April 11, 2011 (Des Moines, IA) -- Political analysts from the states that lead the nation’s presidential nominating process will provide analysis and discussion of President Obama’s first term and the 2012 election, on the Iowa State University campus Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at 7:00pm.
New Hampshire political analyst and former gubernatorial candidate Arnie Arnesen will be among the featured guests at the forum along with ISU Political Science Professor Steffen Schmidt. All of the analysts are regular participants in the weekly political discussion on Iowa Public Radio’s talk show The Exchange. Dennis Goldford is a Professor of Politics at Drake University. Donna Hoffman is Chair of the Political Science Department at the University of Northern Iowa.
They’ll discuss some of the most interesting political questions facing democrats and republicans in 2012, as seen through the eyes of colleagues like Bruce Nesmith, Chair of Political Science at Coe College and Wayne Moyer, Professor of Political Science at Grinnell College.
The live event is free and open to the public from 7:00pm until 9:00pm in ISU’s Curtiss Auditorium. It will be moderated by Ben Kieffer, host of The Exchange. The audience will be encouraged to join in the discussion. The evening will be recorded and broadcast on Friday, April 15, 2011, at 12:00 noon.
Sponsors include Iowa State University’s Political Science Department and Committee on Lectures (funded by GSB), SEAS LLC Consulting and Iowa Public Radio.
Iowa Public Radio informs, enriches and engages Iowans through radio programming and other media. IPR enhances civic and cultural connections across the state, strengthening communities and reflecting Iowa's sense of place. For more information about this event or any of Iowa Public Radio’s programming, contact us at 515-725-1700.
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February 24, 2011 (Des Moines, IA) -- Iowa Public Radio welcomes Mo Rocca, PJ O’Rourke and Peter Sagal to Des Moines on Monday, March 7 for an evening of satire and stories. This is the third presentation in a four-part Insights Series.
Though best known to public radio listeners for their appearances on Chicago Public Radio's Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me!, Mo Rocca, PJ O’Rourke and Peter Sagal are forces of wit and wisdom in their own rights, having sold millions of books and appeared on television and stage. Each offers an entirely unique perspective on what’s happening in your world, whether you know about it or not.
Tickets are $45 and $55; information is available online at www.iowapublicradio.org VIP reception packages, which include premium seating and a VIP reception at the event, start at $125. There will be a public book signing after the show.
About the Speakers:
Mo Rocca is a well-known humorist, actor, writer and National Public Radio contributor best known for his off-beat news reports and satirical commentary. Currently a correspondent for CBS Sunday Morning News with Charles Osgood, he’s also a panelist on NPR’s hit weekly quiz show Wait, Wait...Don’t Tell Me! and the host of the show Foodography on The Cooking Channel. Rocca spent four seasons as a correspondent on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and four seasons as a correspondent on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Rocca also published a book, All the Presidents’ Pets: The Story of One Reporter Who Refused to Roll Over.
PJ O’Rourke has established himself as America’s premier political satirist with more than 1 million words of trenchant journalism under his byline and more citations in The Penguin Dictionary of Humorous Quotations than any living writer. Whether dealing with the inner workings of Washington bureaucracy or the shifting political and economic sands of the new world order, O’Rourke proves himself to be a savvy guide to national and world affairs. His razor sharp insights never fail to inform and entertain.
Peter Sagal is best known to public radio audiences for his work as host of the hit weekly news quiz, Wait, Wait … Don’t Tell Me! An adept moderator, Sagal is the perfect emcee, able to apply his quick wit to esoteric company stories, weaving jokes for an uproarious and unforgettable evening. Whether providing insightful, colorful commentary on current events or a behind-the-scenes peek at the funniest show on radio, Sagal never fails to inform and entertain. Sagal is also a celebrated author; his first book is The Book of Vice (Naughty Things and How to Do Them).
The IPR Insights Series is made possible with the support of Iowa Health System, Bankers Trust, Iles Funeral Homes and Douglas and Deborah West.
Interview requests should be forwarded to Amanda Acton, Communications Manager, Iowa Public Radio at 515-725-1700 or aacton@iowapublicradio.org. Please include the following in your requests:
Reporter’s Name
Name of the media outlet
Section or Feature
Proposed dates
Contact information
Iowa Public Radio informs, enriches and engages Iowans through radio programming and other media. IPR enhances civic and cultural connections across the state, strengthening communities and reflecting Iowa's sense of place. For more information about this event or any of Iowa Public Radio’s programming, call 515-725-1700.
