Kadin Luhmann

My Recent Work

Iowa Capital Dispatch •

Iowa communities look to fill gaps in statewide mental health care • Iowa Capital Dispatch

One of the most prominent issues in Iowa mental health care is the lack of available psychiatrists and behavioral health providers, especially in rural communities.
According to Mental Health Stats, an organization that publishes U.S. mental health data, Iowa on average has 25 available psychiatrists per 100,000 residents, which is 37.5% below the national average of 40 psychiatrists per 100,000 residents as of 2025.
Iowa also has a significant shortage of mental health providers, with one provi...
Iowa Capital Dispatch •

GOP gubernatorial candidate Adam Steen addresses death threat against campaign • Iowa Capital Dispatch

AMES – Republican gubernatorial candidate Adam Steen, speaking Friday during a campaign stop at Wallaby’s restaurant in Ames, addressed an earlier death threat against his campaign .
Steen also discussed his proposals for education, reproductive health care and eminent domain, as well as the current value of an endorsement from President Donald Trump
The event, part of Steen’s “Full Steen Ahead Tour,” came four days after Steen’s campaign reported receiving a death threat prior to a campaign eve...
Iowa Capital Dispatch •

Bee season starts 17 days early, potentially damaging hives, experts say • Iowa Capital Dispatch

On World Bee Day, experts say an unusually early North American bee swarm season, which began 17 days earlier than last year following record heatwaves in 2026, could reshape bee populations, pollination patterns, honey production and the timing of seasonal ecosystems. 
While bee swarming is a natural reproductive process in which bee colonies split and form new groups, researchers and beekeepers say that early activity may be connected to broad environmental changes linked to warmer temperature...
Iowa State Daily •

Meet the gubernatorial candidate: Adam Steen

Adam Steen, a businessman and former director of Iowa Administrative Services under Gov. Kim Reynolds, is one of five Republicans hoping to win his party’s nomination for the 2026 Iowa gubernatorial election.
Steen said that Reynolds’ decision not to seek reelection and his desire to create prosperous opportunities for young families motivated him to run for governor.
“My wife and I and many others looked at the landscape of the political scene and said, ‘We want to jump into this race to preser...
Iowa State Daily •

Meet the gubernatorial candidate: U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra

U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra is one of five Republican candidates hoping to represent his party in the 2026 Iowa gubernatorial election.
Feenstra, who grew up in the small town of Hull, said he is running as a fourth-generation Iowan to take the state to “new heights,” adding that he worked with President Donald Trump on a tax cut he describes as the “largest” in American history.
“I’m in my third term in the U.S. Congress, where I worked with President Trump and wrote the largest tax cut in U.S. hi...
Iowa State Daily •

Meet the gubernatorial candidate: State Auditor Rob Sand

State Auditor Rob Sand is running as the lone Democratic candidate in the 2026 Iowa gubernatorial election.
Sand said that Iowa’s “broken” political system and one-party leadership has allowed political “insiders” to make themselves and special interests a priority over their constituents.
“Our political system is broken, and a small group of powerful insiders have spent the last decade putting special interests and themselves ahead of Iowans,” Sand said. “The last decade of failed leadership an...
Iowa State Daily •

Meet the candidate: Chris Jones looks to solve Iowa’s water quality problem

Former University of Iowa professor and water scientist Chris Jones is running for Iowa secretary of agriculture against incumbent Mike Naig.
Jones, a Democrat, said Iowa’s water pollution is a “quality of life” issue that is causing young people to leave the state.
“I’m running out of a sense of duty,” Jones said. “I feel like someone with a respected voice needs to take up the call to better water quality here. What we’ve tried over the past 30 to 40 years has not worked, so let’s try somethin...
Iowa State Daily •

Iranian students react to the U.S. war with Iran

As the U.S. war with Iran enters its sixth week, a group of Iranian students at Iowa State University expressed their support for the U.S. and Israel’s military action against their country’s government.
Earlier this year, Iranian security forces carried out mass killings of protesters demonstrating after the nation’s currency collapsed and inflation reached more than 40%. State-sponsored media in Iran reported that 3,177 people were killed during demonstrations, while exiled media outlet Iran I...
Iowa State Daily •

