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Government reorganization efforts and a law requiring schools to remove books with sex acts are now law

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River to River, hosted by Ben Kieffer

On this episode of River to River, host Ben Kieffer talks with Katie Akin of the Des Moines Register about several new laws that took effect July 1 impacting state agencies, school librarians, public assistance programs, and more.

Then, Iowa-Nebraska NAACP President Betty Andrews reacts to last week's decision from U.S. Supreme Court striking down race-conscious policies in college admissions, ending decades of precedent. Kieffer also discusses another recent SCOTUS decision that upheld the Indian Child Welfare Act with legal scholar Ann Estin of the University of Iowa and Jessica Engelking of Great Plains Action Society.

Guests:

  • Katie Akin, Statehouse reporter, Des Moines Register
  • Betty Andrews, state area president, Iowa-Nebraska NAACP
  • Ann Estin, professor, Aliber Family Chair in Law, UI College of Law
  • Jessica Engelking, Great Plains Action Society representation director, descendant of the White Earth Band of Ojibwe
Ben Kieffer is the host of IPR's River to River
Samantha McIntosh is a talk show producer for Iowa Public Radio. She holds a bachelor's degree from St. Cloud State University. Since 2022, McIntosh has worked with IPR's talk team to bring news and features to IPR's listening audience.
Madeleine Willis is IPR's Production Assistant supporting the talk shows and The Sunny Side Project. Willis has experience in audio production, reporting, writing and editing stories and conversations. She's reported and produced conversations on womanhood, sports, and good news from across Iowa. Willis will receive her bachelors degree from the University of Iowa in May 2025.