Madeleine Charis King
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Iowa Public Radio
More children from mixed-status families are being separated from their parents through detention or deportation. Researchers and advocates believe the trauma of being split up predisposes a generation to health, academic and economic consequences.
Brian Munoz
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St. Louis Public Radio
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Lawmakers in 13 states have proposed banning or restricting paraquat, a toxic herbicide that researchers have tied to an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease. But efforts to outlaw it have failed across the Midwest. -
In many U.S. cities, even those without camping bans, officials are more aggressive with removing encampments from public spaces. People experiencing homelessness say they’re moving frequently and experiencing anxiety. -
Tariffs are squeezing Midwest households. On this episode, we talk about what that means for your grocery bill and Iowa's economy. First, we hear from Frank Manzo of the Midwest Economic Policy Institute on the impact of tariffs on Midwest household costs, manufacturing jobs and the GDP. Then, Ben Murrey of the Common Sense Institute offers his read on our economic outlook. He shares his insight on recent jobs and inflation, and manufacturing’s outsized contributions in Iowa. We also talk with Kyle McMahon of Tractor Zoom, who turned used-tractor pricing into a business.
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Immigrants in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska are being detained for months at a time, waiting to be sent to countries where they have no ties. Some have criminal records. Others came to the country seeking asylum. -
The Archdiocese of Dubuque is ending weekend Mass at 76 of its 160 parishes. The Journey in Faith initiative aims to create a sustainable future for the archdiocese, which is facing a decline in Mass attendance. -
Noncitizens routinely won release or a bond hearing, according to a review of habeas corpus cases from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. But the legal landscape is changing.
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President Trump’s war in Iran is raising questions about U.S. foreign policy and its political consequences closer to home. In rural Iowa and across the Midwest, shifting opinions and economic concerns are putting pressure on traditional bases of support. Political scientists Donna Hoffman of the University of Northern Iowa and Wayne Moyer of Grinnell College join the program to analyze how the conflict is shaping voter attitudes, party dynamics and broader regional sentiment.
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Legislatures are in session across the Midwest. Journalists covering statehouses in six states — Nebraska, Wisconsin and Missouri, Illinois, Minnesota and South Dakota — discuss many hot button issues in these states, including voter initiative battles, opposition to energy-hungry data centers, abortion access, property taxes, eminent domain and more.
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As Iowa’s rural communities age and young people continue to leave, immigrants are fueling population growth. Data shows that one year of Trump administration immigration enforcement policies have affected that growth.
