Diego has previous arrests for drunk driving. The new charges include vehicular homicide with prior conviction for driving under the influence and with failure to stop and render aid.
A Dordt University student has died after a crash in Montana earlier this week.
The Des Moines Register reports David Temte was a junior on the school’s track and cross country teams.
His twin brother from Minnesota also died in the crash as well as a person in another vehicle.
The Montana Highway Patrol says the car with the Minnesota men inside went off the road, hit a guardrail on Monday morning before colliding head-on with another vehicle.
Health officials say deer ticks that can carry Lyme disease have turned up for the first time in eastern Nebraska.
Lyme disease can cause fever, headache, fatigue and a skin rash. Health officials say most people recover completely, although some may be left with joint pain that can be treated with medication.
Nebraska health officials have yet to confirm any cases of Lyme disease originating in the state.
The ticks were found in Douglas, Sarpy and Saunders counties.