Rob Sand holds town hall in Le Mars, comments on data centers, small farms
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Rob Sand visited Le Mars yesterday afternoon as part of his 100 Town Hall Tour visiting every Iowa county. Sand took questions from dozens of attendees inside the Wells Ice Cream Parlor and Visitor Center covering topics such as property taxes, Iowa’s current political climate, data centers, and more. Speaking to KLEM, he says he believes Iowans from across the political spectrum want to see more accountability from their elected officials.
Several counties in northwest Iowa, including Plymouth County, have passed data center moratoriums over the past several weeks. Sand says he wants to have “smart development” in Iowa that benefits Iowans.
Speaking on smaller family farming, Sand says he would focus support on local and regional food systems if elected as governor.
Sand will face off against Republican nominee Zach Lahn in November’s general election.
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USDA accepts 186,000 acres in Iowa through Conservation Reserve Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting more than 186,247 acres in Iowa into the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) for 2026. Through the program, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers agricultural producers and landowners incentive payments for their conservation efforts while benefiting their agricultural operations and protecting the nation’s natural resources.
Producers and landowners submitted offers on nearly 190,379 acres in Iowa. Accepted acres include participation through program initiatives that support soil health, water quality, wildlife habitat, and long-term conservation on working lands. Of the nearly 272,745 acres in Iowa set to expire on September 30th, producers submitted re-enrollment offers for approximately 168,906 acres. Additionally, producers submitted offers to enroll 21,474 acres of new land in Iowa.
In a press release, the USDA stated that the Conservation Reserve Program is “one of the nation’s largest voluntary conservation programs, helping agricultural producers protect sensitive land while strengthening rural communities and supporting long-term sustainability.”
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Spencer will pay to rebuild 15 flood-damaged houses, FEMA to fund 25
A northwest Iowa community is still waiting for FEMA to buy out flood-damaged homes after historic flooding two years ago. Eighty percent of the properties in Spencer sustained at least some damage after two rivers crested at record levels. Spencer City Manager Kevin Robinson originally requested five-point-six million dollars to purchase 40 homes, but FEMA is only going to fund 25 properties, so he says the city will pay for the rest.
Homes purchased with federal funding will be demolished and replaced with green space or pocket parks. Robinson says the city has developed a flood response plan to protect residents from future disasters. While the federal funding will cover 25 properties, Robinson says 15 other houses will be covered through a local program.
Robinson expects FEMA funding to come within the next two weeks. Last month, FEMA awarded nearly five-point-five million dollars to Spencer and the local school district to repair parks, wastewater lift stations and an elementary school. Last week, the federal agency committed 22-million dollars to Rock Valley to buy and demolish 123 flood-damaged properties.
(Story via Radio Iowa)
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