Midwest

With most foreign students paying full tuition, campuses will lose out as the numbers of international students decrease. Meanwhile, students worry as new restrictions about how long they can stay in the U.S. are set to go into effect.

Kansas City, Missouri, continues to sit at No. 11 in the latest ranking of best startup cities in the Midwest, a place it's held since 2022. Columbia, Missouri, jumped five spots to No. 17. Wichita, Springfield, Manhattan and Topeka all landed in the top 50.

Lawmakers in 13 states have proposed banning or restricting paraquat, a toxic herbicide that researchers have tied to an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease. But efforts to outlaw it have failed across the Midwest.

Giving birth without a doctor or midwife present or foregoing prenatal care are increasingly popular practices. They’re attracting people who mistrust the healthcare system or believe in all-natural approaches to birthing.

Childcare can be nearly as expensive as a mortgage in some Midwest states, but legislation sponsored by two lawmakers aims to reduce that cost by increasing subsidy eligibility and funding new childcare centers.

In many Midwestern cities, even those without camping bans, officials are more aggressive with removing encampments from public spaces. People experiencing homelessness say they’re moving frequently and experiencing anxiety.

The middle of the U.S. is seeing a higher volume of cyberattacks than other regions. Artificial intelligence is exacerbating the problem. A cybersecurity expert shares why the Midwest is a prime target and how people should protect sensitive information.

Of the 12 states counted as the Midwest by the U.S. Census Bureau, eight are seeing modest growth from domestic migration. Four are seeing a decline in the number of people moving in from other parts of the country.

Two former residents say they were abused by staff, while a third was assaulted under the facility’s care by a nursing home resident, according to the lawsuit.

Across Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska, more than 270,000 people ages 65 and older live with Alzheimer's disease. Government support to help people detect dementia early is critical — especially in rural areas — advocates say.

Rent prices in Nebraska have increased 29% over the last seven years, and experts say wages are not keeping up. Nebraskans are finding temporary fixes to housing costs.

The Midwest Newsroom interviewed people who are increasingly relying on credit cards while struggling to pay down student debt. There are more Missourians who are late making payments for both.