Search
In what some might consider a stunning upset, Des Moines and not Lake Okoboji is considered the weekend getaway destination of choice for Iowans, according to a poll conducted on behalf of Iowa Starting Line. According to the poll, 28% of respondents said Des Moines...
Iowa is known for its rich soil, and a group of Mormon researchers hope that same soil holds the secrets to a lost sacred city. The Heartland Research Group thinks it may have found the site of Zarahemla—a notable city in the Book of Mormon—outside of Montrose, a...
One Iowa community literally painted the town to tell its story. Rock Rapids is home to 36 murals that depict notable events and people from the Lyon County seat situated in Iowa’s northwest-most corner. The community is so proud of these accomplishments that one of...
To help the country rebound from the economic and human devastation caused by COVID-19, President Joe Biden and Congress have allocated significant funding support from the federal government. The American Rescue Plan includes money for states and local governments to...
Pat Rynard brings episode #3 on the road for a Perkins-inspired edition of the Iowa Starting Line Podcast to cover the special election for Iowa House District 6 and Democratic challenger Rita DeJong. To learn more about what's been going on on the ground, Pat is...
Who's ready for yet another special election? The Iowa Legislature will see its sixth race to fill an open seat since the 2016 election in January, this one in Sioux City for House District 6. Voters will choose Republican Representative Jim Carlin's replacement - he...
Democrats in Iowa got some encouraging news with a special election city council win last night in the small, rural town of Solon. The race in rural Johnson County certainly wasn't the biggest campaign battle ever, but it proved that relatively new, progressive...
Some folks have misconceptions about Northwest Iowa's population center, but I would actually rank Sioux City 3rd in the state (behind Des Moines and Iowa City) as the best city for a fun restaurant, bar and entertainment scene. Once a major manufacturing center,...
A special election in Sioux City has big implications for power in the Iowa Senate. Who voters choose will have a major impact on power in the Iowa Legislature. A special election for a single seat in the Iowa Senate—District 1, which covers most of Sioux City—could...
For these buyers, purchasing their forever home in Iowa was a dream come true. Check out these gripping episodes of “House Hunters” to see a new side of Iowa.
There are many affordable places to live in Iowa, a state that consistently ranks high for low cost of living. Here are eight of the best options to consider.
Iowa has been home to many devastating crimes over the years. Here are a few of the biggest true crime cases in IA history.
Having a blast doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Here are seven totally free and fun things to do in Sioux City this summer.
This week's working news you can use: Job Corps cuts hurt Iowa's employment: Despite its success, Ottumwa Job Corps—which offers free education and vocational training for at-risk youth ages 16 to 24—is among the 99 programs the Trump Administration is shutting down....
A new Iowa law removing the civil rights of transgender Iowans goes into effect today. Hear from some of the Iowans targeted by the bill. Iowa made history today as the first state to actively remove a previously protected class from its civil rights law, targeting...
What happens when a 940-page law tries to reshape America? Let's see how it would play out in the Hawkeye State. Iowa’s Republican Congressional delegation is primed to provide a stamp of approval to President Donald Trump’s "One Big Beautiful Bill," despite the...
No matter where you live in the Hawkeye state, you’ll be able to enjoy dazzling displays of Fourth of July fireworks.
Here’s a quick look at the week’s top news affecting Iowa workers and the workplace:
The Iowa Legislature passed a bill this session banning diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and trainings by "public entities," including Iowa's public universities. And they spelled out exactly what they don't want us to learn about: "unconscious or implicit...
There are several amazing innovators and inventors from Iowa, some of whom may surprise you. Here are 10 you need to know.
Corporate America is pulling back from Pride Month as Iowa LGBTQ+ organizations feel the financial squeeze from Trump’s anti-DEI push. Des Moines Capital City Pride lost nearly $70,000 when Nationwide and Mid-American Energy walked away, while Iowa City Pride saw $15,000 in support disappear. But record individual donations and packed attendance prove the queer community’s resilience runs deeper than corporate sponsorship dollars.
On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amy Rivers, and Avery Staker discuss how Iowa’s Pride organizations are adapting to lost corporate funding while doubling down on grassroots community support.
Also in this episode, an overview of Iowa’s 2026 Senate race. Perry’s second chance. And a one-on-one with US Senate candidate Zach Wahls.
Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line with music by Avery Mossman and show art by Desirée Tapia. We are a proud member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative.
*LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS:*
– YouTube – https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju
– Substack – https://cornholechampions.substack.com/
– Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cornhole-champions-podcast/id1779497714
– Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/5rzNpiA4IwgLmxbyrhETY6?si=6c4a527fa9ad4f64
– PocketCasts – https://pca.st/74atty1j
… and everywhere you listen to podcasts
*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
00:00 – Corporate Pride Pullback – Iowa Organizations Lose $85,000+ in Sponsorships
00:47 – The Pendulum Swing – Corporate America’s Profit-Driven Pride Strategy
01:10 – “Gay is Cool” – How Pride Became a Marketing Opportunity
01:30 – Queer Resilience – Community Survives Beyond Corporate Support
02:06 – Individual Donations Surge – Capital City Pride Sees Record Grassroots Funding
02:51 – Attendance Up Despite Funding Down – Community Shows Up Regardless
03:00 – Pride’s Radical Roots – Remembering Stonewall Was a Riot
03:30 – Des Moines People’s Pride – Community-Organized Alternative at Waterworks Park
04:13 – June 14th Event Preview – Queer Elder Panel and Local Artists
04:49 – Finding Real Allies – When Fair Weather Friends Reveal True Support
05:23 – Iowa Pride Events Statewide – Supporting Community Over Corporations
*Follow Zachary Oren Smith on social media:*
– Twitter – https://x.com/zacharyos
– Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/zacharyosmith
– Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/zacharyos.bsky.social
– Threads – https://www.threads.com/@zachosmith
– LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/zacharyos/
*Follow Iowa Starting Line on social media:*
– Twitter – https://twitter.com/iastartingline
– Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/IowaStartingLine
– TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@iowastartingline
– Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/iowastartingline
– YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@UCXN791Qw5opBRLyvTWYl43w
Waverly, Iowa, had never before held a Pride event, and wanted to do something unique.
Organizers decided to showcase an important part of the town—the Cedar River—along with celebrating the area’s LGBTQ+ community.
“The current political landscape is messy and unpredictable,” the Waverly Human Equity and Diversity Commission said in announcing the event on the city’s website. “Let’s gather and celebrate the wonderful diversity of humanity and our community.”
The city’s own political landscape was messy: One group of pastors opposed any showcase of LGBTQ+ pride. Another group of pastors affirmed the event was welcome in town. It even made national news.
But the Sunset Pride Float on June 5, put together by the commission in collaboration with Crawdaddy Outdoors, was actually a chill event. At least 60 paddled a short stretch of the Cedar River in kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddle boards, while dozens of others cheered them on from the bridges and banks, holding signs and waving flags.
“Tonight was truly special,” one paddler wrote in an Instagram post. “Never have I been more proud of this town than I was tonight. Good on you Waverly!”
State Rep. JD Scholten, a Democrat from Sioux City, is taking his anti-monopoly argument on his run against Republican US Sen. Joni Ernst.
The woman who told Sen. Joni Ernst that "people will die" if she votes to cut Medicaid said the senator's mock apology a day later was "deeply insensitive" toward people who could lose health care. India May of Charles City is a registered nurse, a county death...
Iowa’s many ziplines offer experiences ranging from heart-pumping to relaxing. Discover the Iowa zipline best suited for your preferred thrill level.
Interested in river rafting in Iowa? To help you plan your next trip, here’s a list of some of the best spots, along with other helpful info you should know.
Planned Parenthood is contracting amid the federal government’s moves to freeze and reduce funding for OB-GYN care across the nation. Four clinics will close in Iowa. Planned Parenthood announced this month it is closing four clinics in Iowa, news that comes as...
by Clark Kauffman, Iowa Capital Dispatch May 21, 2025 Mouse droppings, ants and expired food found after Iowa restaurant inspections. State, city and county inspectors have cited Iowa restaurants and stores for hundreds of food-safety violations during the past five...
Do you miss the feeling of going away to summer camp now that you’re an adult? Here are some things to do as an adult that rival that level of fun.
Check out a list of some of the less-popular state parks in Iowa that still offer natural beauty and plenty of activities.
