Iowa ranks near the top in the nation for its low HIV incidences and for having the "best health outcomes" for people living with HIV, said John Shaw, prevention services manager of The Project of Primary Health Care.

Driving the news: New CDC data shows Iowa is among the top five states in the U.S. for connecting people newly diagnosed with HIV to medical care.

• And we're No. 2 (82%) for getting people living with HIV on viral suppressants.

By the numbers: Our total HIV diagnoses and estimated incidences reduced by nearly 30% between 2015-19, according to the CDC.

• Iowa connects 91% of people diagnosed with HIV to medical care within a month. The average is 81%.

What's helping: Over the last five years, there's been a strategic change in how the U.S. should stop the spread of HIV — mainly through medicine, Shaw said.

• In 2018, a federal task force urged doctors to prescribe PrEP — a medicine that prevents HIV transmission from sex or drug use — to high-risk communities.
• In 2019, former President Trump announced plans to "end America's epidemic of HIV" by getting everyone with it on TasP — medicine that prevents the sexual transmission of HIV.

And in Iowa, health officials have pushed to better connect higher-risk people, like gay/bi men and Black and Latino communities, to tests and drug treatment.

Yes, but: 13 people in Polk County were diagnosed with HIV the last two weeks of May — an unusually high number, said county Health Department spokesperson Nola Aigner Davis.

• People may have waited to get tested in the pandemic or felt stigmatized for having sex when we were supposed to socially distance, Aigner Davis said.

The big picture: It was only 40 years ago that the AIDS epidemic gripped our country, disproportionately harming marginalized communities.

• We saw this happen again to coronavirus infected individuals — highlighting the systemic barriers communities face in terms of exposure and accessing care.

Learn more about how you can get free STD/STI testing here.

Full story: Data shows Iowa's HIV infections are decreasing

Community fridge host Vanessa Moranchel wants Des Moines to rezone her home to allow the operation to continue, according to city documents obtained by Axios.

Details: The North Des Moines Community Fridge operates from a shed in the front of Moranchel's home.

• It opened about three months ago and allows people to help themselves to donated food anytime.

Driving the news: DSM received a complaint in April and notified Moranchel that the fridge violates a city ordinance prohibiting accessory structures in front yards.

• An electrical connection to the structure could be dangerous, city officials said.

What they're saying: DSM supports the fridge concept and provided information about possible partnerships with nearby businesses, churches and food banks that were appropriately zoned, according to letters sent to Moranchel.

• Moranchel didn't return our calls.

What's next: City staff will meet with Moranchel next week for a "pre-application conference" to explain the rezoning process.

🗑 33K vaccine doses are expiring: Our scoop about Iowa possibly trashing thousands of vaccines this month.

• "Ok Iowa people: do everything you can to convince unvaccinated friends and relatives to go get vaccinated with the J&J . . . These doses need to get in Iowan arms because Delta is coming." — Sara Willette, Ames via Twitter

🍼 Iowa unlocks secret birth records: Our story about Iowa reversing an 80-year-old law that denied adoptees access to their original birth certificates.

• "When something goes from being that controversial to passing unanimously you know something has changed.” — Janet Carl, a former Iowa House representative from Grinnell who helped introduce a bill to reverse the law almost 40 years ago

✈️ Gov. Reynolds claims that the feds lied about flying migrant children to DSM: Our Thursday afternoon Thought Bubble concluded a call to investigate is reasonable.

• "A fair take though it would be nice if she took a page from Governor Ray and welcomed the children." — Noah Beacom, Des Moines

🎬 What movie theaters do you miss? Our reader shoutout Thursday.

• "River Hills and Riviera. Saw Top Gun, Temple of Doom, Empire Strikes Back, and other movies in the 80s and 90s there." — Timothy Gannon, Des Moines

Almost all of Iowa is under drought conditions, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor Report.

• 🧪 But we didn't need science to tell us that. Our sweaty backs are our scale.

The percentage of the state that's in "abnormally dry" weather grew 27% between June 1-8.

• Why it matters: Though corn is resilient, a long-lasting drought early in the growing season can slow plant growth and the number of kernels on an ear, according to Pioneer.

As for your plants: Des Moines is reminding residents what days you should water your plants to reduce the city's load.

If you've been outside recently, you've probably noticed that vehicles, patio furniture and even plants are covered in a sticky shellac-like substance. What the heck?

The answer: It's believed to be the sugar-rich liquid excretions pushed from aphids, known as “honeydew.”

• That's a nice name for "aphid diarrhea," says Ohio State entomologist Joe Boggs.

ISU botanist Robert Wallace told Jason it could also be tree sap, although we've noticed it's widespread and in places that aren't all that close to trees.

• Our recent heat wave and dry spell is likely to blame, according to the University of Minnesota Extension.

Relax: It's unpleasant but generally harmless.