Rick Brewer

During times of crisis, people gravitate to history for context. This pandemic is no exception. Over the past several months, there is new found interest in the history of hospitals, caregiving and global pandemics. On this episode of River to River, guest host Rick Brewer is joined by historian Adam Davis to unpack the history of hospitals in medieval Europe and help us see the modern parallels of these systems and institutions.

COVID-19 has touched all of our lives in some way. With nearly 18,000 confirmed cases in Iowa (as of May 27, 2020) more and more of us have had the disease, know someone who has had it or even lost someone to the disease. But for a variety of reasons many people feel uncomfortable sharing their personal experiences with COVID-19. They may fear they’ll be blamed for not taking enough precautions or that the loss of a loved one might be politicized. 

Businesses including movie theaters and museums may reopen today under a new proclamation from Gov. Kim Reynolds, further loosening COVID-19 restrictions on businesses. We hear from IPR state government reporter Katarina Sostaric about these efforts to reopen the state's economy during the pandemic.

Higher education has had to adapt quickly during the pandemic. Many colleges and universities around the world have already made plans to not have in-person classes this coming fall. 

While schools are closed, we're creating a series of "Talk of Iowa" episodes that will be fun and educational for learners of all ages. Every Tuesday, we'll learn about Iowa wildlife, and every Thursday, we'll learn about Iowa history.

The COVID-19 pandemic has radically changed two important parts of life for almost every adult in the United States -- our relationships with work and leisure time.

On this episode of Talk of Iowa, Charity Nebbe speaks with two men who study how we work and how we play. 

We’ve been enjoying super low gas prices due to a number of reasons. People have been driving less, and there’s a worldwide oil glut. Here in Iowa we’re paying on average $1.75 per gallon. The national average is about ten cents higher $1.86 per gallon.

So gas prices have plummeted, no secret there, but did you know the number of speeding tickets in the state has jumped? On this segment of River to River, Ben Kieffer speaks to Sergeant Alex Dinkla of the Iowa State Patrol to explain the jump in speeding tickets.

After a decade as the president of Grinnell College, Raynard Kington is leaving for a position in Massachusetts. Kington will become the new "head of school" of Phillips Academy. The academy is better known as Andover, the prestigious university-preparatory boarding school.

While schools are closed, we're creating a series of "Talk of Iowa" episodes that will be fun and educational for learners of all ages. Every Tuesday, we'll learn about Iowa wildlife, and every Thursday, we'll learn about Iowa history.  

Creative people often work in isolation, which means a shelter-in-place mentality is not unfamiliar. However, so many creative fields such as publishing and live music have affected people's livelihoods. With returning to normal off in the distance, we wanted to know how creative people have been handling this new world and how they've found comfort in the arts.

For Democrats, flipping the Senate seat held by Republican Joni Ernst is likely to be an uphill battle. On this Newsbuzz edition of River to River, we take a look at the democratic challengers and the week's coronavirus news.

Have you ever wondered who invented the wheel? Who told the first joke? Who drank the first beer? Who was the first surgeon? Who sparked the first fire? 

While schools are closed, we're creating a series of "Talk of Iowa" episodes that will be fun and educational for learners of all ages. Every Tuesday, we'll learn about Iowa wildlife, and every Thursday, we'll learn about Iowa history.  

Across the country, restrictions to limit the spread of the coronavirus are being loosened in some states. On this news buzz edition of River to River, we get a snapshot of the picture here in Iowa.

While schools are closed, we're creating a series of "Talk of Iowa" episodes that will be fun and educational for learners of all ages. Every Tuesday, we'll learn about Iowa wildlife, and every Thursday, we'll learn about Iowa history.

On this episode of River to River, guest host Katelyn Harrop speaks with several guests about some of the latest and ongoing coronavirus stories in Iowa, including Gvernor Kim Reynolds' decision to partially reopen businesses in 77 of Iowa's 99 counties, and how survivors of domestic violence can access resources during this national crisis.

