© 2025 Iowa Public Radio
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Cornell College instructor returns to Iowa after recovering from stabbing in China

Ways To Subscribe
River to River, hosted by Ben Kieffer

Family and friends of David Zabner — one of the four victims of the stabbing — gathered at the Eastern Iowa Airport for Zabner's emotional return.

On this Newsbuzz edition of River to River, Zachary Oren Smith joins the program to explain his recent reporting of a stabbing in China that left four Cornell College instructors injured. Smith spoke with David Zabner, one of the four victims who was visiting the area.

Then, Iowa's book ban legislation is on hold due to a federal injunction. Host Ben Kieffer is joined by Samantha Hernandez and Tim Webber, who worked on The Des Moines Register's Iowa's book ban battle project. Later in the hour, Trish Mehaffey, reporter at The Gazette shares updates on a quadruple murder that took place last week near Marion. Then, National Weather Service meteorologist Alexis Jimenez brings the heat to prepare us as we head into the hottest weeks of the year. Lastly, IPR's Mark Simmett grooves us into the weekend.

Guests:

  • Zachary Oren Smith, Eastern Iowa reporter, IPR
  • Samantha Hernandez, education reporter, The Des Moines Register
  • Tim Webber, data visualization specialist, The Des Moines Register
  • Trish Mehaffey, reporter, The Gazette
  • Alexis Jimenez, meteorologist, NWS Des Moines
  • Mark Simmett, senior producer, Studio One host, IPR
Ben Kieffer is the host of IPR's River to River
Dani Gehr is a talk show producer for Iowa Public Radio. She holds a bachelor's degree from Iowa State University. Since 2022, Gehr has worked with IPR's talk team to bring news and features to IPR's listening audience.
Madeleine Willis is IPR's Production Assistant supporting the talk shows and The Sunny Side Project. Willis has experience in audio production, reporting, writing and editing stories and conversations. She's reported and produced conversations on womanhood, sports, and good news from across Iowa. Willis will receive her bachelors degree from the University of Iowa in May 2025.