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November 23, 2010 (Des Moines, IA) -- Iowa Public Radio is pleased to announce the promotion of Julie Englander to the position of Weekend Edition Host, the hiring of Katherine Gonzales as Iowa City Site Administrator, and the hiring of Meghan Currens as Development Analyst.
Julie Englander was promoted to Weekend Edition Host on September 24, 2010. In her role, Julie will host the local breaks and newscasts in Weekend Edition Saturday and Sunday, produce interview segments, and produce Iowa Roots. Julie holds a BA in Speech and Drama from the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Julie has served the news division of Iowa Public Radio and its predecessor stations for 26 years.
Katherine Gonzales joined Iowa Public Radio as Iowa City Site Administrator on November 10, 2010. Katherine graduated from the University of Iowa in Iowa City with a BA in Literature, Science, and the Arts. Katherine most recently served as the Assistant Accountant for Cedar Memorial Funeral Home in Cedar Rapids.
Meghan Currens joined Iowa Public Radio as Development Analyst on November 22, 2010. Meghan holds a BA in Political Science from the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota, and is completing her MBA at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. Meghan most recently served as Accounting Manager at Common Hope in St. Paul Minnesota.
Iowa Public Radio informs, enriches and engages Iowans through radio programming and other media. IPR enhances civic and cultural connections across the state, strengthening communities and reflecting Iowa's sense of place. For more information about this event or any of Iowa Public Radio’s programming, contact us at 515-725-1700.
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September 10, 2010 (Des Moines, IA) -- In an aggressive move to manage growth and fill vacancies as a result of retirements and talent shifts, Iowa Public Radio is pleased to announce the following new hires and promotions:
Kelly Edmister joined Iowa Public Radio as Chief Administrative Officer on September 7, 2010. Kelly is a Certified Public Accountant and earned a BA in Finance from Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas, and an MBA from Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Missouri. Kelly most recently served as Assistant Controller at American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company in West Des Moines.
Don Russell joined Iowa Public Radio as a Broadcast Engineer on September 1, 2010. Don most recently served as a Chief Operator/Network Specialist at Maverick Media in Rockford, Illinois, and received his certification as a Certified Broadcast Radio Engineer from the Society of Broadcast Engineers.
Kate Wells joined Iowa Public Radio as Cedar Rapids Reporter on September 1, 2010. Kate holds a BA in Religion from Principia College. She had been a summer intern for Iowa Public Radio, and previously interned at New Hampshire Public Radio.
Kathleen Masterson joined Iowa Public Radio as the CPB LJC Agriculture Reporter on August 23, 2010. Kathleen comes from National Public Radio in Washington D.C. where she served as an Associate Producer on the science desk. She has also held print and radio journalism positions in Madison, WI and has worked on film documentaries. Kathleen has a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, and a Master’s Degree in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin.
Charity Nebbe joined Iowa Public Radio as the Talk of Iowa Host on July 1, 2010. Charity most recently worked for Michigan Radio as the All Things Considered Host. Charity returns to Iowa having previously hosted Morning Edition, Talk of Iowa and Midday at WOI in the ‘90’s. It was during this time that she also launched the nationally syndicated program Chinwag Theatre as the co-host along with noted children’s author Daniel Pinkwater.
Jeff Schmidt was promoted to Executive Producer of Talk Shows on July 1, 2010. Jeff joined Iowa Public Radio in August of 2006 as a reporter, and was named a producer for the talk shows in 2008. Before coming to IPR, he held news management positions in commercial radio and television in Cedar Rapids and worked on a national sports radio program.
Alex Heuer was promoted to Talk Show Producer on July 1, 2010. He is responsible for producing The Exchange and also helping out with Talk of Iowa. Alex joined Iowa Public Radio as the organization’s first Cedar Rapids Reporter in January 2009.
Iona Myers was promoted to Senior Development Officer on July 1, 2010. Iona attended the University of Iowa and double majored in African American studies and English. She has served IPR in underwriting sales for more than five years.
Kristy Conrad was promoted to Senior Development Officer on July 1, 2010. Kristy is a graduate from the University of Northern Iowa with a BA in Communication Studies. She has served IPR in underwriting sales for more than four years.
Amanda Acton was promoted to Communications Manager on July 1, 2010. Amanda holds a BA in Anthropology from the University of Northern Iowa and an MPA from Drake University. Amanda joined IPR December 2009 after serving in a marketing and events capacity at Children & Families of Iowa.
