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Here First podcast from IPR
Here First
Monday – Friday before 7 a.m.

Start your day with the essentials. Coffee. Breakfast. And the local news you need to know. Host Meghan McKinney rises bright and early to bring you the top news stories from around Iowa in under 10 minutes. Wake up, grab that coffee and get your news Here First. You can support what you hear on this podcast at ipr.org/donate

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Latest Episodes
  • Campaign finance reports are published. There's a bill in the state legislature that would make it harder to get medication abortions. And why did George Foreman decide to be buried in Iowa?
  • An independent candidate is running to represent Iowa's 1st Congressional District. Public health officials in Polk County have created a plan to address community needs. And a bill would regulate AI used by minors.
  • A federal commission met last night about the Duane Arnold Energy Center. A bill on the governor's desk would no longer allow minors to get vaccines that prevent STIs. And the gender pay gap in Iowa's state employees has widened.
  • Congressman Zach Nunn talked to MAGA Nation last night. There's a bill on the governor's desk that changes time limits on subacute mental health care. And the Catholic Archdiocese of Dubuque is consolidating parishes.
  • The Iowa State Education Association is endorsing Democrat Rob Sand for governor. A nonprofit is starting new legal services for refugees and other immigrants. And the latest on the Iowa legislative session.
  • Child care workers will receive child care assistance under a new state law. The Cook Political Report says Iowa governor's race is a toss-up. And an in-depth look at how USDA funding cuts could impact the honeybee industry.
  • A Republican candidate for governor shares his thoughts on education savings accounts. Iowa Senate lawmakers have passed a bill to overhaul Iowa's property tax system. And a Democratic candidate for an Iowa U.S. Senate seat talks policies on water quality.
  • Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin was in Iowa last night rallying Democrats. Gov. Kim Reynolds won't say why top officials for Iowa's public employee pension system were put on leave. And foster parent training requirements will change in Iowa.
  • Iowa's Nuclear Energy Task Force learned what it could cost Iowa to build a modular nuclear reactor. The Mayor of Palo is saying news reports about private discussions over a data center project aren't accurate. And opponents of a bill that regulate H-1B visa employment say it could make Iowa less competitive.
  • A local publisher has agreed to buy six rural Iowa newspapers following the announced closure of Mid-America Publishing. A nonprofit that prevents and responds to child abuse says Iowa has a long way to go. And State Representative Hans Wilz (R-Ottumwa) says lawmakers should come up with some state guidelines for modular nuclear reactors.