Iowa News & Current Events | Public News Service

Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack is the nation's second-longest serving U.S. Agriculture Secretary. The first was James

Thursday, January 16, 2025

'Revolving door' politics could threaten Iowa's small farmers

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration The…

The top cancers diagnosed in Iowa in 2023 were breast, lung, colon and rectal, and skin melanoma, according to research by the University of Iowa's Cancer Registry Report. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Advocates call on Iowa lawmakers to defeat 'Cancer Gag Act'

Advocates for small communities in Iowa are calling on state lawmakers not to pass the so-called "Cancer Gag Act," which they said would give pesticid…

Struggling to meet the pressures imposed by a dwindling population, Iowa is looking at ways to allow minors to work more hours and fill companies' employment needs. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, January 13, 2025

Concerns voiced as IA lawmakers could slash child labor law fines

Iowa lawmakers are considering reducing fines companies pay for breaking child labor laws. The state has said it's trying to find safe and creative …

President-elect Donald Trump's nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has been controversial because of Kennedy's positions on vaccinations and questions over medical research and development. (Adobe Stock)

IA progressive advocates warn of 'dangerous' Trump appointments

Progressive advocates are expressing concerns over President-elect Donald Trump's nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of the U.S…

Iowa is the nation's number one hog producer, which is a huge economic driver for the state, but the industry also produces more than 100 billion pounds of manure every year. (Adobe Stock)

Cancer rates in Iowa mirror rising rate of manure pollution

By Nina B. Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration A …

Brady Werger lived at the Glenwood Iowa Resource Center from 2011 to 2018. He has since moved to a group home for people with disabilities in the southwest Iowa town of Glenwood. (Brady Werger)

Historic Iowa gravesites at risk of being forgotten

By Tony Leys for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Service Collabora…

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources requires livestock producers to file a manure management plan for the livestock waste they apply to their fields as fertilizer. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa trains CAFO operators on manure application

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is training operators of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations on the safest ways to apply manure to their f…

Despite strong federal regulations governing child labor, some states, such as Iowa, have weakened protections in order to compensate for what industries say is a labor shortage. (Creative Commons)

Worker shortage pushes Iowa employers to hire children for dangerous jobs

A conflict between federal child labor regulations and those passed by the Iowa Legislature has increased the number of businesses fined for hiring ch…

Iowa is the nation's top hog producer, with a population of 23.4 million pigs. This means that for every Iowan, there are 7.3 pigs. Hogs are routinely raised in large confinements, which are known to pollute air and groundwater. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa livestock producers increase antibiotic use

Livestock being raised with antibiotics is on the rise in Iowa, the nation's number one hog producer. Doctors say the trend increases the risk of …

The Blanding's turtle lives in the water but does spend time on dry land, where females nest. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa's 'Kung Fu Panda' turtle facing endangered status

A small turtle made popular in the "Kung Fu Panda" movies could soon be added to the endangered species list. Iowa wildlife advocates are working to …

Stem cells are the building blocks for all of the body's organs and tissues. Scientists estimate that a human has between 300 million and 1 billion at birth. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa researchers advance lethal blood disorder treatment with stem cells

A team of scientists at Iowa State University has discovered new ways to use stem cells to treat blood disorders. This advancement in what's known …

Iowa has an estimated 507,254 children ages 0-12 but has only 177,053 operational child-care slots registered or licensed with the state, according to a report by the Common Sense Iowa Institute. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa adds hundreds of higher-wage child care providers

A new report says Iowa has created more than 200 new child-care providers in the state, which is among the nation's leaders in working parents who …

A monarch butterfly can travel between 50 to 100 miles a day during its migration. (Thomas Bresson/ Wikimedia Commons)

Government to decide if monarchs are 'threatened'

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to decide soon whether to list the monarch butterfly as "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act…

Research shows kids tend to get along with School Resource Officers regardless of the student's ethnic background, according to Iowa State University's Monic Behnken. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa researcher: 'Hardening' schools doesn't stop classroom violence

Researchers say increasing the police presence in schools isn't the best way to address classroom violence. One expert in Iowa says educators would …

The nonprofit FracTracker Alliance has created an online map that shows the proximity of CO2 pipelines in Great Plains states to ecologically vulnerable areas and Indigenous lands. (Adobe Stock)

'FracTracker' maps pipeline effects on Indigenous land

A nonprofit group that tracks oil and gas development has created an interactive map to show how close CO2 pipelines in Great Plains states come to en…

More than 40% of caregivers for people with dementia have household incomes of $50,000 or less, according to the Alzheimer's Association. (Adobe Stock)

