Katarina Sostaric
State Government ReporterExpertise: Reporting, writing and producing stories to help IPR listeners and readers understand their state government and how it affects Iowans' lives
Education: University of Missouri
Favorite Iowa Destination: Loess Hills hiking trails
Experience:
- Covered local and statewide government issues, local community issues and other news for IPR, as part of the Alaska public radio network, and KBIA in Columbia, Mo
- Has reported and written features on all branches of Iowa's state government, including continued coverage throughout the duration of each annual legislative session
- Is a multi-award-winning reporter, including a regional Edward R. Murrow and an Iowa Broadcast News Association award for her coverage of abortion rights in Iowa and several Eric Sevareid awards for reporting on Iowa's strict time limit on sexual abuse lawsuits, voting rights, social isolation of nursing home residents during the COVID-19 pandemic and the drop in family planning services
- Regularly appears on Iowa Press on Iowa PBS, where she interviews elected officials
- Has reported and produced features for All Things Considered
- Serves as the secretary of the Iowa Capitol Press Association
- Served as a mentor for NPR’s Next Generation Radio in Iowa
My Favorite Stories
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Iowa's Glenwood Resource Center, which was once home to hundreds of people with disabilities, grabbed national headlines about four years ago when federal investigators found senior staff were conducting harmful human subject experiments and providing poor medical care. It will close on June 30. -
Immigrants and advocates held rallies and marches in four Iowa cities Wednesday evening to protest a law set to take effect July 1 that will allow state and local officials to arrest and deport immigrants who illegally re-entered the country. -
More Iowans with disabilities who work could qualify for government-funded health coverage through Medicaid under a bill in the Iowa House of Representatives. But those who have been pushing for changes say it wouldn’t go far enough to ensure disabled Iowans can continue to receive services if they get a job promotion or get married. -
Iowa’s strict time limit on suing perpetrators of childhood sexual abuse means Iowa victims could see their financial compensation from the Boy Scouts of America reduced by 55 to 70% compared to victims in other states. Sen. Tim Kraayenbrink filed a bill Monday to prevent that from happening. -
A bill advanced Wednesday in the Iowa House of Representatives would limit Iowans’ ability to sue pesticide companies when their products are linked to serious health problems.
My Latest Stories
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Statehouse reporters discuss the bills that did and did not make it through the second 'funnel' deadline — including legislation on DEI, libraries, Medicaid and more. -
State lawmakers faced their second major legislative deadline this week to narrow down the bills under consideration at the Iowa Capitol. Here's what advanced and what didn't. -
Roundup maker Bayer has been pushing bills in at least 11 states, including Iowa, to shield itself and other pesticide companies from cancer lawsuits. The Iowa House has declined to advance the bill ahead of a key legislative deadline. -
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a bill into law Wednesday banning cellphone use while driving, unless it’s in a hands-free mode. The law takes effect July 1. -
Handling a cellphone while driving could soon be illegal in Iowa under a bill that is on its way to the governor’s desk. -
The Iowa House of Representatives passed two election-related bills Tuesday that would overhaul the recount process and add methods of checking voters’ citizenship status, among other changes. -
Republicans in the Iowa Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would require certain Iowans on Medicaid to prove they are working at least 80 hours a month to keep their coverage, if the federal government approves the state’s plan. -
Thirty-five ballots cast by non-U.S. citizens were counted in Iowa’s 2024 general election, according to Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate. He said 277 noncitizens were registered to vote, after initially flagging more than 2,000 people as possible noncitizens. -
The Iowa House advanced two proposals Tuesday targeting diversity, equity and inclusion in state agencies and higher education amidst pushback from Iowa House Democrats. -
Thousands of able-bodied Iowans could be required to report work hours to maintain their Medicaid eligibility under bills advancing in the Iowa legislature.