Iowa Public Radio informs, enriches and engages Iowans through radio programming and other media. IPR enhances civic and cultural connections across the state, strengthening communities and reflecting Iowa's sense of place.
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June 29, 2010 (Des Moines, IA) -- Iowa Public Radio announced today it has begun nearly $1 million in capital improvements to its facilities on the Iowa State University campus in Ames that will enhance the network’s signal strength and clarity as well as provide fail-safe systems to ensure the entire network remains on the air in the aftermath of severe weather.
“The upgrades to our facilities at Iowa State University will greatly expand Ames’ strategic role and serve as our technology hub,” says Mary Grace Herrington, Chief Executive Officer.
The network also announced it has completed the co-location of live, locally produced music programming at Iowa Public Radio’s Cedar Falls studios. Supporting the effort is the inclusion of the public broadcasting industry’s most comprehensive digital music libraries and studio facilities that can broadcast live Classical and Studio One music performances before live audiences. Herrington says Barney Sherman and Curt Snook will be originating their IPR Classical programs from Cedar Falls starting July 1 to take advantage of the expanded library and studio facilities. Hollis Monroe, who has hosted Classical Music during the mid-day hours, chose not to accept a relocation offer from the network.
“We will greatly miss Hollis’s on-air talent and depth of knowledge,” adds Herrington. “However, we look forward to continuing to broadcast the finest music ever written -- hosted by highly talented, knowledgeable Iowa Public Radio hosts.”
The capital improvements at both the Ames and Cedar Falls facilities were funded by a combination of grants to the network, including grants from the state’s I-JOBS infrastructure development fund.
In addition to locally originated music programming, Iowa Public Radio also broadcasts talk programs, ”TALK OF IOWA” and ”THE EXCHANGE” from its Iowa City studios and hosts local segments of NPR’s ”MORNING EDITION” as well as the state’s most comprehensive legislative coverage from studios in Des Moines.
“More than 50 percent of our music programming broadcast by Iowa Public Radio is locally produced with local hosts who connect Iowans with the cultural fabric of our state,” Herrington says.” The steadfast commitment and the technology improvements enhance the efficiency of our broadcast operations and add even more richness to the Iowa Public Radio listening experience.”
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April 5, 2010 (Cedar Falls, IA) -- The Friends of KHKE/KUNI will present the 25th Anniversary Evening in Celebration of Wine & Tulips on Friday, April 30, at Cedar Falls’ Park Place Event Centre. The gala will feature fine regional, national and international wines from Iowa wineries and distributors. All proceeds from the event will benefit Iowa Public Radio.
This year marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the event. To mark the anniversary, organizers are incorporating several new touches, including a limited-edition wine glass.
Another new feature this year will be wines from the up-and-coming wine regions of Argentina and Chile, which enthusiasts say are experiencing a renaissance that puts their unique flavors among the best in the world. The South American wines will be poured by Total Wines, a new distributor specializing in the regions, and Waterloo-owned winery Hollen Family Vineyards. Hollen Family Vineyards plans to pour samples from their first batch of Argentinean wine to be sold in the U.S.
In addition to sampling wines, guests will have the opportunity to bid on an array of unique auction items, including original framed artwork for this year’s poster design by acclaimed artist Gary Kelley. Kelley, who has been creating custom artwork for Wine & Tulips since 1994, is one of the nation’s best illustrators; his artwork has been featured in Time Magazine, Atlantic Monthly, Rolling Stone and The New Yorker. In addition, his illustrations have been commissioned by The National Football League and The National Basketball Association, and he is the creative force behind murals of famous authors displayed in Barnes & Noble Bookstores across the nation.
Last year approximately 300 people attended the event, raising more than $20,000 for Iowa Public Radio. “Wine & Tulips is one of the longest running wine events in the Cedar Valley,” says Grant Veeder, president of the Friends of KHKE/KUNI. “Our goal this year and every year is to raise funds and awareness to support one of our state’s greatest assets — Iowa Public Radio. As the event continues to grow, so does the ability of IPR to bring great programming to Iowans.”
Doors open at 7 p.m. and the event will go until 9 p.m. Regular priced tickets are $35 and available online at www.iowapublicradio.org; tickets are also available at the door for $45. Guests who purchase exclusive Patron Level tickets — $75 each and available only through Iowa Public Radio — will have the opportunity to mingle with wine experts at an exclusive pre-tasting event and receive a special thank you gift at the event.
