Focus

Focus

Focus is a weekly, half hour public affairs program covering a wide range of topics, addressing issues in the greater Des Moines area and the entire state of Iowa, hosted by WHO Radio's Sue Danielson.

Episodes

April 7, 2025 28 mins
Community activist Will Keeps discusses his youth program Starts Right Here and new project STAY, housing for homeless young people. Interviewed by News Director Wendy Wilde.
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1. Glyphosate debate in Iowa legislature Senate Bill 1051 Michael Schmidt Iowa Environmental Council against the bill, Elizabeth Burns Thompson Modern Ag Council supporting the bill. 2. A proposal to convert a downtown Des Moines Holiday Inn into homeless housing. Emily Ossweiler Greater Des Moines Supportive Housing. 3. Main Street Iowa Economic Development Project Carol Lilly. 4. Polk County Sheriff Kevin Schneider Increases S...
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March 27, 2025 28 mins
1. Iowa Soccer Development Foundation President Jeff Lorenzen and Program Director Dan Jansen. The project would bring a pro soccer stadium to Des Moines, with retail, housing and other development expected in the area near the current DICO Superfund site. 2. CEO of the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Kim Perez. The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden is planning on several renovations and enhancements to improve the garden ...
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February 10, 2025 28 mins
Roundtable discussion with the Ames Homeless Outreach and Support Team.// Julie Saxton, Mental Health Advocate, Ames Police Department// Susan Moore, social worker with Mary Greeley Medical Center// Kathy Pinkerton, Salvation Army// Becky Lundy, Alternative Response to Community Health (ARCH) team, social worker with Mary Greeley// Nick Toornstra- ARCH team, paramedic//
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February 5, 2025 28 mins
Lyn Wilson, Des Moines Public Schools Homeless Liaison, discusses a jump in numbers of homeless students, along with outreach efforts to help them. // Patrick Waymire, Iowa Department of Public Safety, warns about "grandparent scams" coming to Iowa. // Brittany Brooke Crow, curator of the "Layered" art exhibition, says more people are getting involved in art in the Des Moines metro.
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January 29, 2025 28 mins
Chrissy Meyer, American Heart Association. American Heart Month, drive to get more people into CPR training// News Director Wendy Wilde speaks with Dr. Molly Lee, Iowa State University Veterinary Medicine, about bird flu spreading to pets.// Nick Wuertz, Lutheran Services of Iowa, discussed new federal roadblocks to refugee resettlement in Des Moines. // Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate, discusses National Blue Campaign, human ...
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January 23, 2025 28 mins
Patrick Waymire, Iowa Department of Public Safety discusses new tipline and multi-agency partnership to combat human trafficking in Iowa. // Capt. Ryan Evans, Polk County Sheriff's Office, talks about efforts to prevent human trafficking in central Iowa. // Kathy Coady, Hope Ministries, talks about their new shelter, and increased need in the area. // Dan Kaminski, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, discusses an ongoing Iowa ...
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January 14, 2025 28 mins
Blake Willadsen from Des Moines Area Religious Council, joins WHO reporter Dave Bohl to discuss record food need in 2024. // Suzanne Fraser joins WHO reporter Sue Danielson, talking about growing a hat and mitten drive for Iowa students. // Steve Karsjen, Mayor of Polk City, discusses plans after creation of a new park committee. // Joe Murphy- Iowa Business Council, highlights need for students to stay in Iowa after graduation....
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January 6, 2025 28 mins
Shay Willis, with LifeServe Blood Center, talks about National Blood Donor month and a successful New Year's Day drive. // Chris McCarthy, with UnityPoint Health, joins Sue Danielson to discuss a recently published health needs assessment for central Iowa. // Erin Chambers, tells about a Smithsonian exhibit open during January in Newton. // Erica Spiller, with DMACC, discusses scrubbing their new/old "D" logo from several ...
