Iowa Public Radio

Here First

News EN ↓ 282 episodes

Start your day with the essentials. Coffee. Breakfast. And the local news you need to know. Host Meghan McKinney rises bright and early to bring you the top news stories from around Iowa in under 10 minutes. Wake up, grab that coffee and get your news Here First. You can support what you hear on this podcast at ipr.org/donate.

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: www.iowapublicradio.org

Author

Iowa Public Radio

Category

News

Podcast website

www.iowapublicradio.org

Latest episode

Nov 4, 2026

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Episodes

Friday, April 3rd, 2026 03.04.2026

Democratic candidate for governor Rob Sand is proposing term and age limits, and cognitive tests for state officials. A bill to regulate prediction markets in the state is moving ahead. And a second top official at Iowa’s public employees’ retirement system has been put on leave while an investigation into possible misconduct is conducted.

Thursday, April 2nd, 2026 02.04.2026

An Iowa agriculture leader says President Trump's initiatives for farmers aren't enough. A bill would raise the minimum speed limit on some highways. And lawmakers are considering a bill that aims to recruit health care professionals to certain areas of the state.

Wednesday, April 1st, 2026 01.04.2026

Commercial drivers would have to pass an English proficiency test under a bill. Republican candidate for governor Randy Feenstra says he wants to lower the state income tax even more. And will federal funds for rural health care be enough to offset losses from Medicaid cuts?

Tuesday, March 31st, 2026 31.03.2026

A bill on the governor's desk could help child care workers with their own children. Several small newspapers in Iowa may not have to close. And the National Weather Service is recruiting severe weather spotters.

Monday, March 30th, 2026 30.03.2026

Iowans across the state rallied as part of the No Kings protests. Enrollment in federal food assistance has dropped. And the USDA cancelled a grant program for underserved producers.

Friday, March 27th, 2026 27.03.2026

Governor Kim Reynolds signed a bill that will temporarily raise taxes on HMO health insurance plans. Residents in Cedar Falls are concerned about a proposed cryptocurrency mine. And how Kansas communities deal with tumbleweeds.

Thursday, March 26th, 2026 26.03.2026

A new report looks at environmental factors and Iowa's cancer rates. Candidate for governor Eddie Andrews will be on the primary ballot. And Governor Kim Reynolds shares some thoughts on property tax proposals.

Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 25.03.2026

The mayor of Palo is showing support for Google's data center plans. A few candidates were kicked off the primary election ballot. And lawmakers are considering towing regulations.

Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 24.03.2026

Abortions in Iowa dropped last year. A bill on the governor's desk would let health care providers decline to participate in services if it conflicts with their conscience. And residents in Linn County are concerned about plans for a gas-fired power plant.

Monday, March 23rd, 2026 23.03.2026

There was a rally against a bill that would end some H-1B visa employment at Iowa colleges. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on if Roundup should have a cancer warning. And the latest on the Iowa legislative session.

Friday, March 20th, 2026 20.03.2026

The Center for Intellectual Freedom at the University of Iowa went way over budget on an event. A library book club in central Iowa was cancelled after community backlash over the book. And taking a look at perspectives on laws regulating big cat ownership.

Thursday, March 19th, 2026 19.03.2026

A bill would allow so-called 'magic mushrooms' for treating some mental illnesses. A bill about foster parents' beliefs on gender identity and sexual orientation is advancing. And the Sioux City Library budget won't shrink as much as originally planned.

Wednesday, March 18th, 2026 18.03.2026

A new poll shows most Iowa voters support raising the tobacco tax. The Iowa House has passed a bill that would create stricter employment verification for people working at schools. And there are new gubernatorial endorsements.

Tuesday, March 17th, 2026 17.03.2026

A proposed tax increase on HMO health insurance plans is moving ahead at the Iowa Statehouse. A proposal to keep school districts from rejecting partnerships with community-based preschool program providers is also moving ahead. And Waterloo’s Grout Museum District is speaking out against the city’s proposal to reduce its funding.

Monday, March 16th, 2026 16.03.2026

A blizzard across Iowa Sunday into Monday didn’t drop a lot of snow – but it did close major interstate highways because of low visibility. New reports suggest bills aimed at cutting tuition at Iowa’s public universities could have wide-ranging effects on the campuses. And a federal wildlife refuge in central Iowa is making plans to renovate and reopen a visitor’s center that was damaged by a 2024...

Friday, March 13th, 2026 13.03.2026

Revenue estimates show the state likely won't bring in enough money to cover the next state budget. A billionaire with Iowa ties is testifying in the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. And a high school senior is raising money for immigrant and refugee students to go to college

Thursday, March 12th, 2026 12.03.2026

Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law that will likely affect cities that have local gender identity anti-discrimination protections. More candidates for governor and a U.S. Senate seat are submitting paperwork for the primaries. And a look at the effort to change Iowa's Medicaid income limits for people with disabilities.

Wednesday, March 11th, 2026 11.03.2026

A northwest Iowa school district is trying to address racist bullying. The Iowa House has passed a bill that bans mothers without legal status from a federal food assistance program. And why are there more FFA chapters being created in urban schools?

Tuesday, March 10th, 2026 10.03.2026

Candidates for governor have started filing to get on the June 2nd primary ballot. A bill would allow health care providers to withdraw from doing a medical procedure if it conflicts with their conscience. And Linn County supervisors are considering regulations on gas fired power plants.

Monday, March 9th, 2026 09.03.2026

The remains of soldiers from an Army Reserve based in Des Moines were returned to the U.S. over the weekend. New research shows algae could be a natural filter for microplastics. And the latest on the Iowa legislative session.

Friday, March 6th, 2026 06.03.2026

All of Iowa's representatives in Congress voted against a measure to rein in Trump's Iran war powers. The state education licensing board has a budget shortfall. And there's a new report about data center development in Cedar Rapids.

Thursday, March 5th, 2026 05.03.2026

A second Iowan solider has been identified as among the first Americans killed in Kuwait on Sunday. Google is changing locations of a proposed data center in eastern Iowa. And a bill would require checks on legal status to get an Iowa driver's license.

Wednesday, March 4th, 2026 04.03.2026

An Iowa solider was among the first casualties in the U.S. war with Iran. A bill would ban some H-1B visa holders from working at Iowa colleges. And the Sioux City Council is considering cutting a quarter of the public library budget.

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026 03.03.2026

A Republican has officially filed paperwork to be put on the primary ballot for governor. A bill would add regulations to prior authorization. And an Iowan is going to the Paralympics in hopes of getting a fourth gold medal.

Monday, March 2nd, 2026 02.03.2026

Iowa's Republican representatives in Congress share their point of view of what's happening in Iran. There are a few bills that could impact immigrants in Iowa in the state legislature. And a research project is trying to see if the amount of nitrogen fertilizer impacts crop yields.

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