John Pemble
Technical Producer, NewsExpertise: Audio recording and production, hosting, reporting
Favorite Iowa Destination: The many trails in the Central Iowa Trails Association
Experience:
- Has set up and recorded, mixed, and edited audio from studios and at events across Iowa
- Has developed expansive technical knowledge with various audio recording and broadcasting gear
- Has covered arts and culture, including opera, video gaming and the Iowa State Fair, as well as history and other topics as a reporter
- Serves as a substitute daytime host, and has hosted jazz, classical and contemporary instrumental music programming
- Produced IPR's award-winning Caucus Land podcast, and has hosted an produced IPR's From the Archives and Under the Golden Dome podcasts
- Multi-award-winning journalist and producer, including two first place Eric Sevareid awards for podcasting with Caucus Land and a first place Feature Reporting award from the Iowa Broadcast News Association for "Video Game Places Player in a Cancer Drama"
- Served as a mentor for NPR’s Next Generation Radio in Iowa
- Served as an adjunct professor with Iowa Central Community College
My Favorite Stories and Episodes
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The space probe Cassini has been exploring Saturn since 2004. One of the instruments on the two story tall spacecraft is from the University of Iowa… -
Presidential candidates have been rewarded in the Iowa caucuses for spending a lot of time traveling the state and meeting with voters. That strategy doesn’t seem to be working for those running against former President Donald Trump in 2024. A runaway victory for the former president could mark a major shift for campaigns and could spell even more trouble for the future of the Iowa caucuses. -
World heavyweight champion boxer Muhammad Ali was at the top of his game in the 1960s. After Ali refused to serve in the Vietnam War for religious reasons, he was arrested and convicted of draft evasion, facing five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. His boxing license was suspended, and he was barred from leaving the country. With his boxing career on hold and his future uncertain, the champ began speaking at college campuses around the country, including in Iowa City.
My Latest Stories
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One of the Iowa's most generous philanthropists has died at the age of 79. Richard Jacobson grew up in Belmond. He died today at his home in… -
Fifty years ago this week, students in the Des Moines school district were suspended for wearing black armbands to silently protest the Vietnam War. They… -
My Latest Podcasts
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The House passes a bill that will gradually lower income tax rates. It requires the state to consistently have a revenue growth of 3.5% for several years. Republicans say last year’s nearly billion dollar surplus should be used to reduce taxes. As school spending is approved by both chambers at a growth of 2.5%, Democrats say it should be higher especially with the recent surplus. Bills race to be passed out of committees during this funnel week, where most bills must pass out of one chamber’s full committee to remain eligible. One includes a prohibition on allowing any land to be purchased by China and another is an emergency bill allowing para-educators to continue as substitute teachers. -
There are two versions of a bill about equal treatment for religious and secular organizations. The Senate version contains language some say could invite discrimination and evasion of Iowa laws, but the House version does not. A Senate bill advances that would require the State Board of Education to create course standards for elective social studies classes about the Bible. And a House bill would prohibit transgender girl athletes from being on girls’ school sports teams. -
There are still in excess of 100 bills a week being considered by subcommittees and some have also passed a full committee. That makes them eligible for a chamber to consider passage. The first bill to do so expands biofuels in Iowa. Unlike similar legislation that didn’t advance last year, this builds in exemptions for some fuel stations that don’t have the infrastructure for biofuels. It passes in the House with bipartisan support. Many education proposals have passed through a committee this week including the Senate’s version of funding for public schools and a proposal that would require curriculum and books in schools to be listed online.
