🗣️ It’s Friday the 13th, and Galentine’s Day: Time for Only in Iowa, Positively Iowa, this week’s pet photo, and
news you can use. (NOTE: I am moving reader replies to Tuesdays to shorten this one up a bit, so find them there next week!)

The pelicans are coming through Iowa early this year, according to a Reddit user who spotted the migratory birds at the Coralville reservoir dam.

Rapid response teams start up: If you’re in Johnson or Linn Counties and want to learn more about protecting your neighbors against ICE, sign up on this Escucha Mi Voz / Iowa City Catholic Worker form.

Iowa-specific Valentine’s e-cards: ISL’s Avery Staker says our Valentine’s cards will go up on Starting Line’s social media tomorrow, but here’s a free one today (What? We think it’s a nice place to take your special someone):

Speedskater and Iowa native Zach Stoppelmoor competes in 2024. (Orange Pictures/Shutterstock)

🐕 These sleepy pups are (left to right) Katara, Sadie, and Hugh, the dogs stealing all of reader Maegan B.‘s couch.

“Crazy pet lover here,” she writes. “I so enjoy your news; makes me feel less alone here in Iowa.”

Happy to help, Maegan—although I don’t know how you can feel THAT alone with three big dogs!

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