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CLOSE UP. THE RESULTS ARE IN ON A LONG AWAITED SCIENTIFIC STUDY ON THE SOURCE OF THE NITRATES IN OUR WATER SUPPLY. WE’LL BE JOINED LIVE BY ONE OF THE ADVISERS WHO WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN PUTTING THIS RESEARCH TOGETHER. PRESIDENT TRUMP KICKS OFF A YEAR LONG CELEBRATION OF AMERICA RIGHT HERE IN DES MOINES, AHEAD OF THE PATRIOTIC HOLIDAY WEEKEND. HOW THAT EVENT ALSO INCLUDED THE PRESIDENT TOUTING HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS. AND THE PRESIDENT WENT BACK TO WASHINGTON, D.C. FOR INDEPENDENCE DAY AND SIGNED HIS BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL. THE CONCERNS FROM IOWA FOOD PANTRIES OVER CHANGES TO ONE BENEFIT. THIS IS IOWA’S NEWS LEADER. THIS IS ����vlog EIGHT NEWS CLOSE UP. GOOD MORNING AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US FOR ����vlog EIGHT NEWS CLOSE UP I’M NICOLE TAM. PRESIDENT TRUMP CELEBRATED THE 4TH OF JULY AT THE WHITE HOUSE, SIGNING HIS ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL INTO LAW. HE TOUTED THE SUCCESS OF THE BILL’S PASSAGE WHILE SPEAKING FROM THE BALCONY OVERLOOKING THE SOUTH LAWN. WHAT WE’VE DONE IS PUT EVERYTHING INTO ONE BILL. IT’S NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. IT’S THE BIGGEST BILL OF ITS TYPE IN HISTORY. MULTIPLE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS WERE THERE FOR THE SIGNING OF THAT MASSIVE TAX CUT AND SPENDING PACKAGE. THE LEGISLATION INCREASES SPENDING FOR BORDER SECURITY AND DEFENSE, AND IT ALSO EXTENDS TRUMP’S 2017 TAX CUTS. IT ALSO MAKES STEEP CUTS TO SEVERAL PROGRAMS, AND THAT INCLUDES SNAP AND MEDICAID. JUST A DAY BEFORE THAT, THE PRESIDENT WAS ACTUALLY HERE IN DES MOINES TALKING WITH IOWANS AT THE STATE FAIRGROUNDS. THAT EVENT WAS A KICKOFF TO A YEAR LONG CELEBRATION FOR AMERICA’S 250TH BIRTHDAY. WHILE HE DID MENTION THAT HIS REMARKS DID BECOME MORE OF A POLITICAL RALLY, HIS BUDGET BILL PASSED EARLIER IN THE DAY AFTER REPUBLICAN LEADERS IN THE HOUSE CONVINCED HOLDOUTS TO GET BEHIND THAT CONTROVERSIAL LEGISLATION. THE PRESIDENT ALSO USED IT AS A CHANCE TO SELL HIS BIGGEST DOMESTIC POLICY AGENDA, ONE THAT HE SAYS DELIVERS ON HIS CAMPAIGN PROMISES. THE PRESIDENT SPENT A LOT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT HIS IMMIGRATION POLICY AND MASS DEPORTATION PLAN, AND ALSO HIS GOAL TO STRENGTHEN THE MILITARY. HE PROMISED IOWANS WHAT HE CALLS HIS BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL WILL MAKE AMERICA A STRONGER AND SAFER PLACE. THE STRONGEST BORDER ON EARTH, THE STRONGEST ECONOMY ON EARTH, THE STRONGEST MILITARY ON EARTH, AND ENSURE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL REMAIN THE STRONGEST COUNTRY ANYWHERE ON THIS BEAUTIFUL PLANET OF OURS. TRUMP ALSO BROUGHT UP HIS IDEA TO EASE HIS TOUGH STANCE ON IMMIGRATION FOR MIGRANTS WHO ARE WORKING ON FARMS. NOW, EARLIER IN THE WEEK, TRUMP SAID THAT HIS ADMINISTRATION IS WORKING TO CREATE A TEMPORARY PASS FOR WORKERS ON FARMS AND IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY. HE