Federal Budget Fight: Republican Chris McGowan says Washington’s $40T debt demands a constitutional balanced-budget amendment, arguing tariffs won’t fix the deficit and that Congress must face the issue head-on. Local Housing & Downtown Development: Fort Dodge City Council backed a plan to replace the long-vacant Trolley Center with a new mixed-use building using workforce housing tax credits. City Hall Contracting: Fort Dodge extended City Manager David Fierke’s contract through 2030, a move that drew a 5-1 vote split over a proposed raise. Water Crisis: Central Iowa Water Works issued a Stage 3 mandatory lawn watering ban due to elevated nitrates, stressing drinking water remains safe. State Government & Tourism: Gov. Kim Reynolds signed an executive order creating an Iowa Office of Outdoor Recreation under the Iowa Economic Development Authority. Labor Watch: UnityPoint nurses marched to the Capitol over a Teamsters union vote still pending before the National Labor Relations Board. Iowa Courts & Elections: An administrative audit in Cass County found a one-ballot mismatch that was corrected after a rescan. Public Safety: Ottumwa charged a former educational travel program director with theft and ongoing criminal conduct tied to misuse of program funds. Federal Appointments: Trump formally nominated acting AG Todd Blanche, setting up a contentious Senate confirmation battle.