Public News Service

Atrazine was the most widely used pesticide in Iowa, and applied to 69% of the state's planted acres. (Adobe Stock)

Common produce in IA tops 'Dirty Dozen' pesticide list

The Environmental Working Group has released a new list of produce items most and least affected by pesticides in Iowa and across the country…

Iowa State University Assistant Biochemistry Professor Walter Moss and graduate student Jake Peterson discuss a computer rendering of an RNA molecule. (Iowa State University)

Iowa State scientists target disease in RNA

Researchers at Iowa State University are taking the next step in genetic medicine by targeting diseases in a person's RNA. Most drugs target …

In 2022, 22% of adults in Iowa reported binge drinking, compared with 17% in the United States, ranking Iowa fourth in the nation for adult binge drinking, according to the 2024 Iowa Cancer Registry. (Adobe Stock)

Doctors link binge drinking to higher Iowa cancer rates

New research from the University of Iowa found cancer linked to binge drinking is up in the state. As part of the annual Iowa Cancer Registry…

Using treatments derived from a person's blood stem cells, researchers are developing treatments that could end the need for bone marrow transplants. (Adobe Stock)

ISU stem-cell research aims to end bone-marrow transplants

Researchers at Iowa State University are using stem cells from a person's blood to treat certain types of cancer. Their work could mean the end of …

People suffering from dementia face especially dangerous challenges in winter months, including slips and falls and extended exposure to the cold when

Iowa dementia sufferers at higher risk in winter

People who suffer from dementia face a host of increased risks in winter months and in Iowa, dangers include everything from falls to getting lost…

The Race for Results report groups child well-being indicators into four areas: early childhood, education and early work experiences, family resources and neighborhood context. (Annie E. Casey Foundation Race for Results report)

Report shows Iowa kids of color fare worse than white peers

A new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation found while children of color in Iowa fare slightly better than their white peers nationally…

While still too low for the aging population, the number of geriatric health-care providers was up 19% in Iowa, according to the latest report from the United Health Foundation. (Adobe stock)

Report: Drug deaths up in Iowa, but other signs encouraging

New data from the United Health Foundation show a handful of significant and chronic health conditions on the rise across the U.S., with colorectal …

Public policy shapes the health ecosystem and influences the accessibility of comprehensive health care, secure housing, nutritious food, quality education and jobs with livable wages, according to the National Institutes of Health. (Adobe Stock)

Physicians' group says voting benefits health, democracy

Voting is not only good for democracy - it's also good for your health, according to one of the nation's largest medical associations. The American …

Iowa has among the highest rates of cancer in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute. Research shows people in rural Iowa die more frequently from cancer than their urban counterparts. (Adobe Stock)

Rural Iowans die from cancer at higher rate than urban counterparts

New research shows rural Iowans get cancer less often than their urban counterparts but die from it more frequently. Several factors are at play…

The Iowa chapter of the Alzheimer's Association offers programs to help families better understand what to expect, including changes in communication and behaviors, discussing dementia as a family and planning ahead for future financial and legal considerations. (Adobe Stock)

Alzheimer's Association warns of 'wandering' adults during holidays

The Iowa chapter of the Alzheimer's Association is raising awareness of adults who get lost during the holidays. The group holds educational …

Planned Parenthood employees and the union representing them have been unable to reach a contract agreement despite dozens of bargaining sessions over more than a year. (Adobe Stock)

Planned Parenthood workers file complaint amid stalled negotiations

Planned Parenthood Workers in Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota have filed an Unfair Labor Practices complaint with the National Labor Relations Board as …

Poor mental health in adolescence is more than feeling blue. It can affect many areas of a teen's life. Youth with poor mental health may struggle with school and grades, decision-making and physical health, according to the CDC. (Adobe Stock)

Doctors increase mental health services to rural Iowa kids

Research shows two in 10 Iowa youth report they have considered suicide, and to confront the crisis, doctors and social scientists are using federal …

