
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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A new study links air pollution and animal feeding operations. The Meskwaki Nation and Iowa's top law enforcement officials have reached a settlement on how tribal police pursue suspects. And a food bank program that supports local food will continue for another year.
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Des Moines' public transit system is taking public input on reducing its services. Several environmental groups are pushing back against a wastewater permit requested for a coal plant in Ottumwa. And Linn County has finalized zoning regulations for nuclear energy production.
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Iowa Senator Joni Ernst says she’s not seeking a third term – and fellow Republican Representative Ashley Hinson has quickly jumped into the already-crowded race for Senate. Also, the former Catholic bishop of Des Moines is calling for stronger gun laws following a shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis last week.
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Des Moines’ bus system proposes reducing services by about 10 percent under a new plan aimed at avoiding a major budget shortfall. A Democrat who was running for the US House now says he’ll run for Senate instead. And health experts say this flu season could be a severe one – and they want more Iowans to get a flu shot.
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Rep. Ashley Hinson says Iowa has a fair redistricting system, but other states should not be forced to copy it. Iowa officials are looking to expand exports for a predicted record corn crop. And immigrant workers in Ottumwa are struggling financially after the Trump administration revoked their legal statuses.
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The Trump administration has told 40 states, including Iowa, that they must remove all references to gender identity in sex education. Former state lawmaker Dave Dawson is running for the Democratic nomination for Iowa's 4th Congressional district. And Harvest Public Media reports that planned solar projects across the country are being halted after the EPA announced it's terminating $7 billion in federal Solar for All funding.
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The Republican supermajority in the Iowa Senate has been broken. Gov. Kim Reynolds spoke about teacher and medical professional shortages with other governors. And all of Polk County's ARPA funding has been allocated.
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An eastern Iowa county is preparing for energy demands from AI and data centers. Grocers in 12 states are trying to figure out how to implement new SNAP limits that start in the New Year. And what are the benefits and possible cons of a four day school week?
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Some water utilities in Iowa are getting settlement money from chemical companies. An EPA program has ended that was supposed to help with areas affected by pollution. And 50 immigrants became U.S. citizens at the World Food and Music Festival in Des Moines.
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Ottumwa is hosting a parade tomorrow celebrating what supporters call traditional marriage. A regional ICE detention facility will be in Nebraska. And two Iowa counties are taking a hazardous pipeline ordinance to the U.S. Supreme Court.