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  • 8 last-minute Iowa day trips before school starts

    Plus: Only in Iowa and the photo of the week! Share with a friend 🗣️ It’s Friday, and we’re more than halfway through summer. Yikes/yay? If you haven’t taken advantage of a summer day trip around the state, keep scrolling for some ideas—plus this week’s photo, Positively Iowa, and news you can use. Iowa State University’s Reiman…


  • How to help Iowa farmer affected by pesticide drift

    Plus: Protests and reader soundoff Share with a friend Amie here. I vote we update our stereotypical “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity” to add: “or the pesticide drift or the wildfire smoke.”   In this issue: Justice for Lorenzo and Johan and more protests, this week’s viral post on the SAVE Act, and…


  • Escape the heat at these retro Iowa barcades

    Plus: Bad air quality could be headed for us Share with a friend 📅  It’s Friday and July 17—otherwise known as World Emoji Day. Time for Only in Iowa, this week’s photo, Positively Iowa, and news you can use. Tornado Alley has shifted east over the years, and is now squarely in Iowa. The upper Midwest,…


  • Ames crowd has thoughts on data centers….

    Plus: Protests and reader soundoff Share with a friend Amie here. Another hot week is upon us! How are you beating the heat? Reply and tell me.   In this issue: Events and protests, this week’s viral post on an Ames data center listening session, and readers keep telling me why they’re totally gonna unsubscribe…


  • Best Iowa kayaking spots for beginners

    Plus: Upcoming book giveaway in Waterloo Share with a friend 🗣️ It’s Friday! We’ve got the best places to paddle for beginners on Only in Iowa, this week’s sleepy reader photo, plus I interviewed THEE Nikole Hannah-Jones (Pulitzer Prize winner/Iowa native!) about her children’s book giveaway for Positively Iowa. Want to join the Bumble Bee Atlas…


  • Iowa egg company scrambles over price-fixing suit

    Plus: Events and your thoughts on a wealth tax Share with a friend Amie here. How do your pets do around fireworks? I have two cats and a dog, all with different reactions—Phoenix pants and paces, Bron huddles in his safe space, and (per usual) Bear don’t care. (A very close neighbor set off a…


  • ‘Dude needs to go back to Kansas’

    Plus: Protests and lots of your letters Share with a friend Amie here. Dammit, heat wave, it is still June! (Yes, we can blame the corn—somewhat.)   In this issue: Events and protests for the Fourth, this week’s viral post with Zach Lahn, and lots of different letters in this week’s reader sound off. Amie…


  • Fireworks and other July 4 activities next weekend

    Plus: Cute baby eagles! Share with a friend 🗣️ It’s Friday.  Time for Only in Iowa, this week’s photo, and news you can use: Over 2,000 Iowans now have a “certified wildlife habitat” in their yard, and you can too. The University of Iowa tried changing a private scholarship meant for Black students majoring in chemistry or…


  • Safety, community, and joy: Finding belonging in Iowa

    Inside: This weekend’s Pride events Share with a friend Amie here. It’s the final edition of our June miniseries, LGBTQ–IA! I do have more videos coming, so look for those on our socials soon. Read more about the project here.   This week’s theme is belonging.   Whether it’s not feeling welcome at church or…


  • That’s not how flesh-eating flies work, Grassley

    Did the letters get even angrier this week? 👀 Share with a friend Amie here. Summer is officially solsticed!   Have any fun summer plans? Reply and tell me, I need some happy in my inbox (scroll to see why).   In this issue: Events and protests, this week’s viral post, and our new subscribers…