About 80 Ukrainian farmers learn best practices and ask questions during middle-of-the-night Zoom calls when ISU Swine Veterinarian Justin Brown teaches sessions on disease, biosecurity and feed management. (Iowa State University/Association of Ukrainian Pig Breeders)

Iowa experts teach Ukrainian farmers

Livestock and grain experts in Iowa are sharing their experience with Ukrainian farmers who are trying to keep their hog operations viable despite the…

El Consejo de Discapacidades del Desarrollo de Iowa es una parte importante de

Exposición 'Cívica en Acción' homenajea a habitantes de Iowa con discapacidades

La Sociedad Histórica del Estado de Iowa ha abierto una nueva exposición en su museo de Des Moines. "Cívica en Acción" se centra …

The Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council is a big part of

'Civics in Action' exhibit honors Iowans with disabilities

The State Historical Society of Iowa has opened a new exhibit in its Des Moines museum. "Civics in Action" focuses on Iowans who've made …

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia in older adults, but there are other causes of dementia. Depending on the cause, some dementia symptoms might be reversible, according to the Mayo Clinic. (Adobe Stock)

Des Moines Alzheimer's walk seeks to raise $500K

The Iowa Alzheimer's Association expects about 2,000 people to gather on the Capitol steps in Des Moines on Saturday, as volunteers seek to create …

Creation of the Rural Emergency Hospital designation comes in response to a high rate of rural hospital closures. Between January 2010, and August 2022, 139 rural hospitals closed, according to the National Academy for State Health Policy. (Adobe Stock)

Rural Iowa declared 'ambulance desert'

People in rural America are five times as likely to live in so-called "ambulance deserts," areas far from an ambulance service or station, than those …

Access to health care in rural America was a popular topic at the Rural Policy Action Summit in April, according to a report, with concerns raised about the number of rural hospitals closing their doors. (Adobe Stock)

A Call for Better Broadband, Jobs, Local Investment for Rural IA

A group of rural policymakers and advocates has released its top priorities to help small towns thrive in Iowa and across the country. The 2023 …

If you are a victim of human trafficking or suspect you know someone who is, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline, a national 24-hour, toll-free, multilingual resource: 1-888-373-7888. (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime)

IA Marks World Anti-Trafficking Day: Hotline Reports up 61%

Sunday is World Day Against Trafficking in Humans, and in Iowa state officials are calling on residents to do more to help. Reports of trafficking …

The U.S. population age 65 and older grew nearly five times faster than the total population over the 100 years from 1920 to 2020, according to the 2020 census. The older population reached 55.8 million, or 16.8% of the population of the United States, in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa AARP Calls for Major Shift in Long-Term Health Care Model

As housing prices soar and wages for health care providers lag, advocates for Iowa's aging population are calling for a major change in caring for …

The number of pedestrian deaths in Iowa fell by nearly 44%, from 32 to 18 between 2021 and 2022, according to the Governor's Highway Safety Association. The state has directed funds to 10 locales to focus on making conditions safer for pedestrians. (Adobe Stock)

IA Pedestrian Deaths Down Sharply

While the number is down in Iowa, more than 7,500 pedestrians were killed in the United States last year, a 40-year high. A new report from the …

States that have implemented abortion bans saw a drop in the number of abortions, from an estimated 7,500 in Apr. 2022 to fewer than 10 abortions per month after Aug. 2022, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

ACLU of Iowa Critical of Reynolds' Special Session on Abortion

Gov. Kim Reynolds has called the Iowa Legislature back to Des Moines for a special session tomorrow to focus solely on abortion policy. The Iowa …

Each year in the United States, RSV causes between 6,000 and 10,000 deaths among adults 65 years and older, and between 100 and 300 deaths in children younger than age 5, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

IA Doctors Behind New RSV Vaccines

For most people, Respiratory Syncytial Virus or RSV is a mild respiratory infection, but for at-risk infants and seniors, it can be much more …

Currently, 61% of Americans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 37% say it should be illegal in all or most cases, according to the Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock)

ACLU Vows to Block Abortion Restrictions; Reynolds: 'Fight not Over'

