Iowa News & Current Events | Public News Service

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

Monday, June 5, 2023

Title 42 Fallout in the Heartland

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

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

Environmentalists Build Opposition to CO2 Pipelines at Des Moines Hearing

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

Wet Spring Soaks Iowa Drought

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

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

Iowa Researchers Discover Better Stroke Treatment Options

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

More than 241,000 new apprentices entered the national apprenticeship system in 2021, and more than 593,000 are getting the skills they need to succeed while building financial security, according to the Department of Labor. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa Awards $3.5M in Apprenticeship Money

Iowa Workforce Development is making millions of dollars available to train and retain employees in the state. It's one way officials are attempting …

In 2020, 52% of U.S. homeowners who renovated their home were from the Baby Boomer generation, according to Statista. (Adobe Stock)

USDA Makes Loans, Grants Available for Low-Income Iowans' Home Repair

AARP Iowa is working to raise awareness of loans and grants the U.S. Department of Agriculture is making available to very low-income seniors for …

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office is researching the opportunities and tradeoffs of agrivoltaics. (Adobe Stock)

Battle Heats Up Over Iowa Solar-Project Sites

Supervisors in Tama County this week are considering an ordinance to limit the size of solar installations on farmland, to generate no more than 25 …

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

One Person's Battle Against the Post Office Prevails

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

Officials encourage victims to report sexual and domestic abuse to a national hotline, 800-799-7233. It provides 24/7 service in English, Spanish and 200 other languages through interpreters. (Adobe Stock)

IA Looks to Shelter Victims, Survivors of Sexual Assault

Iowa groups have spent the past month focused on finding shelter and support for victims of sexual assault, to help them stay anonymous and safe…

There are around 35 commercial facilities applying Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage to industrial processes, fuel transformation and power generation, with a total annual capture capacity of almost 45 metric tons of carbon dioxide. (Adobe Stock)

IA Lawmakers Table Ethics Complaint Over CO2 Pipeline Bill

Iowa lawmakers have tabled an ethics complaint against a state senator whom critics said blocked a bill to regulate carbon dioxide pipelines in the st…

Electric-car sales reached a record high in 2021, despite supply chain bottlenecks and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Compared with 2020, sales nearly doubled to 6.6 million, according to the International Energy Agency. (Adobe Stock)

Experts School IA Emergency Responders on EV Car Crashes

With more electric vehicles on the road, automakers are training emergency workers in best practices to respond to crashes involving the battery-…

In January 2019, the United States had a shortage of 7 million affordable homes for low-income renters, resulting in only 37 affordable rental homes for every 100 low-income renter households, according to the Center for American Progress. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates in Iowa Work to Make More Housing Available

Advocates are working to make 42,000 new homes available to Iowans by 2030, which is spearheading efforts to create more affordable living …

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

Advocates Rally at Capitol for More Provider Pay

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

The Federal Crop Insurance Corporation promotes the economic stability of agriculture through a sound system of crop insurance and providing the means for the research and experience helpful in devising and establishing such insurance, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Organic Farmers Want More Time to Plant, Qualify for Crop Insurance

Organic farmers want more time to get their corn crops in the ground and still be able to qualify for crop insurance. Right now, they are held to the …

The global commercial drone market size was estimated at almost $30 billion in 2022. It is anticipated to increase 38% over the next seven years, according to Grand View Research. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa Bill Would Prohibit Drone Use Near Livestock Operations

The Iowa House has voted to ground drones over livestock containment and feedlots. Critics of the measure say drones are used to document unhealthy …

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

Iowa Volunteers Seek to Boost Literacy This Month

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

One billion people in more than 193 countries participate in Earth Day activities, according to Earth Day Network. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa Educators Focus on Sustainability During Earth Month

As part of Earth Month, an extension of the annual Earth Day celebration, educators and researchers are calling on Iowans to put sustainability first …

Among many benefits, cover crops remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and help make soil more resilient to a changing climate. (Adobe Stock)

Ag Secretary Announces Federal Money to Reduce Iowa Soil Erosion

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced two federal grants aimed at helping farmers reduce soil erosion in Iowa and other Midwest states…

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

Advocates Focus on Rural Drinking During Alcohol Awareness Month

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

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

Lawmakers Propose Eliminating Taxes for IA Disability Care Providers

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

Investing in solar produces zero carbon emissions and other heat-trapping greenhouse gases and improves cost efficiency over time, which will end up saving on energy bills, according to Iowa Interfaith Power and Light. (Adobe Stock)

Opportunities Abound 'Under the Sun' for Houses of Worship

A new report by a prominent national research center said America's houses of worship lag in alternative energy investment. The Lawrence Berkeley …

The Republican Party currently controls the office of governor and both chambers of the Iowa legislature. (Adobe Stock)

IA Lawmakers Vote to Require Supermajority for Tax Hikes

Iowa lawmakers are considering legislation which would require a two-thirds majority vote to increase taxes in the state. Supporters call it a show …

If you're eligible, you can purchase food using benefits that are issued to you monthly. You can use your SNAP benefits to buy a variety of foods for your household, including fruits and vegetables, meat, poultry, fish and dairy products, according to USA.gov. (Adobe Stock)

