Sports

As the Olympics near, we spotlight curling — a sport often forgotten outside of the winter games, but one that thrives year-round in eastern Iowa. We hear from Emily Nelson, marketing and communications coordinator for Cedar Rapids Curling, on the sport’s history, its Olympic influence and why watching elite curlers inspires local players. Then, Charity Nebbe goes out on the ice with Kari Kozak, a founding member and events coordinator of Cedar Rapids Curling, for a crash course in sweeping and throwing stones. Later, historian Ricki King joins discusses her work preserving Iowa’s Black history amid efforts to rewrite or erase it.

Actor, comedian and writer Tom Arnold is performing for the first time in Iowa in over 15 years this week. He joins the show to talk about his childhood in Iowa, how he made his way to Hollywood, and life as a single dad now. Then, Des Moines native Zach Stoppelmoor is the first Iowan to make the U.S. Olympic speedskating team. He spoke with IPR 'Morning Edition' host Meghan McKinney. Then, host Charity Nebbe talks with hockey players and roommates Samuel Hlavaj and David Spacek. They've been playing the last few years for the Iowa Wild team, and will be competing for Team Slovakia and Team Czechia.

Zach Stoppelmoor is on his way to the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy. The 26-year-old from West Des Moines is the first Iowan to make the U.S. Speedskating team at the Olympics.

The 2018 film, 'The Miracle Season' tells the story of Caroline Found and the Iowa City West High volleyball team. Found tragically died in a moped accident in her senior year, and in the season that followed her team worked together through their grief and won the state championship. Recently, the movie came to Netflix. We revisit our conversation with Kathy Bresnahan, retired volleyball coach; Olivia Mekies, a friend and teammate of Found and screenwriter David Cohen. (This episode was originally produced March 2018)

Iowa roller derby leagues are carrying on a sport rooted in community and inclusion.

On this Newsbuzz episode, forecasts of budgeting in the 2026 legislative session, a recap of an inaugural summit at the University of Iowa's state legislature-imposed Center for Intellectual Freedom and the upcoming retirement of Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen. Also, Team USA women's wrestling coach Terry Steiner and Ukrainian wrestler Andrey Vorontsov discuss the two-week training camp they're having this month on the UI campus. This will culminate in a dual meet at the Xtream Arena on Dec. 18.

Health policy analyst Emma Wager explains how the health care tax credits that are set to expire later this month work. Iowa Insurance Commissioner Doug Ommen shares what Iowans should know during this ACA open enrollment season and Iowa Farmers Union President Aaron Lehman shares the impact these tax credits have on farmers. Later in the hour, sports columnist and reporter Mike Hlas reflects on his career at The Gazette, after he was informed that he would not be retained on staff effective this month,

When Mike Jay isn't announcing track and field meets around the state and country, he's sending running shoes to student athletes as part of the Track Guy Foundation. Also, a conversation about the veteran-led humanitarian organization Team Rubicon.

Marching bands from across the state are currently competing against one another with high-energy spectacles, complete with props, costumes, sets and intricate sound systems.

This past week, over 12,000 older athletes from all 50 states have been competing in Des Moines for the National Senior Games. The competition happens every two years and features more than two-dozen sports and games for athletes who are 50 or older.