Expanding outreach to Iowa caregivers during Alzheimer's Awareness Month

The Iowa Alzheimer's Association chapter is making new resources available to caregivers during November, a month set aside to educate and help …

A growing number of Iowa farmers are shunning the use of gestation crates where sows are held until they give birth. (Adobe Stock)

More Iowa farmers support gestation crate ban

By Nina Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration When B…

Goats on the Go clear brush and other unwanted vegetation, including poison ivy, often to restore native grasses to Iowa farm and grass lands. (Matt Vermeersch)

Hungry goats help restore native Iowa habitat

Some Iowa farmers are putting a new spin on an age-old animal behavior. They're using goats to remove weeds, overgrown brush, and non-native …

More than one-third of Iowa voters live in rural areas. Research shows them highly engaged in this year's election. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa's rural voters show historic engagement, passion

Poll results indicate Iowa's rural voters say the economy, jobs, and inflation top the list of critical issues for them in tomorrow's election…

One in six Iowa children faces hunger. The Save Our Children Action Network said it wants to see candidates in the upcoming election support increases in SNAP benefits. (Adobe Stock)

Critical Iowa kids' issues hang in election balance

The Save the Children Action Network is asking Iowans to support candidates in the upcoming election who invest time and political muscle in solving c…

Federal law has capped out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs at $2,000 for the 660,000 Iowans on Medicare who have

Experts advise Iowans to check options during open enrollment

People can enroll in Medicare or make changes to their supplemental and prescription drug coverage between now and December 7. In Iowa, experts are …

Officials in small Iowa towns held a listening session with federal officials to better understand the process for accessing federal funding. (Adobe Stock)

Rural Iowa towns face barriers to accessing federal money

Leaders in Iowa's small towns sometimes express frustration when trying to get help from the federal government. Local and federal officials met …

Alex Watters works at Morningside University in Sioux City, Iowa. He says he's had to turn down promotions and other opportunities to keep his income below the threshold that allows him to receive benefits as a quadriplegic. (Alex Watters/IDDC)

Iowans with disabilities see employment gains but challenges remain

State data show more Iowans with disabilities are employed. And advocates with the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council point out that - during …

A rest stop along Interstate 80 near Adair, Iowa, was one of the first in the state to include an adult-size changing table. (Tony Leys/KFF Health News)

Iowa interstate rest stops equipped with adult changing tables

By Tony Leys for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Big Sky Connection reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Service Collabor…

The practice of agroforestry combines traditional agricultural practices of raising livestock with growing trees and shrubs acting as carbon sinks on the same land. (Mongabay/Natural Resources Conservation Service)

Paying Iowa farmers to expand 'climate smart' acres

By Sarah Derouin for Mongabay.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News Service…

AARP Iowa traveled the state this summer in a recreational vehicle called the

AARP Iowa presses candidates on support for family caregivers

AARP Iowa has released a series of videos asking congressional candidates how they would support Iowans who are unpaid caregivers. The group …

The pay gap between the CEO of Casey's General Stores and the average worker has risen to 623-to-1, according to new data from the Iowa Federation of Labor. (Adobe Stock)

IA leads nation for wage gap between workers, CEOs

A new report from the American Federation of Labor showed the pay gap between CEOs and their workers continues to widen and Iowa has among the biggest…

The Des Moines City Council passed a resolution that bans tent camping and criminalizes falling asleep in public, which can result in a $15 fine. (Adobe Stock)

Critics push back on Des Moines' homeless ordinance

The Des Moines City Council has passed an ordinance to reduce the homeless population and help people find alternatives to being on the street…

Health care providers say changes in mood, energy levels or thoughts can be subtle clues that new mothers may need treatment for postpartum depression. (Adobe Stock)

Rural Iowa mothers face severe postpartum depression

Iowa doctors are assessing how a new medication is working for moms with postpartum depression. That's timely right now, as more babies are born in …

The Walk to End Alzheimer's is held in 600 communities nationwide. Participants raise money to research the brain disease and provide education and support to families living with it. (Adobe Stock)

Iowans march for Alzheimer's research

Advocates for people battling Alzheimer's disease and their families are marching in Des Moines this weekend to raise money for brain research and ult…

More than 90 % of the large tractors used on Iowa farms are sold by two companies, Deere & Co. and CNH. (Adobe Stock)

New data show increasing consolidation in Iowa's ag industry

Advocates for a fair, sustainable, and healthy food system have released a report showing that nearly all of the corn seed in Iowa is controlled by …

AI queries require about 10 times the electricity of traditional internet searches and the generation of original music, photos and videos requires much more, according to the Electric Power Research Institute. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa researchers shine light on the future of energy use

