Editor’s note: Researchers at the University of Kansas recently found that American dads are spending more time with their children today than they were prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. A study done by the Institute for Family Studies shows that trend began long before the pandemic. Fathers in certain populations Read more…
According to the Center for Disease Control, 30 states had reported a total of 935 confirmed measles cases as of May 1, 2025. The United States declared the virus eliminated in 2000, but experts say a decrease in vaccination rates has led to the return of the virus. Three measles deaths Read more…
Compiled by Macey Shofroth and Emily Barske Wood Nearly 500 people, a record number, shared with us their thoughts about the status of gender equity in Iowa. The Business Record has published its annual survey on women’s and gender issues as part of our Fearless initiative for the last several Read more…
Shane and Jackee Austerman with their children, Isaiah and Elizabeth. Contributed photo. Shane and Jackee Austerman’s children, Isaiah, 15, and Elizabeth, 12, were born with phenylketonuria, or PKU, a rare genetic disorder where the body is unable to produce an enzyme that breaks down the amino acid phenylalanine. Their diagnoses Read more…
The Iowa Women’s Foundation is dedicated to combating six major barriers to women’s financial self-sufficiency — transportation, housing, child care, education and training, employment, and mentoring. A statewide tour in 2016 revealed child care to be the barrier most pressing to Iowa families. “If you don’t have child care, you can’t Read more…
A report released Tuesday by the Iowa Women’s Foundation and Common Sense Institute Iowa (CSI Iowa) analyzed the results of a new child care pilot program and projected the program’s future economic impacts if expanded statewide. The Childcare Solutions Funds pilot program raised $5.3 million in combined public-private funding, which Read more…
Infant-at-work policies improve retention, preserve institutional knowledge It was time for Erin Moran to go back to work, with her baby daughter in tow as part of her workplace’s infant-at-work program.The start was not auspicious.“She had horrible gas, and acid reflux, and was screaming, and I thought, ‘Oh, no, I’m Read more…
Iowa is in the midst of a marathon, providers and experts said, toward a goal of families being confident that they can sign up for high-quality child care, near where they live, without busting their budgets. Big improvements over the course of decades mean a lot of ground has already Read more…
Issues with availability and affordability plague Iowa’s child care system. In recent years, the issue has been seen by many as a business issue: If workers cannot afford or find available child care, they can’t work. Adding more fuel to the fire, school districts that can’t find enough teachers are Read more…
Lawmakers approved numerous plans that will directly affect Iowans before they adjourned April 20. Their inaction on other topics was in some cases just as notable. Below is a brief survey from Fearless of legislation and other state government developments most directly relevant to women and girls. We intend to Read more…