Iowa News & Current Events | Public News Service

Researchers say long-term exposure to pesticides can result in a range of chronic health issues, including cancer. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

Will Pesticide Enforcement Get Caught Up in Trade Talks?

The U.S. is talking with several nations as part of an emerging framework for trade policy, and in the Midwest, there are concerns about the ripple …

Agriculture experts say improving soil health on farmland is one of several components to reducing emissions from conventional farming. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

IA Gets Big Chunk of 'Climate-Smart' Farming Pie

Agriculture researchers say if the U.S. wants more farmers to adopt climate-friendly practices, they will need to be offered some proven incentives…

Roughly 50% of small-business owners in the United States offer health insurance, but some worry about being able to keep it if costs continue to rise. (Adobe Stock)

IA Small Businesses Get a Lifeline with ACA Credit Extension

Average Affordable Care Act premiums in Iowa would have been 72% higher this year without temporary subsidies from the federal government, and small-…

In response to any claims that absentee voting is prone to fraud, Iowa election leaders say the state's Voter ID law, which is required at the polls and on absentee ballot request forms, protects election integrity. (Adobe Stock)

Bipartisan Group of IA Election Leaders Team Up to Stop Disinformation

Iowa's elections are safe and secure and haven't been subject to widespread fraud. That's the message from a bipartisan group of election …

In the past year, school districts have been pressured by conservative groups to weed out certain teachings about race. But others say there should be more concern about the lack of civics curriculum. (Adobe Stock)

Expert: Civics Education Needed Now More Than Ever

Over the weekend, communities in Iowa observed the 21st anniversary of the 9-11 attacks. Since those historic events, political tension has escalated…

In bi-partisan fashion, Iowa leaders have championed wind energy development. But some say the state is behind in studying the broader impact of climate change. (Adobe Stock)

IA Leaders Face New Pressure to Study Climate Change

The effects of climate change, such as droughts and destructive storms, have been visible across Iowa in recent years. That's prompted calls for …

In 2020, more than 53% of people with disabilities voted by mail, compared to 42% of people without disabilities. (Adobe Stock)

Iowans with Disabilities: More Voting Power, Fewer Restrictions

As of Tuesday, Iowans can begin requesting absentee ballots for the upcoming midterm elections, and as the process takes shape, advocates for people …

The FTC says that in 2021, consumers reported losing a record-breaking $5.8 billion to fraud. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa Fraud Watch Tour to Address 'Scam Culture'

A statewide tour to help Iowans sharpen their fraud protection skills kicks off today. Organizers say perpetrators will never give up in trying to …

Renewables now comprise nearly 60% of all electricity produced in Iowa. (Adobe Stock)

New Numbers Show IA's Clean-Energy Sector Growing Stronger

The new Inflation Reduction Act is expected to spur more clean-energy projects around the country. It coincides with some encouraging numbers for …

Adding fruits to water is a natural way to add flavor without adding gobs of sugar to the drink. (Adobe Stock)

Health Experts: Avoid Packing Sugary Drinks in School Lunches

It's back-to-school time for kids around Iowa, and some might gravitate toward soda and other drinks with lots of sugar. As parents start lunch …

In the past two years, Iowa's Secretary of State says they've made contact with roughly 17,000 people interested in becoming poll workers for elections. (Adobe Stock)

IA SOS: State Needs Deep Bench of Poll Workers

The midterm elections are less than three months away, and in Iowa, recruiting continues for those interested in helping at polling sites, where the …

An annual report on child well-being finds Iowa has some stronger results in education, including the percentage of high school students graduating on time. But certain proficiency metrics drag down the state's overall performance. (Adobe Stock)

IA Child Well-Being Report: Trouble Spots in Education

Some measurements of children's well-being show warning signs in Iowa in the area of education. The numbers contrast with Iowa's overall ranking in a …

IA Youths with Disabilities Help Leadership Academy Make Strides

Nearly a dozen Iowa youths with disabilities are taking newly developed leadership skills out into the world. A summer academy wrapped up this month…

Despite the growth of renewable energy in Iowa, considering projects is still new to a lot of local governments. That's prompted a Midwest organization to propose a guide to be shared by state leaders. (Adobe Stock)

New Tool Emerges in Helping IA Communities Map Out Wind, Solar

Iowa is seen as a leader in renewable energy for sources like wind power, but tension is building in how to site such projects. The rapid growth of …

In addition to poor monitoring of water quality, environmental advocates say harmful runoff from agriculture may not improve, especially when conservation practices for farmers are strictly voluntary. (Adobe Stock)

Report: IA Needs to Bolster Water-Quality Monitoring

If Iowa wants to ensure its Nutrient Reduction Strategy is working to curb farm runoff, a new report from an environmental group says it needs to do …

A pending case before the U.S. Supreme Court deals with state oversight of federal elections. The case would not affect the upcoming midterms, but voting-rights advocates worry about the potential impact on the 2024 presidential election. (Adobe Stock)

