Iowa News & Current Events | Public News Service

Iowa has warmed 0.5 to 1 degree in the last century, and floods are becoming more frequent. In the coming decades, the state will have more extremely hot days, which may harm public health in urban areas and corn harvests in rural areas, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, December 4, 2023

State skips climate-change grants, Iowa cities reap $3 million instead

A handful of Iowa's biggest cities has been awarded $3 million to work on solutions to climate change at the local level. The climate pollution …

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 …

If the United States shifted 180,000 acres, or 0.2% of its corn acreage, of genetically modified corn to non-genetically modified, it would generate $7.75 million in additional revenue for U.S. farmers and successfully meet Mexico's shifting needs, according to Farm Action. (Adobe Stock)

Mexico's GM corn ban opens market for American farmers

Mexico has issued a ban on importing genetically modified corn from the U.S., potentially opening a new market for American farmers. Mexico is the …

Around 400 million acres of American farmland are projected to change hands this year in what amounts to the country's largest-ever generational land shift. (Practical Farmers of Iowa)

Young Iowa farmers struggle for a leg up

Today is the deadline for small farmers seeking financial assistance to apply for grants from a farm advocacy organization designed to help them get t…

The USDA says producers can increase their environmental stewardship activities through the department's Conservation Stewardship Program. (Adobe Stock)

Family farm advocates suspect profit motive behind some 'conservation' practices

Midwest family farm advocates have sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, opposing recent additions to conservation practices they said …

Iowa has nearly 31 million acres of farmland. The average farm is about 360 acres, according to the USDA, and much of is monitored with high-tech equipment. (Iowa State University Extension Dept.)

Iowa farmers concerned with e-data use by corporations

New polling data show Iowa farmers are taking advantage of high-tech agriculture practices, and more plan to do so. But some say there's a downside …

Alliant Energy Corporation provides regulated energy service to 995,000 electric and 425,000 natural gas retail customers across Iowa and Wisconsin. (Adobe Stock)

Senior advocates push back on Alliant utility increase

The Iowa Utilities Board is taking public input this week on a proposed rate hike by one of the state's biggest gas and electric service providers…

Cedar Rapids, in eastern Iowa, had only 15.5 inches of rain in all of 2022, which is about half of what it would normally get by early October. (Adobe Stock)

IA implements first-ever drought plan

The State of Iowa has just put its first-ever drought plan to work to help it manage one of the longest and most severe dry periods in recent history…

Rural Webster County, Iowa, uses money offered by the state to test water wells. Some 43 million Americans rely on private wells for their water, but many don't have those wells tested for water quality. (Tony Leys/KFF Health News)

Rural IA boosts efforts to test private wells

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 Collabor…

For the past 20 years, the U.S, President and Congress have declared the month of October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a collaborative effort between government and industry to enhance online awareness. (Adobe Stock)

IA boosts cybersecurity precautions as elections, holidays near

As part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the State of Iowa is focusing on potential threats to the online integrity of upcoming elections. Given …

According to the Independent Voter Project, 68.47% of Iowa's population of 3,155,070 is registered to vote. (Adobe Stock)<br />

With election on horizon, support for Iowa poll workers

With elections on the horizon, Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate has launched a public awareness campaign in support of poll workers. Election …

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…

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 …

Farmers typically feed their cattle ground-up corn plants, including the stalks, leaves and ears in a mixture called silage. Drought has prompted livestock experts to warn of potentially lethal levels of nitrate in the silage this year and recommend getting it tested before feeding in to their cattle. (Adobe Stock)

Experts warn of dangerous high-nitrate cattle feed

Livestock experts are warning farmers about high nitrate content in their cattle feed this fall because of Iowa's prolonged drought. Farmers …

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz testified in March before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions regarding the company's labor practices. (U.S. Senate)

Iowa City Starbucks joins growing union movement

Staff at a Starbucks location in downtown Iowa City voted to unionize but so far, no contract talks are scheduled. The workers gathered last month …

Iowa's Beginning Farmer Loan Program assists new farmers in acquiring agricultural property by offering loans at reduced interest rates. (Adobe Stock)

Rural advocates push for more farmer credit

More than 90 rural organizations are urging members of Congress to support the Fair Credit for Farmers Act. The bill would help young and …

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 …

Around 43.5 million Americans have some form of federal or private student loan debt, which is 13% of the population, according to the Federal Reserve's Consumer Credit report. (Adobe Stock)

Iowans could see student loan fees eliminated in SAVE program

The U.S. Department of Education says more than 4 million Americans have enrolled in the Biden administration's college loan repayment program…

Iowa has more than 30 million acres of farmed land, and boasts the nation's highest production of corn, soybeans, pork and eggs, according to Iowa Farm Facts. (Adobe Stock)

IA small farm advocates call for less corporate land control

Rural advocates are supporting the Farmland for Farmers Act in Congress. It would restrict the amount of Iowa farmland large corporations can own…

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 …

Workers at Thombert produce polyurethane wheels for electric forklifts. The workers, represented by UAW local 997, are fighting for higher wages, more affordable healthcare, and a better work-life balance. (UAW 997)

Newton Wheel Assembly Plant Strike Enters Week Six

A strike at the Thombert Manufacturing facility in Newton is entering its sixth week. Workers and company management are trying to come to terms on a …

Nine states in the Upper Midwest make up 32% of total installed wind capacity nationwide, according to the Clean Grid Alliance. (Adobe Stock)

