Data centers are driving up Iowa's power demand. On this Newsbuzz episode, whether to build more wind and solar or invest in new gas and coal plants. First, we talk with Jason Clayworth of Axios Des Moines about how Iowa's new 2% property tax growth cap is forcing cities to weigh cuts to police and fire budgets, and Iowa's state climatologist Justin Glisan joins us with an update on September's record precipitation. We talk with higher education reporter Vanessa Miller about a new $5 million investment to speed up cancer treatments, and Emma Stapleton Thornell shares how this year's Iowa Climate Statement describes a "fork in the road" when it comes to electricity generation. We also hear from Hong Kong filmmaker and playwright Jun Li, who is a resident of this year's International Writing Program. Then, IPR’s Lucius Pham grooves us into the weekend.
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Afghan soldiers stood beside American troops for 20 years. Now, five years after the evacuation, many still don't know if they'll be allowed to stay. On this episode, we take stock of what's happened since roughly one thousand Afghans resettled in Iowa. We talk with Fatima Saidi, national director of We Are All America and Robyn Barnard of Human Rights First. We also discuss what today's shifting immigration rules mean for Afghans still in limbo. Then, we talk with Cate Dicharry, the new director of the University of Iowa's International Writing Program. It’s been a year and a half since federal funding cuts threatened the program, and we discuss what its future holds. -
With data centers on the rise and an increased need for irrigation for farming, Iowa is seeing a bigger need for ground water, with not enough known about our supply.State Geologist Keith Schilling shares how the state's current groundwater monitoring paces far behind neighboring states, and what we should be doing now to reverse the trend. Linn County Sustainability Director Cara Matteson also joins to talk about how the county is prioritizing groundwater mapping and other water studies. Then, we look back at Christopher Merrill's 25 years as director of the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa.
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Photojournalist Mariam Abu Dagga hoped to change hearts and minds through her coverage of the war in Gaza. In August, she was among five journalists killed in an Israeli strike.
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The City of Ankeny is researching the use of drones as first responders, potentially dispatching them to emergencies ahead of police officers.
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The U.S. Department of State canceled its funding of the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program. It’s the end of a 58-year-old partnership, which has brought writers from all over the world to be in residence at the university. -
Residents of the University of Iowa International Writing Program share first-hand accounts of the Russia-Ukraine war.
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This year, 16 counties in Iowa were impacted by historic flooding.
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Kang is the first Korean writer to win the award. International Writing Program Director Christopher Merrill says several IWP alum were considered for this year’s prize. -
The Russia invasion upended everything in their country. In this episode, first-hand accounts of war through the eyes of Ukrainian writers.
