A Polk County Democrat is accusing the retiring Polk County recorder of giving her deputy an unfair advantage in an upcoming primary, though both of those accused say any seemingly nefarious activity was driven by a family emergency, not collusion.

State of play: Justin Hollinrake, an Ankeny City Councilmember speaking in a personal capacity, alleges Polk County Recorder Julie Haggerty and her deputy recorder, Lisa Chiodo, coordinated to position Chiodo as Haggerty's successor.

• The recorder's office maintains and issues official documents, including real estate records, birth and death certificates, and marriage licenses.
• Haggerty, a Democrat who has served as the elected recorder for nearly 20 years, is earning a salary of $153,769 in FY 2025-26.

Zoom in: Haggerty announced she was retiring in a news release on March 18, just two days before the candidate filing deadline.

• But nomination papers show that Chiodo had begun collecting the 100 signatures required to enter the race as early as January, including one from Haggerty dated Jan. 5.
• Chiodo also filed paperwork for her campaign committee, "Vote Chiodo," on March 16.

What they're saying: "It's very important that you call out corruption, no matter which side it is on," Hollinrake tells Axios. "Everyone needs to be better than that."

The other side: Haggerty tells Axios she planned to run again this year, but at 70 and as a caretaker for her aging parents, retirement was also on the table.

• Knowing this, Chiodo told Haggerty in January of plans to run if Haggerty decided to step down, Chiodo tells Axios.
• Chiodo — who has worked in the recorder's office for nearly a decade — began collecting signatures in January as a contingency. Haggerty says she signed as a show of support.

Yes, but: Several days before St. Patrick's Day, Haggerty's father was hospitalized, prompting her to reconsider running for reelection.

• "It was a very, very tough decision, and I decided I couldn't do all of it," Haggerty says. "My priority now is my parents."
• She says she informed Polk County Democratic chair Bill Brauch of her decision on March 17. The public became aware of it a day later.

The bottom line: Hollinrake remains skeptical. He points to Chiodo collecting signatures in January and filing her campaign committee on March 16, with her final signature gathered on March 17, as evidence of a predetermined plan

• "I hope Lisa will acknowledge her mistake by withdrawing her nomination because this is just totally unethical behavior," he says.

Go deeper: The nomination papers

Iowa is among the first states reshaping its Medicaid budget ahead of nearly $1 trillion in federal Medicaid cuts, with Gov. Kim Reynolds signing a bill last week to raise taxes on insurers.

Why it matters: The move signals potential ripple effects for coverage, costs and state budgets nationwide.

Catch up quick: The changes stem from a GOP-backed federal overhaul aimed at slowing Medicaid spending growth over the next decade.

• They build on the end of pandemic-era protections that had boosted enrollment and federal funding.
• Together, they shift more costs to states.

Stunning stat: Iowa expects a nearly $91 million budget shortfall this fiscal year if no action is taken and nearly $168 million in the upcoming fiscal year.

State of play: Iowa's law retroactively raises premium taxes on HMOs — a type of Medicaid plan offered by private companies — from 0.925% to 3.5% between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, 2026.

• It'll drop to 0.95% in October.

Zoom in: The state will also use $89 million from its general fund to help address the Medicaid shortfalls, Iowa Capital Dispatch reports.

What they're saying: Critics warn the tax could raise premiums for Iowans, while Republicans say it's temporary and needed to draw down federal matching dollars, Iowa Public Radio reports.

Zoom out: "Everyone is pissed and everyone is stressed," said Colorado state Rep. Lisa Feret, a Democrat and the lead sponsor of a proposal to tax large employers who have part-time employees enrolled in Medicaid as her state faces a $1.5 billion shortfall.

The bottom line: "This is the start of lots of tough choices around Medicaid policy going forward," said Robin Rudowitz, director of KFF's program on Medicaid and the uninsured.

🚨 IPERS CEO Greg Samorajski is on paid leave due to misconduct allegations. (KCCI)

⛽ A breakdown of crude oil pricing explains why gas costs vary so widely by state — with Iowa currently far below high-price markets like California. (Axios)

⚖️ A lawsuit alleging improper conduct by a worker at Orchard Place, along with a counterclaim by the DSM-area youth services provider for defamation, was settled out of court. (Iowa Capital Dispatch)

🏗️ The Urbandale City Council approved incentives of up to $200,000 for a $17.5 million affordable apartment project at the former Econo Lodge site. (Business Record)

A former Bondurant-Farrar elementary principal has resigned after she was allegedly found drunk on school property. (KCCI)

This week's History Mystery is a postcard showing Walnut Street near 4th Street in downtown Des Moines.

Zoom in: The year was 1907 and Des Moines was in the middle of a population and development boom.

• On the left is the original Hotel Kirkwood at 400 Walnut St. The five-story building was destroyed in a 1929 fire.
• To the right is a mix of retailers, and it's where Capital Square currently stands.

Zoom out: Also in 1907, Des Moines started building its iconic river bridges at Walnut, Locust, Court and Grand Avenue.

Congratulations to Axios Des Moines reader Neal Westin for correctly guessing the street!