River to River: Recent Episodes
Iowa Public Radio
River to River is a conversation about the news with an Iowa perspective. Together we dig into the story behind the headlines - we talk with newsmakers and a diverse range of experts to find out how the news affects you. We take on challenging topics, explore issues from all sides, and foster conversation and understanding
On this Newsbuzz, a meatpacking plant is facing a lawsuit about COVID-19 deaths, plus updates on election recounts and more.
Programs like Chat GPT started infiltrating classrooms as the latest tool students use to cheat. However, schools have found that banning these programs isn't the answer.
Political scientists discuss what the election results can tell us about the mood of the country and what may be on the horizon for 2025.
The book explores the domination that a handful of companies have over America’s food economy.
A majority of Nebraskans voted last week to legalize and regulate medical cannabis in the state.
On election night, Iowa politicians tore into the Ann Seltzer/Des Moines Register poll that predicted Iowa would go blue. Instead, for a third time, the state voted for former President Donald Trump.
University of Iowa professor Jerry Schnoor gives the world a D in its response to climate change, based on the findings of a recent UN report.
On the last Friday before the presidential election, Ben Kieffer and guests explore headlines from around the state, including campaign finance and voter registration news.
President of the United States is not the only consequential race to watch in the Nov. 5 election.
Election Day is less than a week away. Here are the big stories shaping the final days.
Politics reporters discuss Statehouse races that could be close, and a look at some of the efforts to get Iowans to vote
World leaders and top experts in development, agriculture, economic policy, resource management and nutrition gather annually in Iowa for the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue.
At 42-million strong, many political pundits are watching how Gen-Z, those between the ages of 18 and 27, will vote in this election. This hour, we explore their thoughts going into the election.
With less than two weeks to the 2024 election, national and statewide races are looking competitive.
Health care is a top concern for many voters. Experts weight in on how the parties differ in their approach.
At 42-million strong, many political pundits are watching how Gen-Z, those between the ages of 18 and 27, will vote in this election. This hour, we explore their thoughts going into the election.
On this episode of River to River, host Ben Kieffer explores some of the biggest headlines around Iowa this week.
Early voting began Oct. 16 in Iowa. With less than three weeks until election day, polls show a tight race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.
What can individuals do to combat climate change? Three authors of the Iowa Climate Statement share how people can be part of the solution.
An interview with Corban Addison, author of Wastelands: The True Story of Farm Country on Trial.
What Midwest voters say about abortion, immigration, higher education and other issues.
The non-partisan Cook Political Report has moved two Iowa congressional races from "leaning Republican" to "toss-up."
In April, the EPA announced a rule to reduce toxic air pollution coming from more than 200 chemical plants across the U.S.
A new DNR program helps monitor for PFAs in water supplies, an update on the Cedar Rapids Cargill strike and discussing the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.
This year, Roscoe Jones Jr. took the helm of Drake University's law school and spoke with River to River host Ben Kieffer about his plans for the school.
Political analysts discuss the vice presidential debate, escalating violence in the Middle East, close election polling and more.
Bruno Pigott visited Iowa to see water quality issues and solutions first-hand. Then we learn about the “mini moon” that is temporarily orbiting the Earth.
This year, one Iowa Supreme Court Justice is up for retention — experts debate what should go into your vote.
Growing up in a deeply evangelical Midwest family, NPR's Sarah McCammon was strictly taught to fear God, obey him and not question the faith.
Political experts weigh in on the latest news, including Biden's farewell speech to the U.N., and Trump's threats of tariffs to John Deere.
Last week the Des Moines City Council approved ordinances aimed at preventing those who are homeless from camping or sleeping on public property.
Criminologist Matt Delisi discusses his new book, What DNA Evidence Reveals About Criminals: Cold Case Criminology.
The Russia invasion upended everything in their country. In this episode, first-hand accounts of war through the eyes of Ukrainian writers.
Experts discuss how to make the office more accommodable to employees on the autism spectrum.
A new Iowa Poll shows former President Donald Trump's lead in the state has shrunk significantly now that Vice President Kamala Harris is at the top of the Democratic ticket.
Public transportation in Iowa urban areas is important for commuters, but faces funding challenges.
As the top courtroom lawyer for the U.S. Government, Neal Katyal has argued over 50 cases before the Supreme Court.
Jeannine Ritchie, Dallas County Attorney has declared the report will not be released as a public document.
What happens to your trash and recycling, from your curb to the landfill and everywhere in between?
With a new Democratic nominee, Tuesday night's presidential debate greately contrasted the June debate.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs have been restricted at colleges across the country, including Iowa's public universities.
Whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory infection and cases are up nationally.
The U.S. presidential race is expected to heat up with two months until election day and Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump set to face off in their first debate next week.
Writers from 30 different countries are arriving in Iowa this week to take part in a 10-week residency.
As we celebrate the 130th anniversary of Labor Day weekend, approval of organized labor soars.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy show promise in treating anxiety, chronic pain and PTSD. Experts discuss the latest research in the area.
Iowa is among 16 Republican-led states trying to halt a program protecting undocumented spouses from deportation.
Exploring different perspectives on medication abortions afforded through telehealth providers.
The Farm Progress Show — the largest outdoor farm show in the country — puts the latest in farm technology on display.
A ceasefire in Gaza, abortion, a campaign for change — all that and more are talking points during the DNC.
The Iowa State Fair is known for its creative food and passionate politics, and in this week's News Buzz, we sample from both.
A University of Iowa wrestler and Maui native shares the progress she's seen at home since a fire devastated the city of Lahaina.
Libertarian candidates defended their right to appear on state congressional ballots during speeches at the Des Moines Register's Political Soapbox at the Iowa State Fair.
If the founding fathers were here today, they would see a very different political landscape than they might have anticipated.
Wartime has complicated the work of farmers in Ukraine, but they still see agriculture as key to winning the war.
At Pints and Politics, panelists discuss the political fallout of Iowa's new abortion ban and how Kamala Harris "balanced" her ticket with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
Polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in large amounts have been linked to serious health risks — and you probably come in contact with them regularly
Five years after Harris' caucus campaign fizzled, what are the differences in her campaign today?
President Biden has announced support for policy changes to the U.S. Supreme Court, but is there a political path to making them a reality?
The race to define Kamala Harris is on. How is the Trump campaign adapting to a new opponent?
As former U.S. Senator Tom Harkin was preparing to retire after serving 40 years in Congress, he founded The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement in 2013 to carry on his legacy and policy work.
Monday morning, Iowa's 6-week abortion ban went into effect, changing the Midwest reproductive health landscape
Students reached a settlement with an Iowa community college accused of human trafficking.
The James Webb Telescope doesn't just offer views into the cosmos. The telescope has given insight into space's most intriguing mysteries — though often leading to even more questions.
Trump makes first appearance since he was targeted in Butler, PA, names a running mate, and more from the first days at the Republican National Convention.
The Secret Service is facing sharp criticism in the wake of the attempted assassination of former President Trump.
Deliberation took just an hour to find the defendant guilty. The trial was moved from Kossuth County to Dickinson County due to concerns about finding an impartial jury.
Last month, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called on Congress to implement warning labels on social media platforms.
President Biden's future remains unclear as he hosts the NATO summit in Washington D.C. this week.
Dementia, including Alzheimer's and vascular dementia, affects Latinos at a higher rate than whites.
Iowa is expected to receive about $174 million in opioid settlement funds over the next 18 years.
New U.S. Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity vastly expands the power of the executive branch and the notion of presidential power.
Last week, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy declared gun violence a public health crisis.
For the first time in four years, the U.S. Supreme Court session has carried over into July. On this River to River, legal experts dive into some of the most high-profile rulings.
In a 4-3 decision, the Iowa Supreme Court ruled Friday that a law banning abortions at about six weeks of pregnancy can go into effect.
With a looming deadline, the clock is ticking for Congress to come up with a new Farm Bill.
Two years since the Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade, abortion access in Iowa also could change soon.
The director of the Flood Research Center shares how the center tracks flooding and helps with risk management as Northwest Iowa experiences historic flooding.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has adopted new energy standards for residential construction projects funded by the agency.
Ed Stone, the former director of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and longtime project scientist of NASA’s Voyager mission, was known for his steady leadership and enthusiasm for engaging the public in science.
A look back at the history of presidential debates, also looking ahead to the 2024 rematch of former President Trump and President Biden.
A federal judge declared Iowa's "illegal re-entry" law unconstitutional. How does blocking the law's enforcement impact GOP candidates' messaging around immigration?
The bird flu outbreak continues to expand in the U.S. and Iowa, with tens of millions of chickens, thousands of wild birds and dozens of mammal species infected.
Family and friends of David Zabner — one of the four victims of the stabbing — gathered at the Eastern Iowa Airport for Zabner's emotional return.
Frank Langfitt spent nearly two decades as an international correspondent reporting from more than 50 countries and territories. Now, he covers threats to democracy at home and abroad.
A potential Iowa immigration law could take effect while the Biden administration considers a proposal that would protect undocumented spouses.
Differ We Must by Steve Inskeep reconstructs 16 of Abraham Lincoln’s major disagreements with colleagues and rivals
Referred to as the "Nobel prize of agriculture", the annual World Food Prize was awarded in October during the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue held in Des Moines.
Australian military officers recently had the opportunity to learn about U.S. foreign policy from an Iowa State University professor.
Eight percent of registered voters in Iowa participated in the June 4 primary election.
A look at the candidates in Iowa's 1st, 3rd, and 4th congressional districts vying for party nominations in the June 4 primary election.
Republican and Democratic officials react to the Manhattan jury's unanimous decision to convict former President Donald Trump of all 34 counts related to falsifying business records.
Cedar Rapids native Austin Frerick, published his debut book Barons: Money, Power, and the Corruption of America’s Food Industry. The book explores the domination that a handful of companies have over America’s food economy.
Deliberations have begun in the first criminal trial of an American president. Experts weigh in on that and other important political stories of the week.
New research sheds light on people diagnosed with ALS in rural areas, and there are several new rules and regulations concerning cannabis
On this week's Newsbuzz, a regional domestic violence intervention program is looking to fill the gap left by the impending closure of the University of Iowa's Rape Victim Advocacy Program.
Gov. Kim Reynolds is expected to sign a bill into law this week that would merge, eliminate, and change the duties of many state boards and commissions.
Political analysts discuss the week's top headlines, including Blinken's surprise visit to Ukraine, funding for Israel, Trump's hush money trial and more.
The Johnson County civil mental health court program, a first in the state, monitors mental health outpatients and connects them with treatment to help live independently.
The new federal rules aim to protect students across the country from discrimination based on gender identity and/or sexual orientation.
Police in a Kansas town decided to shield the identity of a sniper who killed a 2-year-old during a standoff. The case has since gained national attention and protesters are calling for the release of the sniper's identity.
In their 2024 platform, a majority of Iowa's GOP delegates voted to make repealing laws recognizing same-sex marriage a priority at the Iowa Republican state convention last weekend.
Law enforcement officials say they lack guidance and resources to enforce the law and worry it could harm community relations in towns with large immigrant populations.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs have been impacted at colleges across the country, including Iowa's public universities.
