A Scientist Was Pushed Out for Studying Iowa’s Water. Now He’s Running To Regulate It.

How water, cancer and factory farming are fueling a grassroots political campaign in Iowa for Chris Jones.

By: John McCracken

Outlets: Sentient

Published: October 15, 2026

Words: 2,742

Last Updated: 1 week, 4 days ago

Body Text Preview

Paddlers skim along the water to the sound of gulls. Small waves splash against driftwood and the banks of the Des Moines River. A flotilla of experienced kayakers, canoers who built their own boats and infrequent recreators expands and contracts, making its way downstream.

On and off the water, the conversations are the same — Iowans talk about an Iowa that doesn’t exist anymore.

Older kayakers lament how they grew up seeing small farms all across the …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

Accessibility

About

FAQ

Email Us