All Posts
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Urbandale now 6th Iowa school district to protect trans and nonbinary students
Urbandale has joined five other Iowa school districts in voting to protect its transgender and nonbinary students.
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Iowa food bank warns of strain as SNAP cuts loom
The budget reconciliation bill passed by Congress this summer is set to hit the state with higher costs for food assistance and leaders said charities are not able to fill the gap.
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5 unsung films that dramatize America’s rich labor history
Hollywood studios and independent producers have long depicted the collective efforts of working people to improve their lives and gain a voice in their workplaces and the larger society.
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Under the Iowa sun: The work that drives the state’s high skin cancer rates
Iowa has the fifth-highest rate of skin cancer in the country, with numbers similar to states with far more UV radiation levels. This week on The Hot Spot, we look into the forces impacting our cancer rate.
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Drey wins Sioux City special election, breaks GOP supermajority
Catelin Drey, a first-time Democratic candidate, decisively won a special election in Sioux City that will have a significant impact on the Iowa Senate and the process of appointing state department heads. Sioux City like much of western Iowa has been electing Republicans. But last night, a special election reversed that trend. Democrat Catelin Drey…
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Democrat Dave Dawson launches bid for Iowa’s 4th Congressional District
Former Iowa state legislator Dave Dawson, a Democrat, is going after the US House seat in Iowa’s most conservative district. Dave Dawson, a 51-year-old prosecutor from Lawton, announced today he will run for Iowa’s 4th Congressional District, jumping into a race that’s expected to draw multiple candidates as current Republican US Rep. Randy Feenstra explores…
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2025 Iowa leaf-peeping guide: When & where to see fall colors
Fall—it’s the most colorful time of the year. Plan the perfect Iowa leaf-peeping adventure with our guide to the best places and times to see fall foliage.
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Iowa Worker’s Almanac: Working class news and upcoming layoffs, Aug. 21
Muscatine construction worker and victim of crime jailed: Jesús Hernández was shot when two people tried stealing his car. After a hospital stay, he went to pick up his car—and immigration enforcement officials detained him for being undocumented. Congress created a U-visa that protects victims of crime who assist in prosecutions, but so far the county attorney has refused…
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Iowa has a dire shortage of nurses. Here’s why
(This story first appeared in the Iowa Worker’s Almanac, and is a subscriber exclusive.) You probably already know Iowa has a problem getting qualified health care workers: We’re 44th in the nation for physicians to patients, or 30% worse than the national average; The problem is particularly bad in our nursing homes; Iowa Republicans passed a bill to fund…
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It’s almost flu season. Should you still get a shot, and will insurance cover it?
Amid political chatter about vaccines and the government entities that oversee them, it’s understandable to wonder where all this leaves the 2025-26 flu vaccine. In short: Yes, the flu shot is still a thing. And four doctors we spoke to said they recommend you get your flu shot this year.