One resident was fatally injured and more than 40 homes were destroyed following an EF3-rated tornado that hit the southwest Iowa town of Minden late last week.
Parallels have been drawn between protests on college campuses during the Vietnam War and today's unrest in response to the war in Gaza. On this River to River, a presidential historian puts recent protests in a historical context.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green announced she would call for a vote to oust Speaker Mike Johnson as Republican interparty rifts continue, but House Democrats said they would block the vote.
While the Iowa Senate passed a bill that would ban motorists' handheld use of cell phones behind the wheel in 2023, it failed to advance in this year's session after the proposal was combined with legislation that would ban traffic enforcement cameras.
Over a beer at Big Grove in Cedar Rapids, Iowa commentators discuss the latest headlines, including a recently passed foreign aid package and an Iowa law allowing teachers and school staff to carry guns in school.
The bill, passed with the Senate voting 79 to 18, also includes a provision that could lead to a Tik Tok ban.
The Congressional Gold Medal was recently awarded to living and deceased members of the Ghost Army, a World War II deception unit that was kept secret for half a century after the war.
The Iowa Legislature adjourned this past weekend, the eighth session in a row with Republican control.
Storms tore through parts of the Midwest this week, resulting in tornadoes in multiple states, including Iowa.
Economists say that traditional indicators are favorable, yet one in six Iowans has trouble making ends meet. Exploring the disconnect between good economic news and how Iowans experience the economy
Political scholars analyze the latest headlines, including the start of the fraud trial against Donald Trump, President Biden campaigning in Pennsylvania and the impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas.
A cancer cluster in Illinois was connected to a nearby chemical plant that emitted carcinogenic ethylene, a chemical targeted by new Environmental Protection Agency guidelines.
As a now ex-University of Iowa employee lied about his identity, the real William Woods ended up in a mental health facility after trying to convince authorities he was who he said he was.
Growing up in a deeply evangelical Midwest family, NPR's Sarah McCammon was strictly taught to fear God, obey him and not question the faith.
Iowa's six-week abortion ban cleared a legislative hurdle this week, though it's still blocked until the state supreme court rules on an appeal.
Iowa Republicans are currently working on a constitutional amendment that would require a flat tax rate and could raise the bar for increasing personal and corporate taxes in the future.
A former staff member of the Des Moines Public Library's North Side branch recently filed a lawsuit against the city and library system, alleging the library's policies, procedures and staff training are inadequate for addressing inappropriate patron behavior.
Fifteen years ago on April 3, Iowa became the third state to establish marriage equality. Now, over a decade later, LGBTQ issues are still hotly debated.
Iowa has had the third largest total of violent tornadoes since 1950, behind Oklahoma and Texas.
There’s a mix of red and blue politics across the Midwest. Statehouse journalists share updates on new and proposed legislation in neighboring states.
Caitlin Clark is a basketball phenomenon, catapulting women’s sports to a level previously untouched.
Artificial intelligence has been the subject of many dystopian novels and movies, but it's become apparent that AI will intersect with more and more aspects of our lives and careers. On this River to River, how AI can be wielded as a tool, and the concerns that make that future murky.
Political analysts discuss top stories, including FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, the war in Gaza, criminal charges against a former president and more.
Frank Langfitt spent nearly two decades as an international correspondent reporting from more than 50 countries and territories. Now, he covers threats to democracy at home and abroad.
Reynolds’ 80-page bill, introduced to the legislature in February, lays out a plan to reshape mental health and substance use treatment services offered in Iowa.
A Haitian-born University of Iowa professor is working to raise awareness about the Caribbean nation of about 11.9 million people on the brink of famine.
After stepping down as anchor of the PBS Newshour, Judy Woodruff has been traveling the country to better understand what divides Americans in her latest reporting project, America at a Crossroads.
The latest Grinnell College poll shows Americans' attitudes on the Biden/Trump rematch, election integrity, the war in Gaza, children and social media and more
Iowa lawmakers have passed their second funnel deadline of the 2024 legislative session. Numerous bills made it past the crucial deadline, but many others failed to meet the requirements to move forward.
Discussing headlines from around the state, including the closure of a Tyson plant in Perry, the acquittal of a trans Iowan on charges related to a protest, how Iowans are observing Ramadan and the war in Gaza continues and more.
An ISU project could bring a resilient energy source with stable prices to the city of Montezuma, which could be replicated across the state.
Political scientists discuss top headlines of the week, including responses to Biden's State of the Union address and his comments on Israel.
A Des Moines-area nonprofit has been holding youth town halls, a chance for students to bring their concerns directly to faculty and administrators — and the program has yielded some results.
On this legislative episode of River to River, we look at some of the bills regarding reproductive health that have advanced at the Iowa Capitol.
President Joe Biden referenced former president Donald Trump's response to the Perry High School shooting in his State of the Union Thursday night.
Examining the history behind the Israel-Hamas war and hearing from Iowans who have been affected
At the end of Super Tuesday, Nikki Haley withdrew from the Presidential Primary without endorsing Former President Donald Trump.
Iowa has among the fewest number of OB-GYN specialists per capita of any state in the country, according to 2022 data from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
One can find unfounded conspiracy theories throughout U.S. history. On this episode of River to River — how conspiracy theories take root, grow and do real damage.
Ukrainian refugees have made a home for themselves in Sioux City, a little over two years since Russia invaded Ukraine.
A one-acre solar farm produces as much energy as approximately 100 acres of ethanol from corn. Why isn't Iowa taking advantage?
Iowa political experts analyze the latest headlines including results from the Michigan primary and the faction of Democrats who voted "uncommitted" in protest of President Biden's response to the war in Gaza.
Experts discuss the role of alcohol use in developing cancer, along with other findings from the latest Cancer in Iowa report.
Proposals to overhaul Iowa’s AEAs and address school safety, and a bill allowing state agencies to hire private auditing firms have been advanced by state lawmakers.
Best-selling author and climate law expert, Rob Verchick, examines the impact of climate change and makes the case for "climate resilience."
Political experts analyze the latest headlines, including the elimination of gender balance requirements for boards and commissions that passed the Iowa Senate, an Alabama court ruling that frozen embryos have the same rights as children and more.
Iowa lawmakers just passed their first funnel deadline of the 2024 legislative session.
Two cicada broods that haven't overlapped since 1803 will emerge simultaneously this year. This won't happen again for 221 years.
Miranda Rights include a right to an attorney, but that right doesn't mean that an attorney will be free in states like Iowa. A Marshall Project investigation found Iowa imposes some of the highest fees in the nation.
Political scientists offer context and analysis of the week's political headlines, including the House impeachment of the U.S. Homeland Security Secretary, the special election in New York, Senate advancement of military aid packages and more.
Writers with different perspectives reflect on the Ukraine war nearly two years after Russia invaded the country.
This week Iowa lawmakers face their first deadline to keep bills alive this legislative session.
An Iowa native and former NFL kicker hopes for a Cyclone to Hawkeye touchdown pass during Sunday's Super Bowl game between the Chiefs and the 49ers.
A man of working class origins who overcame severe alcoholism to become the governor of Iowa and a U.S. Senator — on this episode of River to River, the life of Harold Hughes.
Calling on President Biden to enforce current immigration policies, Governor Reynolds has dismissed the need for new immigration law.
One month after the Perry High School shooting, we hear three perspectives on how to make schools safe.
The state of Iowa has nine Area Education Agencies that fill in the gaps for K-12 schools by offering disability and specialized services. Gov. Kim Reynolds thinks the agencies need to limit their scope, which has parents and educators concerned.
Five students from North High School in Des Moines have been spending most of their free time for the last two months developing an app to aid a lunar expedition.
Author Jerry Harrington discusses his new biography on Iowa. Governor and Senator Harold Hughes.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has denied pushing to kill the Senate's pending immigration deal to help former president Donald Trump on the campaign trail.
An Iowan diagnosed with Alzheimer's and a dementia specialist discuss the latest research on dementia and what people can do to treat and prevent it.
Officials at the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are alleged to have lied to their own agents in pushing forward an investigation into online gambling by University of Iowa and Iowa State University student athletes.
A new report from the Treatment Advocacy Center shows that Iowa is last in the country for the number of state psychiatric beds, offering only two per 100,000 residents.
Connie Boesen, the first female mayor in Des Moines' history, joins the program to talk about her plans for the city.
Should presidential hopeful Nikki Haley remain optimistic after Trump's win in New Hampshire?
As former U.S. Senator Tom Harkin was preparing to retire after serving 40 years in Congress, he founded The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement in 2013 to carry on his legacy and policy work.
A number of state boards and commissions are on the chopping block. The Home State series continues with Tom Byrne, of Delaware Public Media, discussing Joe Biden's rise to the presidency and current bid for reelection.
Psychedelic drugs like psilocybin and MDMA have become a very active area of medical research.
Iowans share their experiences with food insecurity, and experts discuss what can be done about it.
Gov. Kim Reynolds endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. How does this impact her standing with GOP voters after Donald Trump dominated the Iowa caucuses?
It's caucus day, and this year marks big changes for the Democratic caucus, while Republican caucus-goers will follow a familiar process.
Multiple rounds of heavy snow have pummeled Iowa this week, with temperatures expected dip below zero on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Organizers of the MLK NOW event discuss challenges Black Iowans face and how to address them. And Brian Lehrer offers a Home State View of frontrunner Donald Trump.
Increasing minimum pay for teachers and reducing the income tax to a flat 3.5% by 2025 were among Governor Kim Reynolds' proposals in her annual Condition of the State Tuesday.
Seven Ukrainian exchange students were in Iowa as they watched Russian forces invade their home country in February 2022.
A Perry religious leader believes her community will eventually come out stronger following a fatal school shooting at Perry High School Thursday.
A Washington Post reporter discusses his investigation into numerous cases of neglect at assisted living facilities around the country.
Political scientists discuss the upcoming GOP caucuses, the blocking of an Iowa law concerning books in schools, and more.
Incumbent candidates have publicity and experience on their side. However, eleven presidents still have lost their reelection bids.
Presidential candidates have been rewarded in the Iowa caucuses for spending a lot of time traveling the state and meeting with voters. That strategy doesn’t seem to be working for those running against former President Donald Trump in 2024.
Everything seemed to go well during the 2020 Iowa Democratic caucuses — until it came time for results. Welcome back to Caucus Land.
A look at dry January, plus a study by University of Iowa researchers shows a link between the location of a brain injury to levels in depression in patients.
A new report examines current research about social media's effects on the mental and physical health of young people.
The Colorado Supreme Court voted 4-3 this week to declare former President Donald Trump ineligible for the state's presidential primary ballot.
As 2023 comes to a close, River to River host Ben Kieffer asks IPR reporters about the biggest stories they covered this year and what they'll be watching in the coming year.
Host Ben Kieffer and guests discuss the week's headlines from around the state, including the controversial Satanic Temple of Iowa display at the Capitol, UNI faculty criticizing the university for how it allocates funds and more.
An Iowa State political expert co-published a book this year, Walking the Gendered Tightrope: Theresa May and Nancy Pelosi as Legislative Leaders, which analyzes gendered expectations in high offices.
