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 took down a controversial chatbot, after users showed how the newest version could dispense potentially harmful advice about dieting and calorie counting.
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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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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.
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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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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.
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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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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.
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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.