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6 days ago | 
iowapublicradio.org | Ben Kieffer |Caitlin Troutman |John Pemble |Madeleine Willis
The USS Iowa was commissioned at the Naval Submarine Base New London in Connecticut earlier this month. On this River to River, host Ben Kieffer brings us to Connecticut, where he experienced the commissioning first-hand. We'll hear from Christie Vilsack, the sponsor of the USS Iowa, and from Commander Gregory Coy. Then, crew members on the USS Iowa share their experiences. We also hear highlights from the commissioning ceremony, including speeches from Gov. Kim Reynolds, Rep.
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1 week ago | 
iowapublicradio.org | Ben Kieffer
Sen. Chuck Grassley held another raucous town hall this week as constituents expressed anger at several Trump Administration actions. Grassley continues to hold town halls despite GOP leaders advising members of Congress not to after a string of heated Republican-held town halls across the country. On this Politics Day edition of River to River, political scientists Joanthan Hassid and Chris Larimer talk about the fiery town hall, Gov.
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1 week ago | 
iowapublicradio.org | Ben Kieffer
As we head into severe weather season, host Ben Kieffer talks with ISU meteorology professor Bill Gallus about how layoffs to National Weather Service staff is exacerbating personnel shortages, and forcing staff to reduce data collection that informs forecasts and long-term outlooks. Later, IIHR-Hydroscience & Engineering Director Larry Weber shares how tens of millions of dollars in federal grants and contracts that were headed to the University of Iowa-housed laboratory have been put on hold.
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1 week ago | 
iowapublicradio.org | Ben Kieffer
It’s a debate that touches every Iowa homeowner. On this Legislative Day edition of River to River, we focus on property tax reform. First, Host Ben Kieffer speaks with a journalist in South Dakota, a no-income tax state that has passed its own property tax reform.
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1 week ago | 
iowapublicradio.org | Ben Kieffer |Caitlin Troutman
On this episode of River to River, IPR’s Josie Fishels shares how federal funding cuts to the National Endowment for the Humanities has affected different Iowa organizations. Then Kevin Hardy of Stateline discusses USDA cuts for programs that help Iowa’s small farms sell local food to schools and food banks.
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1 week ago | 
iowapublicradio.org | Ben Kieffer
On this episode, we continue to study the impacts that the COVID-19 pandemic had on various aspects of life, five years later. Vanessa Miller of The Gazette details how Iowa's colleges and universities weathered changes to enrollment and shifted to virtual learning. IPR employee Nick Brincks and his wife Paige share how the birth of their first child occurred right as hospitals were implementing safety protocols and what it was like to raise an infant with limited contact from the outside world.
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2 weeks ago | 
iowapublicradio.org | Ben Kieffer |Caitlin Troutman
For his latest book, Iowa State University criminologist Matt DeLisi examined over 100 cold cases recently solved using DNA evidence and he says these cases can shed light on serial offender behaviors. DeLisi joins River to River to discuss his new book, What DNA Evidence Reveals About Criminals: Cold Case Criminology. Guest:Matt DeLisi, distinguished professor, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean's Professor, Criminal Justice Studies Coordinator, Iowa State University
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2 weeks ago | 
iowapublicradio.org | Ben Kieffer |Samantha McIntosh
On this episode hear highlights from a live event held at Hancher Auditorium April 1. Host Ben Kieffer talks with NPR's national political correspondent Mara Liasson for the University of Iowa College of Law's spring Levitt Lecture. They discuss her career as a reporter for NPR and contributor to Fox News, as well as threats to press freedom and democratic institutions, actions from the Department of Government Efficiency, tariffs and foreign policy.
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3 weeks ago | 
iowapublicradio.org | Natalie Dunlap |Caitlin Troutman |Ben Kieffer
United States Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy recently suggested that farmers should consider letting bird flu run through the flocks to identify birds that are immune to it. On River to River, Dr. Yuko Sato, Iowa State University Poultry Extension vet, responded to that proposal and answered more of our questions about the disease destroying flocks, raising egg prices and threatening wildlife. Can farmers let bird flu run its course?
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3 weeks ago | 
iowapublicradio.org | Ben Kieffer
This is a shift from 25 years ago when natural-cause mortality rates in urban and rural areas were similar for this age group. On this episode of River to River, host Ben Kieffer explores what's contributing to this gap, starting with a conversation with Dr. Bruce Scott, president of the American Medical Association.
