Public News Service

The 1,117 tornadoes reported for the January-through-May period this year is second only to 2011's 1,238 tornadoes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (Adobe Stock)

Changing climate contributes to record Iowa tornado season

Weather researchers at Iowa State University say a shifting climate and warmer ocean temperatures are partially responsible for a record number of tor…

In partnership with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, volunteers are discovering new bee species and working to fortify bumble bee habitat, in Iowa and across the country. (Xerces/Katie Lamke)

Iowans asked to get busy counting beeezzz, please

The state Department of Natural Resources and Iowa State University are looking for volunteers to help create a new Bumble Bee Atlas. Bees are an …

Bald eagles sit 3 to 3.5 feet tall and weigh eight to 15 pounds. Their eyes are five to six times more powerful than a human's. (Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources)

Iowa uses public's birds-eye view to monitor bald eagles, amphibians

Iowa wildlife officials are asking outdoor enthusiasts to cast a birds-eye view on bald eagle nests to help track their health, and are also on a …

Robert Fisher of Adel, Iowa, prevailed in his efforts to have an electronic button installed to operate the door at the local U.S. Post Office. (Robert Fisher/Iowa Council on Developmental Disabilities)

One Person's Battle Against the Post Office Prevails

A man in Adel who is part of Iowa's community of people with disabilities has been successful in having an electronic door installed at the U.S…

One of four Americans volunteers, and two of three Americans help their neighbor, according to a study performed by The Corporation for National and Community Service. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa Volunteers Seek to Boost Literacy This Month

April is Global Volunteer Awareness Month, and in Iowa advocates are calling on people to donate books and their time to help kids learn to read them…

On average, people spend an average of 52 hours per year volunteering their time, according to Nonprofits Source. (Adobe Stock)

Iowans Rank High on "Informal" Volunteering

New data on volunteering in the United States from the independent government agency AmeriCorps shows the pandemic cut deeply into the amount of time …

Nearly 1 million people participate in Thanksgiving Day road races every year. (Rip Roar Events)

Thousands Race in Iowa's Biggest Thanksgiving Day Event

While many Iowa families gather through this weekend to celebrate Thanksgiving in traditional ways with food and family, thousands of people take to …

Adoption has been officially legal in the United states since the 1850s. (Adobe Stock)

Adoption Day: New "Forever" Homes for More Iowa Kids

It's National Adoption Month, a chance to raise awareness about the need for permanent homes and families for kids in foster care in Iowa. In Polk …

Mutual Aid groups, which have been around for generations, say they do not view themselves as providing charity, but rather injecting a wave of neighborly help that cannot easily be applied by larger institutions. (Adobe Stock)

Mutual Aid Groups Stand Ready as Excessive Heat, Blackouts Lurk

Regulators have put the Midwest on high alert for energy shortfalls this summer, while forecasters say most areas will be hotter than usual. In Iowa…

Since 2017, Iowa communities have received more than $165,000 in Community Challenge grants. (Adobe Stock)

As Infrastructure Work Ramps Up, IA Communities Can Pitch In

Iowa is poised to receive $5 billion from the new federal infrastructure law. And separate grant opportunities are available to help spur smaller…

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Iowa Refuerza Herramienta Financiera para Personas con Discapacidades

MASON CITY, Iowa - Iowa actualizó una ley cuyos partidarios dicen que da más flexibilidad financiera a la gente que vive con discapacidaes…

Various studies have shown that between 75% and 90% of people remain housed a year after going through a

Housing First Movement Expands in Iowa

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- One of Iowa's largest cities will soon see another project that centers around the "housing first" philosophy in addressing …

En marzo, la gente que vive con discapacidades espera destacar c�mo se las han arreglado para vivir y trabajar durante la crisis de la pandemia. (IDDC)

Un año después, defensores de Personas con Discapacidades reflexionan sobre el COVID

MASON CITY, Iowa -- La pandemia alteró dramáticamente la vida de mucha gente, incluso de quienes viven con discapacidades. Los defensores …

In 2019, Iowa's Help Us Stop Hunger program saw 3,750 deer donated to food banks, generating nearly 630,000 meals to Iowa families dealing with food scarcity. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa Hunters Help Fight Rising Tide of Hunger

DES MOINES -- Iowa is seeing more first-time visitors to food banks during the economic fallout from the pandemic, so an annual food drive involving …

Hundreds of thousands of Iowa households and businesses have seen lengthy power outages after last week's storms. The National Guard is helping to restore electric service. (Adobe Stock)

Low-Income Iowans Urged to Seek Disaster Aid

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- Many parts of Iowa are still reeling from last week's storms and their widespread damage. And lower-income residents are being …

The advocacy group #Masks4All says Iowa is among just a handful of states to not require any kind of mask compliance in public spaces. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Legal Debate Swirls Around Calls for Mask Mandate in IA

MUSCATINE, Iowa -- With COVID-19 cases flaring up in many parts of the country, there's a movement among local governments to issue mask mandates…

