Post-secondary education

On this Legislative Day episode, we talk with the House Higher Education Committee chair and ranking member, Rep. Taylor Collins, R-Mediapolis, and Rep. Timi Brown-Powers, D-Waterloo, about bills that would allow some community colleges to offer four-year degrees, place a tax on large endowments at colleges and universities, and more. Then, we talk with a former student regent Jenny Connolly about proposed legislation that would change student representation of the Board of Regents. We also hear from the presidents of Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge and Northwestern College in Orange City on their views of the four-year degree proposal.

The Cedar Rapids School Board has approved deep budget cuts — and the consequences could ripple through classrooms, staff and students across the district. That story, plus a recap of this week's action in the Iowa Legislature, a look at this weekend's freezing temperatures and more on this Newsbuzz episode.

The Iowa Board of Regents selected David Cook as the next president of Iowa State University. Cook is an ISU alumnus and currently serves as the president of North Dakota State University. He plans to start in March, taking over from retiring President Wendy Wintersteen.

Discrepancies surfaced after the former Des Moines superintendent was arrested by federal immigration agents last week. Des Moines Public Schools is suing the firm that did his background check.

A private liberal arts college in Indianola is laying the groundwork for research opportunities between its students and NASA.

In recent decades, growing numbers of young educated people have been leaving Iowa, with far fewer coming in.

Leaders of community colleges say many students are confused about the status of their loans and failing to repay them. If too many students default, community colleges can lose federal funding.

The CyberTractor Challenge is a weeklong event for university students to learn about cybersecurity for agricultural equipment. Experts say the threats are evolving and becoming more complex.

Beloved journalist Harry Smith is teaching a college course in Iowa, and author Ta-Nehisi Coates discusses his new book, The Message.

Eighty years wasn't too long a wait for an Iowa native to don the ceremonial cap and gown.