Ben Kieffer

Iowa City

Host at River to River Show

Host at River to River

Host and Producer at Iowa Public Radio

Host of #RivertoRiver, which airs live at noon on weekdays on @IowaPublicRadio .

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Articles

Former Iowa lawmaker publishes children's book about becoming a refugee

1 week ago | iowapublicradio.org | Ben Kieffer |Samantha McIntosh |Neve Kelley

On this Newsbuzz episode of River to River, this summer's unprecedented water crisis in Iowa. Iowans across the state have been asked to conserve water due to dry wells and high nitrate levels. This includes refraining from watering lawns, washing cars, and filling swimming pools. We also look back one year after the historic flooding that devastated northwest Iowa.
Exploring the legacy and future of Juneteenth across the state

1 week ago | iowapublicradio.org | Ben Kieffer |Caitlin Troutman |Dani Gehr |Madeleine Willis

On this Juneteenth episode of River to River, host Ben Kieffer is joined by Dwana Bradley, the chair of Iowa Juneteenth, about the legacy and future of the holiday in Iowa. Historian Leslie Schwalm also joins the program to discuss emancipation celebrations in Iowa dating back to the 1800s. And Sheritta Stokes of the 1619 Freedom School discusses why learning about the holiday is important for everyone. This episode was originally produced on June 19, 2023.
Political tensions grow following the assassination of Minnesota legislative leader

1 week ago | iowapublicradio.org | Ben Kieffer |Katherine Perkins |Neve Kelley

Democrat Christina Bohannan announces a challenge to incumbent Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks in Iowa's 1st Congressional District. Will the third time be the charm for Bohannan? On this Politics Day edition of River to River, host Ben Kieffer is joined by political scientists Evan Renfroof the University of Northern Iowa and Megan Goldberg of Cornell College to discuss Bohannan's latest challenge to incumbent Miller-Meeks.
1925 murder in Vinton was an unsolved mystery until now

1 week ago | iowapublicradio.org | Ben Kieffer |Dani Gehr |Neve Kelley

One hundred years ago, a murder in Vinton shocked the country. Today, we hear what that case exposed about a dark chapter in Iowa's history. Veteran journalist Tom Chorneau joins this episode to discuss his new book Mrs. Cook & The Klan. This book examines an unsolved Iowa murder case from 1925.
Transgender Iowans brace for gender identity protects to be removed this July

1 week ago | iowapublicradio.org | Ben Kieffer |Dani Gehr |Neve Kelley

On July 1, gender identity as a protected class will be removed from the Iowa Civil Rights Act. Iowa is the first state in the nation to remove these protections from their state code. On this episode, we hear from Keenan Crow of One Iowa on how laws from the recent legislative session will impact the LGBTQ+ community. Then, we look back at the enshrining of these civil rights in 2007 with state Rep. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, D-Ames.
Iowa Republicans react to Reynolds veto on pipeline bill

2 weeks ago | iowapublicradio.org | Ben Kieffer |Caitlin Troutman

Iowa Republican tensions mount after the Gov. Kim Reynolds vetoed a bill that would have restricted use of eminent domain for pipeline projects. On this episode of River to River, a look at the fallout.
Know your rights at protests with ACLU of Iowa legal director

2 weeks ago | iowapublicradio.org | Madeleine King |Caitlin Troutman |Ben Kieffer

President Donald Trump is planning a massive military parade for Saturday, June 14, to celebrate the Army's 150th birthday. The event also coincides with the president's 79th birthday. The day's festivities are expected to cost somewhere between $25 and $45 million and come at a time when the president is under fire for deploying military personnel to quell protests in Los Angeles. Across the country, a different kind of gathering is being planned.
Iowa veteran strives to provide better life for his Afghan counterpart

2 weeks ago | iowapublicradio.org | Ben Kieffer |Samantha McIntosh |Neve Kelley

The Department of Homeland Security decided this spring not to renew Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, for Afghan refugees in the U.S., setting them up for potential deportation.
Iowa Job Corps centers react to federal cuts

2 weeks ago | iowapublicradio.org | Ben Kieffer |Caitlin Troutman |Neve Kelley

The Trump administration is closing all Job Corps Centers in the country, including centers in Denison and Ottumwa. Job Corps professionals and graduates, as well as the mayor of Ottumwa, discuss what the loss could mean for the Denison and Ottumwa communities. But first, the New World Screwworm (NWS) parasites are now advancing northward. They could disrupt American agriculture if they gained a foothold here again.
Davenport community learns more about deadly building collapse

3 weeks ago | iowapublicradio.org | Ben Kieffer |Samantha McIntosh |Neve Kelley

On this Newsbuzz episode of River to River, IPR's James Kelley gives a rundown on the long-awaited state investigation into the 2023 collapse of a Davenport apartment building. Then, Trish Mehaffey of The Gazette shares about the settlement reached in the Adventureland wrongful death suit. Courtney Crowder of the Des Moines Register goes in depth on her three-part series about a University of Iowa fertility doctor who fathered at least five children unbeknownst to his patient couples.