The United Nations General Assembly Tuesday voted to demand an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, in a rebuke to the United States, which has repeatedly blocked ceasefire calls in the UN’s Security Council. And according to a new Iowa poll, former President Donald Trump has increased his lead in the race for the GOP nomination.
The United Nations climate talks at COP28 are winding down in Dubai, and on this River to River, we hear from some of the Iowans who were in attendance.
Following a summer of striking, professionals in the show business industry discuss the new contract and more.
Our nation’s founders gathered in taverns for lively conversation — and during Pints & Politics presented by The Gazette and IPR — host Ben Kieffer and panelists do just that.
How did the universe begin? How will it end? This episode of River to River tackles those and other big questions.
With less than 40 days until the Iowa Republican caucus, Ron DeSantis wraps up his 99-county tour and Nikki Haley launches her first official campaign television ad.
River to River host Ben Kieffer visits an Illinois dispensary 15 minutes from the Iowa border to see how much of its customer base comes from the Hawkeye state where recreational marijuana use remains illegal.
What happens to your trash and recycling, from your curb to the landfill and everywhere in between?
Two lawsuits were filed this week challenging a state law that bans books that include sexual content from school libraries, among other things.
Use of e-cigarettes and vapes has become ubiquitous over the last ten years. What have we learned in the years since they were first marketed?
Americans for Prosperity, the political arm of the Koch network, formally endorsed Nikki Haley's presidential campaign Tuesday.
An Iowa State University/Civiqs poll gauges voter opinions on Republican presidential candidates and will track how these views change leading up to caucus night.
An Iowan and a University of Iowa student share their personal accounts of the deadly Maui wildfires that occurred this August.
Guests discuss headlines from the week, including former President Donald Trump attending the Iowa vs. Iowa State football game in Ames on Saturday.
For the first time, Medicare will be able to negotiate prices directly with drugmakers.
Cyclones versus Hawkeyes isn't the only competition on display at Jack Trice Stadium this weekend.
Guests discuss stories and headlines from the week, including a college health assessment that showed a rise in vaping, the impacts of Iowa's severe drought and more.
A new investigation by The New York Times draws rising concerns over groundwater levels. How could that impact Iowa?
Analysts discuss political news, including the latest on Donald Trump's various trials, Medicare drug price negotiations, and more.
Discussing the latest headlines, including back-to-school news, the effect of the summer heat on the autumn harvest, and sports betting.
Discussing stories and headlines from the week, including the GOP debate, hearings on a carbon pipeline and more.
As former U.S. Senator Tom Harkin was preparing to retire after serving 40 years in Congress, he founded The Harkin Institute for Public Policy & Citizen Engagement in 2013 to carry on his legacy and policy work.
Political experts discuss President Joe Biden's visit to Maui, President Donald Trump's absence from the first GOP debate and his commanding lead in Iowa.
Two Iowa authors found a copycat of their 2019 book and believe artificial intelligence is behind the blatant plagiarism.
West Maui has begun a slow recovery after the deadliest U.S. fire in a century left a death toll of more than 100.
Since last summer, the James Webb Space Telescope has been exceeding expectations in peering deeper into the universe than humankind ever has before.
A coronavirus expert unpacks persisting misconceptions about the COVID-19 pandemic and contemplates what a future pandemic response could look like.
Minnesota became the 23rd state in the U.S. to allow recreational marijuana on August 1.
On this live Pints and Politics edition of River to River, panelists talk about the latest political news in Iowa and across the country.
More people are expected to be diagnosed with dementia in the next decade. But new medication and early detection methods offer hope for those with dementia.
Political scientists discuss state and national issues, including Issue 1 in Ohio, SCOTUS arguments regarding "ghost guns" and more.
University of Iowa President Barbara Wilson discusses the UI’s move to acquire Mercy Hospital of Iowa City and shares her thoughts on academic freedom, the independence of public universities and more.
Lieutenant General Sami Sadat was called to Kabul to command Afghanistan's special forces and lead security efforts for Kabul, as the Taliban were already entering the capital city in August 2021.
A fascinating conversation with the neurologist who discovered a brain neuron group tied to pain and itch.
Psychedelic drugs like psilocybin and MDMA have become a very active area of medical research.
The upcoming Iowa PBS documentary, "USS Iowa: Honoring the American Spirit", tells the story of the Hawkeye State's namesake at sea.
Iowa physician assistants who have practiced medicine for at least two years will no longer need to be supervised by a specific physician under a new law.
Renowned scholar and criminologist Matt DeLisi discusses his latest book, Ted Bundy and the Unsolved Murder Epidemic: The Dark Figure of Crime.
How to stay safe in the hottest temperatures of the year so far, and a conversation about liberal arts and the upcoming school year with Drake University President Marty Martin
The president of the University of Northern Iowa discusses the university’s recent educational and program initiatives, as well as broader issues facing college campuses. Then, expert advice on repaying student loans or potentially having loans forgiven.
Thousands of people from across the nation will start their 500-mile ride across Iowa, coinciding with some of the highest temperatures of the year. This will mark the 50th anniversary of the first RAGBRAI, the Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa.
A look at how a lack of maternity healthcare resources in Iowa affects outcomes for parents and babies, plus how new abortion restrictions may impact care
Iowa political experts discuss the latest news at home and abroad including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis eyeing Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds as a vice presidential pick and Donald Trump's possible indictment over January 6th.
How do people become homeless? When you’re homeless, what are the barriers to finding permanent shelter?
Dr. Lynne Fenton discusses the psychiatric treatment she provided James Holmes before the 2012 shooting in Aurora, CO, her inability to thwart his killing rampage, and her thoughts on how to prevent future mass shootings.
After Reynolds signs the bill, abortion will be prohibited after cardiac activity is detected in an embryo, around six weeks of pregnancy. All healthcare providers must comply with the Iowa law.
Former president Donald Trump is asking for a delay in his trial on charges of keeping classified records at his Mar-a-Lago estate in violation of the Presidential Records Act.
Paul Kix, acclaimed author from Iowa, discusses his new book about the 1963 Birmingham campaign, You Have to Be Prepared to Die Before You Can Begin to Live.
Governor Kim Reynolds has called a special legislative session for July 11, after the state supreme court declined to reinstate a 2018 abortion ban after about six weeks of pregnancy.
Capturing carbon is considered to be a key factor in eliminating greenhouse gas emissions, but the transport of hazardous materials raises safety concerns.
The Biden administration is developing a plan B after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down their plan to forgive some or all federal student loan debt for tens of millions of Americans last week.
Governor Kim Reynolds reduced the number of cabinet-level executive branch agencies in Iowa from 37 to 16.
Also, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird is asked about her office's pause on a program that compensated rape victims for the cost of emergency contraception and a recent Iowa Supreme Court decision on abortion.
After a state supreme court ruling, Iowa Democrats brace for special legislative session on abortion and the fetal-heartbeat bill.
A policy change means more organs are going to more highly populated areas, and fewer are staying in Iowa.
The Kickapoo Indian Medicine Company was owned by two Euro-American men in the late 1800s who used the tribe's identity to sell so-called "Indian remedies."
The Iowa Supreme Court deadlocks on a crucial abortion decision ahead of the anniversary of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization.
The USS Iowa, a nuclear attack submarine, is the first of its kind that includes accommodations built for women. The christening took place in Connecticut on June 17.
Juneteenth, a federal holiday, honors the emancipation of enslaved people in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, the final group of Americans to be notified they were free.
The natural climate phenomenon El Niño has emerged this June. What will that mean for temperatures and precipitation in the coming months?
Recently, 83 churches in Iowa decided to leave the United Methodist Church seemingly over a decision to ordain openly gay pastors. This hour, a look at similar rifts in other denominations.
Host Ben Kieffer discusses the health effects of prolonged cannabis use, including recreational use.
Following the Davenport apartment building collapse, attorneys with Iowa Legal Aid share what rights tenants have before and after a disaster.
River to River host Ben Kieffer discusses the latest details of the partial building collapse that occurred in Davenport on May 28th.
Analysts discuss politics at home and abroad, including the latest developments in Ukraine, the growing pool of contenders for the GOP presidential nomination, and more.
Though Iowans are far from the ocean, powerful hurricanes can still impact the Midwest.
Until recently, Dr. George Weiner served as the head of the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Iowa. He reflects on his career and 25 years of cancer research.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former president Donald Trump visited Iowa this week on the 2024 presidential campaign trail.
Those interested in the truth about the Iowa's water quality won't get it from the state's agricultural and political leaders, according to former research engineer Chris Jones.
Also, an update on a partially collapsed building in Davenport and the residents who are still missing.
Student loan forgiveness, access to Mifepristone, and checks and balances over voting maps are among several cases awaiting decision by the U.S. Supreme Court this June.
Ahead of Memorial Day weekend, we return to a conversation with a woman whose brother lost his life while serving as a Navy seal in Afghanistan.
Iowa physician assistants who have practiced medicine for at least two years will no longer need to be supervised by a specific physician under a new law.
With high interest rates and homes being snapped up soon after listing, what is a potential homebuyer to do in the current housing market?
Submarine veteran Caleb Schneider and Lieutenant Taylor Boosmann discuss what it’s like working and living aboard a nuclear attack submarine ahead of the christening of the soon-to-be USS Iowa.
Host Ben Kieffer discusses some of the week's headlines, including new funding for renewable energy in rural areas, the closure of Iowa Wesleyan University and more.
Eighty years wasn't too long a wait for an Iowa native to don the ceremonial cap and gown.
Political analysts Donna Hoffman and Sara Mitchell talk about recent and upcoming trips to the state by potential GOP presidential contenders and the work to be done by Iowa Democrats.
Iowa’s pork producers could be facing big changes in their operations following the US Supreme Court’s rejection Thursday of a challenge to a California law mandating more space for pigs.
The debt ceiling crisis, the official end of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the end of the 2023 legislative session are among the topics for this Pints and Politics installment of River to River.
Lieutenant General Sami Sadat was called to Kabul to command Afghanistan's special forces and lead security efforts for Kabul, as the Taliban were already entering the capital city in August 2021.
Political experts analyze the latest news, including the end of the 2023 legislative session and a verdict in the trial against former President Donald Trump.
The University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa received funding to help address nursing and teaching shortages in the state while cuts were made to a program that tracks water quality and another that provides additional services to Iowa children outside of public schools.
The people who spent this spring covering the Iowa Statehouse discuss an eventful session for the Republican-controlled legislature.
Exploring the conflict in Sudan and its impact on Iowa's Sudanese community. Plus a conversation with Hollywood actor Toby Huss, a Marshalltown-native.
Also, Auditor Rob Sand said a bill limiting his office, the only statewide office held by a Democrat in Iowa, is the “greatest pro-corruption bill … and the worst perversion of checks and balances in Iowa’s history."
Discussing the top headlines of the week, including protests at the State Capitol and changes to state crime victim assistance programs concerning emergency contraception.
On this episode of River to River we listen back to a couple of favorite book interviews from 2022.
Analysts discuss the top political stories of the week, including President Joe Biden’s bid for a second term and Tucker Carlson’s exit from Fox News.
Rural towns and utilities could receive funds for all kinds of projects through the federal Inflation Reduction Act, but community members will need to step up to help make that happen.
Republican lawmakers are trying to find a compromise between separate property tax bills passed by the Iowa House and Senate.