BELIEVES THE POLICY WILL GIVE EMPLOYERS, INCLUDING FARMERS, GREATER CONTROL, TO SORT OF PUT THE FARMERS IN CHARGE. AND IF SOMEBODY IF A IF A FARMER HAS BEEN WITH ONE OF THESE PEOPLE THAT WORKS SO HARD, THEY BEND OVER ALL DAY, WE DON’T HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE CAN DO THAT. IF A FARMER IS WILLING TO VOUCH FOR THESE PEOPLE IN SOME WAY, CHRISTIE, I THINK WE’RE GOING TO HAVE TO JUST SAY THAT’S GOING TO BE GOOD, RIGHT? YOU KNOW, WE’RE GOING TO BE WE’RE GOING TO BE GOOD WITH IT BECAUSE WE DON’T WANT TO DO IT WHERE WE TAKE ALL OF THE WORKERS OFF THE FARMS. WE WANT THE FARMS TO DO GREAT LIKE THEY’RE DOING RIGHT NOW. THE PRESIDENT SAYS THIS IS LEGISLATION THAT HE’S WORKING ON RIGHT NOW WITH SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY KRISTI NOEM. NOW, ACCORDING TO THAT DEPARTMENT, ABOUT 42% OF FARM WORKERS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES BETWEEN 2020 AND 2022 WERE NOT LEGAL CITIZENS. ����vlog POLITICAL ANALYST DENNIS GOLDFORD DID JOIN US ON SET FOLLOWING THE PRESIDENT’S REMARKS ON THURSDAY. GOLDFORD SAID IT WAS A VERY PARTIZAN SPEECH, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE IN HIS FAN BASE DO FEEL THAT TRUMP IS ENTERTAINING TO LISTEN TO. HE’S A CONSUMMATE ENTERTAINER. HE DID THAT DURING THE CAUCUSES WHEN HE FIRST RAN IN 2015 AND 2016. AND SO THIS IS THE KIND OF SPEECH THAT HE LOVES TO GIVE. IT SORT OF RAMBLES. HE CALLS IT THE WEAVE, BUT IT’S MORE RAMBLING, ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS. CONSCIOUSNESS. BUT HE’S GOT SOME JOKES, ONE LINERS, AND THE FOLKS OUT THERE LOVE LISTENING TO IT. AS WE MENTIONED, THE PRESIDENT ALSO TALKED A LOT ABOUT HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND TOUCHED ON SOME OF THE CELEBRATIONS THAT HE HAD IN MIND LEADING UP TO THE NEXT 4TH OF JULY. THAT’S WHEN THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF SIGNING THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE HAPPENED. GOLDFORD SAYS WHILE THERE’S SOME HOPEFULNESS IN THAT, IT’S REALLY A TECHNIQUE THAT POLITICIANS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE HAVE DONE THAT CAN BE A DIVISIVE STRATEGY BECAUSE IT SENDS A MESSAGE THAT ANYONE WHO OPPOSES TRUMP AS PRESIDENT IS NOT JUST ATTACKING HIM, BUT ALSO ATTACKING AMERICA. PART OF THE PRESIDENT’S CELEBRATION PLAN THAT HE ANNOUNCED ON THURSDAY INCLUDES A GREAT AMERICAN STATE FAIR WITH EXHIBITS FROM ALL 50 STATES, STARTING RIGHT HERE IN IOWA. HE ALSO SAID HE HAS PLANS TO BRING A UFC FIGHT TO THE GROUNDS OF THE WHITE HOUSE, ORGANIZED BY UFC PRESIDENT DANA WHITE. CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT, FULL FIGHT LIKE 2020 5000 PEOPLE. AND WE’RE GOING TO DO THAT AS PART OF 250. ALSO, WE’RE GOING TO HAVE SOME INCREDIBLE EVENTS, SOME PROFESSIONAL EVENTS, SOME AMATEUR EVENTS, BUT THE UFC FIGHT IS GOING TO BE A BIG DEAL TO PRESIDENT. TRUMP HAS BEEN KNOWN TO ATTEND UFC EVENTS, MOST RECENTLY IN NEW JERSEY LAST MONTH. WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY CAROLINE LEAVITT SAYS THAT TRUMP