Curious Iowa investigates how medical waste is treated, transported and disposed of in Iowa.
116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Curious Iowa investigates how medical waste is treated, transported and disposed of in Iowa.
As farmers face historic headwinds and market hardships, calls to the national Farm Aid hotline and the Iowa Concern hotline — where farmers can get support in times of mental health crisis or need — are increasing. This fall, the Iowa Concern hotline saw four to five times the number of calls it had in the same months last year.
Installed in October, Linn County Public Health’s third air monitoring station is the latest addition to the county’s growing network of tools to assess local air quality.
The Trump administration, which has promised “radical transparency,” said in an FAQ that it plans to publish the “project summary” for states that win awards. Following the lead of federal regulators, many states are withholding their complete applications, and some have refused to release any details.
As Congress races to decide the future of the Affordable Care Act’s enhanced premium tax credits, Iowa’s delegation remains divided. Republicans cite fraud risks, insurer windfalls and wealthy households benefiting from subsidies, while advocates warn tens of thousands of Iowans could face steep premium hikes if the COVID-era support expires.
In addition to Naloxone, menstrual products and wound care kits, Linn County’s harm reduction vending machines now dispense gun locks.
University of Iowa Health Care has agreed to pay $4.2 million to the mother of a 38-year-old Johnson County man who — while experiencing a psychotic break in the emergency room — was placed in such extreme restraints that he suffered a heart attack and “catastrophic and permanent brain injuries.”
New policy wins — including $150 million for residency expansion and new prior-authorization rules — are giving Iowa physicians hope, but health leaders warns real improvements will take years.
Harm reduction initiatives like Cedar Rapids’ Naloxone vending machines are effective tools for tackling substance misuse.
Exceeding expectations in some patient categories — like those needing emergency care or to be admitted overnight — University of Iowa Health Care’s new orthopedics-focused hospital in North Liberty already is “becoming an anchor for the growing community” after just six months, officials said.
Advocacy organizations say policy and funding changes are needed to help support individuals who provide unpaid care to loved ones.
Over the past five years, there have been at least 15 cases of Iowa nursing home workers being accused of taking photos or videos that violated residents’ right to privacy and dignity.
The 2026 Iowa midterm elections are less than a year out, and policy issues that campaigns and voters are talking about include health care costs and affordability. But one issue both parties have used to energize voters in the past has yet to gain prominence: abortion.
Kristie Fortmann-Doser is retiring in December after 32 years leading the Domestic Violence Intervention Program, which last year merged with the Rape Victim Advocacy Program. Colleagues say her legacy will be defined by empathy, collaboration and dedication.
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