Eliza Billingham
Eastern Iowa ReporterExpertise: Behavioral health, housing, development, religion and soccer.
Education: Master of Science in Journalism from Boston University; Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Ancient Languages from Wheaton College.
Favorite Iowa Destination: Biking the Hoover Nature Trail.
Experience:
- Selected as a 2023 public health fellow with the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting, where she produced a multimedia package profiling an illegal Christian addiction rehabilitation center outside Hanoi, Vietnam.
- Earned PMJA recognition for interviewing an ER nurse who's advocating for amputees to join the military.
- Honored by the Society of Professional Journalists and AAN Publishers for profile and environmental writing.
- Served as an assistant to reporter Emily Hanford to produce bonus episodes of APM's award-winning podcast Sold A Story.
- Reported on regional rent crises, city council, agriculture and other topics for Spokane Public Radio.
My Latest Stories
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Democrat Christina Bohannan unseated Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks to serve as Iowa's First Congressional District representative. -
The U.S. Department of Energy announced that Alliant Energy could get a $5.1 billion loan to invest in new natural gas plants, gas pipelines or battery storage systems across Iowa and Wisconsin. Meanwhile, Linn County is trying to stop plans for Alliant's Morgan Valley natural gas plant near Cedar Rapids. -
Google held an informational open house for the Palo community to ask questions about a proposed data center near NextEra Energy's Duane Arnold Energy Center. The tech giant is also agreeing to pay for a regional water study led by Linn County. -
In the 1st Congressional District, Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks is defending her seat against Democrat Christina Bohannan for the third election in a row. Some powerful factors shaping the race — like a proposed steel plant in southeast Iowa, an independent candidate and a centrist gubernatorial campaign — are out of their control. -
Republican incumbent Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Democratic challenger Christina Bohannan's debate focused on issues facing farmers, how to right-size the nation's economy and how to ensure Iowans can access the healthcare they need. Independent candidate Michael Bridgford was not invited. -
Fatou Traore was granted humanitarian relief in the U.S. due to a high risk of violence against her in Ivory Coast. In September, she was pulled out of her car by unmarked immigration officers. Now, she's in Sierra Leone, where officials are likely to send her back to her birth country. -
Fatou Traore, an Ivory Coast native who has legally been living in Iowa City for two decades, faces imminent deportation to Sierra Leone. Supporters rallied Wednesday night calling for her release, and U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks sent a personal letter to the head of Homeland Security asking for a stay on the deportation order. -
Data center development is expanding rapidly across the state due to Iowa’s cheap land and energy. Local governments have limited power when faced with development. Should they be the ones making big decisions for Iowa communities? -
President Donald Trump announced an $18 billion investment in a fully integrated American steel system, including a major steel plant coming to southeast Iowa's Lee County. Supporters say it will benefit the American economy and national security. -
A new rusty patched bumblebee sighting in Linn County is a good sign that habitat conservation efforts could be helping the federally endangered species.
