Certainly, Iowa’s role in the 2016 presidential race has been one of the top news stories in our state this year. There are also many others - including the privatization of the state's Medicaid program.
"This is coming from a guy who covers politics and is looking forward to the caucuses, but I would argue that this is the most important Iowa-specific story this year," explains Clay Masters, Iowa Public Radio Morning Edition host and political reporter.
Masters says that while the switch to private management is touted to save the state money, many are worried about the quality of the care they'll receive from the new companies managing the program.
During this hour of River to River, host Ben Kieffer talks with Masters about Medicaid, and a few of Iowa Public Radio’s reporters and correspondents about 2015 by the headlines. Joyce Russell, Sarah Boden, Pat Blank, and Dean Borg all join the show. Other top stories include the controversy over the Bakken Pipeline, the Iowa Supreme court upholding telemedicine abortion, and the controversy over the hiring of new University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld.