Only 1-in-10 U.S. adults gets enough fruits or vegetables, with men, young adults and people living in poverty consuming the least.(localharvest.org)

Incentivizing a Healthy Diet for Iowa's Low-Income Residents

DES MOINES, Iowa — A new study shows incentive programs such as Iowa's "Double Up Food Bucks" boost healthy eating among low-income residents …

Flooded apartments along the Elkhorn River north of Columbus, Neb., after a

Prolonged Repercussions from "Bomb Cyclone" Expected for Iowa

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Gov. Kim Reynolds toured areas of western Iowa yesterday, where communities are struggling to recover from last week's "bomb …

People with developmental disabilities contribute to a more diverse community when employers hire them for administrative or support roles and other appropriate jobs. (Tatiana Dyuvbanova/ Twenty20)

Iowans with Developmental Disabilities Encouraged to Share Their Stories

DES MOINES, Iowa – Every day, 7 million people with developmental disabilities work harder than many other Americans to lead self-determined …

A majority of Iowa's 317,000 unpaid family caregivers are at least 50 years old and maintain regular working hours while also providing unpaid care to a family member or other patient. (AARP)

Fifth Time the Charm? Iowa CARE Act Advances at State Capitol

DES MOINES, Iowa — Advocates for the Iowa CARE Act want lawmakers to codify what many say are common-sense procedures that would provide unpaid …

In Iowa, more than 360,000 people struggle with hunger, according to the group Feeding America. (fairfoodnetwork.org)

Farm Bill Rescues SNAP, But Hunger Remains

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Farm Bill passed by Congress last week did not include major cuts to SNAP, formerly known as food stamps. But hunger-…

In 2017, roughly 60 percent of Iowa's farmland was owned by people age 65 and older � with 35 percent of the total farmland owned by people older than 75. (aces.edu)

New Iowa Farmers Learn the Ropes from Oldtimers

DES MOINES, Iowa — Farmers learn fast there's no substitute for experience, and that's why many Iowa farmers are getting help from elders in …

Psychologists say volunteering can create a

Iowans Encouraged to Volunteer On 9/11 Remembrance Day

DES MOINES, Iowa – Each year, 62 million Americans – 1 in 4 – volunteer in their communities, and Tuesday’s National Day of …

Iowa women volunteer at significantly higher rates than men, but don't equal their numbers on county boards and commissions. (sjreia.org)

Gender Balance Stalls on Iowa Boards, Commissions

DES MOINES, Iowa – Despite a 2012 Iowa law requiring gender balance on county and city boards, the ratio of men to women serving in those …

Des Moines recorded 13.7 million visitors in 2016, a new record for Iowa's capital city. (AARP)

Transforming Livability, One Block at a Time

DES MOINES, Iowa – Urban-design experts know downtown vitality is critical to a city's success, and Des Moines will take up the challenge next …

Around 48,000 Iowans are living with developmental disabilities. (mhmrcv.org)

Iowa's Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month: "See Me for Me"

DES MOINES, Iowa — More than 50 million Americans are living with developmental disabilities, but many are also highly functioning individuals …

Iowa's small towns have fewer children as the U.S. population continues to gray. (visitiowa.org)

Aging Iowa: How to Help Communities Shrink Smart

DES MOINES, Iowa – A study to determine why some small towns in Iowa wither and others thrive is under way at Iowa State University. For more …

A regional blood center official says donating a single pint of blood can save the lives of as many as three hospital patients. (maduriblooddonor.org)

Iowa, Neighbors Need Blood Donors

DES MOINES, Iowa – The weather and widespread flu outbreaks have created a shortage of blood supplies in Iowa, South Dakota and Nebraska…

Local newspapers are counting on their ability to give their readers the types of content the Internet cannot. (Waferboard/Flickr)

Rural Newspapers Holding Their Own in Digital World

DES MOINES, Iowa – About 63 million, or 16 percent, of U.S. residents live in rural America and, while they increasingly embrace digital …

Best of Iowa Humanity Put in Spotlight

DES MOINES, Iowa – Born a slave and then orphaned, George Washington Carver faced continual rejection until he found a welcoming home in Iowa…

More than 30,000 Texans have sought refuge in shelters like this one. (Red Cross)

Iowa Volunteers Helping in Aftermath of Hurricane Harvey

DES MOINES, Iowa – One of the most common questions asked amid natural disasters like Houston's Hurricane Harvey is, "How can we help?" Mark …

Grain prices are low and production costs are high, but Iowa farmers are still focused on land stewardship. (Pixabay)

Iowa Farmers Embrace Conservation, Despite Economic Downturn

DES MOINES, Iowa -- These are challenging times for Iowa farmers, battling a global grain glut and high production costs, but that isn't stopping …

Daren Schumaker and Dennis Lee of Cedar Rapids have spent eight years running marathons in each of Iowa's counties. (Team 99 Counties)

Iowa Men Set to Complete 99 County Journey

DES MOINES, Iowa – Two men, more than 2,700 miles and thousands of dollars for heart health – this week Daren Schumaker and Dennis Lee of …

Market Innovation director for AARP Jeffrey Makowka says it's important that older adults are able to live life on their own terms. (AARP)

Iowans Challenge Aging with Ingenuity

DES MOINES, Iowa – Growing older does not hold the same connotations as it once did, and some Iowans are using their ingenuity to challenge …

Some experts say growing urban/rural divide puts pressure on Iowa farmers to develop solutions to the state's water quality problems. (Carl Wycoff/Flickr)

Ending Iowa's Water-Quality Woes by Bridging Urban-Rural Divide?

