LATEST HEADLINES
Iowans like AEAs, but Republicans are ramming through controversial reforms anyway
Sen. Molly Donahue (D-Cedar Rapids) questioned her colleagues on why they were moving forward with enacting major legislative changes to Iowa’s Area...
VIDEOS: Iowa House and Senate debate ban on basic income programs
UpLift—The Central Iowa Basic Income program has reported making strides in studying the impacts of no-strings-attached monthly income for Iowans...
What will happen to 1,276 laid-off Tyson workers in Perry?
What will happen to the 1,276 Iowans who will lose their jobs when the Tyson pork processing plant in Perry closes in June? Roger Kail, president of...
Iowa Republican blocks bill to expand firefighter cancer coverage
Sen. Jason Schultz (R-Schleswig) declined to advance a bill that would provide Iowa firefighters with more comprehensive disability coverage for...
Opinion: Rethinking public high schools would help us fill important STEM jobs locally
We need a robust, highly skilled workforce in STEM to support the influx of major infrastructure projects cropping up across the country. The way to fix this is by starting at the high school level.
Republican senators to poor Iowans: Work harder to escape poverty
According to two Republican state senators, participants in the UpLift—The Central Iowa Basic Income Program, just need to work harder and pull up...
Biden’s 2025 budget prioritizes lowering costs for families, taxing the rich
The president’s budget includes proposals to lower childcare costs, create a paid family leave program, lower drug costs, and strengthen Social Security and Medicare—all by raising taxes on the wealthy and corporations.
Immigration attorney describes Iowa GOP anti-migrant bill as ‘redundant’
Immigration advocates noted there are a few issues with a new Republican-backed bill aimed at undocumented migrants that is working its way through...
1,276 people to lose jobs when Tyson plant in Perry closes in June
1,276. That's how many people in and around the central Iowa town of Perry will lose their jobs by the end of June, after Tyson announced Monday it...
How ‘fetal personhood’ laws can limit family-planning options like IVF
Enshrining the idea of life beginning at fertilization, before implantation, would threaten Iowan’s abilities to access certain kinds of...
Biden attacks GOP abortion bans, vows to restore Roe during State of the Union
“Many of you in this chamber and my predecessor are promising to pass a national ban on reproductive freedom,” Biden said to Republicans. “My God, what freedoms will you take away next?”
VIDEOS
VIDEOS: Iowa Democratic representatives debate anti-abortion curriculum bill
VIDEOS: Discriminatory legislation hurts Iowa businesses
VIDEOS: LGBTQ erasure bill would ‘rewrite’ Iowa code
VIDEO: Iowa bill to criminalize homelessness tabled for now
VIDEOS: Iowans react to LGBTQ discrimination bill going up in flames
VIDEOS: Iowans share personal experiences with anti-abortion centers
Republican senators to poor Iowans: Work harder to escape poverty
According to two Republican state senators, participants in the UpLift—The Central Iowa Basic Income Program, just need to work harder and pull up their bootstraps to escape poverty. “It’s not the first job that gives you a raise to maybe $15 an hour that leads to the...
Biden’s 2025 budget prioritizes lowering costs for families, taxing the rich
The president’s budget includes proposals to lower childcare costs, create a paid family leave program, lower drug costs, and strengthen Social Security and Medicare—all by raising taxes on the wealthy and corporations.
Immigration attorney describes Iowa GOP anti-migrant bill as ‘redundant’
Immigration advocates noted there are a few issues with a new Republican-backed bill aimed at undocumented migrants that is working its way through the Iowa Legislature. HF 2608 would require the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to verify the...
1,276 people to lose jobs when Tyson plant in Perry closes in June
1,276. That's how many people in and around the central Iowa town of Perry will lose their jobs by the end of June, after Tyson announced Monday it would permanently close its longtime pork processing plant there. That's a HUGE number of workers (and the largest...
How ‘fetal personhood’ laws can limit family-planning options like IVF
Enshrining the idea of life beginning at fertilization, before implantation, would threaten Iowan’s abilities to access certain kinds of contraceptives and to in vitro fertilization (IVF). It would also be a serious blow to reproductive freedom. Sally Frank, a law...
VIDEOS
Follow Us On Instagram
OUR IOWA
Iowa Life
Crafty Grandma: Waterloo craft-fluencer sharing her skills
Sue Wright and I had been chatting over coffee for a while, about her crafting projects, her tiny cardboard houses, and her YouTube presence, when I noticed the buttons of her shirt bore a striking resemblance to buttons inside of the miniature house she was showing...
The best pizza in Iowa, according to Iowans
Where can you find the best pizza in Iowa?
15 Martin Luther King Jr. Day events across Iowa in 2024
They say Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday held this year on Jan. 15, 2024, should be "a day on, not a day off." So in that spirit, here are some events coming up honoring—and furthering the legacy of—one of this country's greatest civil rights leaders....
