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At least eight Iowans are among the nearly 1,000 Americans permanently banned from entering Russia, according to a list released Saturday by the country's Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Why it matters: The travel bans are largely symbolic, but they still highlight the downward spiral of Russia-U.S. relations following the Russian invasion of Ukraine earlier this year, Reuters reports.

Organizers of a $125 million Iowa water recreation trail project are seeking formal permission to downsize the scope of work required under a federal grant.

Why it matters: The Iowa Confluence Water Trails (ICON) proposal — one of the largest pending public projects in the area — will add amenities like boat launches and whitewater runs throughout central Iowa rivers or creeks.

The sun is out, the birds are chirping and for some Des Moines families, the lawn mowers ain't singin'.

Driving the news: No Mow May is a viral movement that's encouraging homeowners to ditch the blades and let their lawns go wild for the month.

A mobile home park on Des Moines' south side is being demolished to make way for a new housing development, according to the Neighborhood Development Corporation (NDC).

Why it matters: Oak Hill Mobile Home Park, at 3140 Indianola Ave., underscores the complexity that persists with redevelopment, homeowners' rights and efforts to protect low-income families from unsafe conditions.

Vaccines could have prevented nearly 3,000 COVID-related deaths in Iowa between January 2021 and last month, according to a new analysis by Brown University's School of Public Health.

The big picture: The analysis suggests that roughly half of the more than 641,000 deaths nationwide since 2021 could have been prevented, Axios' Tina Reed reports.

A federal report released this month found Native American children were removed from homes, severely mistreated and, in some cases, died at more than 400 boarding schools across the U.S. between 1819 and 1969.

• Three of those schools named in the report were located in Iowa: Toledo, Houghton and Allamakee County.

The Red Bull Soapbox Race this week published the list and concept drawings of the teams that will compete in the June 18 race at the Iowa Capitol.

Why it matters: Team Axios is in the lineup and we're sizing up our competition.

Des Moines' municipal mosquito control has been outsourced to a private company under a contract approved by the City Council last week.

Why it matters: Less itch.