Maura Curran
News FellowMaura Curran is IPR's 2026-2027 News Fellow. Curran has experience reporting, producing and photographing stories in Springfield, Mo. She has reported on education, business, the environment and culture for news outlets in Iowa and Missouri. Curran has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Missouri State University.
Expertise: Culture, education, business and environment
Education: Missouri State University
Favorite Iowa Destination: Des Moines Art Center
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A Johnson County judge ruled against the state’s decision to close its State Historical Society of Iowa research center in Iowa City. Since the Iowa Department of Administrative Services closed the building in December, advocates have been fighting for it to be reopened and for displaced items to be returned. -
What’s a leafy green that’s packed with protein? It’s not spinach — it’s lenga lenga! The vegetable is a staple ingredient in many central and eastern African recipes. This harvest season, you can try the superfood at Global Greens’ International Market in Des Moines. -
Interim Superintendent Matt Smith has been appointed to the role permanently nearly one year after the district's former superintendent, Ian Roberts, was arrested. Smith has served as associate superintendent and as interim superintendent twice. -
The Des Moines City Council voted 6-1 to approve a proposed budget for fiscal year 2028, which includes service and staffing cuts across departments to balance a significant gap in city funds. -
Indianola is the third city in Iowa to discontinue its use of Flock cameras after controversy over who has access to the automated license plate readers’ data. -
Two former extended-stay hotels in the Des Moines metro will be converted into affordable housing and essential services for people experiencing homelessness. The vacant hotels are located in West Des Moines and Urbandale. -
A new art installation in Des Moines will honor former Des Moines Water Works CEO Bill Stowe, who spent years advocating for better water quality in Iowa. The artwork doubles as an outdoor classroom, where people can learn about the threats to Iowa’s drinking water. -
After the abrupt closure of Clive's Painted Tree Boutiques in April, hundreds of small businesses were left with nowhere to set up shop. Now, the property owners have reopened the building under a new business they created to bring back the vendor hub. -
Harvest Academy in Indianola helps its participants overcome challenges after leaving jail. The program wants to relocate its campus to help more people, and just broke ground on a bigger location in Des Moines. -
Des Moines Public Schools and Lutheran Services in Iowa’s Global Greens program are collaborating on a new community garden. The space was created to revitalize the school's agriscience program, which shut down in 2025 due to low enrollment.