A lawsuit regarding Gov. Reynolds' handling of Freedom of Information Act requests will move forward after an Iowa Supreme Court ruling.
Production of the 155mm shells — ammunition sent overseas to help the war effort in Ukraine — is almost exclusively at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant in Middletown, Iowa.
Dominion Voting Systems settled its lawsuit against Fox News for $787.5 million this week.
Research into automated vehicles is being conducted around the world, but the University of Iowa is likely the only institution doing this research on gravel roads.
Also, Iowa homeowners saw their property assessments increase drastically — in some cases as much as 50%. An Iowa assessor shares what this means for their taxes and how to appeal.
A bill that would deny food assistance to some Iowa households is on its way to Gov. Kim Reynold's desk.
The struggles and successes of newspapers in towns like Carroll amid recent crises such as the pandemic and declining revenues are chronicled in a new book.
In our weekly conversation about politics, we discuss arguments at the Iowa Supreme Court over a so-called fetal heartbeat law. The law was signed in 2018, but a court issued an injunction blocking it from taking effect.
On this Pints & Politics edition of River to River, journalists from The Gazette discuss charges against Donald Trump, the 2024 election, distracted driving legislation and more.
Political scientists discuss the charges against Donald Trump, the consequential race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Jill Biden's basketball gaffe and more.
Political strategists James Carville and Mary Matalin have an infamously bipartisan marriage. After 30 years and two children, they share their secrets to putting politics aside.
The second funnel deadline has passed. Iowa statehouse reporters discuss legislation Iowa lawmakers kept alive this session, and the bills that did not advance.
The end of COVID-19-era Medicaid benefits could impact millions of low-income Americans.
Hawkeye women's basketball is in the NCAA final four for the first time in 20 years, with their stand-out Caitlin Clark racking up accolades - and endorsements - on a national scale.
Iowa political professors analyze the latest news at home and abroad, including updates on the possible indictment of former President Donald Trump and the bills still alive as the Iowa Legislature nears another crucial deadline.
The California lender's failure this month was the nation's biggest since the 2008 financial crisis, leaving Iowa-based tech startups scrambling to ensure their funds were secure.
Also, a distracted driving bill pushed by law enforcement and road safety advocates for years has passed the Iowa Senate.
Education policy, distracted driving, eminent domain – it's been another busy week for Iowa lawmakers.
On this episode of River to River, a look at planting season in light of the new United Nations climate change report and a frank conversation with former state Rep. Phyllis Thede.
Political experts analyze the results of the latest Grinnell College National Poll as well as recent headlines on the indictment of former President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Moscow.
Neurologist L.J. Agostinelli discusses her discovery of a cluster of brain neurons tied to itch and pain sensations. She also discusses her work at the Harvard Sleep Clinic and on a new brain atlas.
State lawmakers have advanced legislation to restrict the use of eminent domain for three proposed carbon pipeline projects.
The Legislature also passed a bill that would forbid transgender students from using the bathroom that aligns with their gender identity.
One of the most promising treatments for veterans with PTSD is psychedelic-based therapy. Host Ben Kieffer speaks with clinicians and an advocate for veterans about how these treatments work and what needs to be done before they become widely available.
Discussions around gender and women's rights have had a large uptick in state legislatures and among the nation's leaders.
Gov. Kim Reynolds' government overhaul would reduce cabinet-level agencies and create an estimated $12 million in savings in the first year. The bill would also expand the governor's powers, fueling opposition to the bill.
A ban on medical-assisted gender transition for minors heads to the governor’s desk. Lawmakers, a physician, and an Iowa mother discuss the implications of the measure.
The latest Iowa Poll shows support for former president and 2024 hopeful Donald Trump is eroding among Iowa Republicans— though many maintain their loyalty.
A months-long nationwide shortage of Adderall has prescribers, pharmacists and physicians waiting for relief.
President Biden wants to raise a tax on Americans earning more than $400,000 in an effort to extend the solvency of Medicare.
State lawmakers have worked through the first deadline of the 2023 legislative session.
Get caught up on the week’s headlines with newsbuzz: the statehouse funnel, school walkouts across the state, a controversial plan to dismantle a corrections program and more.
Host of The New York Times podcast The Daily Michael Barbaro discusses the recent criticisms lodged at the Times by its own contributors over its coverage of transgender issues.
Experts discuss domestic and international politics, including the student loan case before the U.S. Supreme Court, increased aid promised to Ukraine and more.
Experts discuss the latest Cancer in Iowa Report and look back on 50 years of the Cancer Registry.
Challenges to books and curriculum have been featured in proposed laws over the last two legislative sessions at the Statehouse.
Jim Obergefell was the lead plaintiff in Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark Supreme Court case that gave same-sex couples the right to marry. He fears LGBTQ rights are at stake after the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
The race for 2024 has begun with visits from likely presidential hopefuls, including former Vice President Mike Pence.
Also, the Des Moines Register's chief politics reporter discusses her recent sit down with Gov. Kim Reynolds and Reynolds' continued rise in political prominence.
New proposals at the Statehouse are aimed at addressing the opioid crisis, including boosting sentences for fentanyl-related crimes and making an overdose reversal medication more widely available. Lawmakers and Iowans impacted by the epidemic discuss the implications.
Also, likely 2024 presidential candidate former Vice President Mike Pence visited Iowa this week and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley will visit this weekend on the heels of her official campaign launch.
Republican presidential hopefuls are already vouching for Iowa voters, with former Vice President Mike Pence and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley visiting the state this February.
The USS Iowa — a battleship that aided the U.S. military during World War II and the Korean War — is the subject of an upcoming Iowa PBS documentary.
The bill aims to protect the trucking industry from so-called "nuclear verdicts" and rising insurance rates but opponents say it takes accountability away from these businesses.
In this conversation from Pints and Politics in Cedar Rapids, panelists discuss President Joe Biden's State of the Union address and a flurry of activity from Iowa's Republican-controlled legislature.
Political scientists discuss the latest news, including a push from Iowa Republicans to ban all abortion in the state and President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address.
At the Statehouse, legislation is advancing that would restrict what Iowa schools can teach about gender identity, and that raises questions about parental consent when kids identify as transgender.
Controversial LGBTQ-related education legislation — similar to measures seen in Republican-controlled states across the country — is going through the Iowa Statehouse this session.
Thousands in Iowa are homeless, living without permanent shelter. On this episode of River to River, the findings of a new study on people who are unsheltered in our state.
Political analysts discuss the week in politics, including bills concerning gender at the statehouse, the debt ceiling and more.
Studies tell us many healthcare professionals hold negative attitudes toward patients with substance use disorders, and these attitudes can result in patients receiving suboptimal care. On this episode of River to River — how hospitals are working to reduce stigma for people with addiction.
A bill that would change who qualifies for food and medical assistance in Iowa advanced out of a House subcommittee last week.
And as a distracted driving bill is considered at the statehouse, an Iowa medical student recounts almost losing his life to a distracted driver.
Don McCleese spent decades as a successful music journalist, and was a loving husband and father. His life worked, and worked well, until it didn't.
Iowa political analysts discuss the recently signed school choice bill, confidential documents found in President Joe Biden and former Vice President Mike Pence's homes, Jan. 6 convictions and more.
Also, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill that allocates up to $7,598 of state funding per child per year for private school tuition.
Iowa lawmakers are preparing to vote on a bill that would allow students to use their state-funded per-pupil funding as a scholarship to attend a private institution.
Nichols, a town of about 340 people, has recently dealt with continued water quality issues due to its usage of shallow wells.
A central Iowa nurse was recently awarded for her efforts in evacuating patients out of Kabul, Afghanistan in August of 2021.
Political analysts discuss Iowa and national politics, including classified documents found at Biden's personal residence, school choice debates and more.
Bills to create state-funded accounts for families to use for private schools and to enact new requirements for schools on curriculum and student gender identity are moving quickly through the Iowa Legislature.
Journalists and experts discuss the latest news, including new vaccine research, a bill concerning gender identity in schools, the governor's renewed push for private school scholarships and more.
The passage of the Inflation Reduction Act brings new tax incentives to homeowners who switch to cleaner energy. Experts share how to take part in these incentives and how effective this policy could be environmentally.
On this politics day episode of River to River, analysts discuss the Governor's condition of the state address, new rules in the U.S. House, immigration policy and more.
Later, an Iowa State University economist discusses how immigration policy is contributing to the U.S. labor shortage.
Legislative leaders from both major parties discuss abortion, school choice, property taxes and more on the opening day of the 2023 legislative session.
Journalists and experts share the latest news, including pre-historic sloth fossils found in southwest Iowa, a homeless camp razed by Cedar Rapids midwinter and more.
One-third of adults said they avoid certain places and events as a result of shooting-related anxiety, according to a 2019 survey. On this episode of River to River, an Iowa-based psychologist explains the mental health toll gun violence is having on the country and discusses ways to cope with the anxiety and worry.
Iowa political science professors discuss a stall in the House of Representatives and some historical firsts in Congress.
Next week marks the start of the 2023 Iowa legislative session. After the Midterm elections, Republicans have even more power this year, including a supermajority in the Senate.
Outgoing state treasurer Michael Fitzgerald said disorganization in the Iowa Democratic Party led to a red wave in the state this fall.
Outgoing Attorney General Tom Miller reflects on his 40 years in office and discusses the money coming to the state after another opioid settlement.
Political analysts discuss the Respect for Marriage Act, the recent ban of TikTok on state devices, Brittney Griner's return to the United States and the year ahead in politics.
Ahead of the holidays, we revisit this conversation about changing SNAP benefits and food insecurity in Iowa.
In her new book, an Iowa mother shares a story of her son's survival in the San Bernardino Mountains and the days of waiting and worry as the search was underway.
Experts weigh in on the week’s news, including a rail workers deal and an explosion at an Iowa alternative fuel plant.
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week on a case that pits a Colorado website designer against the state's Anti Discrimination Act and a North Carolina case that seeks to limit judicial power to overrule voting policies.
Democrats now hold a 51-49 majority in the U.S. Senate following incumbent Raphael Warnock's victory in Georgia's runoff election Tuesday.
One year after the United States Armed Forces completed their withdrawal from Afghanistan, we follow up with an Iowa veteran to get his thoughts on the exit.
A bipartisan bill that became Iowa law this year criminalizes fertility fraud, making physicians liable for a felony and, if convicted, forced to register as a Tier III sex offender.
Host Ben Kieffer breaks down this week’s headlines, including the precarious position of the Democratic caucus.
The pandemic exacerbated already declining test scores across the country. An Iowa education expert shares what factors are holding students back in the classroom.
Political scientists look ahead to the next legislative session and discuss the Respect for Marriage Act, the political impact of a rail strike, Donald Trump's dinner with Nick Fuentes and more.
A look at recent Alzheimer’s research that will be discussed at an upcoming Dementia Summit, as well as a discussion on the importance of early intervention
Presidential historians discuss how fear of the unknown and apprehension about the future give rise to theories that many believe — and how instances throughout history relate to current conspiracy thinking.
Iowa professors discuss state, national and international news on this week's Politics Day.
