Starting Line’s most ‘WTF’ stories of 2023

It’s Friday, Dec. 29.

Hey folks, it’s Amie, and we made it through 2023! (well, almost)

The Gregorian calendar version.

I like making New Year’s resolutions myself—those lofty goals our optimistic brains assume we’ll have no trouble achieving in a 12-month span.

This year, I want to do more:

• cardio (maybe biking)
• reading
• meditating
• flossing
• learning—like taking this homemade pasta-making class the local community college is offering in March
• regularly meeting up with friends

My younger brother—a very Type-A kinda dude—also loves resolution-making. But my wife isn’t into the practice, and neither is my dad. (Dad once told me, when I asked him about it, “If I wanna do something, I don’t need a new year to do it!”)

I asked you last week about your resolutions:

• “This upcoming year, we’re looking at April to begin a new tradition of trying out new recipes for outdoor cooking while camping.” ~Jeff S.

• “Be more forgiving. Be generous. Be loving. Love Iowa no matter what their politics. (After all, it’s my home state.)” ~Gordy G.

Rhonda R. didn’t technically send me this as a New Year’s resolution, but I thought it appropriate for those of us with good intentions:

• “I’m [say I’m] going to go snow shoeing. I bail because it’s too slushy. My snow shoes are still in their packaging.”

(I sympathize with Rhonda; our winters have been quite mild lately!)

Are you a resolutions kind of person? If so, what are you cooking up in 2024? Hit that button and let me know.

Here’s to making sure auld acquaintances will never be forgot,

From left: Ty, Nikoel, Pat, Avery, and me at our holiday get-together at Putts and Pins in West Des Moines this month (interactive mini-golf? heck yes!).

Iowa charities that Iowans love 🫶

It has to be the most popular question we’ve ever asked our readers:

Which charity helping Iowans should folks donate to this year?

Hundreds of worthy causes across the state were mentioned by Iowans on our Facebook page.

We made a list of the ones that are officially a nonprofit charity, have a location in Iowa, and have a functioning website or Facebook page.

Choosing one to donate to? Well, that’s the tough part!

Starting Line’s most ‘WTF’ stories of 2023 😱

It’s that time of year when the Starting Line team recaps stories that made us and our readers go, “WTF?”

As usual, Iowa delivered no shortage of stories that left us mad, sad, or confused—ESPECIALLY during the legislative session.

Ty’s only challenge, then, was limiting himself to Iowa’s most ridiculous and unbelievable news moments.

His month-by-month recap is here.

And we’ll be dropping short recaps on TikTok too; watch our page for those.

Those people keep a-moving

And that’s what tortures Avery. 🚂

Amtrak recently received over $2.1 billion in federal grants to improve and expand routes across the country, thanks to President Biden’s infrastructure law. But the closest new expansion Iowa is getting is … Moline, Illinois.

Commiserate with Avery here. (And don’t forget, it’s all Terry Branstad’s fault.)

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