Civil liberties advocates in Iowa are vowing to fend off any new legislation to restrict abortion in the state. The Iowa Supreme Court recently …

In its annual reports, the Annie E. Casey Foundation notes indicators of child well-being are derived from federal government statistical agencies and reflect the best available state and national data for tracking yearly changes. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa Ranks High in Healthy Kids Report, but Advocates Seek Improvement

Compared to other states, Iowa ranks sixth nationally in overall child well-being, according to the 2023 Kids Count Data Book, released today by the …

Receiving an early diagnosis may help lessen anxieties about why you are experiencing symptoms, according to the Alzheimer's Association. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa Clinicians Herald New Alzheimer's Treatments

As part of Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month, mental-health advocates in Iowa are sharing information about Alzheimer's and say two new drugs …

Every 40 seconds, someone in the United States has a stroke. Every 3 minutes and 14 seconds, someone dies of stroke. Every year, more than 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa Researchers Discover Better Stroke Treatment Options

Researchers at the University of Iowa are using one of the body's naturally occurring waste products to treat stroke, potentially lessening the …

Members of the Iowa Council on Developmental Disabilities gather at the State Capitol in support of direct support health care providers. (ICDD/Brooke Lovelace).

Advocates Rally at Capitol for More Provider Pay

With key deadlines approaching at the Iowa statehouse, advocates are calling on lawmakers to provide better wages for direct service professionals…

Rates of alcohol-induced deaths for males were stable from 2000 to 2009. They increased 30% from 2009 to 2018 and 26% from 2019 to 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Focus on Rural Drinking During Alcohol Awareness Month

Substance-abuse prevention advocates are educating people about the dangers of underage drinking during this, Alcohol Awareness Month. In Iowa…

Members of the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council gather at the Iowa Statehouse in Des Moines in support of House File 264. (Brooke Lovelace/IDDC)

Lawmakers Propose Eliminating Taxes for IA Disability Care Providers

Iowa lawmakers have advanced legislation that would eliminate the income tax for health-care workers who support people with disabilities. Advocates …

In the United States, annual community outbreaks of coronavirus infections typically occur during late fall and winter. There may be variation in this timing between regions, or communities in the same region, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

COVID-19 Still Deadly in Iowa

Three years into the pandemic, Americans are still hearing about COVID-19 - but the message doesn't carry nearly the urgency it did when it erupted …

Sleep affects all aspects of health and, conversely, it's affected by everything going on in your mind and body, as well as in your environment, according to the American Sleep Apnea Association. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa Doctors Study Neonatal Sleep for Keys to Helping Adults

Doctors in Iowa are studying the brains of babies to learn more about sleep patterns in adults and teens. The United Health Foundation reports one-…

There are more than 7,004 certified nurse midwives currently employed in the United States, according to Zippia. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa Midwife Law a Step Closer

The Iowa House has passed a measure to establish a licensing board for midwives. Iowa is one of 15 states currently without such a program, often …

Iowans Mark Affordable Health-Care Anniversary

Iowans are marking the 13th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act. Thanks to the health-care plan, Iowans have saved thousands of dollars in …

Rural hospitals are facilities not located within a metropolitan area as defined by the U.S. Office and Management and Budget and the U.S. Census Bureau, according to the American Hospital Association. (Adobe Stock)

IA Lawmakers Work to Save Rural Hospitals

The Iowa Senate has approved a measure allowing some medical facilities to be licensed as "emergency hospitals." This would be especially important in…

Colorectal polyps (abnormal growths in the colon or rectum that can turn into cancer if not removed) and colorectal cancer don't always cause symptoms, especially at first, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

IA Doctors Use Immunotherapy in Colon Cancer Trial

Colorectal cancer is second only to lung cancer in the number of lives it will take in Iowa this year. Now, doctors at the University of Iowa are …

Some 37.3 million Americans, or about one in 10 people, have diabetes. About one in five don't know they have it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Insulin Price Cap Doesn't Apply to All Iowans Who Need It

