Rural Hospital Funding: Iowa and other states got a boost as the Senate unanimously passed the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Reauthorization Act, extending a Medicare rural hospital program for five more years and keeping payment experiments alive for Iowa hospitals including Spirit Lake, Newton, Fort Dodge and Grinnell. Local Care Access: UnityPoint Health opened a new outpatient pharmacy in downtown Des Moines, and Iowa Methodist Medical Center also opened a new pharmacy—both aimed at making it easier for patients to get prescriptions close to home. Mental Health in Communities: Iowa communities are working to fill gaps in statewide mental health care, with new counseling efforts showing up in places like Creston and a Le Mars YMCA mental health walk encouraging year-round conversations. Public Health & Food Security: SNAP cards for thousands of Iowans were inadvertently canceled and then reissued, and Iowa’s EBT disruptions prompted follow-up support for affected families. Cancer Research Funding: Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a vape tax that funds pediatric cancer research, channeling new dollars into treatment and prevention efforts. Water Safety: The Iowa DNR warned swimmers about E. coli and toxic algae at four state beaches. Health-Related Giving: ImpactLife held a blood drive for a Rock Island boy who died of cancer, highlighting ongoing demand for blood and platelet donations.