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On June 1, 52-year-old Ryan Willis McFarland of Muscatine allegedly fatally shot six family members before taking his own life. On this episode, we get analysis on the tragedy and the community's response from Tom Loewy of 'Quad City Times.' Lindsay Pingel of the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence also joins to discuss how this incident reflects the state's landscape around domestic violence and gun laws. Then, Kerri Johannsen of the Iowa Environmental Council joins to clear the air on nitrates as Central Iowa Water Works is asking customers for the second year in a row to reduce water use because of high nitrate levels and water demand. This episode includes discussion of gun violence and suicide. If you are in need of support, call or text 988 to be connected with the Suicide & Crisis Helpline, or text 'NAMI' to 741741 for 24/7, confidential, free crisis counseling.

Best-selling author Tim Johnston was a master of the thriller. He passed away in May. To mark his passing, we’re revisiting a conversation from 2025 with Johnston and author Anna Bruno. We talk about their books 'Distant Sons' and 'Fine Young People' and the art of writing suspense. Then, the Historical Society of Pottawattamie County reopened the Rails West Museum after a year and a half of renovations, where people can explore a historic train depot and train cars. We’ll talk to the museum’s site manager as well as the site manager of the Squirrel Cage Jail. (This show was originally produced July 21, 2025.)

The Senate passed a $70 billion immigration enforcement funding bill after an overnight vote. And, former first lady Jill Biden discusses her husband's 2024 campaign with NPR's Newsmakers.

The governor has signed a bill that requires immigration status checks for public workers. Death is more likely to occur in domestic violence when a gun is involved. And how have 1970's federal laws cleaned up rivers in the U.S.?

Despite a diminished federal presence, public health departments are preparing for common ailments that could afflict fans who gather for the event — and are keeping an eye on the Ebola outbreak, too.

A case of New World screwworm has been found in a calf in Texas. The flesh-eating fly, which was eradicated from the U.S. in the 1960s, poses a major threat to the cattle industry.

After a marathon 18-hour vote, the Senate has funded immigration enforcement. The GOP bill funds ICE and the Border Patrol for three years.

The Senate passed legislation to fund President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement agencies early Friday morning, after weeks of delays and fierce backlash to an unrelated $1.776 billion settlement fund that threatened to derail the bill.

David Gilkey, an NPR photojournalist who documented tragedy and hope, was killed in Afghanistan in 2016 along with NPR's Afghan interpreter and fellow journalist Zabihullah Tamanna.

Plus, Serena Williams, Peabo Bryson, Kalshi and United Airlines make an appearance. Have you been paying attention?