IA on the Brink of Toughening SNAP Eligibility

House lawmakers have approved a bill to make it harder for low income Iowans to qualify for public assistance, and critics said the measure would …

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

COVID-19 Still Deadly in Iowa

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

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

Iowa Doctors Study Neonatal Sleep for Keys to Helping Adults

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

According to a 2022 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report, 3% of drivers fiddle with their cell phones in their car, a dangerous act taking a driver's eyes off the road for five seconds. It is more than enough time to get into a fatal car accident, more than 3,100 of which are caused by distracted driving each year. (Adobe Stock)

IA Senate Advances Hands-Free Cell Phone Bill

The Iowa Senate has advanced a bill to outlaw handling a cellphone while driving. The state already has a distracted driving law, but it allows …

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

Iowa Midwife Law a Step Closer

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

Concerns over carbon capture and storage include pipelines' safety risks, the cost to taxpayers, corporations' use of eminent domain and carbon capture's dubious climate credentials, according to the nonprofit Food & Water Watch. (Adobe Stock)

IA Eminent Domain Opponents Herald House-Passed Bill

The Iowa House has passed a bill to restrict the use of eminent domain for carbon dioxide pipeline operators in the state. The measure would require …

Iowans Mark Affordable Health-Care Anniversary

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

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

IA Lawmakers Work to Save Rural Hospitals

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

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

IA Doctors Use Immunotherapy in Colon Cancer Trial

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

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

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

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

The U.S. Interior Department manages 400 national parks, 560 national wildlife refuges and nearly 250 million acres of other public lands in America. (Adobe Stock)

Bill Could End IA Public Land Acquisition

A bill passed by the Iowa Senate would repeal programs currently in place for maintaining open space and trails, and require state agencies to submit …

Iowa currently has a graduated individual income tax, with rates ranging from 4.40% to 6.00%, according to the Tax Foundation. But that will change under recently passed laws. (Adobe Stock)

IA Senate Panel Votes to Abolish State Income Tax

The Iowa Legislature's powerful Ways and Means Committee has advanced a measure to eliminate the state income tax. The move is the latest in a series …

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other national agencies will host a webinar focusing on past and current drought conditions and the impact on rainfall, temperature and precipitation in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa Drought Plan Uses History to Predict Future

Iowa has developed its first-ever plan to predict drought before it happens. Officials said it is designed to mitigate the effects of the drought by …

Beekeepers are positioning hives adjacent to fields planted in clover and grasses, which grow better in the shadow of solar panels than traditional row crops. (Photo courtesy Joel Fassbinder)

Dual-Use Solar Means Healthier IA Honeybees

Farmers, ranchers and livestock producers are working with solar companies in Iowa to find multiple uses for land once used only to plant corn and …

Wetlands are areas where water covers the soil, or is present either at or near the surface of the soil all year or for varying periods of time, including during the growing season, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (Adobe Stock)

Interior Invests $120 Million in Midwest 'Prairie Potholes'

As part of the Inflation Reduction Act, the Interior Department has announced it is investing $120 million to restore and rebuild key segments of …

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

Study: IA Leads Nation in New Cancer Cases

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

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

Advocates Call for More Awareness, Education During Developmental Disabilities Month

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

In 2021, around 132.3 million tons of poultry meat were consumed worldwide, making it the most consumed type of meat globally. Pork came in second, followed by beef and veal, according to Statista. (Adobe Stock)

USDA Proposes New Requirements for 'Product of USA' Label Claim

A proposal by the U.S. Department of Agriculture would change the rules on what foods can be labeled 'Product of USA.' Current laws contain …

Hogs and other livestock are used in what's known as

Solar-Powered Mobile Barn Transforms Traditional Agriculture

By Twilight Greenaway for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News …

Spending on conservation programs is expected to range between $6 billion and $6.5 billion in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Most Farmers Still Denied Conservation Grants

The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy reports nearly three quarters of farmers across the country who applied for two types of U.S. …

As of March 2022, Iowa had at least 349 megawatts of total installed solar capacity, up from approximately 2 megawatts of solar installed in 2012, according to the Iowa Environmental Council. <br />(Adobe Stock)

ISU Researchers to Study Growing Crops in Solar Farms’ Shadow

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded Iowa State University a $1.8 million grant to raise high-dollar crops in the shadow of huge solar …

The Federal-State Unemployment Insurance Program provides unemployment benefits to eligible workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own, according to Benefits.gov. (Adobe Stock)

IA Lawmakers Advance Bill Restricting Unemployment Benefits

Iowa lawmakers have advanced a bill to tighten the rules for people who receive unemployment benefits. The Legislature already passed limits last …

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

Specialists Raise Awareness During Eating Disorder Week

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

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

AARP Iowa Joins Calls for Insulin Price Caps

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

A record 16,836 megawatts of U.S. wind capacity was installed in 2020, bringing the cumulative total to 121,955 megawatts, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. (Adobe Stock)

IA Regulators Make WindPRIME Studies Public

Iowa utilities regulators have published previously undisclosed information on Des Moines-based energy giant MidAmerican Energy's proposal to construc…

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

IA Water Quality Initiative Aims to Remove Nitrates

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

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