Transparency concerns grow over Iowa’s $314 million private school program

As Iowa’s Education Savings Account (ESA) program continues to expand, questions remain about how the state oversees the program and what information about its spending is publicly available.
Created in 2023 by House File 68, the ESA program allows eligible families to use state funds to cover private school tuition costs, non-traditional education and other fees. Participation in the program has grown in recent years, costing taxpayers more than $314 million for the 2025-26 school year, up from...
Iowa State Daily •

‘A crime against humanity’: ISU students speak out against deadly violence in Iran

Iowa State University students have gathered in front of Parks Library in recent weeks to express support for protesters in Iran and to speak out against the country’s Islamic Republic.
Three student-led demonstrations have occurred on campus since reports of widespread violence against Iranian protesters surfaced in early January. 
State-sponsored media in Iran reported that 3,117 people have died as a result of protests in the country, while exiled media outlet Iran International reported a de...
Iowa State Daily •

MU parking prices continue to rise: Here’s why

The Memorial Union Parking Ramp has seen a steady rise in annual revenue in recent years. 
In fiscal year 2024, the MU made more than $794,000 from its parking ramp, an increase from 2023, when the amount was more than $788,000. 
Despite the increase in revenue, the MU has raised permit prices over the past three years. The most significant increase occurred from FY 2023 to FY 2024, where permit fees were increased by an average of 7%.
Permit fees over the past two years saw an increase of 3%. A...
Iowa State Daily •

Behind the scenes: ISU Meat Laboratory

As the hum of machinery blends with the grinding of pork trim and bacon, employees inside the Iowa State University Meats Laboratory work steadily to produce the lab’s popular sweet bacon sticks.
Making products for retail is just one of the many functions of the Meat Lab. The lab hosts several undergraduate animal science classes and other short courses.
Assistant Teaching Professor Caroline Downey said that the Meat Lab gives animal science students an opportunity to gain hands-on experience....
Iowa State Daily •

Weather the storm: How students and staff can prepare for winter

As the days grow shorter and leaves scatter across campus sidewalks, Iowa State University officials are preparing for the arrival of the winter season. 
Carrie Jacobs, assistant public safety chief of police, said that students and staff will be notified of any class delays and cancellations through email. ISUPD and Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) work closely with the National Weather Service (NWS) to monitor winter storm alerts.
Jacobs said that in emergencies, ISUPD will still be avail...
Iowa State Daily •

ISU Parking makes $5 million: Here’s where the money goes

Parking costs at Iowa State have steadily climbed in recent years, and so has the department’s revenue.
The ISU Parking Division reported a revenue of nearly $5.1 million in fiscal year 2024, an increase from nearly $4.8 million in 2023. 
During the same period, permit fees increased by nearly 3.1% on average, while the parking division’s revenue increased by 6.7%. The increase in revenue outperformed rising fees, in part because the price of violations rose by an average of more than 5.4% durin...
Iowa State Daily •

The inventions of Iowa State

From a lead-free solder used in technology worldwide to the first electronic computer, research at Iowa State continues to produce inventions that shape everyday life.
Lead-free solder, a metal mixture used to connect parts in electronic devices, ranks as Iowa State’s highest-earning invention. It generated nearly $60 million in royalties before the patent expired in 2013, according to Patrick Klepcyk, director of the ISU Office of Innovation Commercialization (OIC). The solder is widely used in...
Iowa State Daily •

Caffeine craze: ISU students turn to coffee and energy drinks

As Iowa State students begin the second half of the fall semester, the scent of coffee and the crack of energy drink tabs fill campus hallways.
Brayden Meints, a junior in anthropology, said caffeine helps him stay focused on academics and other daily tasks.
“It just helps me focus a little bit more,” Meints said. “My brain feels clearer.”
Meints is not the only student who drinks caffeine to help with academics. According to Kristi Patel, the associate retail director for ISU Dining, caffeine s...
Iowa State Daily •