WAS DEAD SERIOUS ABOUT THAT PLAN. SHE WROTE ON X AS YOU SEE RIGHT THERE, IT’S GOING TO BE EPIC. SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE BROOKE ROLLINS DID SIGN A PROCLAMATION CALLING ON ALL STATES TO IMPLEMENT AMERICA 250 PROGRAMING AT EVERY STATE FAIR LEADING UP TO THAT ANNIVERSARY. STATE FAIRS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE ENCOURAGED TO ESTABLISH PATRIOTIC CENTERS OF CELEBRATION. SO FAR, MORE THAN 35 STATES DID COMMIT TO CELEBRATING AMERICA. 250. AS WE MENTIONED, THAT EVENT ON THURSDAY WAS A BUSY DAY OUT THERE AT THE FAIRGROUNDS AHEAD OF THE PRESIDENT’S VISIT. PEOPLE LINED UP IN THE MORNING WAITING FOR THE FAIRGROUND GATES TO OPEN AT NOON FOR THAT EVENT. WE CAUGHT VIDEO RIGHT HERE. YOU CAN SEE SOME EXCITED FOLKS RUNNING IN TO GRAB SEATS. TEMPERATURES WERE IN THE 90S THAT DAY, BUT WITH THE HUMIDITY DEFINITELY MUCH HOTTER. PEOPLE BRAVED THOSE TEMPERATURES FOR HOURS AND SOME EVEN HAD A MEDICAL EMERGENCY FROM THE HEAT. A LOT OF PEOPLE DID SAY AFTER THE RALLY THAT THEY WERE REALLY HAPPY WITH WHAT THE PRESIDENT SAID, AND ALSO THE PATRIOTIC TONE OF THAT EVENT. I THINK IT’S HUGE 250 YEARS TO COME TO DES MOINES, IOWA, AT THE FAIRGROUNDS, TO JUST THE REGULAR WORKING FOLK. I JUST THINK IT’S NEAT. EARN. HECK, THAT’S WHAT I THINK. BUT NOT EVERYONE WAS HAPPY WITH THE PRESIDENT’S VISIT HERE TO CENTRAL IOWA. A FEW PROTESTS HAPPENED ACROSS DES MOINES THROUGHOUT THE DAY ON THURSDAY. ����vlog’S MARCUS MCINTOSH TALKED TO SOME OF THOSE PROTESTERS. SOMETHING IS WRONG. WHEN WE ALLOW PEOPLE TO TAKE FOOD AWAY FROM BABIES AND HEALTH CARE AWAY FROM OUR SENIORS. STATE REPRESENTATIVE ROB JOHNSON, ONE OF THE MORE THAN HALF DOZEN SPEAKERS WHO PASSIONATELY TOOK AIM AT LEGISLATION THEY SAY WILL COST IOWANS HEALTH CARE, JOBS AND VITAL FOOD PROGRAMS. IT IS ABOUT PUSHING THE PEOPLE’S AGENDA, HE SAYS. GROUPS FROM ACROSS THE STATE COMING TOGETHER TO FIGHT FOR WHAT’S BEST FOR THE PEOPLE. MY HOPE IS THAT FOLKS WILL NOT JUST HEAR IT, BUT THEY WILL ACT ON IT. MY HOPE IS THAT FOLKS WILL UNDERSTAND THAT YES, THIS SEEMS POLITICALLY CHARGED, BUT THIS WAS A CRY FOR PEOPLE PROTESTING DID NOT END DOWNTOWN. OUTSIDE THE FAIRGROUNDS WHERE THE PRESIDENT SPOKE, A GROUP OF PROTESTERS SHOWED UP TO LET THE PRESIDENT KNOW THEY ARE NOT HAPPY. HE IS HERE. I’M JUST HERE TO MAKE MY OWN SELF FEEL BETTER, HONESTLY, BECAUSE I HAVE TO DO SOMETHING. NO HATE, NO FEAR. IMMIGRANTS ARE WELCOME HERE. HEATHER RYAN HELPED ORGANIZE THE PROTEST. SHE SAYS SHE IS FED UP TELLING US IT IS TIME FOR NOT ONLY THE PRESIDENT, BUT IOWANS ELECTED TO NATIONAL OFFICE TO DO THE RIGHT THING. RYAN IS CONFIDENT THEIR EFFORTS CAN LEAD TO CHANGE. IF PEOPLE KEEP SHOWING UP. IT’S A FANTASTIC SHOWING. IT’S 95 DEGREES OUT AND THESE GUYS ARE SHOWING UP AND SHOWING THAT THEY WANT TO FIGHT BACK AND THEY’RE WILLING TO BE ENGAGED. WITH ABOUT 100 OR SO PROTESTERS. THE IOWA STATE PATROL AND DES MOINES POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE TO PREVENT PROTESTERS FROM BLOCKING VEHICLES TRYING TO GET INTO THE FAIRGROUNDS AND KEEP