Big Push for Wind as Rural Iowa Economic Development

Green energy advocates are pushing wind power as an economic development tool in rural America. Iowa is among the nation's leaders in wind energy …

Beef consumption in the United States reached a new high in 2021, when 30 billion pounds were consumed. It's an increase of about 8.7% compared to the previous year, according to Statista. (Adobe Stock)

Community Advocates Call for Support of Beef Labeling Act

Iowa farmers have sent hundreds of comments to their U.S. senators, urging them to support legislation to change the way beef is labeled in the …

With 23.6 million hogs in Iowa, the state continues to dominate the nation's hog production industry. Minnesota and Nebraska rank a distant second and third with 8.6 million and 8.3 million hogs respectively, according to Iowa Source. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Blast EPA Over 'Inaction' on Confinement Rules

Clean-water activists are angry over a decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to sidestep action on threats to water posed by factory …

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity such as brisk walking for seniors, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity activity such as hiking, jogging or running. (Adobe Stock)

AARP IA Grant Transforms Town's Wellness Plan

A Community Challenge grant from AARP Iowa is making the town of Graettinger more senior friendly. Eight Iowa communities received the grants…

Roughly a million visitors are expected to attend the 2023 Iowa State Fair. Around 1.17 million people set the attendance record in 2019. (Iowa State Fair)

State Fair Ends with Presidential Straw Poll

Iowans have a chance to cast their first unofficial ballot for president as this year's State Fair draws to a close Sunday, and the Secretary of …

A bipartisan group of attorneys general in 31 states, including Iowa, and the District of Columbia are partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to enhance competition and protect consumers in food and agricultural markets. Iowa has its own law, but will support any federal action. (Adobe stock)

IA Investigates Possible Food-Price Gouging

Iowa is part of a bipartisan effort around the nation to strengthen enforcement and prevent anti-trust activity within the nation's food system…

Technicians are crucial to keeping renewable wind energy solutions sustainable as they install, inspect and maintain the colossal turbines, which can cost anywhere from $2 million to $4 million each. (Adobe Stock)

Community College Trains Iowa Wind Energy Workers

A community college in rural Iowa is at the forefront of providing training for critical "green energy" jobs. Wind energy is among the fastest-…

In an average year, 302 people die and 489 are wounded by guns in Iowa. Iowa has the 38th-highest<br />rate of gun violence in the U.S., according to Everytown for Gun Safety. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Iowans Face Rising Gun Violence

Some 74% of young people in the U.S. believe gun violence is a problem, and almost 60% want to see stricter gun laws, according to a new report from …

About $2.4 billion in federal funding has been announced for 139 infrastructure projects across Iowa, according to the Biden administration's Investing in America plan. (Adobe Stock)

Website Launched to Help Iowans Track $12 Billion in Federal Money

Progress Iowa has launched a website, allowing people to track federal money spent on critical projects in the state. The group aims to make it …

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 …

At the end of the 2021-2022 school year, roughly 31,000 students, or just .06% of the nation's 50 million public-school students, were participating in an ESA program, according to EdChoice. (Adobe Stock)

Private School Tuition Applications Double Expectations

Applications for the state's new private-tuition voucher program are double what lawmakers anticipated. Critics of the plan say it will divert even …

In 2022, wind turbines were the source of about 10.2% of total U.S. utility-scale electricity generation, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Wind now accounts for 64% of Iowa's total energy production. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa Reaches Milestone on Wind-Energy Production

Sixty-four percent of Iowa's energy production now comes from wind - a new record for the state, according to the U.S. Energy Information …

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 …

The U.S. Postal Service delivers more mail than any of its counterparts around the world, serving nearly 165 million addresses in the country, and covering every state, city and town. (Adobe Stock)

Staff Shortages Challenge U.S. Postal Service in Rural Iowa

The U.S. Postal Service marks National Postal Worker Day this Saturday, recognizing the effort it takes to deliver mail across the country through …

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 …

Large feeding operations keep many animals confined to a small, densely populated space. Unlike free-range farms where cows graze through a pasture, or chickens forage for food in fields, Confined Animal Feeding Operations bring feed to their animals, which remain stationary. (Adobe Stock)

State to Rewrite Manure Rules for CAFOs

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is updating the rules defining how manure is stored at animal feeding operations. For generations, …

Iowa Wesleyan University was able to continue operating after receiving donations from alumni and a $26 million USDA loan. In 2023, the university's board of trustees voted unanimously in favor of closure after Gov. Kim Reynolds determined that a loan of $12 million would not be feasible. (Old Main Hall at Wesleyan University/Library of Congress)

Feds Call Loan, Rural Iowa University Shutters

By Jon Marcus for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for The Hechinger Report-Public News Service Co…

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 …

U.S. border patrol agents have seen a 50% drop in the number of migrants crossing the border since Title 42 expired in mid May, according to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. (Mark Moran)

Title 42 Fallout in the Heartland

A public health measure known as Title 42 was a response to the COVID-19 pandemic that allowed for immigrants to be immediately expelled if they cross…

Project developers have announced ambitions for more than 200 new capture facilities to be operating by 2030, capturing more than 220 metric tons of CO2 per year globally, according to the International Energy Agency. (Adobe Stock)

Environmentalists Build Opposition to CO2 Pipelines at Des Moines Hearing

The federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration regulates carbon dioxide pipelines, and is holding a two-day conference in Des …

Wet Spring Soaks Iowa Drought

For the first time in nearly three years, the widespread drought that has had Iowa in its grip is predicted to end. The latest drought outlook says …

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 …

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