That paint-like scum that covers some Iowa lakes every summer isn’t just gross and smelly. People, pets, and livestock coming into contact with or ingesting toxins produced by the algae are at risk to symptoms including skin rashes, gastrointestinal issues and, in high doses, liver failure.
Beach-goers in eastern Iowa's Johnson County looking for a final summer swim before school starts should be aware of two unpleasant dangers — toxic algae and E. coli. [One of two stories in a special IowaWatch-Iowa City Press-Citizen collaboration.]
Only certain strains of cyanobacteria can produce toxins, although they don’t always do so. “Scientists generally agree that the cyanobacteria evolved this ability to produce toxin either as a competitive advantage or as some sort of protection,” Mary Skopec, who heads the Iowa Department of Natural
The term “cold case” doesn’t always sit well with law enforcement officials who are seeking and following leads in a criminal investigation. The reason: they still are investigating, for example a murder, but while they have not solved the case they also are not letting on a pile of work gather dust
This podcast of an IowaWatch Connection report about Iowa's role helping refugees lets you hear from Iowans helping refugees who come into the state and from Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad.
Newspapers called her “a dauntless woman in a ferment” and a “militant temperance advocate.” Carrie Nation described herself as “a bulldog running along at the feet of Jesus, barking at what he doesn’t like.”
Iowa painter Grant Wood, recognized mainly for his regionalist style and portrayal of the American Midwest, was born in Anamosa, Iowa, in 1891, and lived there for ten years until the death of his father. For the remainder of his life, Wood lived mostly in Cedar Rapids or Iowa City, and is still cel
China has been increasing its ties in global markets and reducing its dependency on the U.S. food supply. As the Wall Street Journal recently reported: "Five years ago, the U.S. supplied 97% of China’s corn import needs. In the first half of this year, it accounted for 3.8%."
Iowa was the first state to offer resettlement assistance to refugees in 1975 and continued to do so in 1979. But refugee assistance in Iowa, which is dealing with an influx of Burmese refugees, is not the same as it was 40 years ago.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed federal legislation making GMO labeling voluntary. Now in the Senate, the proposed legislation would override all state-level labeling mandates if it becomes law. Those against the federal bill, known as the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015, refer
The International Literacy Association has given Cheryl Mullenbach's children’s book "The Industrial Revolution for Kids: The People and Technology That Changed the World, with 21 Activities," its 2015 award for intermediate nonfiction writing.
This podcast of an IowaWatch Connection radio report lets you hear more about the abduction and murder of two Evansdale, Iowa, cousins, and efforts to find their killer or killers.