Researchers at Iowa State University are taking aim at the huge amount of energy used by data centers, now and in the future. They have developed a …

Iowa seniors list the out-of-pocket costs for prescription medications as one of their main health-care concerns, according to AARP Iowa. (Adobe Stock)

Prescription costs soon to be capped for Iowa seniors

A new report from AARP Iowa predicts thousands of seniors on Medicare Part D in the state will save money on their prescriptions, thanks to a cap on …

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources must report annual greenhouse gas inventories to the legislature and governor each year. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa releases 'Condition of the State' report on clean energy goals

Alternative energy advocates say Iowa is making significant progress on reaching its green power goals by 2035. The state has become a national …

Iowa has provided more than $3.3 billion to communities to help finance water quality improvement projects over the years, according to the Iowa Environmental Council. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa seeks to remove dangerous lead water pipes

Iowa is getting federal help to eliminate lead water pipes in the state. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is working with local water …

Independent agriculture producers are asking Congress to consider small family farmers in the next Farm Bill, which has yet to be debated in the nation's capital. (Adobe Stock)

Family farmers call for a level playing field

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is considering new rules, seeking to level the playing field for independent farmers in Iowa and across the …

Practical Farmers of Iowa is offering landowners incentives to restore habitat to low-yield areas. (Adobe Stock)

Incentives for farmers work to restore Iowa habitat, protect soil

Practical Farmers of Iowa is looking for landowners who want to help restore natural habitat on their property, and get help doing it. It's part of …

Iowa's newly released Child Care Connect website displays child care providers with vacancies by geography or along a designated driving route. With the tool, people can identify child care providers close by between their home and office. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa releases real time online child care finder

Iowa has released an interactive website to help parents find real-time child care options for their kids. Iowa Child Care Connect, which the state …

Labor and Delivery doctor Taylor Swartz talks with a pregnant patient and her husband at Mahaska Health Hospital in Iowa. (Tony Leys/KFF Health News)

Shrinking rural Iowa loses maternity units

By Tony Leys for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Service Collabora…

The objective of the Health Connector program is to ensure enhanced and equal access to healthcare options for all residents, according to Dallas County officials. (Dallas County Health Department)

Iowa transportation program aims to reduce missed health appointments

County health officials in rural Iowa are using a new app to connect people to their doctors and cut down on missed appointments. The Health …

Iowa policymakers recently considered legislation to allow municipalities to opt out of mandatory library taxes for residents. (Adobe Stock)

Libraries push back on Project 2025

The latest report from the EveryLibrary Institute showed the Republican Party's agenda, as outlined in the document known as Project 2025, takes aim …

Critics of the commercial meatpacking industry said conditions are inhumane for the animals and dangerous for the people who work in processing plants. (Adobe Stock)

Rights group calls for review of meatpacking plants

A U.S. Department of Labor investigation this spring found the number of minors employed in livestock slaughterhouses nearly quadrupled between 2015 …

There is a 50% chance a chick hatchling will be male but the males hatching in egg-laying operations are often destroyed because they are not profitable to be raised for meat. (Adobe Stock)

Animal advocates call for chicken egg gender testing

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration Eve…

A recent poll by the Save the Children Action Network shows 90% of swing-state voters want the government to help struggling families afford food, groceries and child care. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Address child hunger in next Farm Bill

Results of a poll by the Save the Children Action Network show voters of all backgrounds are struggling with the cost of living and want the governmen…

Graduates of the 2024 Youth Leadership Academy. (Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council)

Iowa mints new disability advocacy leaders

Thirteen students, ranging in age from 14 to 21, have just graduated from the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council Youth Leadership Academy…

The rusty patched bumble bee is a critical pollinator and keystone species in many ecosystems, including in Iowa. (Adobe Stock)

$635K allocated for Iowa rusty patched bumble bee habitat

An Iowa county has received money as part of a $48.5 million federal grant to protect the rusty patched bumble bee and preserve its habitat. The …

Researchers have announced a blood test they say can predict with 90% accuracy whether a patient has Alzheimer's disease. (Adobe Stock)

Iowans to benefit from new Alzheimer's blood test

Researchers have announced a new blood test that will predict whether someone has Alzheimer's disease far better than current tests can. A new law in …

The Hechinger Report's Tuition Tracker allows students to calculate the likelihood of successfully completing their degree on time, a factor affecting affordability. (Adobe Stock)

'Tuition Tracker' helps Iowa's rural college-bound students

For Iowa students thinking about attending college in the fall, an interactive online "Tuition Tracker" can help them figure out some of the costs …

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