Underfunded, understaffed and riddled with gaps, Iowa’s mental health system is broken. Such is the dismal assessment of advocates, state and county officials and families who have sought care. Counties and state institutions have faced limited funding for years, and legislators are now beginning to
Although a proposal in the state legislature to temporarily suspend use of sabbaticals at Iowa universities has been weakened, discontent in academia continues.
Women who decide to seek an abortion rarely make that decision after the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, according to an international research institute on reproductive health. But a legislative proposal in Iowa uses scientifically debatable assertions about fetal pain to target those few women. The p
A growing queue snaked through the aisles of the Davenport Sam’s Club on Sunday, as a group of Iowans awaited the arrival of Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor.
The last time Nikki Russell hugged her grandpa, she felt disgusted. She wanted to get as far away from him as possible. His embrace triggered too many disturbing memories from her childhood. Nikki Russell, 28, of Ames, Iowa, is a victim of child sexual abuse. For years Russell suffered from severe
How do you train a nonprofit watchdog? That’s the key question posed at npjforum.com, a new website that promotes dialogue between nonprofit journalists and aims to shed light on the challenges of their growing industry.
California Republican Fred Karger was the first contender to form an exploratory committee for the 2012 presidential election and already has staff on the ground in Iowa. He’s made a handful of trips to Iowa and New Hampshire and shot commercials both places.
Casie Sparks is one of many Mount Mercy University students working toward a college degree. However, the 35-year-old is employed full time as a client relationship development consultant at AEGON in Cedar Rapids. She is among a wave of non-traditional students that Eastern Iowa colleges have been t
Something is amiss in the Adams County Auditor’s Office. Usually, election time means active citizens will barrage county auditors with filings and petitions to run for office. But for Nancy Carmichael, the county auditor, it means she has to coax people to stay in their post and fill the ballot.
Deborah Case-Schutzman will be the first to tell you her home is crowded. She lives in a two-bedroom mobile home near Cedar Rapids with her six children and ex-husband. Right now, she said she feels there are no other options.
A local housing provider’s accusation that city officials were using discriminatory means of deciding where to locate new assisted housing has halted discussion and progress in Iowa City.
Many of those working to solve Iowa City’s need for more affordable housing agree that a regional policy for Coralville, North Liberty and other communities in addition to Iowa City would be beneficial.