Submarine veteran Caleb Schneider and Lieutenant Taylor Boosmann discuss what it’s like working and living aboard a nuclear attack submarine ahead of the christening of the soon-to-be USS Iowa.
A major manufacturer will pay to create a new drinking source for an eastern Iowa town after decades of contaminating their water with "forever chemicals."
Experts join host Ben Kieffer to break down the week's news, including the forever chemicals found in Iowa's water, programs to support housing insecure people in cold weather and Iowans' thoughts on national politics.
The struggles and successes of newspapers in towns like Carroll, Iowa amid recent crises such as the pandemic and declining revenues are chronicled in a new book.
Members of Congress return to Washington following last week's midterm election with a long to-do list for the lame-duck session.
Iowa Public Radio and The Gazette in Cedar Rapids grab a post-election pint and unpack midterm results.
A sleep psychologist at one of the country's most successful sleep clinics shares his tips — some stranger than others — for getting quality sleep.
Taking stock of the midterm election results with political scientists Rachel Caufield of Drake University and Peter Hanson of Grinnell College.
Iowa Public Radio state government reporter Katarina Sostaric preps listeners on all they need to know before hitting the polls.
Checking in on Iowa’s neighbors ahead of election day – Nebraska, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Missouri.
On this Newsbuzz edition of River to River, host Ben Kieffer breaks down the week’s headlines, including the former president’s Sioux City rally, the drought’s impact on the Mississippi River and the election in Brazil.
A Des Moines-area health coach is putting together a summit to make health care and information more accessible to underserved populations.
On the last politics day ahead of the midterm election, political science professors discuss what issues are influencing voters this fall.
Do campaign promises hold much weight in combating the nation's high inflation and economic woes?
University of Iowa Associate Professor Dimy Doresca talks about the humanitarian crisis unfolding in his home country, Haiti.
Auditors share how new voting laws are impacting early voters, plus more from this week's headlines.
In a matter of days, voters will be choosing Iowa's next political leaders from county to federal races.
A new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll finds 52% of Iowans now hold very or mostly unfavorable feelings toward former President Donald Trump.
Iowans are asked this election whether the right to own and bear firearms should be added to the state constitution and require strict scrutiny for any alleged violations of the right if brought to a court.
Ryan Melton, the Democratic candidate trying to topple incumbent Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra in Iowa’s 4th District, joins the program. Then: a look at a recent study from the University of Iowa that shows how brain injuries correlate with depression.
As early voting has begun for the 2022 Midterm Election, Iowa Public Radio and The Gazette team up to discuss Iowa's major races and national issues being felt locally.
Ahead of the 2022 election, two Democratic Congressional candidates vying to unseat incumbents join the show: state Rep. Christina Bohannan and state Sen. Liz Mathis. All of Iowa’s major party congressional candidates have been invited to appear on River to River.
With only three weeks left until election day and early voting in full swing, the stakes on the state and federal level are high.
On this encore episode of River to River, host Ben Kieffer is joined by guests to discuss the findings in a 2021 report from the Iowa Department of Public Health Bureau of Substance Abuse.
Guests join River to River host Ben Kieffer to break down the news of the week and to remember the late Ken Barcus.
Inflation and abortion were hot topics at recent congressional debates as the Midterm election nears.
Retired Admiral Mike Franken talks immigration, codifying abortion rights and a kissing allegation lodged by a former staffer.
This month, the U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether one state can regulate hog production in another.
An NPR Midwest Newsroom investigation raises concerns over lead shot in venison donated to Iowa food pantries.
An NPR Midwest Newsroom investigation raises concerns over lead shot in venison donated to Iowa food pantries.
An NPR Midwest Newsroom investigation raises concerns over lead shot in venison donated to Iowa food pantries.
U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley discusses war in Ukraine, election integrity, access to abortion and contraception and more ahead of the midterm elections. Then the director of the Grinnell College National Poll breaks down the poll's findings.
U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley discusses war in Ukraine, election integrity, access to abortion and contraception and more ahead of the midterm elections. Then the director of the Grinnell College National Poll breaks down the poll's findings.
U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley discusses war in Ukraine, election integrity, access to abortion and contraception and more ahead of the midterm elections. Then the director of the Grinnell College National Poll breaks down the poll's findings.
Pandemic-era benefit expansions meant households in Iowa and across the nation had more dollars they could put towards food. But as those expanded benefits disappear, many are facing a hungry reality.
Sarah Chayes is a former NPR foreign correspondent and an internationally recognized expert on corruption. She will visit Iowa this week.
Sarah Chayes is a former NPR foreign correspondent and an internationally recognized expert on corruption. She will visit Iowa this week.
Sarah Chayes is a former NPR foreign correspondent and an internationally recognized expert on corruption. She will visit Iowa this week.
Mariana Zaloznaya, an ethnic Russian who grew up in Ukraine and an associate professor of political science and sociology at the University of Iowa, provides analysis of Putin's latest moves in Ukraine.
Mariana Zaloznaya, an ethnic Russian who grew up in Ukraine and an associate professor of political science and sociology at the University of Iowa, provides analysis of Putin's latest moves in Ukraine.
Mariana Zaloznaya, an ethnic Russian who grew up in Ukraine and an associate professor of political science and sociology at the University of Iowa, provides analysis of Putin's latest moves in Ukraine.
Our news and talk teams work hard to keep a sharp focus on issues and topics important to Iowans. Show your support for this service when you give now!
Our news and talk teams work hard to keep a sharp focus on issues and topics important to Iowans. Show your support for this service when you give now!
Our news and talk teams work hard to keep a sharp focus on issues and topics important to Iowans. Show your support for this service when you give now!
River to River host Ben Kieffer and political scientists discuss Biden's criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his ongoing efforts to seize Ukrainian territory, allegations against U.S. Senate candidate Michael Franken, the race for Iowa Secretary of State and much more.
River to River host Ben Kieffer and political scientists discuss Biden's criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his ongoing efforts to seize Ukrainian territory, allegations against U.S. Senate candidate Michael Franken, the race for Iowa Secretary of State and much more.
River to River host Ben Kieffer and political scientists discuss Biden's criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his ongoing efforts to seize Ukrainian territory, allegations against U.S. Senate candidate Michael Franken, the race for Iowa Secretary of State and much more.
Farmers and experts join host Ben Kieffer to discuss two facets of tackling climate change that have direct involvement with the Iowa agriculture industry: carbon capture pipelines and ‘climate smart’ ag farming practices.
Farmers and experts join host Ben Kieffer to discuss two facets of tackling climate change that have direct involvement with the Iowa agriculture industry: carbon capture pipelines and ‘climate smart’ ag farming practices.
Farmers and experts join host Ben Kieffer to discuss two facets of tackling climate change that have direct involvement with the Iowa agriculture industry: carbon capture pipelines and ‘climate smart’ ag farming practices.
Sixty years after President John F. Kennedy delivered his iconic moonshot speech, President Joe Biden made a call to "cure cancers once and for all."
Sixty years after President John F. Kennedy delivered his iconic moonshot speech, President Joe Biden made a call to "cure cancers once and for all."
Sixty years after President John F. Kennedy delivered his iconic moonshot speech, President Joe Biden made a call to "cure cancers once and for all."
Iowa Reporters and experts discuss the top news stories of the week, including the sentencing of Pieper Lewis, the closure of Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.'s Keokuk wheat mill, the ruling in a lawsuit against Linn-Mar schools concerning the transgender student policy and more.
Iowa Reporters and experts discuss the top news stories of the week, including the sentencing of Pieper Lewis, the closure of Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.'s Keokuk wheat mill, the ruling in a lawsuit against Linn-Mar schools concerning the transgender student policy and more.
Iowa Reporters and experts discuss the top news stories of the week, including the sentencing of Pieper Lewis, the closure of Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.'s Keokuk wheat mill, the ruling in a lawsuit against Linn-Mar schools concerning the transgender student policy and more.
On this politics day edition of River to River, Ben Kieffer speaks with political scientists Wayne Moyer of Grinnell College and Jim McCormick of Iowa State University about politics at home and abroad.
On this politics day edition of River to River, Ben Kieffer speaks with political scientists Wayne Moyer of Grinnell College and Jim McCormick of Iowa State University about politics at home and abroad.
On this politics day edition of River to River, Ben Kieffer speaks with political scientists Wayne Moyer of Grinnell College and Jim McCormick of Iowa State University about politics at home and abroad.
In 1948, Dubuque-native Jane Burrell died in a plane crash in France, making her the first Central Intelligence Agency officer to die in the agency’s service.
In 1948, Dubuque-native Jane Burrell died in a plane crash in France, making her the first Central Intelligence Agency officer to die in the agency’s service.
In 1948, Dubuque-native Jane Burrell died in a plane crash in France, making her the first Central Intelligence Agency officer to die in the agency’s service.
This Newsbuzz features analysis on lawsuits against Juul Labs, a company in Waterloo, and the Linn-Mar Community School District; plus, a breakdown of enrollment numbers at the Iowa Regent universities and an interview with a resident at the International Writing Program.
This Newsbuzz features analysis on lawsuits against Juul Labs, a company in Waterloo, and the Linn-Mar Community School District; plus, a breakdown of enrollment numbers at the Iowa Regent universities and an interview with a resident at the International Writing Program.
This Newsbuzz features analysis on lawsuits against Juul Labs, a company in Waterloo, and the Linn-Mar Community School District; plus, a breakdown of enrollment numbers at the Iowa Regent universities and an interview with a resident at the International Writing Program.
Authors Patricia Bryan and Thomas Wolf bring readers to the late 1880s to the gruesome scene of the murders of John Wesley Elkins's father and stepmother. The 11-year-old was charged and convicted.
Authors Patricia Bryan and Thomas Wolf bring readers to the late 1880s to the gruesome scene of the murders of John Wesley Elkins's father and stepmother. The 11-year-old was charged and convicted.
Authors Patricia Bryan and Thomas Wolf bring readers to the late 1880s to the gruesome scene of the murders of John Wesley Elkins's father and stepmother. The 11-year-old was charged and convicted.
The first ads since Iowa congressional candidates secured their parties' nominations have dropped in recent weeks. Political professors analyze how effective their differing strategies could be.
The first ads since Iowa congressional candidates secured their parties' nominations have dropped in recent weeks. Political professors analyze how effective their differing strategies could be.
The first ads since Iowa congressional candidates secured their parties' nominations have dropped in recent weeks. Political professors analyze how effective their differing strategies could be.
Sarah Chayes is a former NPR foreign correspondent and an internationally recognized expert on corruption. She will visit Iowa this month.
Sarah Chayes is a former NPR foreign correspondent and an internationally recognized expert on corruption. She will visit Iowa this month.
Sarah Chayes is a former NPR foreign correspondent and an internationally recognized expert on corruption. She will visit Iowa this month.
A writer in residence as part of the University of Iowa's International Writing Program discusses historic floods that are devastating her home country of Pakistan.
Now a year after the removal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, listen to a conversation with a former officer and aviator who had multiple deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The death of Mikhail Gorbachev, up to $20,000 in student loan forgiveness for some Americans and the FBI investigation into former President Donald Trump are discussed during this week's politics day.
The last U.S. military forces departed Afghanistan one year ago Aug. 30, following a chaotic two-week withdrawal process while the nation fell under Taliban rule.
