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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,...
Iowa once led on civil rights, but now it’s leading the rollback. Over half of LGBTQ young people in Iowa have considered leaving the state, and for transgender and nonbinary people, that number jumps to 69%. Iowa became the first state in U.S. history to remove gender identity protections from civil rights law.
On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, Avery Staker, and intern Victor Robbins investigate the quiet exodus happening across Iowa. From doctors refusing gender-affirming care to hate crimes, and the reality behind “Iowa Nice,” we explore why talented young Iowans are fleeing and what it means for the state’s future.
Cornhole Champions is a weekly podcast powered by Iowa Starting Line. This podcast is produced by Zachary Oren Smith and edited by Rebecca Steinberg. Our music is by Avery Mossman and our show art is from Desirée Tapia.
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*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
0:00 – Victor Robbins Joins: Investigating LGBTQ Exodus from Iowa
0:45 – Personal Story: Growing Up LGBTQ in Iowa
1:19 – “Not Feeling Safe” – The Root of the Problem
1:50 – Cass’s Story: Flourishing After Leaving Iowa
2:30 – Growing Up in “Milquetoast” Iowa Settings
3:33 – Hate Crime Attack Outside Iowa City Gay Bar
4:30 – “Iowa Nice” Reality: Polite Outside, Different Behind Doors
5:30 – Iowa Civil Rights Act Strips LGBTQ Protections
6:19 – Doctor Refuses Gender-Affirming Healthcare in Iowa
7:00 – $70,000 Medical Procedures Now Out of Reach
8:00 – Policy Makes LGBTQ Iowans “Danger to Themselves”
8:30 – “I’d Rather Move to Minnesota” – Brain Drain Effect
10:33 – The Sucking Sound: Losing Young Talent & Artists
11:30 – “Am I Stubborn for Staying?” – The Spite Question
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Iowa’s rising cancer rate has many causes. Our worsening water quality is one.
Iowa Working Class News You Can Use: Iowa’s farmers are left with rising bills and few guarantees as President Donald Trump's second trade war brews—creating a storm of financial pressure in the heart of the state’s farm economy that could ripple beyond 2025,...
A Des Moines Starbucks could be the next Starbucks store to unionize by next month.
As lawmakers restrict the rights of LGBTQ Iowans, more and more are leaving in favor of states with friendlier laws, with over half saying they’ve at least considered it.
What you need to know about the Special Election in Senate District 1.
🗳️ Election Day is August 26.
Follow Iowa Starting Line for more.
Immigration arrests and deportations in Iowa have tripled. You think Iowa is hollowing out now? It’s about to get worse.
Nothing says comfort food quite like a diner, and Iowa has some of the best of these interstate oases. Here’s a list of diners in Iowa worth a visit.
From cancer support groups in Iowa, to financial assistance for cancer patients, to wig donations and more, here are some places to start. Many of these places offer services at no charge.
Nothing says summer like seeing a drive-in movie. Check out what’s playing at Iowa’s drive-in theaters.
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.
