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
Latest Episodes
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Graduate students at the University of Iowa are accusing the president of the school of joining right-wing efforts. Federal funding for healthy food access for low-income people is going away. And a Boston-qualifier marathon is coming to Iowa next year. -
Iowa will help the Trump administration's deportation agenda. Colleges now have to verify applicants' citizenship status for some education programs. And the Iowa DOGE task force met again to discuss ways to save the state money.
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Requests for mutual aid for transgender support are going up. Many immigrant workers in Iowa meatpacking plants are at risk of deportation. And how are some trying to reduce nitrates in Iowa drinking water?
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Scientists studying Iowa's water quality say data collection is critical to improving water. Gov. Kim Reynolds says she's wanting to adopt MAHA policies in the next legislative session. And the Des Moines School board chair is running for a seat in the U.S. Senate.
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The Iowa attorney general says investigating the University of Iowa over alleged violations of state anti-DEI laws will take a bit. Iowa's child care website is getting positive feedback. And Des Moines hosted the National Senior Games.
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A temporary director has been appointed for the new Center for Intellectual Freedom at University of Iowa. Southern rust is more widespread in corn this year in the state. And how far does some food have to travel to get to the table?
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The Iowa attorney general says she's investigating the University of Iowa. Over 200 meatpacking workers in Ottumwa may be deported. And disputes over a new jail in northwest Iowa are now in court.
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President Trump is proposing cutting states' funding for investigating abuse against patients with mental illness. The U.S. will be leaving UNESCO. And Iowa has a high rate for brain drain.
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Haitian refugees are losing their jobs soon before legal protections go away. Cuts to SNAP could especially impact fruit and vegetable farmers. And FedEx is laying off over 80 employees in eastern Iowa.
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It's been a year since Iowa's fetal heartbeat abortion law took effect. Some hospital associations say the rural health care fund in the Big Beautiful Bill won't outweigh cuts to Medicaid. And a northwest Iowa school district won't allow religious groups to evangelize on its school grounds anymore.