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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The National Eating Disorders Association is shutting its telephone helpline down, firing its small staff and hundreds of volunteers. Instead it's using a chatbot — and not because the bot is better.
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Doctors in Michigan say the pending Supreme Court ruling on the abortion medication mifepristone is causing confusion and uncertainty.
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At a children's hospital in Michigan, the staff is struggling to treat the surge of RSV and flu cases in children. Some parents say they have been turned away from emergency rooms for days.
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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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The latest court ruling comes as providers say they're seeing huge demand for the procedure from both local and out-of-state patients.
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About 100 victims of former gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar are suing the FBI. They say the agency mishandled complaints about Nassar in 2015, allowing him to continue his abuse until his arrest.
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Michigan has more COVID-19 hospitalizations than ever. This surge is coming at the same time hospitals are also getting hit with waves of non-COVID patients, who delayed care during the pandemic.
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During the pandemic, 15 children's hospitals reported that admissions for eating disorders doubled, on average. A Michigan teen shares her story about getting diagnosed with anorexia nervosa.
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Detroit is 79% Black, but only 13% of residents have gotten one COVID-19 vaccine shot. In surrounding areas, the rate is nearly double that. The city turned to Black churches to be vaccination sites.
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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.