Iowa Ideas

Throughout the course of the pandemic, Iowans have experienced more anxiety, depression and negative effects on their mental health. Local providers are working to help residents address those conditions through free services. Without it, the loss and stress and disconnect could have “a cumulative effect” on their overall well-being.

The event, Oct. 14 and 15, again will be free and online

The collaboration connects underserved populations with job opportunities, helping employers recruit for hard-to-fill low- and middle-skill jobs and serving those who are under- or unemployed and face barriers in the workforce.

There is a shortage of affordable housing in Iowa, and the problem will worsen as the state’s population grows. To ensure workers have places to live and keep businesses in town, Iowa cities are leveraging local and state resources to spur new housing development and fuel the economy.

‘I have no illusions that we will ever go back to so-called normal’

Quietly, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the UI surpassed its goal of having 40 percent renewable energy by 2020. The university now has at least 42 percent of its power from renewable sources and one boiler exclusively fed biomass fuels.

With climate change already knocking at our door, there’s a more urgent need to reduce greenhouse gases than 10 to 15 years down the road. That’s where ethanol comes in, according to industry proponents.

American utility companies, including those in Iowa, are facing increasing pressure to slash greenhouse gas emissions in hopes of preventing the worst effects of global climate change.

The central Iowa city has spent the past 14 years reestablishing itself after Maytag, the washing machine manufacturer that at its peak employed more than 3,000 people, left the city in 2007.

COVID-19 exacerbated slashed budgets and low staffing that challenged Iowa’s public health workforce, but the high stakes they faced throughout the pandemic response has left many workers burned out. Experts are worried the workforce shortage could worsen as a result.

Food insecurity increased during pandemic, putting a spotlight on underlying causes of hunger. Fortunately, Iowa food banks and other organizations have been able to fill the need.

In March 2020, rehearsals were placed on pause for what we believed would be a two-week hiatus. Two weeks extended to a few months, then became indefinite.