Public News Service

Iowa seniors list the out-of-pocket costs for prescription medications as one of their main health-care concerns, according to AARP Iowa. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, September 16, 2024

Prescription costs soon to be capped for Iowa seniors

A new report from AARP Iowa predicts thousands of seniors on Medicare Part D in the state will save money on their prescriptions, thanks to a cap on …

Iowa has provided more than $3.3 billion to communities to help finance water quality improvement projects over the years, according to the Iowa Environmental Council. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa seeks to remove dangerous lead water pipes

Iowa is getting federal help to eliminate lead water pipes in the state. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is working with local water …

Iowa's newly released Child Care Connect website displays child care providers with vacancies by geography or along a designated driving route. With the tool, people can identify child care providers close by between their home and office. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa releases real time online child care finder

Iowa has released an interactive website to help parents find real-time child care options for their kids. Iowa Child Care Connect, which the state …

The objective of the Health Connector program is to ensure enhanced and equal access to healthcare options for all residents, according to Dallas County officials. (Dallas County Health Department)

Iowa transportation program aims to reduce missed health appointments

County health officials in rural Iowa are using a new app to connect people to their doctors and cut down on missed appointments. The Health …

Corporations have raised retail pork prices by 20%, but the farmers supplying California with crate-free pork are only receiving about 5% more for their hogs, according to data from the USDA. (Adobe Stock)

California 'price gouging' ripples to Iowa

Farm advocates claim price gouging on meat and poultry in California is spreading across the country, including in Iowa, which is the nation's …

In 1975, the average rate of five-year breast cancer survival was 75.2%. In 2005, it was 90.5%. Scientists and doctors credit aggressive research and a better understanding of the disease. (Adobe Stock)

IA women behind on mammograms, despite deadly breast cancer rate

Results of a new study show more American women are falling behind on getting critical breast cancer scans. Nowhere is this perhaps more important …

Fertilizer was responsible for 20% of a farmer's costs in 2022, according to data from the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

FTC chair in Iowa to hear fertilizer antitrust concerns

The chair of the Federal Trade Commission will be in rural Iowa this weekend to hear from farmers and other residents about the proposed sale of Iowa …

NEVI covers planning, acquisition, installation and operational costs of the EV unit. (Adobe Stock/serperm73)

IA joins nationwide network of EV charging stations

Iowa is accepting bids from people who want an EV charging station on their land. It's part of a nationwide network of infrastructure designed to …

Iowa State University Assistant Biochemistry Professor Walter Moss and graduate student Jake Peterson discuss a computer rendering of an RNA molecule. (Iowa State University)

Iowa State scientists target disease in RNA

Researchers at Iowa State University are taking the next step in genetic medicine by targeting diseases in a person's RNA. Most drugs target …

Iowa families can apply for up to $7,600 a year for private school costs. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa lawmakers dismiss private school voucher ethics complaint

An ethics committee in the Republican-led Iowa House has dismissed a complaint filed by a group of community activists against a state lawmaker for hi…

Gift card scams have been the number one impostor scam in Iowa for nine consecutive years, according to AARP Iowa. (Adobe Stock)

Iowans lose millions in impostor scams

AARP Iowa is calling on lawmakers to help prevent gift-card scams during this year's legislative session. Impostor scams have been the number one …

Public policy shapes the health ecosystem and influences the accessibility of comprehensive health care, secure housing, nutritious food, quality education and jobs with livable wages, according to the National Institutes of Health. (Adobe Stock)

Physicians' group says voting benefits health, democracy

Voting is not only good for democracy - it's also good for your health, according to one of the nation's largest medical associations. The American …

Connecting rural Iowans to the internet has been a critical part of federal investments in the state. (Progress Iowa)

Administration invests $7.8 billion in Iowa infrastructure

Progress Iowa has released new information showing how billions of dollars of federal infrastructure investments have made a crucial difference in the…

Iowa has nearly 31 million acres of farmland. The average farm is about 360 acres, according to the USDA, and much of is monitored with high-tech equipment. (Iowa State University Extension Dept.)

Iowa farmers concerned with e-data use by corporations

New polling data show Iowa farmers are taking advantage of high-tech agriculture practices, and more plan to do so. But some say there's a downside …

Alliant Energy Corporation provides regulated energy service to 995,000 electric and 425,000 natural gas retail customers across Iowa and Wisconsin. (Adobe Stock)

Senior advocates push back on Alliant utility increase

The Iowa Utilities Board is taking public input this week on a proposed rate hike by one of the state's biggest gas and electric service providers…

For the past 20 years, the U.S, President and Congress have declared the month of October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a collaborative effort between government and industry to enhance online awareness. (Adobe Stock)

IA boosts cybersecurity precautions as elections, holidays near

As part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the State of Iowa is focusing on potential threats to the online integrity of upcoming elections. Given …

Iowa's Beginning Farmer Loan Program assists new farmers in acquiring agricultural property by offering loans at reduced interest rates. (Adobe Stock)

Rural advocates push for more farmer credit

More than 90 rural organizations are urging members of Congress to support the Fair Credit for Farmers Act. The bill would help young and …

