Iowa Public Radio News

Horticulture Day: Evergreens Not So Green

Thanks to the drought and various blights and diseases, the term evergreen doesn’t seem very appropriate in Iowa right now. Today on Talk of Iowa, it’s

Exploring the secret life of plants

Ever know someone who talks to plants? Maybe it was your offbeat neighbor cooing at his gardenias; maybe your grandmother analyzed baseball with her

Words of Wisdom, 2013 Commencement Speakers

Many college students in Iowa have been and will be walking across stages to pick up their diplomas this month. Talk of Iowa speaks with two remarkable

Job Training for the Homeless

Today on Talk of Iowa, host Charity Nebbe discusses job training programs for the homeless by exploring Iowa City's Shelter House "Culinary Starts" program

Madeleine Albright's diplomatic pins on display

In the summer of 2000, then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright attended a summit with Bill Clinton and Russian president Vladmir Putin. At the time,

Travels and Poetry in the Middle East

Host Ben Kieffer talks with Christopher Merrill, Director of the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program. Merrill has just returned from a

Payout Reduced in Henry's Turkey Discrimination Case

A landmark $240 million verdict against a Texas company who employed mentally disabled workers at an Iowa turkey processing plant will be reduced to about

Women on the Farm: An Evolving Role

Women have worked in agriculture since agriculture began, but for many years they were limited to supporting roles. Talk of Iowa seeks out women's voices

Legislative Preview: 05/13/13

Paul Name Could Be Asset, or Liability, for Rand Paul

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) says he’s considering a run for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination. He headlined a fundraiser for Iowa Republicans Friday night

Best and Worst Jobs of 2013

For 25 years, CareerCast.com has ranked the best and worst jobs. Their rating is based on physical demands, work environment, income, stress, and hiring

Republicans Consider Alternative to Governor's Health...

Republicans in the Iowa House say they hope to offer an alternative to Republican Governor Terry Branstad’s plan for insuring thousands of low-income

Baseball: Past, Present, Future

Marshalltown-native Toby Huss, plays the part of baseball scout Clyde Sukeforth in the new movie “42” – a film about baseball legend Jackie Robinson, the

Iowa Arts Showcase - May 4, 2013 - 11 a.m. & 5 p.m.

Iowa Public Radio’s May edition of the Iowa Arts Showcase opens with University of Iowa’s visiting professor and guest director, Laura Johnson, discussing

U. S. Senator Rand Paul and other Politics

Recent polls indicate freshman Kentucky Senator Rand Paul is a favorite among GOP hopefuls for the White House in 2016. Paul is coming to Iowa later this

Pallid sturgeon still endangered on the Missouri River

The volunteer crew members pulled on their life jackets and climbed into a flat-bottomed aluminum boat at a ramp near Nebraska City, Neb. They came out

Iowa's Growing Comedy Scene

Host Charity Nebbe talks comedy all hour today on Talk of Iowa. Sketch, improvisation, standup...comedians in Iowa are working to foster more home-grown

Conservation acres harder to come by

At a basin in central Iowa’s Onion Creek Watershed, Sean McCoy pulls a state truck up near a brand-new wetland. It looks like a construction zone, with

Interracial Marriage in the US

Although interracial marriage has been fully legal in the United States since 1967, these unions are still rare since the overwhelming majority of

Inside the Johnson County Jail

As jail administrator Dave Wagner walks through the Johnson County Jail, he points out mats in a group holding cell that can be rolled out for inmates to

The Future of Medicaid in Iowa

All this week, IPR’s Clay Masters has been talking with Iowans who receive Medicaid services to get their input on the debate between Governor Branstad and

Herbert Hoover and a Civil War Exhibit

Host Ben Kieffer takes a tour of the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum with its Director Tom Schwartz. He talks about the role of presidential

Iowans on Medicaid Part 4

There’s a showdown of sorts between Iowa Republican Governor Terry Branstad and the Democratic-controlled Senate over expanding Medicaid. Under federal

Libraries Awarded for Community Service

The National Medal for Museum and Library service is the nation’s highest honor given to museums or libraries for service to the community. This year there

H.D. Harmsen’s first release on vinyl “Papoose”

One of the biggest changes for the music industry is the shift from publishing music on CDs, to downloadable music files. There are still artists who

Home Improvement: Roof Repair

People in the Waterloo/Cedar Falls area who just experienced a hail storm may be checking their roofs for damage. Home improvement expert Bill McAnally

Dream Act Paperwork Could Be Test Run for Immigration...

