Kate Wells
Kate Wells is an award-winning reporter who covers politics, education, public policy and just about everything in between for Iowa Public Radio, and is based in Cedar Rapids. Her work has aired on NPR's Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Weekend Edition. She's also contributed coverage to WNYC in New York, Harvest Public Media, Austin Public Radio (KUT) and the Texas Tribune. Winner of the 2012 regional RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Award and NBNA Eric Sevareid Award for investigative reporting, Kate came to Iowa Public Radio in 2010 from New England. Previously, she was a news intern for New Hampshire Public Radio.
Kate graduated with honors from Principia College in 2010, where she studied comparative religion and political science.
Kate's favorite public radio program is Radiolab.
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Michigan was the last state to criminally ban using a paid surrogate to have a child. Now that will change under a law signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Monday. -
Michigan Democrats want to pass new bills to remove abortion obstacles like a 24-hour waiting period, and a ban on Medicaid reimbursement. But one Democrat doesn't agree — and they need her vote.
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The National Eating Disorders Association took down a controversial chatbot, after users showed how the newest version could dispense potentially harmful advice about dieting and calorie counting. -
Pediatric cases of RSV and flu have sent families crowding into ERs, as health systems struggle with staff shortages. In Michigan, only 9 out of more than 130 hospitals have a pediatric ICU. -
Michigan faces a key vote on abortion rights as patients travel there from other states. At a clinic near Detroit, many women share what abortion access means for their own lives and futures. -
On TikTok, the hashtag "dementia" has 3 billion views. Caregivers of people with Alzheimer's and other dementias have been using the site to swap tips and share the burdens of life with dementia.
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In a span of 3 days this week, court rulings seesawed between outlawing abortions and permitting them. A judge allowed them to continue Wednesday for at least 21 days. -
Michigan is grappling with high rates of COVID-19, with younger adults and children being hospitalized. To deal with the influx of patients, hospitals have opened overflow tents.
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Michigan and New York successfully drove coronavirus case numbers down in the spring. New York is keeping the curve flat, but Michigan isn't. NPR looks at leadership differences in these states.
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Health care workers treating COVID-19 patients sometimes get sick themselves. Those who recover often go right back to work.