Amazon Web Services executive gives seminar, receives ISU award

Iowa State graduate and Amazon Web Services (AWS) executive Dr. Swami Sivasubramanian returned to campus Friday to deliver a seminar and accept the Professional Achievement Citation in Engineering (PACE) Award.
Sivasubramanian graduated from Iowa State in 2002 with an M.S. in computer engineering. He has been awarded 250 patents and has authored 40 scientific papers and journals.
Sivasubramanian said that Friday marked his first trip back to Iowa State since his graduation.
“It’s very nostalgic...
Iowa State Daily •

Behind the scenes: ISU Bakery and Dining Support Center

When students treat themselves to a cookie from Union Drive Marketplace or a cupcake from Seasons, every bite traces back to the ISU Bakery.
Operating out of the Knapp-Storms Building, the bakery produces more than 1.6 million desserts per year.
“We produce breads, pastries, cookies, bars, cupcakes, bagels and pizza dough,” Karen Rodekamp, director of ISU Dining, said. 
The ISU Bakery, also known as the Dining Support Center, has 243 unique recipes that are still popular among former Iowa State...
Iowa State Daily •

Students line up for free caricatures at ISU AfterDark

Caricature drawings took place at the Memorial Union on Friday night as a part of ISU AfterDark. Many students waited in line for the opportunity to receive a free cartoon portrait of themselves.
Ryan Millennior, a senior in mechanical engineering, said he was impressed by the speed and details of the caricatures.
“The artists really capture the emotions and the essence of a person in under three minutes,” Millennior said.
Kira Moore, an Iowa State graduate, has worked as a caricature artist for...
Iowa State Daily •

Overcoming adversity: ISU international students share their experiences

Krisha Sta Maria, a junior in psychology, moved to Ames as a 13-year-old immigrant from the Philippines. Sta Maria said she faced discrimination as a middle school student due to her accent and the food she would bring for lunch.
Seven years later, Sta Maria has found a sense of belonging at Iowa State.
“I see a lot more acceptance here, more diversity and more people that are willing to learn about you and your culture,” Sta Maria said.
Sta Maria is a domestic student because she recently becam...
messengernews.net •

Giving Back

-Messenger photo by Kadin Luhmann

Murphy washington, residential manager for the Fort Dodge Residential Correctional Facility, grew up in the Pleasant Valley neighborhood in Fort Dodge. Today, he gives back to the community through his work with the Pleasant Valley Awareness Committee. He has also worked with Athletics for Education and Success.Editor’s note: This feature first ran in a special publication called Hometown Pride, published June 28, 2025, featuring people and organizations from F...
Iowa State Daily •

Behind the scenes: ISU Creamery

The Iowa State University Creamery staff have worked behind the scenes to meet the demand that the new school year brings. 
“There were a lot of welcome back parties on campus, so we are actually kind of low on some supplies right now,” Danielle Christofferson, the Creamery’s production manager and interim business manager, said. “We’re making a lot of cups right now.”
Employees at the Creamery are responsible for packaging, mixing and flavoring ingredients, cleaning the equipment and freezing t...
Iowa State Daily •

ISU club members look for new recruits at ClubFest

ClubFest drew many Iowa State students to the Memorial Union on Wednesday. 
The annual event featured a large number of student organizations and clubs, where members displayed presentations and other pitches in order to recruit new members.
Bryan Kurpiewski, a senior in marketing, represented the Iowa State Men’s Hockey Club as a board member and assistant coach for the team.
“There’s a big Cyclone community and that’s something we’ve been lacking the past couple years, so we’re just trying to...
Iowa State Daily •

Parking 101: How to avoid tickets

For many Iowa State students, the start of the new semester comes with unfamiliarity about parking rules and how to get to campus without a ticket.
Ryan Lane, a sophomore in environmental engineering, said that many of his roommates received tickets during their first year on campus.
“During the first couple of months, they got a lot of tickets because the signs were confusing and they had to park on the side streets,” Lane said. “I lived in Buchanan and got a parking pass, but my roommates were...
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