TRAFFIC AT A STEADY PACE. IN DES MOINES, MARCUS MCINTOSH ����vlog EIGHT NEWS IOWA’S NEWS LEADER. STILL AHEAD, WHEN WE COME BACK, THE OPPOSITION TO TRUMP’S BUDGET BILL AND THE LAWMAKERS DECLARING A VICTORY ON THAT MARATHON VOTE TO GET IT SENT TO THE PRESIDENT’S DESK BY HIS DEADLINE. PLUS, THE DEMOCRAT WHO BROKE A RECORD TRYING TO STALL THAT BILL. WHAT HE HAD, WHAT HAKEEM JEFFRIES SAID DURING HIS NEARLY NINE HOUR SPEECH ON THE HOUSE FLOOR. WELCOME BACK. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SPOKE TO IOWANS ON THURSDAY AT THE IOWA STATE FAIRGROUNDS. AND DIRECTLY AFTER HIS EVENING SPEECH, HE LEFT DES MOINES ON AIR FORCE ONE. AS YOU SEE RIGHT THERE. THE EVENT WAS ALL A PART OF A YEAR LONG CELEBRATION OF AMERICA’S 250TH ANNIVERSARY. AND IT HAPPENED ON THE SAME DAY THAT LAWMAKERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C., SENT PRESIDENT TRUMP’S BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL TO HIS DESK. DEMOCRATIC LEADER HAKEEM JEFFRIES MADE A RECORD BREAKING DECISION TO FILIBUSTER PRESIDENT TRUMP’S BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL BEFORE IT PASSED. JEFFRIES MADE THE LONGEST SPEECH ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, SPEAKING FOR NEARLY NINE HOURS AND DELAYED THE BILL’S PASSAGE. AS DEMOCRATIC LEADER, JEFFRIES CAN ACTUALLY TALK FOR AS LONG AS HE WANTS. DURING DEBATE ON LEGISLATION. JEFFRIES, IN HIS CLOSING REMARKS, REFERENCED THE LATE DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR AND ENCOURAGE AMERICANS TO PRESS ON FOR DEMOCRACY. THE KING SAID. THAT IF YOU CAN’T. FLY, RUN. THAT’S RIGHT. YOU CAN’T RUN. IF YOU CAN’T RUN, WALK. THAT’S RIGHT. IF YOU CAN’T WALK, CRAWL. BUT AT ALL TIMES, PRESS ON. PRESS ON FOR THE POOR. YES, PRESS ON FOR THE SICK. PRESS ON FOR THE AFFLICTED. PRESS ON FOR THE LEAST. PRESS ON FOR THE LOST. PRESS ON FOR THE LEFT BEHIND. PRESS ON FOR THE RULE OF LAW. PRESS ON FOR THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE. PRESS ON FOR DEMOCRACY. WE’RE GOING TO PRESS ON UNTIL VICTORY IS WON. I YIELD BACK. THE PREVIOUS RECORD FOR LONGEST HOUSE FLOOR SPEECH WAS FROM THEN REPUBLICAN MINORITY LEADER KEVIN MCCARTHY. BACK IN 2021. HE TALKED FOR EIGHT HOURS AND 32 MINUTES AND DELAYED A VOTE ON THEN-PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN’S PLAN TO EXPAND THE SOCIAL SAFETY NET. SENATOR CHUCK GRASSLEY TALKED ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP’S BILL AT THE FAIRGROUNDS ON THURSDAY. SENATOR GRASSLEY AND SENATOR JONI ERNST DID VOTE IN FAVOR OF THAT BILL. AND AGAIN, IT DOES EXTEND THE PRESIDENT’S 2017 TAX CUTS, MAKES CUTS TO MEDICAID AND INCLUDES MORE SPENDING FOR BORDER SECURITY AND DEFENSE. I WAS HAPPY TO STAY UP 27 HOURS TO SEE THAT THROUGH TO ITS FINALITY. IT’S A BILL THAT MAKES SURE WE DON’T GET THE BIGGEST TAX INCREASE IN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY. AND FOR ALL THE DEMOCRATS THAT VOTED AGAINST IT, THEY WERE VOTING TO HAVE THE BIGGEST TAX INCREASE IN THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY. GRASSLEY SAYS THE BILL