The 25th Anniversary Evening in Celebration of Wine & Tulips is presented by the Friends of KUNI/KHKE with supporting sponsorships from Veridian Credit Union, Europa Cycle and Ski, Edible Iowa River Valley, Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Clinic, Eye Care Associates, First National Bank, Stifel Nicolaus, Ladora Bank Bistro, Kitchen Essentials and Gifts, Crazy to Quilt, Wolfleg Counseling, and Amana Furniture and Clock Store.
Iowa Public Radio informs, enriches and engages Iowans through radio programming and other media. IPR enhances civic and cultural connections across the state, strengthening communities and reflecting Iowa's sense of place. For more information about this event or any of Iowa Public Radio’s programming, call 515-725-1700.
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March 29, 2010 (Des Moines, IA) -- Iowa Public Radio today announced their participation in a major Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) initiative to increase local journalism in Iowa. The nationwide initiative will support local reporting capacities in seven regions across the country and develop a system by which local reporters can tap into the shared resources of other public media networks.
CPB is funding the creation of seven Local Journalism Centers (LJCs), combining CPB and participating stations’ resources for a ground-breaking new approach to news gathering and its distribution. The Centers will form teams of multimedia journalists, who will focus on issues of particular relevance to each region; their in-depth reports will be presented regionally and nationally via digital platforms, community engagement programs and radio and television broadcasts.
“Iowa Public Radio has long been an essential part of connecting Iowans to their communities,” Mary Grace Herrington, the CEO Iowa Public Radio said. “This partnership with CPB will help us continue to provide the in-depth coverage of local issues and public policies on a local level, ensuring Iowans have the information they need to make informed decisions about their lives.”
The Local Journalism Centers (LJCs) will each focus on a particular issue relevant to communities throughout their regions. As part of the Plains Center, Iowa Public Radio will provide stories that focus on agribusiness, including farming practices, food and fuel production, looking both at local and national issues. News and information will be fed throughout the public media network, via radio, television production and online. The total CPB and station investment over two years is approximately $10.5 million, with an expectation that each Center will become self-sustaining by the end of the two-year funding period.
Jonathan Ahl, Iowa Public Radio’s News Director, says, “We are eager to be part of this initiative. It means Iowan’s stories will be told across the heartland, and Iowans will hear stories from other communities in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. In addition, Iowa Public Radio will benefit from the resources of journalists across our region to bring news that matters to our listeners.”
Iowa Public Radio will hire one full-time reporter to produce and file the reports from Iowa’s farming communities. The reporter, who will begin work on July 1, 2010, will gather stories from every corner of the state to tell Iowa’s unique stories and highlight the stories that affect America’s heartland.
Iowa Public Radio informs, enriches and engages Iowans through radio programming and other media. IPR enhances civic and cultural connections across the state, strengthening communities and reflecting Iowa's sense of place. For more information about this event or any of Iowa Public Radio’s programming, contact us at 515-725-1700.
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March 1, 2010 (Des Moines, IA) -- Iowa Public Radio announces the launch of a new show, “Performance Iowa”. The show, which premieres Thursday, March 25 at 7 p.m., will showcase live broadcasts of some of Iowa's best performances, as well as musicians making a special stop in Iowa and in our studios. Host Jacqueline Halbloom will also go behind the music in each broadcast with IPR’s classical music team and other celebrity guests.
“Performance Iowa’s” premiere show will include live performances by University of Iowa’s Associate Professor of Piano, Ksenia Nosikova and UNI’s Assistant Professor of Music, pianist Dmitri Vorobiev as they commemorate Chopin’s 200th Birthday. This inaugural performance will be held at West Music in Coralville, Iowa. Additional performances include broadcasts from the Iowa City Jazz Festival, the Des Moines Metro Opera, Orchestra Iowa and others.
“Our goal is to connect Iowans to Iowa’s rich musical landscape with this program,” says Al Schares, Iowa Public Radio Music Director. “It’s not just about what happens on stage; we hope ‘Performance Iowa’ will bring listeners closer to the music by including the views and observations of the performing artist.”
“Performance Iowa” is a program of Iowa Public Radio. Iowa Public Radio informs, enriches and engages Iowans through radio programming and other media. Iowa Public Radio enhances civic and cultural connections across the state, strengthening communities and reflecting Iowa's sense of place. For more information about this or any of Iowa Public Radio’s programming, call 515-725-1700 or visit iowapublicradio.org.