Drug-maker Sanofi has joined two other large manufacturers in capping monthly insulin prices at $35. In Iowa, advocates for more affordable health …

Breast cancer incidence rates are highest in the Northeast, followed by the Midwest and South. But death rates from breast cancer are highest in the Midwest, followed by the South and West, according to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. (Adobe Stock)

Study: IA Leads Nation in New Cancer Cases

A study by University of Iowa researchers shows the state has the highest cancer rate in the nation, and the only state in the country with rising …

Los miembros del Consejo de Discapacidades del Desarrollo de Iowa asisten a la firma de la Resoluci�n 9 de la C�mara en el Capitolio del Estado, observando marzo como el mes de Concientizaci�n sobre las Discapacidades del Desarrollo en Iowa. (Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council)

Defensores piden más concientización y educación durante el Mes de Discapacidades del Desarrollo

Para reconocer el Mes de Concientización sobre las Discapacidades del Desarrollo, los legisladores estatales han firmado una resolución …

Members of the Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council attend the signing of House Resolution 9 at the State Capitol, observing March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness month in Iowa. (Iowa Developmental Disabilities Council)

Advocates Call for More Awareness, Education During Developmental Disabilities Month

To recognize Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, state lawmakers have signed a resolution to raise awareness surrounding people with …

Eating disorders are serious and sometimes fatal illnesses that cause severe disturbances to a person's eating behaviors. Obsessions with food, body weight, and shape may signal an eating disorder, according to the National Institutes of Mental Health. (Adobe Stock)

Specialists Raise Awareness During Eating Disorder Week

An estimated 291,000 Iowans suffer from eating disorders, which range from mild to lethal. Experts are spreading knowledge and information during …

Roughly 8.4 million Americans use insulin, according to the American Diabetes Association. (Aleksandra Gigowska/Adobe Stock)

AARP Iowa Joins Calls for Insulin Price Caps

AARP Iowa is calling on the Legislature to cap insulin prices for people on state-regulated health-insurance plans that currently have no limits on th…

The Iowa Water Quality Initiative is a coordinated approach for reducing nutrient loads discharged from the state's largest wastewater treatment plants and agricultural sources, according to Cleanwater Iowa. (Adobe Stock)

IA Water Quality Initiative Aims to Remove Nitrates

The Iowa Legislature is considering a bill to maximize protecting the state's water. Senate File 311 would allow the state Department of …

In 2020, about two in 10 deaths from coronary artery disease occurred in adults younger than 65 years old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Iowans Urged: Learn Difference Between Cardiac Arrest, Heart Attack

Heart disease killed more than 7,100 Iowans in 2020, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; more than …

Baby-bottle tooth decay presents a significant oral health risk for infants and children less than a year old. This occurs when children consume sugary liquid, and bacteria in their mouth produce acid which damages tooth enamel. (Adobe Stock)

Dentists Stress Brushing, Flossing, Smiling During Kids Dental Health Month

February is National Children's Dental Health Month, when dentists really try to get the word out about keeping your kids' teeth and gums healthy…

From February 2020 to November 2021, the number of workers in nursing homes and other care facilities dropped by 410,000 nationally, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. (Adobe Stock)

Critical Number of Rural IA Nursing Homes Close

Health-care professionals say low pay and a worker shortage have led a dramatic number of nursing homes in rural Iowa to close their doors. They hope …

About 400 fatal crashes happen each year as a direct result of texting and driving nationally, according to Sensiblemotive. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa Lawmakers Push for Drivers' Hands-Free Cellphone Use

Iowa lawmakers are considering a bill which would dramatically reduce the use of cellphones in vehicles. Right now, it is illegal in Iowa to send or …

In 2021, the total cost of the U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was around $113 billion. The significant increase from the previous year's total of $79 billion was in large part the result of extra pandemic-related benefits. (Adobe Stock)

IA Lawmakers Propose Severe Restrictions for Food Assistance

A Republican-backed bill in the Iowa Legislature seeks to put strict new limits on which foods people could buy at the grocery store using public-assi…

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