“I understand it’s expensive and I understand it’s not practical, but from a scientific perspective," said author Lisa Mosconi, "the nutritional composition of caviar is a fantastic complement to whatever nutrients your brain needs for health and cognitive fitness.”

River to River

Brain Food: Diet's Role in Preventing Conditions like Dementia

Ben Kieffer hosts a series of quick conversations to end the news week.

A bill to let parents sue over obscene schoolbooks has advanced at the Statehouse

Experts tell the Midwest Newsroom that shortcomings in the way Iowa’s quiet title law is written include vague language that defines how someone can argue that the property belongs to them. Another is the way people are notified – or, as in Natalia’s case, are not notified – that there’s a dispute about ownership of their property.

Investigation finds issues with notification requirements in property disputes

Host Ben Kieffer, Sara Mitchell of UI and Chris Larimer of UNI discuss the RNC's description of the Jan. 6th riot as "legitimate political discourse," and the GOP leaders who are denouncing it.

RNC description of Jan. 6 events and censure of Cheney and Kinzinger dividing the GOP

Ben Kieffer talks to presidential historian Tim Walch about historic firsts that have diversified the U.S. Supreme Court.

A look at historic firsts that have diversified the U.S. Supreme Court

Host Ben Kieffer and Grant Gerlock talk with guests about bills being crafted by Iowa lawmakers to change education in the state.

Proposals would change education in Iowa

Michaela Ramm of the Cedar Rapids Gazette joins Ben Kieffer to discuss what the end of Iowa's emergency COVID-19 disaster proclamation means for data collection, tracking cases and access to information. Plus, other top news stories and conversations from around the state, including tax bills at the statehouse, free speech training at Iowa's public universities and how vertical farming is a new way of harvesting leafy greens.

Reynolds ends Iowa's COVID-19 emergency disaster proclamation

A look at all the Iowans who allegedly took part in the storming of the U.S. Capitol.

What have we learned about the seven Iowans charged in relation to the January 6 riot?

Dennis Goldford of Drake University and Jim McCormick of Iowa State University join Ben Kieffer to discuss the latest news from Ukraine and various other political headlines from the U.S. and abroad.

The U.S. is sending more troops to Ukraine. Here's what that means moving forward.

Hear about the tax proposals laid out by the governor and both chambers of the Iowa Legislature this year.

What you need to know about the proposed Iowa flat tax

Rep. Ann Meyer of Fort Dodge and Rep. Tracy Ehlert from Cedar Rapids join IPR state government reporter Katarina Sostaric and host Ben Kieffer to discuss bills addressing Iowa's child care issues. Before that, a conversation with a Des Moines parent about her struggles to find affordable child care and how the workforce shortage is connected to these issues.

Here's how Iowa lawmakers are addressing the state's child care crisis

E-15 at every pump, the 2022 Iowa Caucus, and building a safer snow plow.

Court's ruling on school mask mandates has stakeholders quibbling over impact

Host Ben Kieffer talks to law scholar Derek Muller about the latest revelations from the January 6th and Department of Justice investigations into the 2020 election. Muller also offers an explanation of the Electoral Count Act, explores questions of racial gerrymandering before federal courts and offers analysis on the retirement of Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer.

The 2020 vote, and what came after, showed the democratic system is at risk

In response to Russian demands, the Biden administration said it's committed to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. With the ball in its court, what will the Russian Federation do? Ben Kieffer talks with political scientists about the standoff.

Putin's stockpile on Ukraine border makes backing down difficult

Ben Kieffer talks to Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller and Dr. Alison Lynch for an update on the opioid crisis and the reason for the high price of heating this winter.

How fentanyl is driving the rate of overdose deaths across Iowa

River to River is a conversation about the news with an Iowa perspective. Together we dig into the story behind the headlines - we talk with newsmakers and a diverse range of experts to find out how the news affects you. We take on challenging topics, explore issues from all sides, and foster conversation and understanding