public health

Water restrictions for nearly a fifth of the Iowa’s population brought the state’s nitrate challenges to the forefront. Water quality experts say certain practices higher up in the watershed could make a difference if they are scaled up.

Scientists discussed pollution, bacteria and other challenges plaguing central Iowa's rivers at an event in Des Moines Monday. The presenters contributed to a two-year assessment of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, which includes recommendations at the local, regional and state level.

Proposed cuts could leave a program meant to investigate instances of abuse against individuals with mental illness from harm at risk.

Iowa’s Dirty Secret: The True Cost of Burning Coal explores the impact of MidAmerican Energy coal plants. Then, we talk with the director of the Quad-City Times Bix7 race.

State officials recently announced that they will end the state's Integrated Health Home program, which supports severely mentally ill Iowans, and will transition them to the newly-formed Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics.

As Midwest cities like Indianapolis struggle with an HIV epidemic, federal support is being curtailed.

Nitrate levels remain elevated in the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, two of the drinking water sources for Central Iowa Water Works' 600,000 customers. The regional utility recently shared how it tests water and removes nitrates at one of its plants to meet federal drinking water standards.

The Des Moines area’s first-ever lawn watering ban helps Central Iowa Water Works keep up with nitrate removal to provide safe drinking water to 600,000 people. Over the next decade, CIWW aims to increase its treatment capacity by 25%.

There is not a shortage from water sources in the area, but treatment facilities are struggling to keep up with high levels of nitrate in the rivers that supply the system.

About 1,800 Iowa National Guard soldiers are heading to the Middle East.