No more Kum & Go? New owner Maverik of Utah retiring famous brand
Will Kum & Go have come and gone by next year? One new report claims that's the plan by the store's new owners. The Iowa-based convenience store chain Kum & Go—a brand occasionally mocked outside of the Midwest for its mildly salacious name—was bought by...
Where to tuck into a serious weekend breakfast in Eastern Iowa
You’ve gotta love a locally owned greasy spoon breakfast spot. Luckily, eastern Iowa is covered with them.
Iowa arcades & drive-ins for maximum nostalgia
It’s a little known piece of trivia that Ottumwa, Iowa, is billed as the “Video Game Capital of the World.” Find out what else the Hawkeye State has for throwback fun.
Feeling charitable? Donate to an Iowa nonprofit that’s Iowan-approved.
It had to be the most popular question we’ve ever asked:
Which charity helping Iowans should folks donate to this year?
Hundreds of worthy causes across the state were mentioned.
Hawkeye, ISU marching bands among Top 5 in Metallica contest
Grammy-winning, Hall-of-Fame thrash metal rockers Metallica are making marching band competitions cool for a whole new crowd. In April, the band...
Celebrate Las Posadas at these Iowa events
Las Posadas, Spanish for "inn" or "lodging," celebrates (and sometimes recreates) the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem taken by Mary and Joseph,...
Find the perfect Christmas tree at these 24 Iowa farms
Iowa farmers only plant corn and beans, you say? Tell that to the 100+ Christmas tree farms dotted across Iowa's snowy landscape this time of year,...
Get in the Christmas spirit with these 10 Iowa light displays
As the holiday season commences, so do the festivities! Light shows are a perfect way to get into the holiday spirit, spend time with your...
LOCAL STORIES
Crafty Grandma: Waterloo craft-fluencer sharing her skills
Sue Wright and I had been chatting over coffee for a while, about her crafting projects, her tiny cardboard houses, and her YouTube presence, when I noticed the buttons of her shirt bore a striking resemblance to buttons inside of the miniature house she was showing...
15 Martin Luther King Jr. Day events across Iowa in 2024
They say Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday held this year on Jan. 15, 2024, should be "a day on, not a day off." So in that spirit, here are some events coming up honoring—and furthering the legacy of—one of this country's greatest civil rights leaders....
No more Kum & Go? New owner Maverik of Utah retiring famous brand
Will Kum & Go have come and gone by next year? One new report claims that's the plan by the store's new owners. The Iowa-based convenience store chain Kum & Go—a brand occasionally mocked outside of the Midwest for its mildly salacious name—was bought by...
Iowa’s 10 oldest cities, and how they got their start
Today, there are 947 incorporated municipalities in Iowa. Check out our list of the 10 oldest Iowa cities, which we have based largely on the official incorporation date according to the Iowa Secretary of State’s office, though we made a few exceptions to that rule where noted.
Here’s a recap of the biggest headlines Iowa celebs made In 2023
For these 7 famous Iowans, 2023 was a year of controversy, career highlights, and full-circle moments.
QUIZZES
LOCAL VIDEOS
Local Videos
VIDEO: Ty Tries Cotton Candy
Ty's cotton candy expertise came in handy for this edition of Ty Tries! @iowastartingline Ty’s #cottoncandy expertise came in handy for this edition of #TyTries, which included Cotton #Candy #Oreos. #iowa #iowafun #iowafood ♬ original sound - Iowa Starting Line
VIDEO: Everything I Ate at the Iowa State Fair
Delicious. @iowastartingline 😋 😋 😋 😋 😋 🎥: @broadwaychey #iowa #iowalife #iowastatefair #iloveuiowa ♬ original sound - Iowa Starting Line
VIDEO: Tailgating 101
Name a better tailgating state ... we'll wait. @iowastartingline Name a better tailgating state … we’ll wait. #Iowa #cyhawk #iowa #tailgateszn ♬ original sound - Iowa Starting Line
VIDEO: Sioux City 2023 Fall Events
From the city's first-ever Black music festival showcasing a historic neighborhood, to a talent show where all talents are welcome, two new Sioux City events this fall are celebrating the city's diverse cultures. @iowastartingline From the city's first-ever Black...
VIDEO: Log Out of Netflix! Check These Out Instead
Iowa DOES have cool things! Here’s Starting Line Correspondent Avery spotlighting vintage theaters offering accessible and family-friendly entertainment across the state. @iowastartingline Iowa DOES have cool things! Here’s Starting Line Correspondent Avery...
VIDEO: Iowa Bucket List Spot
Add this to your fall bucket list! @iowastartingline Add this to your fall bucket list! 🍂 📹: @lowcountry_wanderer #fall #autumn #iowa #iowans ♬ original sound - Iowa Starting Line