Lucia Cheng
News FellowExpertise: Reporting, producing and photographing stories affecting the Des Moines metro area, all in order to help IPR listeners and readers better understand, appreciate and explore their state
Education: Bachelors degree from Grinnell College
Favorite Iowa Destination: Saints Rest Coffee and Jay's Deli in Grinnell
Experience:
- Has been a freelance reporter for the Pasadena Star News in California
- Served as a reporter as well as the features editor, and later the news editor, for Grinnell's The Scarlet & Black student newspaper
- Reported and edited stories on COVID-19 and its impact on xenophobia as well as Title IX issues in the Grinnell community
- Received multiple Iowa College Media Association awards as part of The Scarlet & Black
- Participated in the first cohort of NPR’s Next Generation Radio in Iowa, in 2023
- Served as an intern in 2022 for Smithsonian Magazine, covering a Civil Rights icon and Geraldine Mock, the first female pilot to circumnavigate the world alone
- Served as an audio fellow with the Asian American Journalists Association in 2022
My Favorite Stories
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DMARC food pantries in Des Moines face even more stress on their budget deficit after seeing a record high demand for food assistance this holiday season.
My Latest Stories
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Des Moines voters overwhelmingly passed a $265 million bond measure, while Cedar Rapids' school bond failed again to find enough support from voters. -
Hundreds of low-income families will need to choose between working or taking care of their kids because two federally funded child care programs are about to run out of money. As the federal shutdown starts affecting social services, families also have to consider the impending loss of SNAP benefits. -
Some homelessness prevention programs might run out of funding before the federal government can disperse grants. One nonprofit director in Iowa said she’s concerned about the funding landscape for next year. -
Des Moines tightens city camping ban, removing some protections for people experiencing homelessnessThis week, Des Moines City Council members voted for stricter enforcement of the city’s camping ban. People experiencing homelessness can now be charged with a misdemeanor and fined even if shelters are full. -
Questions at recent public meetings ranged from transportation schedules to how school funding streams work. But most of all, parents wanted to know how the changes would affect their own kids.