The necessity of remote work at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic showed the benefits of work-from-home options. Two years in, much of the workforce has not returned to the office, bringing new challenges to employers.
On this week's Newsbuzz edition of River to River, an Iowa county moved to severely limit the potential for wind energy.
The pandemic, the war in Ukraine, climate change, new federal laws – all these factors are having dramatic impacts on Iowa agriculture.
The landmark federal climate law passed this month by Democrats defines carbon dioxide as pollution, giving the Environmental Protection Agency the authority to regulate greenhouse gases.
One year after the United States Armed Forces completed their withdrawal from Afghanistan, we follow up with an Iowa veteran to get his thoughts on the exit.
It's back-to-school time in Iowa. With students back on campuses across the state, The Gazette's higher education reporter Vanessa Miller joins the program to discuss the challenges college students, faculty, and administration are facing. IPR's Natalie Krebs discusses pre-back-to-school vaccines. Then two Iowa teachers have been awarded funding from the Society for Science so they can better help students, especially those from underserved and low-income communities, pursue a passion in science.
The Inflation Reduction Act could make health care more affordable and accessible for Iowans. On River to River, Iowans and health care experts discuss how the legislation could impact the state.
Political experts discuss national headlines and the Iowa midterm candidates who spoke at the Des Moines Register's Political Soap Box at the Iowa State Fair.
One-third of adults said they avoid certain places and events as a result of shooting-related anxiety, according to a 2019 survey. On this episode of River to River, an Iowa-based psychologist explains the mental health toll gun violence is having on the country and discusses ways to cope with the anxiety and worry.
Cities are taking on climate change themselves by setting emissions goals and mapping how they can be achieved. Though, money and political barriers complicate these efforts.
The U.S. Senate passed landmark legislation this week with key provisions related to climate and energy, healthcare, tax reform and deficit reduction.
How did the universe begin? How will it end? This episode of River to River tackles those and other big questions.
Iowa City-based Alquist 3D is working to build 3D printed homes in rural Iowa, a method they say will eventually reduce building costs.
Existing college athletes staying on teams to make up for the COVID-19 off-year is making it harder for graduating high school athletes to get in the game.
Abnormally dry weather is coming at a critical time for crop development, resulting in parts of northwest Iowa seeing a significant deterioration in crop quality.
The U.S. Senate voted Tuesday night to pass long-sought bipartisan legislation to expand health care benefits for millions of veterans who were exposed to toxic burn pits during their military service.
An overwhelming vote in deep-red Kansas to protect abortion rights occurred Tuesday night. What does that mean for the midterms?
Former Republican Congress member Jim Leach recently announced his endorsement of Iowa Democratic candidates in the upcoming midterm election.
Newsbuzz is a roundup of some of the top headlines of the week, including major opioid settlements in the state and a look at Iowa's new Supreme Court Justice.
An Afghan parolee reflects on her life in Iowa one year after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan
Political scientists Rachel Caufield of Drake University and Evan Renfro of the University of Northern Iowa join host Ben Kieffer to discuss political news at-home and abroad.
Dr. Lynne Fenton discusses the psychiatric treatment she provided James Holmes before the 2012 shooting in Aurora, CO, her inability to thwart his killing rampage, and her thoughts on how to prevent future mass shootings. And University of Iowa epidemiologist Mike Pentella discusses the “brain eating amoeba” that recently closed a beach at a state park.
The Des Moines Register and Mediacom Iowa Poll found most Republicans hope former President Donald Trump runs in 2024. Des Moines is launching a pilot program that will put up to $500 a month in some residents' pockets. And we explore other recent headlines.
A bipartisan bill that became Iowa law this year criminalizes fertility fraud, making physicians liable for a felony and, if convicted, forced to register as a Tier III sex offender.
Following the U.S. Supreme Court reversing the 50-year precedent of Roe v. Wade, the U.S. House overwhelmingly passed a bill protecting same-sex and interracial marriage amid fears that the court may revisit other cases.
Two Czech citizens in Iowa share their thoughts on the crisis in Ukraine, located just a day’s drive from their home.
Mark Liebovich's This Town was a number one New York Times bestseller. He shares insights from his latest book, which came out this month.
This Newsbuzz edition of River to River takes a look at what's happening in Iowa's courts, explains how the recent temporary closure of a public library reflects a national trend and relives comedy from the early days of radio.
An LGBTQ advocate explains how recent reporting on Monkeypox parallels mishandlings of the AIDS epidemic. Then, a University of Iowa astronomer describes what people have been seeing in the mesmerizing Webb Telescope photos released by NASA this week.
According to recent data from the New York Times/Siena College polls, 64% of Democratic voters want a nominee other than Biden in 2024 and nearly half of GOP voters want a different nominee than Trump.
Experts share common ways bad actors operate in financial scams and how to prevent becoming a victim.
In the headlines this week, two Des Moines police officers are suing a city council member and five others in relation to the 2020 Black Lives Matter protest. Also, a third carbon capture pipeline is planned for Iowa.
About half of Iowa's waterways — its thousands of streams, lakes, reservoirs and wetlands — are considered impaired according to an Iowa DNR report. We’ll discuss the findings in this report and potential solutions to improve water quality in the state with three experts from the University of Iowa.
Experts weigh in on the latest political headlines, including mass shootings, abortion regulation and the Jan. 6 hearings.
The reversal of Roe v Wade means states have more power over abortion access than they've had in decades. In this hour, we'll explore what that access looks like and how it has changed in some Midwestern states.
New laws go into effect July 1, changing who can legally search through a person's trash and loosening child care regulations. Later, IPR's Dennis Reese finds relics from the Cold War in the Iowa City studio basement.
A ruling Thursday morning from the U.S. Supreme Court limited the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to restrict power plant emissions.
Political scientists join Ben Kieffer to analyze the latest testimony in the January 6 hearings.
A Fairfield educator speaks out on his decision to leave his post as hundreds of others resigned from positions across the state last spring.
A University of Iowa professor born and raised in the Soviet Union and a political scientist share their insights on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Roe v. Wade overturned, Iowa Senators at odds over gun control and just what will happen to Iowa's First in the Nation caucus?
A recent report shows an increase not only in alcohol use but also in the number of alcohol-involved deaths. It also details some policy recommendations to reduce these deaths.
The U.S. Senate voted 64-34 to pass the first major federal gun safety legislation in a generation Tuesday.
Last week, the Iowa Supreme Court reversed a 2018 ruling that affirmed the right to an abortion in the state constitution, as the nation anticipates a reversal of Roe v. Wade after a U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion overturning the right was leaked last May .
Iowa Public Radio and The Gazette in Cedar Rapids combine forces for a night of political commentary about the most important issues shaping our state and nation.
Political science professors discuss legislation to address mass shootings and consider if the bipartisan Senate deal is substantial enough.
An NPR Midwest Newsroom journalist takes a look into a program that gets donated venison into food pantries. The investigation raises questions about the presence of lead shot in donated food and its impact on consumers.
The U.S. House Select Committee investigating the January 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol attack held its first hearing for the public. Experts weigh in on what they learned from the proceedings.
While morbid, attempts to kill U.S. presidents have fascinated audiences since the first attempt on Andrew Jackson in 1835. We dig into instances across time and what they signify.
Political scientists weigh in on the Democratic Senate primary victory for Mike Franken and the voucher bill that pit Republicans against Republicans.
On this special edition of River to River, the story of how Guillermo Romano Ibarra has overcome the odds after a bicycle crash nearly killed him.
Learn from University of Iowa neurologist Dr. Eric Dyken how sleep helps process emotions, why lack of sleep can lead to eye damage, and the impact climate change may have on the quality of sleep.
Friday morning, a crowd gathered at Cornerstone Chruch in Ames to pray for the women shot and killed the previous night.
Pandemic-era benefit expansions meant households in Iowa and across the nation had more dollars they could put towards food. But with those benefits significantly lowered, many are facing a hungry reality.
May was a month marked by the grim headlines of mass shootings in Buffalo, New York and Uvalde, Texas. But in the past these tragedies haven't translated to political consensus around what do with gun access.
On the week of Memorial Day, listen back to River to River's conversations about veterans who heeded the call to serve the nation and didn't return.
School vouchers, bottle recycling, casino moratorium: a panel of Iowa journalists weighs in on the biggest bills to pass and fail this year in the Iowa Legislature.
Early voting for this year's primary election will run until Election Day June 7. Sit down with a panel of reporters and a political scientist as we dig into the particularities of Iowa's 2022 primary.
Host Ben Kieffer talks with political analysts from the University of Iowa and Cornell College about political reaction to the shooting at an elementary school in Texas.
Gold … the stuff of pirate treasure, fairy tales and wedding rings. Also the focus of alchemy, the medieval forerunner of chemistry, in its quest to transform matter. But, even in modern times, gold's origins have been surrounded by mystery.
Experts tell the Midwest Newsroom that shortcomings in the way Iowa’s quiet title law is written include vague language that defines how someone can argue that the property belongs to them. Another is the way people are notified – or, as in Natalia’s case, are not notified – that there’s a dispute about ownership of their property.
Listen back to conversations on "suicide by cop" in Iowa and the relationship between physical activity and cognitive ability.
After witnessing the collapse of the two towers on Sept. 11, an Ottumwa native ran to ground zero and has been working to memorialize it since.
He left Iowa with little money and not a lot of prospects. Listen back to a conversation about how a Coon Rapids-native came to serve as chief justice of the Alaska Supreme Court.
Listen back to how a newly minted M.D. in a psychiatry residency program became a psychiatric patient himself.
On today's Newbuzz, a not-so-private meeting with the governor, prices impacting rural schools and the number of Iowa hog producers decreases as the number of hogs vastly increases.
Host Ben Kieffer talks with political analysts Chris Larimer and Donna Hoffman about the week's political news.
A legal expert walks through the big cases before SCOTUS as we await rulings on everything from gun rights and abortion access to prayer in public school sports and crimes on American Indian reservations.
On this week's Newsbuzz edition, hear about labor organizing, charges related to January 6, COVID-19 vaccine trials and more.
Natural disasters transform the landscape. Listen back to River to River's conversation with residents of Waterloo, Davenport and Cedar Rapids as they reflect on work to adapt their towns for a future of more intense, more frequent floods.
Host Ben Kieffer talks with political scientists Rachel Paine Caufield and Jonathan Hassid about how the leaked draft U.S. Supreme Court opinion that could signal a reversal of Roe v. Wade is likely to shape politics as we head into midterm elections.
Legal experts weigh in on what a recent leaked document means for the future of abortion access in the United States.
Hear about the human cost of avian flu mass kills and the future of third parties in Iowa.
Also, a look at the waning days of the 2022 Legislative session, the wet spring's impact on planting and a run of layoffs at an Iowa grocery chain.
Musk buys Twitter. Biden approval ratings down. And SCOTUS' to weigh in on school prayer.
Their destinies intertwined at the Battle of the Bulge. Relisten to a story of two men and the ethics of war.
The Iowa Legislature passed a bill that will require mobile home park owners to offer additional notice before rent and utility increases and lease terminations. But resident activists say it doesn't include the solutions they brought to legislators.