Last year the Obama administration passed Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals – known as the Dream Act. It gave immigrants who came to the United States

Hail pummels Northeast Iowa

It took less than an hour for a line of thunderstorms moving across Northeast Iowa Monday morning to cause thousands of dollars in damage. Hail the size of

Poetry In American Sign Language & A Look At Iowa's...

The winner of this year’s state Poetry Out Loud competition didn’t make a lot of noise. Dakota Meyer is a student at the Iowa School for the Deaf. Today on

Iowans on Medicaid

Right now, under federal law states have to figure out how to insure the poor. They can either expand the joint federal/state healthcare program for low

Tech Companies Choosing Iowa

This week, the social networking site Facebook announced plans to build a $1.5 billion data center in Altoona, IA. On the same day, Google announced a

Preserving Iowa's Soil After Flooding

After two major flooding events for Iowa in 1993 and 2008, and a number of significant flooding events in-between, Iowans need to ask hard questions about

More than a good night's sleep

A group of residents at a Cedar Falls assisted living facility are taking part in research that could allow aging adults to stay in their home longer while

"The Schaffner Players" and "The Age of Miracles"

In the early 20th Century entertainment could be hard to come by and a great deal of excitement greeted troops of traveling actors when they arrived in

Concern Over State Trooper Numbers & Officer Safety

Since the year 2000, the amount of state troopers on Iowa’s roads has dropped more than 20 percent, delaying accident response time and forcing officers to

This little piggy has a niche market

There’s more than one way to sell a pig. And when the hog market plunged to 8 cents a pound in 1998, Iowa producer Randy Hilleman decided it was time to

The Legacy of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald

Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald lived hard and died young. But while their wild lifestyle did not endure, the novels of F. Scott Fitzgerald continue to

Legislative Preview: 04/22/13

IPR Statehouse Correspondent Joyce Russell joins 'Morning Edition' Host Sarah McCammon for a weekly conversation about legislative news.

The Status of Casinos in Iowa

In 2007 the state of Iowa allowed casinos to move from riverboats to land. Since that time several communities around the state have sought a piece of the

Are Iowa Fertilizer Plants at Risk?

The deadly explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, Texas is prompting questions about regulatory oversight there. In Iowa, officials say fertilizer is

"Trans Oral History Project" Collects Stories of...

This weekend in Iowa City, several events are planned around the theme of celebrating and understanding the lives of transgendered persons. Andre Perez of

"Art of the Fantastic" and a River Story

Ben Hoksch sits down with "Talk of Iowa" to discus his 23-hundred mile solo journey down the full length of the Mississippi River in his canoe. Also,

A President's Reaction To Disaster

When bombs went off at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, President Obama was quick to speak out, but he was extremely cautious about what he said.

Appreciating Classical Music

Have you ever felt at a loss to understand certain music? April is Public Radio Music Month, and we are taking the opportunity to highlight classical and

Debate on Expanding Medicaid in Iowa Continues

The Democratic-controlled Iowa Senate wants to expand Medicaid in the state. Republican Governor Terry Branstad does NOT and has introduced his own plan.

Behind the scenes of "Downton Abbey" with Jessica...

A rich American girl goes to England where she meets and marries an English lord with an amazing house and a cash flow problem; that's the true story of

Sex Offender Parole Sentencing

The Iowa sex offender registry includes people within a wide range of offenses, and some lobbyists here at the capitol are asking the question: Should all

Memory Loss and Caretakers

When Alzheimer's disease robs someone of their memory, it's not just that person who experiences loss. "Talk of Iowa" explores the path of people who care

New cages and carton labels could come to egg industry

Mark Tjelmeland wears Carhartt overalls over a faded blue work shirt and his face is framed by a baseball cap from the local farmers’ cooperative and a

All Things Cosmic, With Neil deGrasse Tyson

Asteroids, galaxies, aliens, and space travel...we cover it all on this edition of River to River. Renowned astrophysicist, Neil deGrasse Tyson, joins us

As Rustic Camps Struggle, Girl Scouts Look at...

