Nicole Paseka Grundmeier

2 weeks ago | iowapublicradio.org | Holly Edgell |Nicole Paseka Grundmeier

Joy Leafgreen knows Iowa’s brand of humidity well, and it doesn’t really faze her. As the lifelong Iowan’s daughters played around the splash pad at Greenwood Park in Des Moines in mid-May, she described it:“It feels very hot and sticky, almost oppressively hot,” she said.

Feb 26, 2025 | nebraskapublicmedia.org | Nicole Paseka Grundmeier

As schools face ever-tightening budgets and teacher shortages, more Midwestern districts are switching to a four-day school week. District leaders say the switch to a four-day school week helps improve the mental and physical health of students, teachers and staff. School districts also save a modest amount of money on transportation and other costs. For parents, especially those who work, a shortened school week might create challenges related to child care and food insecurity.

Feb 15, 2025 | iowapublicradio.org | Nicole Paseka Grundmeier

As schools face ever-tightening budgets and teacher shortages, more Midwestern districts are switching to a four-day school week. District leaders say the switch to a four-day school week helps improve the mental and physical health of students, teachers and staff. School districts also save a modest amount of money on transportation and other costs. For parents, especially those who work, a shortened school week might create challenges related to child care and food insecurity.

Dec 9, 2024 | iowapublicradio.org | Nicole Paseka Grundmeier

Following trends in other states, more Iowa school districts are adopting four-day school weeks than ever. During the 2023-2024 school year, six Iowa school districts operated on a four-day schedule. Eighteen districts have adopted a four-day schedule for the 2024-2025 school year, according to Iowa Department of Education data. The Saydel Community School District in Polk County did a “soft” implementation of the four-day school week this year.

Oct 28, 2024 | iowapublicradio.org | Nicole Paseka Grundmeier

In August 2022, Kansas voters upended poll data and predictions when they rejected a ballot measure that would have allowed lawmakers to tighten abortion restrictions or ban the procedure outright. It’s now a case study of sorts of how so-called red state voters can defy conventional wisdom by supporting progressive measures, while repeatedly electing conservative lawmakers who explicitly reject them.