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December 30, 2024 28 mins
Tamyra Harrison, provides and update on the Salvation Army's fundraising efforts in central Iowa, as their seasonal drive goes until January 31st. Iowa State Treasurer Roby Smith joins WHO's Simon Conway to speak about the I-Save 529 college savings program. // Sue Danielson visits with an Iowa organ donor recipient, participating in this year's Rose Parade. // Andrew Neuendorf, with DMACC, talks about the future of manufacturi...
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December 23, 2024 28 mins
Ernie Goss, Creighton University Economics Professor // Roby Smith, Treasurer of Iowa // Nick Schaul, Director of Finance for the City of Des Moines // Joel Zook, City of Ames // Holly Stecker, Director of new Boone Mainstreet Iowa chapter // Bill Watson, Superintendent of Martensdale-St. Marys School District // Andy Bartlett, Iowa DNR, Manager at Ledges State Park
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December 17, 2024 28 mins
Kristine Tidgren from Iowa State, gives details about the new BOI form deadline of LLCs // Jen Mollhoff discusses a toy drive for University of Iowa Children's Hospital // Jessica Lown, Polk County Conservation // Brian Ortner, AAA holiday driving
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December 12, 2024 28 mins
Sally Shaver DuBois, ISU Extension 4-H healthy kids // Rachel Bly, Grinnell College Dining Dollars // Jessica Dunker, Iowa Restaurant Association, holiday dining // Molly Moeller, Des Moines University plans Mini-Med School for teens // Iowa Lifesaving Awards - Joseph Salmon and Randy Hartley, recipients of the Governor's Lifesaving Awards, and Oelwein Police Officer Codi Werzer, who received the Sullivan Brother's Award.
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December 5, 2024 28 mins
Alliant Energy- Andy Kitslaar // Hope Ministries- Kathy Coady // DMARC Food Pantry - Blake Willadsen // Iowa DNR - Firearm Deer Season - Jace Elliot
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November 27, 2024 28 mins
Major Daniel Hull, Salvation Army-Des Moines// Dr. Joe Cullen, University of Iowa Surgery Professor// Mercy One, Maternal Transport Team// Josh Planos, Better Business Bureau// Andrew Gogurty, Reiman Gardens, Ames//
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November 22, 2024 28 mins
Drake University Professor Elizabeth Talbert and & Homeward Iowa's Angie Arthur discuss family homelessness// Rick Wanamaker, Des Moines Real Estate agent// Jessica Lown, Polk County Conservation, latest events// Chip Murrow, DNR fall tree care//
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November 15, 2024 28 mins
Catherine Hillstad, Adair County Health System, Greenfield tornado recovery// State Climatologist Justin Glison, roller coaster year for weather// Patrick Beane, City of Des Moines, flood fixes// Iowa State Fair Blue Ribbon Foundation holds auction// ISU & Blank Park Zoo work to boost Blandings turtle population//
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November 8, 2024 28 mins
Danny Akright, Habitat for Humanity-Des Moines// Zach Rhein, Aging and Disability Services, IDHHS// Sarah Lembke, Iowa Main Street Challenge Grants awarded// Kathy Coady, Hope Ministries serving Thanksgiving meals// Andrew Gogurty, Reiman Gardens, Ames, Winter Wonderscape preparations//
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November 1, 2024 28 mins
Demand for opioid overdose reversal medication appears to be rising in Des Moines. Sgt. Paul Parezik cites recent case as example of what officers are seeing in the city// Melissa O'Neill, Central Iowa Shelter & Services// Josh Planos, Better Business News-Midwest, Brushing Scams// Kathy Coady, Hope Ministries opens new shelter for homeless women & their children// Stephanie Shepherd, Iowa DNR wildlife biologist, bats// ...
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October 23, 2024 28 mins
Iowa SIDS Foundation notes rise in referrals after infant deaths. Casey Manser of SIDS, State Medical Director, Dr. Robert Kruse, Blank Children's Hospital Pediatricians Dr. Amy Ferguson, Dr. Audrey Bush, & MercyOne Dr. Chloe Butler// Justin Mertz, Panther Marching Band welcomes service dog "Winnie"//
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