WILL HELP EXPAND THE CHILD TAX CREDIT AND ALSO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES. THE IOWA DEMOCRATIC PARTY HOSTED AN EVENT THAT’S FOCUSED ON THE PRESIDENT’S BUDGET BILL. THE KILL THE BILL RALLY TOOK PLACE AT COLBY PARK IN WINDSOR HEIGHTS ON THURSDAY, JUST BEFORE THE PRESIDENT’S EVENT. IT WAS ORGANIZED TO SEND A MESSAGE TO TRUMP AND HIS ADMINISTRATION ABOUT HOW SOME IOWANS FEEL ABOUT THAT BILL. THEIR MAIN FOCUS WAS ON CUTS TO MEDICAID AND SOCIAL SERVICES LIKE SNAP BENEFITS. IT JUST TELLS YOU WHAT I’VE KNOWN NOW FOR A LONG TIME. SINCE JANUARY, THAT PEOPLE ARE THERE NOT ONLY UPSET, THEY’RE ANGRY, THEY’RE SCARED. THEY RECOGNIZE THE RAMIFICATIONS OF THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING. IT’S AFFECTING THEIR DAILY LIVES ALREADY, AND THEY KNOW THAT THEY’VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING. ROB SAND, WHO’S RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, RESPONDED TO THAT BUDGET BILL, SAYING THAT CONGRESS VOTED TO KICK OVER 100,000 IOWANS OFF THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE AND THREATEN ALREADY ENDANGERED RURAL HOSPITALS. SNAP IS THE LARGEST FEDERAL NUTRITION PROGRAM THAT’S HELPING PEOPLE PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE. THE DES MOINES AREA RELIGIOUS COUNCIL, OR DENMARK, SAYS IT’S DEEPLY DISHEARTENED BY THE PASSAGE OF THIS BUDGET BILL. IN A STATEMENT, THE ORGANIZATION SAYS THIS LEGISLATION PUTS THOUSANDS OF OUR NEIGHBORS AT A HEIGHTENED RISK OF FOOD INSECURITY AND IS ALSO A BUDGETARY TICKING TIME BOMB FOR OUR STATE. HISTORICALLY, SNAP BENEFITS ARE 100% FEDERALLY FUNDED. IN APRIL, SNAP BENEFITS TOTALED $9.1 MILLION HERE IN POLK COUNTY, AND IT HELPED MORE THAN 75,000 PEOPLE. THAT’S 28 TIMES MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE FOOD THAT DENMARK SAYS THAT IT PROVIDED. IN THAT SAME MONTH. SOME IOWANS WHO RELY ON FOOD ASSISTANCE ARE WORRIED ABOUT HOW THEY’LL MAKE ENDS MEET AND PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE IF THEIR BENEFITS ARE AFFECTED. THE FOOD BANK OF IOWA SAYS THAT IT WILL HAVE A DEVASTATING IMPACT FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES AT THE END OF THE MONTH. WE’RE KIND OF LIKE SCRAPING IT, YOU KNOW, WHAT AM I GOING TO COOK TOMORROW? THERE WILL BE A LOT OF UPSET PEOPLE. A LOT OF MOMS STRUGGLING OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, THAT NEED HELP TO FEED THEIR KIDS. WE WOULD SEE PEOPLE THAT WE HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE ACCESSING PANTRIES. THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL ACT INCREASES WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR SOME OF THOSE SNAP RECIPIENTS. STILL AHEAD, WE’RE GOING TO TAKE A DEEPER DIVE INTO IOWA’S WATER QUALITY. WHY? SCIENTISTS SAY THE POLLUTION IN OUR WATER SUPPLY IS TIED TO FARMING. AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP THAT ISSUE. PEOPLE. SERVICED BY CENTRAL IOWA WATER WORKS HAVE BEEN UNDER A LAWN WATERING BAN FOR MORE THAN THREE WEEKS NOW BECAUSE OF HIGH LEVELS OF NITRATES IN OUR