Officials with Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois are voting on whether to downsize four of their Girl Scout camps. The proposal is a step

The Bobcats are Back

Bobcats were once plentiful in Iowa, but like so many species the pressure of habitat loss hunting and trapping pushed them to the brink of extinction in

Potato industry banks on 'Linda'

At a Fort Collins, Colo., grocery store, Kristin Mastre paused for a minute in front a large bin of Russet and red potatoes. She picked out a few handfuls

Zoobiquity

What happens when doctors look at human medicine through the lens of veterinary medicine? While the gulf between the two disciplines is wide, there are

Size Discrimination

What if you got hurt and went to see your doctor, but the doctor didn't take you seriously? How would it feel if based on your appearance people assumed

Horticulture Day: Preparing Plants For Bugs & Disease

Now is a great time to make plans about what you want to grow this summer, it’s also a great time to make some plans for keeping pests and disease at bay.

Cornelius Eady: Poet, Musician

When poet Cornelius Eady was a teenager, he carried around a guitar he didn't know how to play. After decades of publishing poetry in many forms, he's

Above the Din of War

"River to River" sits down with journalist Peter Eichstaedt to talk about his new book "Above the Din of War" which examines the results of the war in

Tensions Rise with North Korea

The U.S. Navy is shifting a guided-missile destroyer to waters off the Korean peninsula. This comes in the wake of ongoing aggressive rhetoric from North

The Latino Experience in Iowa: Many Cultures Over Many...

Latino immigration has helped to shape - and re-shape - Iowa communities for more than a century. Dr. Omar Valerio-Jimenez, associate professor of history

How Watergate Shaped Our Language

Forty years ago this month Nixon’s top White House staffers, HR Haldeman and John Ehrlichman resigned over the Watergate Scandal. On today's Talk of Iowa

Commercial Property Tax Reform

It's spring, at the Iowa Statehouse and lawmakers are turning attention to one of the big priorities of the session - reforming commercial property taxes.

A new frontier in genetically engineered food

Kevin Wells has been genetically engineering animals for 24 years. “It’s sort of like a jigsaw puzzle,” said Wells recently as he walked through his lab at

Sculpture of Norman Borlaug Nears Completion

In the second half of the 20th century, native Iowan Norman Borlaug developed wheat seeds that increased crop yields in third world countries. His work in

Horticulture Day: Insect Edition!

We sing songs about the itsy-bitsy spider, wish we could be a fly on the wall, and we root for Spiderman. Entomologist Donald Lewis joins this edition of

The Supreme Court of Iowa

As our nation's Supreme Court considers two major cases concerning same-sex marriage this week, the Iowa Supreme Court is also grappling with major issues

It's not easy being green; University of Iowa Hospitals...

A longtime composting program in Iowa City is about to gain a major participant; the dining halls at the state's largest hospital. Iowa Public Radio's

Poor Man's Feast

Elissa Altman's love affair with food started when she was a child, going on covert outings to fancy restaurants with her dad. As she grew so did her love

Raising Your Own Chickens

Iowa’s hen population is getting a little more urban. There are now back yard chickens in Des Moines, Ames, Mt. Vernon, Iowa City and a number of other

Home Improvement: Planning your project

An extended winter offers the opportunity for more planning and preparation for home remodeling work before the projects get started. On Talk of Iowa, home

The Growing Iowa Beer Industry

Nearly one new brewery opens every day in the United States and a new Gallup poll shows Americans prefer beer over wine, with craft beer enjoying a double

GMO labeling laws on deck in the Midwest

Just south of Hermann, Mo., Swiss Meat and Sausage Co. processes 2 million pounds of meat a year -- everything from cattle to hogs to buffalo to elk. And

Storm Kings

Tornados weren’t commonly called tornados until the early 20th century. Instead these violent storms were referred to as landspouts, whirlwinds or cyclones

History Of The Iowa Lakeside Lab

It’s described as a complex ecosystem, a perfect place for a biological field station. Today on Talk of Iowa, we hear about the history of the Iowa

The Future of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Often when we hear about unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, it pertains to military strikes and surveillance. However unmanned aerial vehicle technology

Legislative Preview: 03/18/13

IPR's Joyce Russell and Sarah McCammon check in on news from the Iowa Statehouse.

