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# Readers Favor Public Safety, Health Matters For Top 2017 IowaWatch Stories
- URL: https://www.investigatemidwest.org/public-safety-health-stories-draw-readers-interest-to-iowawatch-in-2017/
- Published: 2017-12-26T10:00:51.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-11T02:38:19.000Z
- Description: IowaWatch reporters covered a wide range of topics throughout 2017, ranging from how law enforcement officials handle their public safety duties to how we deal with health care. Readers decided which of the more than 80 stories we produced in 2017 at IowaWatch.org and in our weekly radio program, th
- Author: Mariah Prendergast
- Tags: Health, Investigate Midwest News, iowawatch, Alzheimer's, mental health, police interrogation, Reid technique, Second Amendment, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-06-18 04:56

###### LISTEN TO THE IOWAWATCH CONNECTION PODCAST

IowaWatch reporters covered a wide range of topics throughout the year, with stories focusing on how law enforcement officials handle their public safety duties to how to deal with health care leading the list of five most-read 2017 IowaWatch stories.

Readers decided which of the more than 80 stories we produced in 2017 at [IowaWatch.org](https://investigatemidwest.org/?ref=investigatemidwest.org) and in our weekly radio program, the [IowaWatch Connection](https://investigatemidwest.org/radio/?ref=investigatemidwest.org) were the most intriguing. Google Analytics data revealed the top five most-read from 2017:

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![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cd/d3/cdd3c059-8898-40b1-bcf7-cb2d3aa89775/content/images/2026/09/Guns-On-Sale_G-G-.jpg)

### [“Iowa Sheriffs State Concerns About Handgun Law Impact,”](https://investigatemidwest.org/iowa-sheriffs-state-concerns-about-handgun-law-impact/?ref=investigatemidwest.org) By Krista Johnson

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![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cd/d3/cdd3c059-8898-40b1-bcf7-cb2d3aa89775/content/images/2026/09/Dorothy-Varallo-Specken_court-records.jpg)

### [“Controversial Criminal Interrogation Technique Suspected Of Producing False Confessions Under Fire,”](https://investigatemidwest.org/controversial-criminal-interrogation-technique-suspected-of-producing-false-confessions-under-fire/?ref=investigatemidwest.org) by Krista Johnson

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![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cd/d3/cdd3c059-8898-40b1-bcf7-cb2d3aa89775/content/images/2026/09/Iowa-City-West.jpg)

### “[Effectiveness Of Sexual Assault Prevention Education For High School Students Questioned](https://investigatemidwest.org/high-school-sexual-assault-trainings-effectiveness-questioned/?ref=investigatemidwest.org),” by Fenna Semken

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![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cd/d3/cdd3c059-8898-40b1-bcf7-cb2d3aa89775/content/images/2026/09/Sherers_cards_Sept2017.jpg)

### [“Alzheimer’s Tsunami’ Threatens Growing Dementia Care Demand As Medicaid Funding Gets Tighter,”](https://investigatemidwest.org/alzheimers-tsunami-threatens-growing-dementia-care-demand-as-medicaid-funding-gets-tighter/?ref=investigatemidwest.org) by Cindy Hadish

This story also reached a wide national audience via HuffPost, which selected IowaWatch as its news partner during a 2017 ‘Listen to America’ tour.

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![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/cd/d3/cdd3c059-8898-40b1-bcf7-cb2d3aa89775/content/images/2026/09/IMG_4310.jpg)

### “[Mental Health Issues Growing Among Iowa High School Students](https://investigatemidwest.org/mental-health-issues-growing-among-iowa-high-school-students/?ref=investigatemidwest.org),” by Fenna Semken, Clare Rolinger, Sophia Schillinger, Mina Takahashi, Taylor Shelfo, and Stephen J. Berry

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Thanks to support from readers, and opportunities like the national NewsMatch fund-drive, IowaWatch plans to continue producing high-quality journalism like the pieces listed above. To support IowaWatch and its reporters, please visit [iawat.ch/NewsMtch](https://www.givegab.com/nonprofits/iowa-center-for-public-affairs-journalism-iowawatch-org?ref=investigatemidwest.org) or [IowaWatch.org](https://investigatemidwest.org/?ref=investigatemidwest.org) and click the “Donate” button.

The Iowa Center for Public Affairs Journalism is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan, investigative news service that does investigative and community affairs journalism in collaboration with other media and trains college student journalists to do this reporting at a high level. The center was incorporated as a non-profit in Iowa in February 2010.