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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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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Patients who couldn't see a doctor earlier in the pandemic or were too afraid to go to a hospital have finally become too sick to stay away. Many ERs now struggle to cope with an onslaught of need.
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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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In Georgia, Michigan and Ohio, it's now been a few days of kids between the ages of 12 and 15 getting vaccinated. Each state has also had a different reaction to new CDC guidance on masks.
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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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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.