Cancer

Many people are concerned that Iowa’s high cancer rates are tied to the state’s large agricultural industry and all the chemicals farmers use to grow crops and kill weeds. But researchers say making that connection is hard.

A new report shows Linn County has higher cancer rates than both the state and national averages. Public health officials say it’s hard to pin down exactly which culprits are responsible for the high rates.

Federal cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services mean that the Iowa Cancer Registry and Iowa Cancer Consortium could see a budget shortfall July 1.

The Iowa Board of Regents made a handful of policy changes for its universities ahead of statehouse action this week.

The Trump administration has proposed large cuts to the National Institutes of Health and implemented layoffs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Some worry this could impact Iowa's cancer rates.

Roundup maker Bayer has been pushing bills in at least 11 states, including Iowa, to shield itself and other pesticide companies from cancer lawsuits. The Iowa House has declined to advance the bill ahead of a key legislative deadline.

Iowa has one of the highest cancer rates in the U.S., but advancements have led to more survivors of cancer.

The annual Cancer in Iowa report by the Iowa Cancer Registry found Iowa continues to have high rates of new cancers, but also highlights the state's high cancer survival rate.

Iowa is in the minority of states that offer no paid parental leave to state employees.

Republicans in the Iowa Senate advanced a bill Wednesday that would limit lawsuits by Iowans seeking compensation for pesticide-related illnesses. Bayer proposed it to cut down on lawsuits alleging that farmers got cancer from being exposed to Roundup.