Economy

The future of more than 20 small-town newspapers and shopping guides is in the air as the publisher seeks new owners. Experts say the future of rural journalism likely depends on digital growth and new funding models, including nonprofit support.

The state of Iowa’s spending is once again expected to exceed its revenue by about $1 billion in the next fiscal year as revenue declines due to state and federal tax cuts.

Marketplace’s Kai Ryssdal joins Ben Kieffer for a wide-ranging conversation on the U.S. economy and Ryssdal's career. (This episode was originally produced in November 2025.)

Each year, Choose Iowa awards grants to local farmers and agriculture-related businesses. The state initiative also helps promote products made and grown in Iowa — and it’s continuing to grow. One western Iowa farm is thriving with support from the program.

After the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on tariffs Friday, farm groups called on the Trump administration to pursue a different approach to trade. The president of the Iowa Farmers Union wants to see more congressional oversight.

A report published this week by Investigate Midwest dives into the connection between pesticide use and rising cases of cancer for those in farming communities nationwide. Editor in Chief Ben Felder details the findings, and we hear from two Iowans that recently fought cancer who are featured in the article. Later in the episode, Luther College junior Mansur Kasali led a student initiative focused on making the federal budget and national debt a matter of shared civic responsibility, rather than abstract politics.