DES MOINES, Iowa -- There's been a lot of focus on ensuring safe, affordable drinking water from public systems in Iowa’s urban centers…

The responsibility of being a good citizen can be learned through volunteering. (Daniel Thorton/Flickr)

MLK Day on Campus: The Power of Service to Create Social Change

DES MOINES, Iowa – As the nation remembers Martin Luther King Jr., college students are among those in Iowa commemorating the life of the late …

Those who struggle to find peace during divided times can find community with others. (Pixabay)

A Path Toward Unity in 2017

DES MOINES, Iowa – The United States begins 2017 somewhat divided with emotions still running high over the realities of the Trump presidency…

Don Corrigan of Des Moines, center, is the 2016 AARP Iowa Andrus Award Winner. (AARP)

Volunteering: The "Heart and Soul" of Iowa

DES MOINES, Iowa — One in three Iowans volunteers, earning the state the ranking of 10th nationally for community service in a new survey…

Elkader�s Whitewater Park and River Access was recognized as a Smart Growth Project in 2015. (Elkader Whitewater Project)

It's Time to Showcase "Smart Growth" Projects in Iowa

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Innovative ideas are spurring projects that advance sustainability in Iowa, and some of those efforts will soon receive special …

Recycling stands can help prevent debris left behind after an event. (Bob B. Brown/Flickr)

Recycling Can Keep Iowa Fall Events Green

DES MOINES, Iowa – Overflowing trash cans and debris on the ground can be signs of a great party, but what's not so great is when all that …

Social-service groups say evicting people from Des Moines' homeless camps simply moves the problem instead of solving it. (tom stovall/Flickr)

Fight for the Homeless Ramps up in Des Moines

DES MOINES, Iowa — A fight for the homeless is ramping up in Des Moines. Eviction notices with a deadline of August 29th went up at several …

Thirteen people have died in the Louisiana floods and an estimated 40,000 homes are damaged. Some Iowans are among the relief workers there. (Tink Tracy/Flickr)

"Being a Good Iowan" – Volunteers Help Louisiana Flood Victims

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Nearly a dozen Iowans are among the hundreds responding to the devastating flooding in Louisiana. Volunteers with the American …

Iowans with autism and potential employers are meeting up in West Des Moines today. (AutismIA.com)

Iowa Employers Can Benefit by Hiring People with Autism

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa - About 8,000 Iowans have autism, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Their advocates say it's hard to …

County fairs in Iowa attract 3.5 million visitors, who support young people in agriculture along with enjoying the rides, food and fun. (Cheryl Peters/Morguefile)

Millions Attend Iowa County Fairs, Celebrate Future Farmers

CRESCO, Iowa - More than half of the county fairs in Iowa take place during late July, 19 are underway this weekend alone. County fairs have been …

Thousands of athletes of all ages and abilities compete in more than 60 sports this weekend at the 30th Annual Iowa Games in Ames. (IowaGames.org)

Iowa Games Celebrate 30 Years of Good Sportsmanship

AMES, Iowa – Iowans don't have to go to Rio to find athletes competing in dozens of different sports. An estimated 13,000 people will converge …

The Altoona Campus Aquatic Park is one of several locations participating in the World's Largest Swimming Lesson. (Iowa Department of Public Health)

"World's Largest Swimming Lesson" to Help Prevent Drowning

ALTOONA, Iowa – Swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88 percent among children aged one to four. To cap off Drowning …

More than a quarter of the state of Iowa is experiencing abnormal dryness, more than double the area earlier this month. (droughtmonitor.unl.edu)

Iowa Drought Concerns High as "Abnormally Dry" Areas Nearly Double

DES MOINES, Iowa - At the beginning of June, about 14 percent of the state of Iowa was experiencing abnormal dryness. The latest findings from the …

Farmer Aaron Lehman relies on oats and other small grains to cut down on pesticides, chemical fertilizers and reduce weeds. (PracticalFarmers.org)

Old Idea in Farming Made New to Reduce Pesticides, Chemical Fertilizers

POLK CITY, Iowa - Because pests like fields where the same thing grows year after year, growing oats and other small grains while the main crop takes …

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PNS Daily Newscast: Afternoon Update - September 18, 2024

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IA: Community Issues and Volunteering