IA Expert: SCOTUS Election Case Should Be on Public's Radar

Legal analysts and voting-rights advocates are looking ahead to this fall, when the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments on a case about state …

Russia's war in Ukraine has pushed up fertilizer prices that already were high, made scarce supplies rarer still and squeezed farmers domestically and around the world. But farmer advocates also point to market concentration. (Adobe Stock)

Farmers' Advocates, Fertilizer Industry at Odds Over Prices

Claire Carlson for the Daily Yonder Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Iowa News Service for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collaboration The f…

The CDC says that the United States sees one death by suicide every 11 minutes. (Adobe Stock)

National Suicide Line Gets Makeover; IA Ready for 988 Launch

Just like 911, organizers behind the new three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL) hope it becomes easy to remember for …

Iowa has joined the handful of states with the shortest time frame for most laid-off workers to collect unemployment benefits. (Adobe Stock)

Concerns Linger About IA's Unemployment Cuts

Summer construction season is in full swing, and labor leaders in Iowa worry how seasonal workers will be affected down the road by changes to the …

Mental-health advocates say while it's an issue that spans the globe, the United States is the only country that commonly sees mass shootings. (Adobe Stock)

Mental-Health Advocates: Don't Lump Our Cause In with Mass Shootings

The U.S. is trying to cope with another mass shooting after several people were killed at a holiday parade in Illinois this week. In Iowa, mental-…

Currently, there are nearly 1,300 Superfund sites on the National Priorities List, including 11 that are located in 10 Iowa towns and cities. (Adobe Stock)

Hazardous Site Costs Shift from Taxpayers Back to Polluters

Starting this month, chemical companies will resume being taxed for cleanup of areas with a lot of leftover toxic waste, also known as Superfund …

Environmental advocates say Iowa has more than four times as many large concentrated<br />animal-feeding operations as it did in 2001. (Adobe Stock)

IA Group: Landowner Rights Under Attack After Hog-Farm Ruling

Opponents of an Iowa Supreme Court decision they say makes it almost impossible to sue corporate farms over pollution, are encouraging landowners to …

Advocates for older Iowans say elder abuse can happen in many forms, including physical assaults, financial exploitation and neglect. (Adobe Stock)

IA Readies Enforcement of New Elder Abuse Law

This Friday, Iowa's new elder abuse law goes into effect. Those who pushed for its passage hope victims are aware of the added protections and will …

Last year, Iowa had more than 2,000 job openings that fall under the green-energy umbrella. (Adobe Stock)

Report: IA Has Strength in Green Jobs, Could Be Stronger

By Laura Aka for Working Nation.Broadcast version by Mike Moen reporting for the Iowa News Service Working Nation-Public News Service Collaboration "…

Organizers behind an Iowa effort to improve stroke care say a new donation will enhance training for hospital staff, along with other measures. (Adobe Stock)

Donation Aims to Boost Stroke Care, Health Staff in Rural IA

Iowa is getting more than $9 million to improve its system of care for stroke patients, and to address staffing issues among public-health workers in …

Estimates from Deloitte Consulting suggested expanding free school meals over the summer permanently would boost graduation numbers in the United States by more than 80,000. (Adobe Stock)

Universal School Meals End June 30, Putting More Pressure on Families

At the end of June, waivers allowing the federal government to provide free school meals to all children will expire. As the programs return to pre-…

Only about 21% of the nation's housing stock can be found in rural communities. (Adobe Stock)

Getting Creative to Fix Affordable Housing Issues in Rural Iowa

Higher mortgage rates and skyrocketing rents have fueled the nation's housing crisis. In states like Iowa, rural communities deal with the same …

Law experts say this weekend's prevention of a riot at an Idaho Pride event coincides with more online anti-LGBTQ comments posted by extremist groups. (Adobe Stock)

IA Group: Planned Riot Will Not Intimidate LGBTQ Community

A leading LGBTQ organization in Iowa said community members won't back down after authorities in Idaho blocked a planned riot at a Pride event there…

Outside of market issues, agriculture experts say younger farmers feel pressure to maintain operations handed down by older generations of their families. (Adobe Stock)

Mixing Faith and Farming to Help Producers Cope with Stress

By Russell Lackey and Trisha Wheelock for Faith & Leadership via The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Iowa News Service reporting for T…

In some parts of the country, cities have had to suspend garbage service because of staffing shortages. (Adobe Stock)

Staffing Issues Spread to Iowa's Local Governments

Local governments in Iowa say they're not immune to hiring challenges seen in the private sector, which is prompting municipalities to rethink how …

With help from her family, Marissa Schletzbaum operates Straw Hat Farms in Marion County. (Photo courtesy Straw Hat Farms).