A.J. Jacobs On Experimenting Your Way To Perfection

He read all 32 volumes of the Encyclopdia Britannica. He outsourced his life to India. After that he lived for one year according to all the moral codes

Senate Democrats Unveil Plan to Expand Medicaid with...

Democrats in the Iowa senate say they’re extending an olive branch to Republican Governor Terry Branstad regarding their proposal to expand Medicaid in

The Midwest: God's Gift To Planet Earth

In this archived edition of Talk of Iowa, hear Charity Nebbe's 2012 conversation with Mike Draper who discovered numerous misconceptions people held about

Midwest Home-Cooking

What’s your favorite traditional Midwestern home-cooked dish? We talk about the origins of Midwestern cooking style and family recipes. Guests are the host

Lawmakers Dispute Tax Return Question

As Iowans are filing their state income tax returns, there’s a controversy at the statehouse over one of the questions on the tax form. The question aims

Wildlife Day: Signs of Spring

Though half of Iowa is still under a blanket of snow the rivers are swollen, the days are growing longer and spring is definitely on its way. "Talk of Iowa

The Evolution Of The Divorce

More than forty percent of first marriages in the United States end in divorce. Many members of today's generation of divorcees are trying to learn from

A Composer and an Architect

The former Iowan who fathered one of the world’s most celebrated architects has been pulled from the shadows of his legendary son. The father was William

Violent Incident Training in Iowa's Schools

In the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, schools are changing their intruder response procedure from a stay put and hide method, to a fight

The Sleep Doctor, Dr. Eric Dyken Talks Naptime

Is National Napping Day on your calendar? Neurologist Dr. Eric Dyken--"The Sleep Doctor"--returns to "River to River" to talk discuss napping. He'll also

Chasing Ice

Melting glaciers and receding ice caps are often cited as evidence of climate change. Today on Talk of Iowa, we talk with a filmmaker who set out to show

Farmers Face Unknowns As Healthcare Overhaul Approaches

Marilyn Andersen raises angora goats and llamas for wool that she spins and weaves in her studio at Two Cedars Weaving in Story City, Iowa. She also has a

Winter Weather & Callie Crossley On Talking Openly About...

Even though Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow, don’t bet old man winter is done with us just yet. Today on River to River, we talk about the winter

Water Quality and River and Lake Restoration

Many of Iowa's rivers and lakes are unable to support recreation and fishing and are in need of restoration. Governor Branstad's proposed budget cuts

Economic Opportunites and Environmental Concerns Set Up...

You’ve probably heard about controversies over the environmental effects of hydraulic fracturing – the technique known as “fracking.” There’s no oil or gas

Telling African folktales in Iowa

Ruth Mwangangi of Des Moines talks about maintaining the traditions of folktales from her native Kenya.

Horticulture Day

Just like melting snow, robins and daffodils, a sure sign of Spring is the return of our weekly Horticulture Day. We’ll talk about grafting fruit trees

Climate Change's Effect On Animal Reproduction

We know that climate change is dramatically and adversely affecting habitats of many endangered species, but it is also skewing the male-to-female ratio of

Home Improvement: Snow

When you look at your house covered in a blanket of new fallen snow, if you look closely you can learn some important things. "Talk of Iowa's" home

Politics Day

President Obama broke the Republicans once on taxes – now he’s betting he’ll do it again on the sequester fight. Today it's Politics Day, and we look the

Environmentalists Seek More Inspectors

It was Environmental Lobby Day at the statehouse. The Iowa Environmental Council is pushing for more inspectors to make sure Iowa’s large animal

Searching For Life On Other Planets

We now have evidence of hundreds of planets orbiting other stars – and that’s just in our little corner of the Milky Way. But are any of these planets

Property Tax and the Democrats

Thirsty Iowa - The State of Our Water Supply

Water, it’s there when you turn on the faucet, or the sprinkler, it’s in the plastic bottles at the convenience store and washes away down the storm sewers