Iowa Public Radio and The Gazette in Cedar Rapids combine forces for a night of political commentary.
A look at Iowa's connection to the wider trend of rent hikes in mobile home parks around the nation. And a festival that aims to raise money for Ukraine.
Hear about innovations in plastic "upcycling" research and two geologists' work to explain a mystery in northeastern Iowa.
Iowa's highest court reversed the lower court's decision Friday with just enough time for Abby Finkenauer to appear on the June Democratic primary ballot.
The CBS veteran with three Peabody Awards and nine Emmy awards offers his perspective on the potential for nuclear war with Russia, the state of journalism in the United States and the perceptions and material impact of January 6.
Experts weigh in on the president's recent move to lower gas prices through the use of higher ethanol blend fuels.
We listen back to conversations about the shocking rates of overdose deaths and how fentanyl plays into them.
A judge reversed a state panel's decision, saying Democrat Abby Finkenauer shall not appear on the ballot in this year's primary.
Hear how the bottle bill changed Iowa and sit down with one of the screenwriters of Brazilian show Sintonia.
An Iowa City reading aims to put a spotlight on the war in Ukraine and the voices of writers from the invaded country.
Ben Kieffer talks with political analysts Jim McCormick and Sara Mitchell about the top political stories of the week.
This month, Storm Lake became a one-newspaper town. With the help of a billionaire, the Storm Lake Times bought its competitor the Pilot Tribune. How will consolidation impact its journalism?
The Iowa Legislature reaches a moment where the Senate and House must find compromise on the bottle bill and cuts to state unemployment.
Learn what's happening in the Iowa Legislature, about how the state is preparing for Ukrainian refugees and a Finnish writer's work capturing the emotional valance of place.
A scientist describes how the study of space dust — a substance sometimes as small as a few molecules — can reveal much about our cosmos.
Ben Kieffer talks with Grinnell College political scientists about the top political stories of the week.
This hour, learn what you can do to prepare for dangerous weather. We also hear from one storm chaser eager to get out when most of us ought to be hunkered down.
The governor's education plan meets resistance. The state prepares to reduce unemployment benefits. And the push to license midwives hits a snag.
Ben Kieffer talks with a neurobiologist about how COVID-19 impacts the nervous system, and a historian about presidential papers.
Host Ben Kieffer talks with three Statehouse reporters about the legislative proposals that did and didn't clear the second procedural hurdle of the session, and which could still potentially be resurrected.
Host Ben Kieffer and IPR's Katarina Sostaric also mark the second funnel week at the Iowa Statehouse.
Host Ben Kieffer talks with political scientists Sara Mitchell and Jonathan Hassid about the Ukraine president's impassioned plea to Congress.
Longtime MSNBC commentator joins the show to discuss the country's political future. Then Midwest Newsroom editors discuss their work to chronicle abuses inflicted on wouldbe home buyers, and Iowa Legal Aid weighs in on what options these buyers have.
In Iowa, the rate of maternal death is rising. At the same time, the number of birth centers and OB/GYNs is falling. Some advocates argue midwives could be part of the state's solution.
As Russia struggles to explain its bombing of a Ukrainian hospital, what does accountability look like on the international stage? And what are the implications of Biden's Supreme Court nomination — potentially the first Black woman to sit on the highest court in the nation.
Host Ben Kieffer talks with political scientists Jim McCormick and Karen Kedrowski of ISU about the war in Ukraine and how the American public is likely to respond to the ban on Russian oil imports and continued high prices at the gas pump.
Breast and cervical cancer, colorectal and lung: cancer screening has come a long way in making what used to be a death sentence, increasingly survivable. But coming out of the pandemic some physicians worry skipped primary care checkups will mean uncaught cancers and potentially grim health outcomes.
Last week, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a major change to Iowa's tax laws into effect. Hear from legislative leaders and experts on just what this will mean for your wallet.
Trans girls banned from girls' sports. Racial disparities in cancer rates. And new music for the weekend.
Host Ben Kieffer talks with political analysts about Tuesday night's State of the Union and the GOP response.
Iowa's southeastern representative to Congress talks about her support for the Violence Against Women Act, a bill many fellow Republicans, including her own Iowan colleagues, came out against.
This isn't the first time Iowa's governor has pushed for private school vouchers. A look at how this year's approach is different and how its the same.
The Iowa governor's national potential. The real carbon cost of corn. And new music for the weekend.
Experts from the University of Iowa discuss Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the country's long history and its complicated future.
Host Ben Kieffer speaks with political scientists Wayne Moyer and Megan Goldberg about the latest developments in Ukraine, as well as Gov. Kim Reynolds being selected to give the GOP response to President Joe Biden's State of the Union address.
Phasing in a flat income tax, banning trans girls from playing women's sports and allowing parents to sue educators over obscene content are some of the proposals that have cleared the first legislative hurdle.
Listen back to Ben Kieffer's conversation with lawyer, educator and author Anita Hill. Then listen to the archive recording of his trip to meet a family transforming a school bus into their home.
“I understand it’s expensive and I understand it’s not practical, but from a scientific perspective," said author Lisa Mosconi, "the nutritional composition of caviar is a fantastic complement to whatever nutrients your brain needs for health and cognitive fitness.”
Experts tell the Midwest Newsroom that shortcomings in the way Iowa’s quiet title law is written include vague language that defines how someone can argue that the property belongs to them. Another is the way people are notified – or, as in Natalia’s case, are not notified – that there’s a dispute about ownership of their property.
Host Ben Kieffer, Sara Mitchell of UI and Chris Larimer of UNI discuss the RNC's description of the Jan. 6th riot as "legitimate political discourse," and the GOP leaders who are denouncing it.
Ben Kieffer talks to presidential historian Tim Walch about historic firsts that have diversified the U.S. Supreme Court.
Host Ben Kieffer and Grant Gerlock talk with guests about bills being crafted by Iowa lawmakers to change education in the state.
Michaela Ramm of the Cedar Rapids Gazette joins Ben Kieffer to discuss what the end of Iowa's emergency COVID-19 disaster proclamation means for data collection, tracking cases and access to information. Plus, other top news stories and conversations from around the state, including tax bills at the statehouse, free speech training at Iowa's public universities and how vertical farming is a new way of harvesting leafy greens.
Dennis Goldford of Drake University and Jim McCormick of Iowa State University join Ben Kieffer to discuss the latest news from Ukraine and various other political headlines from the U.S. and abroad.
Hear about the tax proposals laid out by the governor and both chambers of the Iowa Legislature this year.
Rep. Ann Meyer of Fort Dodge and Rep. Tracy Ehlert from Cedar Rapids join IPR state government reporter Katarina Sostaric and host Ben Kieffer to discuss bills addressing Iowa's child care issues. Before that, a conversation with a Des Moines parent about her struggles to find affordable child care and how the workforce shortage is connected to these issues.
Host Ben Kieffer talks to law scholar Derek Muller about the latest revelations from the January 6th and Department of Justice investigations into the 2020 election. Muller also offers an explanation of the Electoral Count Act, explores questions of racial gerrymandering before federal courts and offers analysis on the retirement of Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.
In response to Russian demands, the Biden administration said it's committed to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. With the ball in its court, what will the Russian Federation do? Ben Kieffer talks with political scientists about the standoff.
Ben Kieffer talks to Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller and Dr. Alison Lynch for an update on the opioid crisis and the reason for the high price of heating this winter.
Rep. Ann Meyer and Rep. Timi Brown-Powers join Ben Kieffer to discuss mental health legislation on the move in the Iowa House of Representatives. Then, Rep. Bobby Kaufmann and Rep. Dennis Cohoon discuss a bill that would change how ATV and UTV vehicles can access certain state roads.
Host Ben Kieffer talks with addiction physician, and bioethicist, Dr. Carl Erik Fisher. His new book is titled "The Urge: Our History of Addiction."
Jim McCormick and Karen Kedrowski of Iowa State University join Ben Kieffer to discuss voting rights legislation in the U.S. Senate, the future of the filibuster and the escalating tension between Russia and Ukraine.
Host Ben Kieffer talks to The Gazette’s Vanessa Miller about the Hawkeye football diversity advisory committee. We also get the latest on Hy-Vee’s lawsuit alleging price fixing in the pork industry and remember renowned Iowa astrophysicist Don Gurnett.
Host Ben Kieffer talks to Iowa-based author and historian Jeff Biggers to discuss his book "Resistance: Reclaiming an American Tradition."
Lisa Remy of West Des Moines Public Schools and Mike Johnston of the Decatur County Hospital join Ben Kieffer to explain how the latest COVID-19 surge has been impacting their day-to-day operations. Later, Kathie Obradovich discusses the debate over press access in the Iowa Senate chamber and Drake University student Joie Stoefen shares her feelings about starting the spring semester online.
John Hall is the author of the new historical fiction book "Rare Encounter." He joins Ben Kieffer to discuss the World War II events the book is based on and why he used his father's story as the book's centerpiece.
Peter Hanson of Grinnell College and Chris Larimer of the University of Northern Iowa join Ben Kieffer to analyze how Gov. Kim Reynolds laid out her priorities in the Tuesday evening speech.
IPR's Kendall Crawford and Jason Clayworth of Axios Des Moines join Ben Kieffer to discuss the strains on western Iowa's foster care system and how casinos and sports betting have become a billion-dollar industry in the state. Later, healthcare administrator Devin Juel explains why his nursing home and assisted living facility can no longer accept new patients and Iowa State University's Ryan Bergman describes John Deere's newest autonomous tractor.
Host Ben Kieffer is joined by IPR Statehouse reporter Katarina Sostaric for a conversation with Iowa legislative leaders on day one of a new session.
Conversations about omicron spreading in Iowa, Democrats' donor-class problem and new music from Father John Misty.
Lowering taxes, growing workforce, funding education and preempting vaccine mandates: Iowa lawmakers return this month to Des Moines for another session.
Experts weigh in on the questions still unanswered one year after Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol.
Ben Kieffer talks to University of Iowa astrophysicist Keri Hoadley about NASA's recently launched James Webb Space Telescope.
COVID-19 and its impact on meatpacking workers, the future of mask mandates in schools and the campaign trails emerging for 2022 are all stories that IPR will continue to follow into the new year.
Sara Mitchell of the University of Iowa and Wayne Moyer of Grinnell College join host Ben Kieffer to discuss the U.S. foreign policy outlook for 2022.
We hear about a famous photo of soldiers raising a flag at Iwo Jima and its Iowa connection. We talk with members of an Iowa "Granny Basketball" team who won a national championship. And we learn about the history of Iowa's only city west of the Missouri River.
A meteorologist walks us through Wednesday evening's storm and the impact it had on our state.
Ben Kieffer speaks to University of Iowa researchers Ethan Rogers and Mike Berg about the health effects of being incarcerated.
Political scientists discuss the road ahead for abortion rights, as the U.S. Supreme Court decides on the fate of Roe v. Wade.
Ben Kieffer and his guests have a number of quick conversations about the biggest news stories of the week.
Drug overdoses have soared during the pandemic to become the worst overdose crisis in U.S. history. Host Ben Kieffer hears personal stories of addiction and talks with representatives of organizations trying to prevent overdoses in a conversation originally produced on August 24, 2021.