Be Your Own Boss: Those with Disabilities Succeed with Self-Employment

Graduation season is in full swing, and for those with disabilities transitioning to adulthood, traditional barriers still exist in securing …

Hunger-fighting groups say local food pantries often lack refrigeration, making it harder to serve fresh fruits and vegetables to people in need. (Adobe Stock)

Elevating Nutrition in Iowa's Fight Against Hunger

National Hunger Awareness Month kicks off today, and rising grocery costs are adding to concerns about people losing access to enough food. An Iowa …

Aside from health risks, environmental officials say harmful algae blooms pose a threat to Iowa's water recreation industry. When beaches and other access points are temporarily shut down, it discourages plans for boating or swimming. (Adobe Stock)

Going Swimming? Be Mindful of Not-So-Clean Water

Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of water recreation season, and before putting on a swimsuit, Iowa environmental experts say being mindful …

According to Pew Research, 53% of Americans support stricter gun laws. (Adobe Stock)

IA Gun-Reform Backers: Public Pressure Crucial After TX Shooting

This week's school shooting in Texas has evoked feelings of hopelessness in the public sphere about avoiding future tragedies in the U.S. But gun …

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…

Beyond school counselors, parents and private providers, mental-health advocates urge faith-based and other community groups to provide safe spaces for kids dealing with stress and anxiety. (Adobe Stock)

IA Mental Health Voices: The Kids Aren't All Right

As the school year winds down, education leaders are shedding light on increased mental-health demands among students, including thoughts of suicide…

The Degrees When Due initiative has identified more than 39,000 Iowa students who earned college credits, but outside factors forced them to put their education on hold. (Adobe Stock)

'Degrees When Due' Helps IA College Students Get Back on Track

Iowa has seen a 5% increase in the number of college students who left school without a degree. But some campuses are making it a priority to help …

A governor's race and U.S. congressional seats are among the many contests Iowans will be deciding this year. (Adobe Stock)

IA County Auditors: Plan Big, Plan Now for Primary Vote

It's been a year since Iowa adopted sweeping election law changes. For those who haven't voted since then, local administrators say going in without …

The Cardinal-Hickory Creek power line is a nearly $500 million project, stretching more than 100 miles. (Adobe Stock)

Wildlife Refuge Concerns at Heart of Power-Line Controversy

Work continues on a proposed power-line system that would cross into Iowa from Wisconsin, even as court battles play out about the project. …

Farmers face pressure to reduce harmful runoff through conservation practices. But a new report warns that, as factory farmers eat up more cost-sharing funds, smaller producers will be reluctant to apply for aid. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Most Farmers Shut Out by Conservation Programs

By Bryce Oates Broadcast version by Mike Moen Reporting for the Daily Yonder-Iowa News Service Collaboration Many farmers who apply for federal fund…

Roughly 20 million Americans rely on the Mississippi River for drinking water. (Adobe Stock)

Following River Report, Action Pursued to Protect the Mississippi

The Great Lakes, Puget Sound and other notable watersheds are afforded massive federal support to coordinate and fund pollution-reduction efforts…

A fundraiser for Ukraine, organized by a student from Luther College, has received several thousand dollars in donations ahead of a centerpiece event this weekend. (Adobe Stock)

IA College Student Organizes Bike Ride for Ukraine

An Iowa college student is organizing a fundraiser and a message of peace for Ukraine, in an effort stretching 75 miles long. Anita Tamang, a senior …

Companies like Vestas have established a goal of zero-waste wind turbines by the year 2040. (Adobe Stock)

You Can Recycle a Plastic Bottle. What About Wind-Turbine Blades?

This Earth Day, Americans will be reminded of the need to take steps to protect the environment. Wind turbines are a leading clean-energy source…

While some national party leaders might no longer view Iowa as a battleground state, political experts say it still has

Caucus Shakeup Prompts Concern about Candidate Vetting

When the 2024 presidential primary season kicks off, there's a good chance Iowa's caucuses won't be in the spotlight as much. Last week, the …

Iowa's Black population now stands at more than 130,000, with growth being seen in places like Iowa City. Local community leaders are trying to foster an environment that inspires more civic engagement. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa City Grows in Diversity, Prompting More Voter Outreach

Some areas in Iowa are seeing bigger population growth among certain racial groups, and community leaders in one city want to make sure democracy …

The Sierra Club says more than 180 cities have issued 100% clean-energy commitments. (Adobe Stock)

Patchwork of Local Carbon Free Pledges Takes Shape in IA

Iowa is among the top states for wind energy, but it doesn't have a statewide goal to significantly reduce carbon emissions. So, local governments …

Private landowners in farming communities and environmental groups have mounted heavy opposition to proposed carbon-capture pipelines in Iowa. (Adobe Stock)

As IA Session Winds Down, Eminent-Domain Question Lingers

Iowa's legislative session could wrap up this month, but one of the unresolved issues surrounds landowner rights that intersect with proposed …

The latest bird flu outbreak in the United States has forced farmers to kill several million chickens across the country. (Adobe Stock)

From Big Farms to Smaller Producers, Tracing the Bird Flu Impact

At least two dozen states are seeing the bird flu virus quickly spread through commercial flocks on poultry-producing farms. Iowa is at the center …

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