River to River

On this Newsbuzz edition, 'Des Moines Register' Statehouse reporter Stephen Gruber Miller discusses the latest developments at the Capitol. IPR’s James Kelley reports on the growing mental health crisis among Iowa farmers — from financial stress to barriers in accessing care — and what resources may offer support during an especially vulnerable time for rural communities. Investigative reporter Tyler Jett of the 'Des Moines Register' explains new data showing a sharp drop in immigration to Iowa and what it means for the state’s population growth and workforce. Rep. Ruth Ann Gaines, D-Des Moines, discusses the history, purpose and recent expansion of the Iowa Black and Brown Caucus, and how lawmakers are working to advance equity-focused policy.

With data centers on the rise and an increased need for irrigation for farming, Iowa is seeing a bigger need for ground water, with not enough known about our supply.State Geologist Keith Schilling shares how the state's current groundwater monitoring paces far behind neighboring states, and what we should be doing now to reverse the trend. Linn County Sustainability Director Cara Matteson also joins to talk about how the county is prioritizing groundwater mapping and other water studies. Then, we look back at Christopher Merrill's 25 years as director of the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa.

A breakdown of the latest political news in Iowa, including Trump’s visit and immigration debates, with political scientists Kelly Shaw and Wayne Moyer.

The Pentagon recently launched a formal review of women in ground-combat positions. On today's episode, what lead to this review, and how could it impact the United States Armed Forces? Amy Rutenberg, an ISU historian, summarizes the long arc of women's service in the U.S. Military. Then, guests offer competing perspectives on combat effectiveness and standards.

The Iowa House voted to ban eminent domain for carbon pipelines, but the Senate has a different plan. We break down the divide and what it could mean for Iowa farmers and landowners. With IPR's Katarina Sostaric, we explore the House and Senate proposals. Two Iowa landowners share their perspective on the potential economic affect of the pipeline as well the affect on property rights. Then, Rep. Aime Wichtendahl, D-Hiawatha, and Rep. Chad Ingels, R-Randalia, explain their positions.

The Cedar Rapids School Board has approved deep budget cuts — and the consequences could ripple through classrooms, staff and students across the district. That story, plus a recap of this week's action in the Iowa Legislature, a look at this weekend's freezing temperatures and more on this Newsbuzz episode.

What happens when America steps back from the world stage? This hour, the view from a veteran diplomat. Uzra Zeya, the head of the organization Human Rights First and a 30-year veteran of the U.S. Foreign Service, watched last year as USAID was dismantled. Zeya, who joined River to River during a visit to Des Moines, argues that championing human rights is a vital strategic move for U.S. security.

A discussion on the contested primary race for Iowa agriculture secretary and more on this Politics Day episode with political scientists Megan Goldberg and Jim McCormick.

Kamyar Enshayan remembers the Iran he grew up in as vibrant, musical and secular. He left in 1978, not long before the Islamic Revolution, and never returned. In this episode, Enshayan shares his views on today's mass protests and the government's violent response. But first, Iowa State English professors Jenny Aune and Jo Mackiewicz share their research, which raises questions about how we may be attributing human qualities to artificial intelligence through language.

NASA’s Artemis II mission is nearing launch, and an Iowa State University professor and retired astronaut knows exactly what that moment feels like. Also on this Newsbuzz edition, we break down a busy first week at the Iowa Statehouse as Republican lawmakers roll out an ambitious — and contentious — legislative agenda. We’ll also take a closer look at why Iowa’s controversial school library book ban is back in federal court and what a new wave of billion-dollar natural disasters means for insurance coverage and risk management in Iowa and beyond. And we groove into the weekend with Studio One.