Rooted is Investigate Midwest's monthly members-only newsletter. As a donor who gives at least $60 a year, you receive an inside look at what our newsroom is working on, Q&As with reporters and more. Thank you — we're happy you're here.
Delivering local cancer and pesticide data directly to Iowans' mailboxes
Our series of stories on pesticide and cancer this year is moving beyond publication and directly into the communities most impacted.
With support from donors like you, the Pulitzer Center’s StoryReach U.S. Fellowship, and the Fund for Investigative Journalism, we are mailing postcards to residents in Hardin and Montgomery counties in Iowa, two areas with some of the highest pesticide use and cancer rates in the nation.
The work has garnered national attention, earning citations from outlets like Axios and Fox News, and republications by well-known regional outlets like Wisconsin Watch, The Gazette in Cedar Rapids, Missouri Independent, Minnesota Reformer, and more.
The postcards are another way our newsroom ensures our reporting is used in meaningful ways, from policy and legal analysis to public debate and local decision-making.
Here’s a preview of the postcard we’re sending to residents.
The back of these postcards include localized health data, ensuring that residents, some without reliable internet access, can still engage with the reporting.
Join us for a conversation on pesticide exposure and cancer risk
We are also hosting a live virtual panel on May 7 to connect the public with reporters and subject-matter experts.
We hope you’ll join us. Here’s the current panel lineup:
- Dr. Richard Deming, MercyOne Cancer Center
- Kerri Johannsen, Iowa Environmental Council
- Amanda Starbuck, Food & Water Watch
- Carey Gillam, The New Lede
- Lisa Lawler, Iowa cancer survivor
- Ben Felder, Investigate Midwest (moderator)
This conversation will focus on what we’re learning about cancer risk in agricultural communities and the potential role of environmental exposure, grounded in reporting from Investigate Midwest and other outlets. You’ll also hear directly from experts on the topic, and ask questions during the discussion.
— Lauren Cross, assistant editor & audience engagement manager