WATER. A STUDY THAT WAS COMMISSIONED BY POLK COUNTY TWO YEARS AGO GIVES US A LOOK AT WHAT IS CAUSING THE LEVEL TO RISE IN BOTH THE DES MOINES AND RACCOON RIVERS WATERSHEDS. ����vlog’S BEAU BOWMAN SHARES THE STUDY’S FINDINGS AND THE SOLUTIONS THAT IT’S OFFERING. WE’RE HOPING THAT THIS CENTRAL IOWA WATER REPORT COMPREHENSIVE REPORT WILL SERVE AS A GUIDE. POLK COUNTY LEADERS LIKE SUPERVISOR MATT MCCOY FIRST ANNOUNCED THE CENTRAL IOWA SOURCE WATER RESEARCH ASSESSMENT IN 2023. IT’S REGARDED TO BE A FIRST OF ITS KIND STUDY, UNBIASED AND A COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION OF THE WATERSHEDS FOR THE DES MOINES AND RACCOON RIVERS. FEDERAL DATA SHOWS THAT THE HIGHEST STREAM NITRATE CONCENTRATIONS ARE, QUOTE, PREDOMINANTLY FOUND IN IOWA. WE WANT TO WORK COOPERATIVELY WITH FARMERS. WE DON’T WANT TO BLAME FARMERS. WE’RE WE’RE TIED TO AGRICULTURE IN SO MANY WAYS. THE REPORT STATES THAT NEARLY 80% OF THE NITRATE IN THE DES MOINES AND RACCOON RIVERS IS DIRECTLY TIED TO AGRICULTURE. IT ALSO READS THAT NITRATES WILL CONTINUE TO BE A CHALLENGE IN THE LEVELS WILL LIKELY GET WORSE. AN ANALYSIS OF FARMED AREAS IN FOUR OTHER STATES SHOWED THAT THE HIGH CONCENTRATIONS IN IOWA ARE AN ANOMALY. SO MUCH OF OUR STATE PLANTED IN CORN AND SOYBEANS, AND IT’S IT’S REALLY A FENCE ROW TO FENCE ROW KIND OF STATE. AND WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS, THIS ISSUE COOPERATIVELY. AND OFTENTIMES THAT INVOLVES. INCENTIVIZING INDIVIDUALS TO TO DO THIS BECAUSE THERE’S A COST ASSOCIATED WITH ALL OF THIS. THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTED ABOUT TWO DOZEN RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY IN THE WATERSHEDS, INCLUDING MORE STATE FUNDING FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITIES, A PUBLIC DATABASE TO SHOW HOW MUCH MANURE IS BEING APPLIED TO LAND, AND REDUCING THE OVERAPPLICATION OF IT, AND PREPARATION FOR FURTHER RESTRICTIONS ON DRINKING WATER CONTAMINATION. MCCOY SAID THE COUNTY HAS TAKEN STEPS TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY. ONE WAY BUILDING MORE WETLANDS THAT ACT AS RUNOFF CLEANSERS, HE SAYS, THAT COULD BE A BIG PIECE OF THE SOLUTION. IF WE IMPLEMENT WETLANDS ACROSS THE STATE, LIKE WE’VE DONE HERE IN POLK COUNTY, I THINK YOU’LL FIND THAT OUR WATER IS GOING TO GET CLEANER. THAT REPORT BOASTS TALKING ABOUT 108 PAGES A LOT TO GET THROUGH. 16 SCIENTISTS TOOK PART IN THIS. MORE THAN 4000 HOURS OF ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT. JUST SO MUCH WORK WENT INTO IT. ONE OF THE RESEARCHERS IS RIGHT HERE WITH ME THIS MORNING, CLAIRE RUBY FROM DRAKE UNIVERSITY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. THANKS FOR HAVING ME, NICOLE. AND SO OBVIOUSLY WE TALK A LOT ABOUT NITRATES THE LAST FEW WEEKS. AND THIS REPORT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR TWO YEARS. JUST HOW TIMELY IS IT THAT PEOPLE ARE NOW WATCHING THIS REPORT THAT YOU’VE BEEN WORKING ON? IT’S VERY TIMELY, BUT THIS ISSUE ISN’T NEW, RIGHT? I’VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS ISSUE