Culture
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University of Iowa Wave is officially the top college sports tradition in the country
From sacred game-day rituals to stadium-wide celebrations, find out which beloved Iowa tradition topped USA TODAY’s best college sports list.
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Learn about Muscatine’s 8 sister cities (in 8 different countries!)
Muscatine, Iowa, has eight sister cities around the world. Find out how these international destinations foster understanding in southeastern Iowa.
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2024 in pop culture: In a bruising year, we sought out fantasy, escapism—and cute little animals
Here’s everything (more or less) you need to know about 2024 in pop culture.
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Powerful art that mobilizes Gen Z: The “We The Future” campaign is inspiring new voters across America
Amplifier and Good Trouble Collaborative have partnered with exciting artists to create the “We The Future” campaign, geared towards uplifting and inspiring Gen Z voters ahead of the 2024 election.
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Van Meter Visitor Festival Sept. 28 embraces spooky fun
Celebrate some uniquely Iowa folklore at the Van Meter Visitor Festival
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12 Iowa towns that are constantly mispronounced
How many of these town names do you really know? If you’re wondering how European immigrants came up with some of these Iowa town names in the 19th century, and then proceeded to pronounce them the craziest ways you can imagine, read on. Read: Iowa Weird: The History Behind These Iowa Towns’ Color-Themed Names Buena…
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Read a new book from one of these 10 Iowa authors
You probably have heard all about “The Bridges of Madison County.” Or how occasional Iowa resident Mark Twain counted Muscatine’s sunsets among the best he’d ever seen (and he was a world traveler!). Or how Kurt Vonnegut finished “Slaughterhouse-Five” at the prestigious Iowa Writer’s Workshop. But did you know the state of Iowa continues to…
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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 me. “Wait—you made this? All the clothes you’re wearing…
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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. (For an even more comprehensive list of…
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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 Utah-based Maverik last year. Maverik said in August it would…
