Conversations About Government in Iowa

Joan Arnett describes her 43-year career at the Iowa State Capitol, beginning in 1976 with dome tours after Sugar McCauley offered her a tour-guide position.

Earl Swift tells Rodrigo Acevedo that Thomas McDonald, an Iowan trained by Iowa State engineer Anson Marston, was the person most responsible for the American highway system.

Deb Kozell interviews Iowa State University aquaculture specialist Joe Morris about building an aquaculture industry in Iowa.

Dennis Britson of the Iowa Insurance Division explains why perpetual-care cemeteries must begin with a $25,000 trust and deposit 20% of interment-rights sales.

George Oster, former Executive Director of Iowa State University’s Fire Service Institute, says Iowa’s 1975 township law created nearly 3,000 governing and taxing bodies for 872 fire departments.

An interview with Lettie Prell, Director of Research at the Iowa Department of Corrections, discussing her career and changes in corrections policy.

An interview with former director Dennis Prouty about the history of Iowa's Legislative Fiscal Bureau and his career in state government.

An interview with the Iowa State Court Administrator discussing the history and challenges of the Judicial Branch, focusing on budget reductions and court reorganization.