FOR 20 SOME YEARS. THERE ARE FOLKS ON THIS TEAM WHO’VE BEEN WORKING FOR 30 OR 40 YEARS. SO THE NITRATE ISSUE IS NOT NEW. BUT THE SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES RIGHT NOW MAKES IT SO THAT IT’S IT’S A RISING TO EVERYONE’S ATTENTION. YEAH. YOU TOLD ME THAT THE SECTION YOU KIND OF TOOK THE LEAD ON WAS THE RIVER AND LAKE RECREATION. AND IN THAT YOU TALK ABOUT THE CONTAMINANTS THAT’S IN OUR WATER, WHETHER IT’S BACTERIA, E.COLI, ALL OF THOSE THINGS. HOW IMPORTANT, BESIDES NITRATES THAT WE WATCH FOR TO CATCH ALL OF THOSE OTHER THINGS AND MONITOR THOSE LEVELS. MONITORING IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT, RIGHT? IT’S THE SAME AS IF WE WERE GOING TO THE DOCTOR AND WE DIDN’T HAVE ANY DATA. RIGHT. SO YOU NEED TO KNOW NOT JUST WHAT YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE IS TODAY, BUT WHAT IT HAS BEEN OVER TIME. THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT WE’RE TRYING TO DO WITH THE WATER QUALITY AS WELL. SO MY SPECIALTY IS LOOKING AT THE E COLI AND PATHOGENS IN THE WATER. AND THE NUTRIENTS ARE DEFINITELY A CONCERN. AND THEN THE TOXINS THAT COME FROM TOO MANY NUTRIENTS AND THE ALGAE THAT GROW, ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE A CONCERN. SO NITRATE IS IMPORTANT FOR DRINKING WATER. BUT WE SHOULD LET PEOPLE KNOW THAT NITRATE IS NOT A CONCERN FOR RECREATION DIRECTLY. YOU CAN GET IN WATER WITH HIGH NITRATE AND NOT HAVE AN IMPACT. SO THERE’S A LOT OF DETAILS IN THIS REPORT. YEAH. AND WE CAN TELL JUST WATER IS LIFE, RIGHT? THERE’S SO MANY THINGS WE DO THAT USES WATER OR INVOLVES WATER. AND I JUST WANT TO JUMP REAL QUICKLY. WE MENTIONED 16 RESEARCHERS. THAT’S A LOT OF BRILLIANT MINDS IN A PROJECT. WHAT WAS THAT BEHIND THE SCENES ASPECT LIKE BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT LIKE MINDED PROFESSIONALS? IT WAS A REAL HONOR FOR ME, HAVING WORKED IN THIS FOR A WHILE NOW, WE HAD SOME OUTSIDE FOLKS. A LOT OF FOLKS FROM WITHIN IOWA THAT I’VE MET BEFORE, BUT WE HAD SOME EXPERTS NATIONALLY WHICH HELPED GIVE US A PERSPECTIVE, AND I WAS NOT THE SAME AS EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE US. AND WE WORKED IN TEAMS, AND THEN WE GOT TOGETHER AS A GROUP FROM TIME TO TIME. A LOT OF IT WAS OVER ZOOM, RIGHT? BUT THAT WE WE REALLY, YOU KNOW, WORKED ON WHATEVER EVERYBODY’S SPECIALTY WAS AND HAVING THEM TAKE THE LEAD ON CERTAIN AREAS. A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU GO. I READ THROUGH THAT REPORT. THERE ARE SO MANY SECTIONS. AGAIN, WE JUST HAVE SO MANY THINGS THAT INVOLVE WATER HERE IN IOWA AND IN LIVES. HOW DID YOU FOLKS DECIDE THAT THOSE SEVEN CHAPTERS ARE THE ESSENTIAL THINGS TO INCLUDE IN THIS REPORT? WELL, WE WE DIVIDED THEM UP BY BY OUR BASIC USES, RIGHT? DRINKING WATER IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT, BUT WE HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS PUTTING MONEY INTO RECREATION IN THE STATE. I’M ORIGINALLY FROM MINNESOTA. WE HAVE A LOT OF LAKES, BUT HERE IN IOWA WE HAVE A LOT OF RIVERS AND THEY’RE BEAUTIFUL. AND I