Around 43.5 million Americans have some form of federal or private student loan debt, which is 13% of the population, according to the Federal Reserve's Consumer Credit report. (Adobe Stock)

Iowans could see student loan fees eliminated in SAVE program

The U.S. Department of Education says more than 4 million Americans have enrolled in the Biden administration's college loan repayment program…

Iowa has more than 30 million acres of farmed land, and boasts the nation's highest production of corn, soybeans, pork and eggs, according to Iowa Farm Facts. (Adobe Stock)

IA small farm advocates call for less corporate land control

Rural advocates are supporting the Farmland for Farmers Act in Congress. It would restrict the amount of Iowa farmland large corporations can own…

Creation of the Rural Emergency Hospital designation comes in response to a high rate of rural hospital closures. Between January 2010, and August 2022, 139 rural hospitals closed, according to the National Academy for State Health Policy. (Adobe Stock)

Rural Iowa declared 'ambulance desert'

People in rural America are five times as likely to live in so-called "ambulance deserts," areas far from an ambulance service or station, than those …

Beef consumption in the United States reached a new high in 2021, when 30 billion pounds were consumed. It's an increase of about 8.7% compared to the previous year, according to Statista. (Adobe Stock)

Community Advocates Call for Support of Beef Labeling Act

Iowa farmers have sent hundreds of comments to their U.S. senators, urging them to support legislation to change the way beef is labeled in the …

A bipartisan group of attorneys general in 31 states, including Iowa, and the District of Columbia are partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to enhance competition and protect consumers in food and agricultural markets. Iowa has its own law, but will support any federal action. (Adobe stock)

IA Investigates Possible Food-Price Gouging

Iowa is part of a bipartisan effort around the nation to strengthen enforcement and prevent anti-trust activity within the nation's food system…

The U.S. population age 65 and older grew nearly five times faster than the total population over the 100 years from 1920 to 2020, according to the 2020 census. The older population reached 55.8 million, or 16.8% of the population of the United States, in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa AARP Calls for Major Shift in Long-Term Health Care Model

As housing prices soar and wages for health care providers lag, advocates for Iowa's aging population are calling for a major change in caring for …

In 2022, wind turbines were the source of about 10.2% of total U.S. utility-scale electricity generation, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Wind now accounts for 64% of Iowa's total energy production. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa Reaches Milestone on Wind-Energy Production

Sixty-four percent of Iowa's energy production now comes from wind - a new record for the state, according to the U.S. Energy Information …

The U.S. Postal Service delivers more mail than any of its counterparts around the world, serving nearly 165 million addresses in the country, and covering every state, city and town. (Adobe Stock)

Staff Shortages Challenge U.S. Postal Service in Rural Iowa

The U.S. Postal Service marks National Postal Worker Day this Saturday, recognizing the effort it takes to deliver mail across the country through …

Iowa Wesleyan University was able to continue operating after receiving donations from alumni and a $26 million USDA loan. In 2023, the university's board of trustees voted unanimously in favor of closure after Gov. Kim Reynolds determined that a loan of $12 million would not be feasible. (Old Main Hall at Wesleyan University/Library of Congress)

Feds Call Loan, Rural Iowa University Shutters

By Jon Marcus for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Mark Moran for Iowa News Service reporting for The Hechinger Report-Public News Service Co…

In 2020, 52% of U.S. homeowners who renovated their home were from the Baby Boomer generation, according to Statista. (Adobe Stock)

USDA Makes Loans, Grants Available for Low-Income Iowans' Home Repair

AARP Iowa is working to raise awareness of loans and grants the U.S. Department of Agriculture is making available to very low-income seniors for …

Robert Fisher of Adel, Iowa, prevailed in his efforts to have an electronic button installed to operate the door at the local U.S. Post Office. (Robert Fisher/Iowa Council on Developmental Disabilities)

One Person's Battle Against the Post Office Prevails

A man in Adel who is part of Iowa's community of people with disabilities has been successful in having an electronic door installed at the U.S…

Robert Fisher, residente en Adel, Iowa, consigui� que se instalara un bot�n electr�nico para abrir la puerta de la oficina de correos local. (Robert Fisher, Consejo de Iowa sobre Discapacidades del Desarrollo)

La lucha de una persona facilita el acceso para los discapacitados de Iowa

Un hombre de Adel que forma parte de la comunidad de personas con discapacidad de Iowa ha conseguido que se instale una puerta electrónica en la …

One billion people in more than 193 countries participate in Earth Day activities, according to Earth Day Network. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa Educators Focus on Sustainability During Earth Month

As part of Earth Month, an extension of the annual Earth Day celebration, educators and researchers are calling on Iowans to put sustainability first …

Investing in solar produces zero carbon emissions and other heat-trapping greenhouse gases and improves cost efficiency over time, which will end up saving on energy bills, according to Iowa Interfaith Power and Light. (Adobe Stock)

Opportunities Abound 'Under the Sun' for Houses of Worship

A new report by a prominent national research center said America's houses of worship lag in alternative energy investment. The Lawrence Berkeley …

