Week in Iowa: Reynolds vetoes bill on eminent domain, 100 years of Wells Ice Cream and a RAGBRAI pre-ride (copy)

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MAYA MARCHEL HOFF

Welcome to Week in Iowa.

Almost a month after the 2025 Iowa legislative session wrapped up, Gov. Kim Reynolds took action on the remaining bills on Wednesday that were sent to her desk, signing most and vetoing others, including one on eminent domain, pipelines and property rights.

Continue reading for this week's Iowa news from the Missouri to the Mississippi.

Politics across Iowa

Eminent domain, pipelines, property rights bill vetoed

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Wednesday vetoed legislation that was designed to place restrictions on the use of eminent domain for hazardous liquid pipelines.

Iowa House Speaker Pat Grassley, a fellow Republican, said he has asked legislators to sign a petition to call a special session of the Iowa Legislature to override Reynolds' veto.

The proposed legislation, House File 639, contained provisions that were intended to make it more difficult for state government to seize private land to aid the construction of hazardous liquid pipelines and other energy infrastructure projects.

The bill passed the Iowa Legislature earlier this year only after a contentious and heated debate in the Iowa Senate, where Republicans were divided on the bill.

Complaint filed over denied event by Satanic Temple

The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa filed a complaint Tuesday with the Iowa Office of Civil Rights on behalf of The Satanic Temple Iowa over state officials' denial of a 2024 winter display and celebration in the Capitol rotunda.

The temple's celebration had been planned for Dec. 14 - one year after a statue depicting the pagan idol Baphomet that was part of a display by the temple at the Iowa Capitol was destroyed.

Mortimer Adramelech, minister of Satan of the Iowa congregation of The Satanic Temple, said state officials made a number of incorrect assumptions about the group and used those assumptions to discriminate against the congregation. Specifically, state officials said they denied the application over concerns sticks that are part of a Krampus costume contest could be used to hurt children.

The complaint was filed against the Iowa Department of Administrative Services, its director and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds' office.

Business

Quad-Cities area florists, growers navigate tariffs

Florists in the Quad-Cities are adjusting to the impact of tariffs on imports, adapting to price changes and uncertainty about product availability as wedding season begins.

President Donald Trump enforced a 10% tariff on all countries effective April 5, adding an extra cost to all imported goods. The cost increases hit the floral industry especially hard, as the bulk of fresh cut flowers sold in U.S. flower stores are imported - roughly 80% of flowers bought in the U.S. are imported, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Third-generation owner and manager of Colman Florist Cindy DeNike said some wedding customers have opted to buy flowers in bulk and make bouquets themselves.

Located on Jersey Ridge Road in Davenport, Colman Florist has seen a 30% spike in prices from wholesalers due to tariffs, DeNike said.

Ice Cream Days marks 100 years of Wells Ice Cream

If there is one thing that spans generations, it's that most of us can't resist a sweet treat. Le Mars has that covered.

Exactly 100 years ago, after some time developing as a milk delivery business in Le Mars, brothers Fred and Harry Wells began making ice cream as Wells Ice Cream Company. Ten years later, in 1935, a contest held through the Sioux City Journal would determine the brand name we know today: Blue Bunny Ice Cream.

"We're really fortunate that the community has embraced being the Ice Cream Capital of the World," said Beth Meyer, senior manager of the Wells Visitor Center & Ice Cream Parlor. "It's really fun, and what's more fun than ice cream?"

People

RAGBRAI pre-ride comes through CF as prep continues

A small group of people gathered at River Place Plaza on June 5, peering down the street in anticipation.

At around 4 p.m., two fire trucks led a group of bicycle riders around the corner and headed toward the plaza.

Thirty riders, including RAGRAI officials, law enforcement and longtime participants were on their fifth of seven days traveling the event's 2025 route from Orange City to Guttenberg.

On July 24, Cedar Falls will host about 20,000 riders and their support personnel overnight.

Demonstrators rally in support of LA and against ICE

Quad-Cities residents were out in force on Tuesday in three separate protests designed to get an anti-Immigrations and Customs Enforcement message across.

Three protests were held in Davenport throughout Tuesday afternoon and evening. Protests are taking place across the country in response to immigration enforcement actions taken by President Donald Trump's administration.

Sports

Steve Prohm, ISU teammates realize Haliburton special

The basketball world is starting to realize Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton is a superstar.

Wednesday night, Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers hosted the Oklahoma City Thunder for game three of the NBA Finals.

Haliburton is ISU's most recent representation in the NBA Finals as one of four Cyclones to play for the Larry O' Brien Championship Trophy.

Haliburton played two seasons at Iowa State before being selected 12th in the 2020 NBA Draft. ISU players, coaches and fans have known about Haliburton's ability long before his national profile skyrocketed after he bounced in a game-winner against the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals and made a go-ahead jumper with 0.3 seconds left in game one of the NBA Finals.

Number of the week: 80

Some able-bodied Iowans who are covered by Medicaid would be subject to work requirements under legislation signed into law June 6 by Gov. Kim Reynolds.

Reynolds directed the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services to request a federal waiver that would allow the state to implement work requirements for some Medicaid patients.

The waiver has not yet been submitted by the state, Reynolds said on June 6.

If the federal government approves the state's waiver request, the new state law will require Iowans covered by Medicaid to work at least 80 hours per month unless they qualify for an exemption. The new state law exempts from work requirements any physically able Iowans in the program who are younger than 19 or older than 64, the caretaker of a dependent child under 6 years old, undergoing a high risk pregnancy, or in treatment for a substance abuse disorder.