Kratom is often found at gas stations and convenience stores and is marketed as a natural supplement for pain and anxiety. Gov. Kim Reynolds is calling for a total ban of the product and other synthetic varieties, alleging dozens of kratom-related deaths in Iowa since 2024. On this Newsbuzz edition of River to River, Ben Kieffer speaks with the 'Iowa Capital Dispatch's' Clark Kauffman about this call to ban kratom. Also, the 'Des Moines Register's' Brianne Pfannenstiel shares how candidates are approaching water quality this session, a registered nurse who found a side hustle fighting poison ivy and columnist Rekha Basu shares the impact of Gloria Steinem. Finally, our International Writing Program series returns with Mexican writer Juan Carlos Reyes and Studio One's Erin Fuller grooves us into the weekend.
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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. -
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.
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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.
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The Russia invasion upended everything in their country. In this episode, first-hand accounts of war through the eyes of Ukrainian writers.
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Writers from 30 different countries are arriving in Iowa this week to take part in a 10-week residency.
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Landowners had a stake in two projects placed on hold this past week.