In the United States, annual community outbreaks of coronavirus infections typically occur during late fall and winter. There may be variation in this timing between regions, or communities in the same region, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

COVID-19 Still Deadly in Iowa

Three years into the pandemic, Americans are still hearing about COVID-19 - but the message doesn't carry nearly the urgency it did when it erupted …

According to a 2022 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report, 3% of drivers fiddle with their cell phones in their car, a dangerous act taking a driver's eyes off the road for five seconds. It is more than enough time to get into a fatal car accident, more than 3,100 of which are caused by distracted driving each year. (Adobe Stock)

IA Senate Advances Hands-Free Cell Phone Bill

The Iowa Senate has advanced a bill to outlaw handling a cellphone while driving. The state already has a distracted driving law, but it allows …

Iowans Mark Affordable Health-Care Anniversary

Iowans are marking the 13th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act. Thanks to the health-care plan, Iowans have saved thousands of dollars in …

Some 37.3 million Americans, or about one in 10 people, have diabetes. About one in five don't know they have it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Insulin Price Cap Doesn't Apply to All Iowans Who Need It

Drug-maker Sanofi has joined two other large manufacturers in capping monthly insulin prices at $35. In Iowa, advocates for more affordable health …

In 2021, around 132.3 million tons of poultry meat were consumed worldwide, making it the most consumed type of meat globally. Pork came in second, followed by beef and veal, according to Statista. (Adobe Stock)

USDA Proposes New Requirements for 'Product of USA' Label Claim

A proposal by the U.S. Department of Agriculture would change the rules on what foods can be labeled 'Product of USA.' Current laws contain …

Wind power is the most productive renewable energy source in the U.S., generating nearly half of America's renewable energy, according to the World Economic Forum. (Adobe Stock)

IA Regulators Require Release of MidAmerican Wind Energy Studies

Environmental groups are pleased with an Iowa Utilities Board ruling that requires MidAmerican Energy to make planning studies public for its Iowa Win…

About 400 fatal crashes happen each year as a direct result of texting and driving nationally, according to Sensiblemotive. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa Lawmakers Push for Drivers' Hands-Free Cellphone Use

Iowa lawmakers are considering a bill which would dramatically reduce the use of cellphones in vehicles. Right now, it is illegal in Iowa to send or …

More than 58 million chickens in 47 states have been affected by the most recent avian flu outbreak, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Farm Group Asks FTC to Investigate Egg 'Price Collusion'

A national farmers' advocacy group is asking the Federal Trade Commission to investigate the possibility of price collusion between major egg producer…

In 2021, the total cost of the U.S. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was around $113 billion. The significant increase from the previous year's total of $79 billion was in large part the result of extra pandemic-related benefits. (Adobe Stock)

IA Lawmakers Propose Severe Restrictions for Food Assistance

A Republican-backed bill in the Iowa Legislature seeks to put strict new limits on which foods people could buy at the grocery store using public-assi…

There are 1,168 businesses designated as Tractors and Agricultural Machinery Manufacturing businesses in the U.S. as of 2023, a slight increase over last year. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Farm Mechanics Win 'Right to Repair'

Tractor maker Deere and Company has reached a deal with the American Farm Bureau Federation to allow independent mechanics to work on John Deere brand…

More than 10 million households headed by someone over 65 spend <a href=

more than one-third of their income on housing. Half of these pay more than 50%, according to a Harvard University study. (Adobe Stock).">

More Affordable Housing for Seniors: An AARP Iowa Priority

As housing prices continue to rise, AARP Iowa is asking cities and towns to change their rules to allow more livable space on a home site. The group …

According to the Sierra Club, one pig excretes three times as much nitrogen and five times as much phosphorus as a human, and 3.5 times as much solid waste. (Adobe Stock)

Farmers Appeal to IA Senators to Stop Mega Merger

An Iowa farm advocacy group wants the state's U.S. senators to oppose a deal to allow one of the world's largest pork processors to buy large parts …

Life expectancy at birth in the United States declined nearly a year from 2020 to 2021, from 77.0 to 76.1, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

HHS Exec Encourages Iowans to Check Health Insurance Options

The federal Health and Human Services director who oversees Iowa wants residents to take advantage of lower health care costs through the Affordable C…

Google launched its tracking software in 2005 as part of Google Analytics. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa to Collect $6 Million Over Google Location-Tracking Practices

Iowa will collect more than $6 million from Google over the internet giant's location-tracking practices. The settlement is part of a multi-state…

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, overall cattle inventory is down 2% in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Small Iowa Livestock Producers Benefit from Federal Grants

Thirteen livestock producers in Iowa are getting grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to keep meat and money closer to home. The dollars …

Construction Manager, electrician and radiation technician are among the trade jobs most in demand, according to the website Trade-schools.net. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa Invests in Training for Non-Degree Job Fields

Fewer students are enrolling in Iowa's state universities, and the State Board of Regents is meeting this week to discuss ways to change that…

In Johnson County, Iowa, 13% of adults describe themselves as being in

IA County Studies Why Residents Don't Get the Healthcare They Need

Johnson County, Iowa, is on a fact-finding mission - to determine what its residents need most for a good community health program. The county is …

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