Iowa Starting Line

Sign Up for the Iowa Starting Line Newsletter


  • Best times to stargaze in Iowa this summer

    Plus: Only in Iowa and the photo of the week! Share with a friend 🗣️ It’s Friday: It’s World Environment Day and National Donut Day. Do with this information what you will. Plus: The FIFA Men’s World Cup starts next Thursday across North America. Will you be following it? Reply and tell me. Time for…


  • We went looking for Iowa’s queer community. Here’s what we found.

    Let’s Make Iowa Gay Again. Share with a friend Amie here, and welcome to our June miniseries, LGBTQ–IA!   Most of what hits the news these days about the queer Iowa community is negative. The Iowa Legislature passes new laws every year, restricting everything from books to bathrooms and doing away with housing and employment rights.…


  • Feenstra has Trump. Does he have Iowa?

    Plus: Protests and reader soundoff Share with a friend Amie here.   ☀️ It’s June; if you’re a meteorological summer girlie, happy summer!   🗳️ It’s Primary Election Day, the day when you get to pick the candidates the political parties run in November. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. today (Tuesday,…


  • Kids eat free at these 8 Des Moines-area restaurants

    Plus: Only in Iowa and the photo of the week! Share with a friend 🗣️ It’s Friday, the last one in May! Time for Only in Iowa, this week’s photo, Positively Iowa, and news you can use. Amie Rivers Newsletter Editor, Iowa Starting Line Email me   Want your community event promoted for FREE to Iowa…


  • RFK Jr. in Iowa for SNAP restriction signing

    Plus: Protests and reader soundoff Share with a friend Amie here. It’s 86 degrees? I’d like to 86 that in May. (It means “get rid of,” not “assassinate,” btw.)   In this issue: Events and protests, this week’s viral post, and reader soundoff. Amie Rivers Newsletter Editor, Iowa Starting Line Email me   Featured protests…


  • 12 can’t-miss Iowa summer festivals

    Plus: Only in Iowa and the photo of the week! Share with a friend 🗣️ It’s Friday and Memorial Day weekend. I’ll protest the US starting wars, but I’m grateful for and mourn those who signed up to defend us and paid with their lives. This year, that includes the six Iowans who were the…


  • 37 private flights to Kansas while running for Iowa governor

    Plus: Protests and reader soundoff Share with a friend Amie here. Memorial Day came up on us fast! (So did this summer humidity. 🥵)   In this issue: Candidate events and protests, this week’s viral post, and reader soundoff. Amie Rivers Newsletter Editor, Iowa Starting Line Email me     Featured protests and rallies: 📅…


  • Your guide to Iowa’s theme park season

    Plus: Only in Iowa and the photo of the week! Share with a friend 🗣️ It’s Friday. You can officially start voting early in the primary election (more on that below). Time for Only in Iowa, this week’s photo, Positively Iowa, and news you can use. The primary election—aka, voters registered with a recognized political party picking…


  • Cash for crowds at a Vance rally? We’ve got the scoop

    Plus: Protests and reader soundoff Share with a friend 👽 Amie here. Files were released this weekend! (Ope, not the files we really wanted released, though.)   In this issue: Candidate events and protests, this week’s viral post, and reader soundoff. Amie Rivers Newsletter Editor, Iowa Starting Line Email me   Featured protests and rallies:…


  • Name an Iowa female athlete besides Caitlin Clark

    Plus: Only in Iowa and the photo of the week! Share with a friend 🗣️ It’s Friday, and Mother’s Day is this Sunday. Time for Only in Iowa, this week’s (dog) family photo, Positively Iowa, and news you can use. Unleaded gas is $4.44 in Ottumwa. Where is it where you’re at? Reply and tell…