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February 5, 2010 (Des Moines, IA) -- Iowa Public Radio announces the revival of an Iowa classic, Iowa Roots, beginning Saturday, February 6. The program will feature stories, music and talk with traditional artists from a variety of ethnic, geographic, occupational and religious groups found in Iowa. Iowa Roots will air statewide Saturdays and Sundays on Iowa Public Radio stations.
Iowa Roots tells the stories of Iowans, from Native American wood carvers to traditional quilters, from blues musicians to butchers. State folklorist Riki Saltzman of the Iowa Arts Council travels the state to interview people who carry on the cultural traditions, the arts, skills and knowledge that make us who we are. Then Iowa Public Radio host Julie Englander edits and broadcasts the stories Saturdays at 7:54 p.m. after Vinyl Café and Sundays at 5:30 p.m. during the “Best of IPR Talk” segment on Iowa Public Radio stations WSUI, WOI-AM, KTPR (Fort Dodge), KWOI (Carroll) and KOWI (Lamoni).
“Iowa Public Radio is pleased to collaborate on the revival of this WOI legacy program,” says Mary Grace Herrington, Chief Executive Officer at Iowa Public Radio. Iowa Roots originally aired on WOI Radio in Ames and central Iowa. Herrington continues, “Now we are able to broadcast this local gem to listeners across the state.”
The program is part of Iowa Public Radio’s commitment to reflecting and enhancing Iowa’s sense of place. Iowa Public Radio News Director, Jonathan Ahl, says, “Many people think that news reporting is just about headlines and politics, but part of our commitment to Iowa’s communities is also reporting on the rich cultural heritage of our state.”
“My job is to document Iowa’s folkways and folk artists,” Saltzman says. “I love to learn why and how people do what they do—why a century farm family keeps farming, how a gospel quartet sings harmonies, or how an Iraqi ‘ud player teaches traditional tunes to his son. What we think of as everyday stuff is important—it’s what connects us to each other. I’m delighted that Iowa Roots makes it possible for people from across the state to share a few moments with their neighbors.
Iowa Public Radio informs, enriches and engages Iowans through radio programming and other media. IPR enhances civic and cultural connections across the state, strengthening communities and reflecting Iowa's sense of place. For more information about this or any of Iowa Public Radio’s programming, contact us at 515-725-1700.
The Iowa Arts Council Iowa Arts Council enriches the quality of life for Iowans through support of the arts. For more information about Iowa Roots or any of the Iowa Arts Council’s other programs, call Riki Saltzman at riki.saltz.man@iowa.gov or (515) 242-6195.
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February 2, 2010 (Cedar Falls, IA) -- The Friends of KUNI/KHKE will present Blues Blowout on Saturday, February 13th at Waterloo’s Electric Park Ballroom. The blues event will feature nationally known Janiva Magness and Iowa City’s The Tornadoes. All proceeds benefit Iowa Public Radio.
Blues Music Award winner Janiva Magness will bring an impassioned mix of blues and soul as the evening’s headliner act. Magness possesses a rich, soulful voice and absolute command over her material, and she leads audiences through a range of emotions, from the deepest sorrow to overwhelming joy. A survivor of an impossibly rough childhood, Magness uses her life experience to inform her music in a way that is brutally honest, emotionally moving and, above all, spiritually healing. Janiva Magness is a nominee for the 2010 Blues Music Award for Best Contemporary Female Artist of the Year and won the award two years in a row in 2006 and 2007. She has seven solo recordings to her credit and has made guest appearances on CDs by R.L. Burnside and many others.
Iowa City blues band The Tornadoes will open the show with their energetic, eclectic sound. The band has been keeping jump, swing and blues alive in eastern Iowa since 1997.
The show begins at 7:30 p.m.; doors will open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 online at www.iowapublicradio.org. Tickets can also be purchased for $25 at the door. Blues Blowout is presented by the Friends of KUNI/KHKE with supporting sponsorships from FSB Warner Financial, The Historic Black Hawk Hotel and Bob's Guitars.
Iowa Public Radio informs, enriches and engages Iowans through radio programming and other media. IPR enhances civic and cultural connections across the state, strengthening communities and reflecting Iowa's sense of place. For more information about this event or any of Iowa Public Radio’s programming, contact us at 515-725-1700.
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