On this episode of Talk of Iowa, Charity Nebbe invites Richard Jauron and Aaron Steil to talk about the best methods for planting trees this arbor day. Jauron and Steil also answer listener questions about the plants and trees in their lives.

Guests:

• Aaron Steil, assistant director, Reiman Gardens
• Richard Jauron, extension horticulture specialist, Iowa State University  

While schools are closed, we're creating a series of "Talk of Iowa" episodes that will be fun and educational for learners of all ages. Every Tuesday, we'll learn about Iowa wildlife, and every Thursday, we'll learn about Iowa history.

Educators, parents and students are all struggling to find their way through distance learning, but the challenges can be even greater for special education students.

While schools are closed, we're creating a series of "Talk of Iowa" episodes that will be fun and educational for learners of all ages. Every Tuesday, we'll learn about Iowa wildlife, and every Thursday, we'll learn about Iowa history.

Let’s go back to some news you may remember from several years ago. In 2011, two ethnic Chinese men were seen digging up seeds in a cornfield here in Iowa. When approached, they sped away in a hired car. At first, it was a routine report of trespassing. It quickly grew into a long FBI investigation that uncovered a plot by the Chinese agricultural company DBN, to reverse-engineer seed lines belonging to Monsanto and DuPont Pioneer. 

It’s a scary time for Iowans suddenly out of work and struggling to pay bills. On this edition of River to River, Ben Kieffer is joined by Iowa State University's Cindy Fletcher to answer questions about revising a budget, prioritizing bills, paying down debt and connecting Iowans with community resources to stretch reduced incomes. Also this hour, your COVID-19 medical questions answered from Dr. Dan Allen of UnityPoint Health in Des Moines.

On this edition of River to River, Ben Kieffer speaks with renowned neuroscientist Dan Levitin about his new book "Successful Aging: A Neuroscientist Explores the Power and Potential of Our Lives." This book offers new insights on getting older and asks the overarching question: why do some people age better than others? It also debunks myths about memory, depression and chronic pain in old age.

The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped our lives. Social distancing has meant shutting down all kinds of events and gatherings, closing churches and stores and limiting restaurants to take-out only service. Many of us have been encouraged or required to work from home. Perhaps you are now a new at home worker, making that transition.

While schools are closed, we're creating a series of "Talk of Iowa" episodes that will be fun and educational for learners of all ages. Every Tuesday, we'll learn about Iowa wildlife, and every Thursday, we'll learn about Iowa history.  

Our series continues with a look at the history of the good roads movement and the Lincoln Highway in Iowa. The guides for this hour of history will be Tom Morain of Graceland University and former director of the State Historical Society of Iowa and Drake Hokanson, author of The Lincoln Highway: Main Street Across America.

Most of us are spending a lot more time at home these days. Many people have been motivated to dig into a thorough spring cleaning and still others find the familiarity of home is breeding contempt. Or, at least discontent with some past decorating choices. 

As the coronavirus spreads every one of us will know someone who is infected, if we don’t already. But right now it can still be difficult to wrap our minds around what is going on and many people are, understandably, reluctant to share that they are infected with COVID-19. On this segment of Talk of Iowa, Charity Nebbe speaks with Siobhan Spain, director of Mainframe Studios in Des Moines to share her story. She and her husband have both tested positive for COVID-19.

During this dark and scary time there are some points of light. We’ve seen neighborhoods come together virtually. People have been decorating in themes for families to enjoy when they go out for walks, coordinating support for elderly neighbors, organizing socially distant birthday surprises for people who are stuck at home, and swapping home schooling or entertainment ideas.

This program originally aired on Septmeber 5, 2019.

Since the late 1970s, the Iowa Labor History Oral Project has been collecting interviews from the working class across Iowa. They are collecting history from the ground up, as opposed to leaders or people with power.

Guest host Charity Nebbe speaks with several mental health experts about how to navigate mental health in times of crisis. They offer tips and share information about mental health resources that are available in Iowa.