IPR’s Grant Gerlock starts off today’s show discussing how the federal infrastructure bill will impact Iowa, specifically its water systems. Vanessa Miller of the Gazette talks about a University of Iowa lawsuit involving faith-based student organizations. Randy Meier of the Clinton County Sheriff’s office shares the warning signs you may be getting scammed and Iowa Falls farmer John Gilbert talks sustainability practices.
Host Ben Kieffer and his guests talk about the connection between venomous rhetoric and violence and recall instances of threats, accusations and acrimony from U.S. history.
A variety of guests join Ben Kieffer to talk about top news stories from around Iowa, including Dr. Stanley Perlman of the University of Iowa. Dr. Perlman is a world-leader on coronavirus research and provides the latest on what we understand so far about the new COVID-19 omicron variant.
Corey Dion Lewis, host of "The Healthy Project Podcast," joins Ben Kieffer to talk about how the pandemic lead to starting his own show and the topics he covers, including health literacy, diversity and equity in the healthcare system. Before that, IPR's Kendall Crawford discusses a proposed plan for a carbon pipeline to go through Iowa and investigative reporter Clark Kauffman discusses vaccination rates at state-run nursing homes around the state.
Host Ben Kieffer talks with political analysts about arguments taking place before the U.S. Supreme Court over a Mississippi abortion law.
Iowa's Attorney General Tom Miller joins Ben Kieffer to discuss several cases and projects that have come to a close in recent weeks and his upcoming term as president of the National Association of Attorneys General. Later, Michelle Voss, a neuroscientist from the University of Iowa, talks about physical activity, aging and how it impacts the brain.
Erin Jordan of the Cedar Rapids Gazette joins Ben Kieffer to discuss her latest reporting on "suicide by cop" cases in Iowa. Later, Ernie Goss and Sergeant Paul Parizek discuss the economic landscape going into the holiday season and how to deter porch piracy in your neighborhood.
The federal government is taking the rare step of releasing oil from the nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve in an effort to address rising gas prices ahead of the holiday season.
Stephen Gruber-Miller, Jason Clayworth, Kennington Lloyd Smith III and John McKerley join host Ben Kieffer to discuss top news stories from around Iowa and the new podcast "Speaking of Work."
Natural disasters transform the landscape. Residents of Waterloo, Davenport and Cedar Rapids reflect on work to adapt their towns for a future of more intense, more frequent floods.
Ben Kieffer talks to Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter and creator of "The 1619 Project," Nikole Hannah-Jones.
Ben Kieffer talks to former Iowa writer-in-residence Homeira Qaderi and University of Iowa International Writing Program Director Chris Merrill.
Host Ben Kieffer talks with political analysts Rachel Caufield and Megan Goldberg about the Biden infrastructure bill, how Iowa's delegation voted on it, and what lies ahead for "Build Back Better."
Ben Kieffer talks to neuroscientist Ted Abel about sleep and how it enables us to answer questions that philosophers have asked for centuries.
Ben Kieffer speaks with reporters and guests about some of the top news stories from across Iowa.
Brent Westemeyer, Sergeant First Class Sean Everette and Joy Tumilson McMeekan join Ben Kieffer to remember the sacrifices made by Iowa veterans Harold "Pie" Keller of Brooklyn, William Tucker of Bedford and Jon Tumilson of Rockford.
Ben Kieffer leads a conversation about January 6 subpoenas, infrastructure bill passage and the fate of employer vaccine mandates.
Emergency medical personnel from rural Iowa join Ben Kieffer to discuss the state of emergency medical services across the state. Topics include how funding structures are changing at the county level, how the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact emergency services and the lack of volunteers.
Kate Payne, Janis Elliott, Steve Veysey and the hosts of the new podcast "We All Want Clean H20," join Ben Kieffer to talk about water issues in the state of Iowa and the path forward for improving water quality.
A conversation that includes the legacy of U.S. Rep. Neal Smith, takeaways from this week's school board elections, and the newest faultline in UAW-John Deere contract negotiations.
Grassley hits Biden on biofuels. Pence stumps in Iowa City. And the UAW strike continues in John Deere contract negotiations.
Ben Kieffer talks to Courtney Crowder about her in-depth article on the ambush of two central Iowa police officers in 2016 and the manhunt for their murderer.
Tyler Jett and Paul Iversen join Ben Kieffer to discuss the latest from the UAW strike at John Deere plants across Iowa and the nation. Later, Chenue Her of "Good Morning Iowa" on Local 5 News in Des Moines talks about becoming the first male TV news anchor of Hmong decent in the United States.
Political scientist Chris Larimer of the University of Northern Iowa analyzes the latest on Iowa’s redistricting and the controversial vaccine exemption bill.
It took a young scientist from Iowa to settle the long-standing question about the origin of gold and other heavy elements in the universe.
Ben Kieffer and his guests explain what to expect in a special session where lawmakers will consider Iowa's second proposed map for redrawing the state's political boundaries.
Guillermo Romano Ibarra meets with Ben Kieffer at Lake McBride State Park to recount his journey of recovery and survival after he was nearly killed by a motorist while riding his bicycle in rural Johnson county.
Jeannette Gray, Sergeant First Class Sean Everette and Eldon Maxwell join Ben Kieffer to discuss the life of Army Corporal Eldert Beek, whose remains were finally returned to Iowa nearly 70 years after he was killed in action during the war in Korea. Later, Russ Lovell discusses three Iowa Supreme Court cases you've probably never heard of.
Michelle Williams of the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business joins Ben Kieffer to talk about how the pandemic will impact how people work for years to come. Later, a Coralville man shares his story of battling COVID-19 symptoms for months after his diagnosis.
Tom Cook and Dr. Jose Morcuende of the University of Iowa join Ben Kieffer to discuss the life and legacy of Dr. Ignacio Ponseti, who developed the gold standard for treating clubfoot. Also, patients who were born with clubfoot share their stories and explain how the Ponseti method changed their lives.
Ben Kieffer speaks with Georgetown University computer science professor and New York Times best-selling author Cal Newport about his latest book, "A World Without Email."
Ben Kieffer and his guests discuss the pandemic’s impact on domestic violence, dating violence and teens in abusive relationships.
Guns, God and abortion are all on the docket this fall as the U.S. Supreme Court reconvenes. Hear about some cases grabbing attention.
Ben Kieffer speaks to an established writer who is taking part in a two-month residency at the University of Iowa.
Ben Kieffer speaks with Anita Hill to reflect on the 30th anniversary of the landmark Clarence Thomas hearings and her new book, "Believing: Our Thirty-Year Journey to End Gender Violence." Later, Kieffer discusses the disparities in COVID-19 mortality rates between rural and urban communities and finishes the show learning about new technology in some Iowa grocery stores.
Ben Kieffer and his guests dissect politics at the federal and state levels, including Iowa lawmakers' rejection of the first proposed map of the state's political boundaries in a special session Tuesday.
In the coming days, hundreds of Afghan refugees will arrive in Iowa. Ben Kieffer and his guests discuss how refugee agencies have been working around the clock to prepare.
Host Ben Kieffer speaks with a variety of guests about top news stories from around the state this week.
Once a decade, a nonpartisan state agency draws the lines that settle how you will be represented in the Iowa Legislature and Congress.
Ben Kieffer speaks with Karen Kedrowski and Jim McCormick of Iowa State University about the bills moving through congress. Kedrowski and McCormick also discuss the congressional testimonies on the U.S. exit from Afghanistan, the debt ceiling debate and Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley running for an 8th term.
Revisit a conversation about how a story of international agricultural competition began in an Iowa cornfield.
Ben Kieffer speaks with two Iowa natives who have been fighting wildland fires out west. They share their day-to-day experiences and the logistical challenges of fighting fires that stretch for thousands of acres.
A big week for Iowa Politics as Iowa's 88-year-old senator announces he's back on the campaign trail.
We continue our "Leaving Afghanistan" series with Cera Wilkins, an Iowa Army National Guard medic, who has been thinking about the Afghan women she met during her deployment.
Redrawing the map in Iowa. Raising the country's debt limit. And Reynolds' bump in popularity.
Ben Kieffer speaks with two Iowa researchers about recent scientific discoveries and with a business scholar about the future of work and how to get the most out of working from home.
An update on the COVID-19 pandemic, Iowa releases first proposal for new political boundaries and a look at which Iowa school districts have re-imposed mask mandates.
River to River host Ben Kieffer speaks with four Iowa journalists about the struggle to access public records and how city council meetings have changed during the pandemic.
An analysis of state and national news from political scientists Sara Mitchell of the University of Iowa and Jonathan Hassid of Iowa State University.
Ben Kieffer starts off the show with IPR's Grant Gerlock to give the latest news from a federal judge who decided to put the state's mask mandate ban on hold. Later, Dr. Eric Dyken discusses the latest news and research on sleep disorders.
The longtime host of Iowa Press talks about his work as Iowa's moderator and his tenuous position looking for both sides of the issues.
John Paluska had just arrived in New York City to start his freshman year of college in September, 2001. Soon after watching the World Trade Centers collapse, Paluska volunteered to search for survivors, clear debris and recover human remains. Paluska would go on to serve ten years in the U.S Army as a Green Beret, earning a Purple Heart. He is also a co-founder of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum Visionary Network.
There's a lot to win and a lot to lose this weekend in Ames as the Hawkeyes take on the Cyclones.
Host Ben Kieffer is joined by political scientists Donna Hoffman and Chris Larimer of the University of Northern Iowa to talk about the top political stories from around the country.
Joel Bolger, a Coon Rapids native and University of Iowa College of Law graduate, recently retired as Chief Justice of the Alaska Supreme Court. Host Ben Kieffer speaks with Bolger about his Iowa roots, his life as a judge and the logistics of practicing law in the largest state, geographically, in the union.
An update on the COVID-19 pandemic, the sentencing of the man convicted of killing Mollie Tibbetts and a new Waterloo literacy program from Pulitzer Prize-winner Nikole Hannah-Jones.
Ben Kieffer and his guests examine how flooding has impacted parts of northeastern Iowa and a conversation with Afghanistan veteran Major Justin Foote of Council Bluffs.
With the Cedar Rapids Gazette selling off its own printer, we sat down with the leaders of newspapers in Iowa Falls and Carroll to learn about how they are paving the way for Iowa journalism's future.
Tests show Des Moines' sewage is carrying twice as much coronavirus as it did two weeks ago and COVID-19 infections are up, schools are open and many Iowa parents want mask mandates.
The University of Northern Iowa President on the challenges of starting a new school year while COVID-19 infections are on the rise. Then how two Des Moines non-profit organizations prepare for Afghan refugees inbound for Iowa.
Host Ben Kieffer speaks with political scientists Rachel Caufield of Drake University and Jim McCormick of Iowa State University about the collapse of Afghanistan, and the U.S. House passing a $3.5 trillion budget plan.
Drug overdoses have soared during the pandemic to become the worst overdose crisis in U.S. history. Host Ben Kieffer hears personal stories of addiction and talks with representatives of organizations trying to prevent overdoses.
Ben Kieffer speaks to retired U.S. Navy Admiral Michael Franken and retired Army officer and military aviator Brian O’Keefe of Des Moines, IA.