LIKE TO PADDLE ON THEM, AND I WANT TO BE SURE THAT THEY’RE SAFE FOR FOR FOLKS LIKE ME AND MY KIDS AND EVERYONE ELSE’S KIDS. AND FINALLY, ONE LAST QUESTION BEFORE WE GO. WE MENTIONED IN BO STORY, AND JUST THROUGHOUT THE REPORT, I LOVE THAT THERE WAS WHAT CAN WE DO ALL OF THIS ISSUES, HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE INVOLVED? WHAT CAN WE DO? I MEAN, IT’S LIKE A WATER ISSUE. CONSERVATION WITH A LONG BAN RIGHT NOW IS EVERYTHING WE’RE CONTRIBUTING TO. HOW DID YOU FOLKS COME UP WITH THAT LIST? AND JUST WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT FOR EVERYONE TO GET INVOLVED? WELL, IT ABSOLUTELY AFFECTS ALL OF US. AND AND WHAT WE DO AFFECTS OTHER PEOPLE, RIGHT? SO WHAT WE SPRAY IN OUR BACKYARDS AFFECTS OTHER PEOPLE. WE ALL NEED TO ASK QUESTIONS OF OUR LEADERS, RIGHT? THEY’RE NOT GOING TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT IF THEY DON’T THINK IT’S IMPORTANT. SO WE ALL HAVE A ROLE TO PLAY. DEFINITELY. WELL, I’M SURE YOU ARE READY FOR A NAP AFTER WORKING ON THIS FOR TWO YEARS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND GIVING US THAT BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK. THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME. YEAH. THANK YOU. AND SO YES, WE CAN ALL PLAY A ROLE IN THIS CONSERVATION EFFORT. YES. CLARE RUBY WITH DRAKE UNIVERSITY WITH US THIS MORNING. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US. STILL AHEAD, IOWA’S AGRICULTURE SECRETARY WILL SHARE THE CONSERVATION WORK DONE RIGHT HERE IN IOWA TO KEEP OUR DRINKING WATER SAFE. WELCOME BACK TO CLOSE UP. AS NITRATE LEVELS CONTINUE TO REMAIN HIGH IN IOWA’S WATER SUPPLY, CONSERVATION EFFORTS ARE MADE TO HELP KEEP THEM OUT. ����vlog TALKED WITH IOWA AGRICULTURE SECRETARY MIKE NAIG ABOUT IT LAST WEEK. THE SECRETARY SAYS IOWA SET A FOUR YEAR RECORD FOR FARMERS ADOPTING PRACTICES THAT BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT, AND THAT INCLUDES REDUCING NITRATES IN IOWA’S WATERWAYS. THE FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARD FOR DRINKING WATER IS 10MG/L. CENTRAL IOWA WATER WORKS USES A WATER FILTRATION SYSTEM TO PRODUCE WATER THAT MEETS THOSE STANDARDS. THEY TAKE WATER FROM RIVERS THAT HAS A LOT OF VARIABILITY AND MAKES THAT INTO MAKE THAT INTO A PRODUCT THAT FOLKS CAN SAFELY USE THAT COMPLIES WITH THE LAW. AND THEY HAVE DONE THAT THROUGH SOME CHALLENGING TIMES. YOU CAN HEAR THE FULL CONVERSATION WITH NAIG, AS WELL AS AN IOWA FARMER WHO INVESTS IN WATER CONSERVATION EFFORTS. THAT’S AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW ON ����vlog.COM. YOU CAN FIND IT UNDER THE INVESTIGATES TAB. AS WE JUST TALKED WITH DRAKE UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR CLAIRE RUBY, WE CAN ALL MAKE AN EFFORT IN THIS CONSERVATION PROCESS AS WE CONTINUE THIS WATER CONSERVATION THROUGH THE LAWN WATERING BAN HERE IN CENTRAL IOWA. HOPE YOU LEARNED SOMETHING THIS MORNING FROM THIS ����vlog EIGHT NEWS CLOSE UP. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT DAY AS WE LEAVE YOU WITH A VIEW OF DOWNTOWN D