🗣️ It’s Friday and May Day.

Time for Only in Iowa, this week’s photo, Positively Iowa, and news you can use:

This is cool: See your name in Landsat, or satellite photos of Earth from space.
Are you a college student in Iowa? Do you like politics? Do you want a paid, part-time internship? Come work for Starting Line!
Free Comic Book Day is Saturday. (What else is free these days?)
“Having doubts? You are not alone” billboard spotted in Des Moines.
What’s the best lunch spot in Dubuque? Redditors weighed in.
Have you been seeing Instagram ads by Modern Ag Alliance, and wondered what it was about? (Spoiler: They’re pro-Roundup ads from Bayer.)
Farmers markets return this weekend across Iowa. Here are some in Northeast Iowa.
I guess State Farm isn’t actually there?
Five Iowa dog breeders are among the worst puppy mills in the nation.
My COURIER colleague put together a map of 64 ICE “black” sites—and two of them are in Iowa.
The USDA announced it was repurposing existing space for a new National Food Safety Center in Urbandale. “This is expected to bring JOBS,” US Sen. Chuck Grassley said— but all of the 200 jobs are expected to be filled by existing workers currently in Washington, DC, per the USDA. (Also: *that* USDA?)

Amie Rivers

Newsletter Editor, Iowa Starting Line

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Animal sanctuaries in Iowa: 6 spots for a close-up look at some of Iowa’s coolest critters

Angel, the miniature zebu using her cart to explore outside. (Photo courtesy of Iowa Farm Sanctuary)

What do a farm in Oxford, a restored prairie in central Iowa, and an aquarium on the Mississippi have in common? They are all part of a diverse network of spectacular Iowa animal sanctuaries.

If you’re an animal lover, here are six must-visit spots to add to your list!

🦨 This is Daisy, a domesticated and de-scented striped skunk who belongs to reader Briana D.

“She loves to sit next to you on her butt and scratch her belly,” “biting toes after you get out of the shower,” and “walks with her momma on her leash and harness,” Briana writes. “Her favorite food is fried chicken.”

Send me your pet photos!

🌳 More trees in Iowa: Marion-based nonprofit Trees Forever held several tree-planting events for Earth Day last week, including adding 30 trees to a Waterloo neighborhood hit hard by the emerald ash borer. But it’s not too late to plant more trees: Here are upcoming Trees Forever events.

🏊 The club that outlasted them all: The oldest synchronized swimming club in the country is the Roosevelt High Sharks—and the program is celebrating its 100th birthday this year.

🧑‍🎓 Smart Iowa students: Nine Cedar Rapids Jefferson students took home second place in the US Academic Decathlon Division II nationals last week. Johnston students got first in Division V.