Iowa has the fifth-highest rate of skin cancer in the country, with numbers similar to states with far more UV radiation levels. This week on The Hot Spot, we look into the forces impacting our cancer rate.
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Drey wins Sioux City special election, breaks GOP supermajority
Catelin Drey, a first-time Democratic candidate, decisively won a special election in Sioux City that will have a significant impact on the Iowa Senate and the process of appointing state department heads. Sioux City like much of western Iowa has been electing...
Democrat Dave Dawson launches bid for Iowa’s 4th Congressional District
Former Iowa state legislator Dave Dawson, a Democrat, is going after the US House seat in Iowa’s most conservative district. Dave Dawson, a 51-year-old prosecutor from Lawton, announced today he will run for Iowa's 4th Congressional District, jumping into a race...
2025 Iowa leaf-peeping guide: When & where to see fall colors
Fall—it’s the most colorful time of the year. Plan the perfect Iowa leaf-peeping adventure with our guide to the best places and times to see fall foliage.
Iowa Worker’s Almanac: Working class news and upcoming layoffs, Aug. 21
Muscatine construction worker and victim of crime jailed: Jesús Hernández was shot when two people tried stealing his car. After a hospital stay, he went to pick up his car—and immigration enforcement officials detained him for being undocumented. Congress created...
WATCH: From Instagram activism to running for Iowa Senate (w/ Catelin Drey) (PT 2) – Cornhole Champions #36
Can Democrats win in deep-red western Iowa? As Republicans dominate rural districts, one mom is betting that grassroots organizing and door-to-door conversations can flip a seat that hasn’t seen Democratic representation in years.
On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith sits down with Caitlyn Drey, the 37-year-old founder of Moms for Iowa, who’s running in a special election for Iowa Senate District 1 in Sioux City.
Toss some bags at “no” tax on tips… merit pay for teachers… a Sioux City special election next week… and a new candidate taking on US Rep. Ashley Hinson.
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.
*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
00:30 – Democrats Beating Odds in Rural Iowa Districts
01:30 – How “Moms for Iowa” Instagram Account Started a Movement
03:30 – From Phone Calls to Running for Office (The Gulf)
04:30 – Uvalde Shooting Sparks Mom’s Political Awakening
07:00 – “When You Need a Mess Cleaned Up, You Send Mom”
09:00 – School Voucher Fight That Changed Everything
12:00 – Why Losing Rural Schools Destroys Communities
14:30 – Special Election Strategy: Knocking Every Door
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Facing cancer in Iowa: Patients share their stories
Cancer in Iowa isn’t just about treatment—it’s about surviving the system, asking why it happened, and living with the aftermath. Five Iowans share their stories.
From the Iowa Worker’s Almanac: Layoffs and news for the working class, Aug. 14, 2025
Fox guarding the henhouse: A former Tyson executive now oversees the safety of the US meat supply. (Sentient Media) Designed to discriminate: By gutting the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Trump is making it easier for federal contractors to...
The future of cancer research in Iowa is uncertain—and lives are on the line
Iowa cancer patients are desperate for better screenings, treatments, and cures. Researchers are desperate to find them. So what’s the holdup?
7 events in Iowa to take your kids to before summer ends
The end of summer is around the corner, but there’s still time to plan some fun in the sun. Here are seven IA events to take your kids to before August ends.
WATCH: 🌽 Iowa lost $17.6 BILLION to brain drain (PT 1) – Cornhole Champions #34
Iowa is hemorrhaging talent at an alarming rate, and the economic impact is staggering. A new report reveals that 34% more college graduates leave Iowa than stay, with the 2023 cohort alone representing a devastating $17.6 billion loss in potential income for the state.
On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amie Rivers, and Avery Staker break down Iowa’s massive brain drain crisis. From abortion bans driving away OB-GYNs to immigration crackdowns affecting blue-collar workers, we explore the policy decisions pushing talent out of Iowa.
Toss some bags about the economic cost of brain drain… how pesticides contribute to Iowa’s cancer problem… and how the Iowa Supreme Court is approaching new “strict scrutiny” language.
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.
*SHOW RUNDOWN:*
00:00 – Iconic 1980s Waterloo Tourism Commercial (Cold Open)
06:30 – Iowa’s $17.6 Billion Brain Drain Crisis Begins
08:00 – Why 34% More College Graduates Leave Than Stay
09:00 – Abortion Ban Driving Away OB-GYN Doctors
10:30 – Immigration Crackdowns Affecting Blue-Collar Workers
13:30 – Iowa Losing Population Even to Other Midwest States
16:30 – Generation Z LGBTQ+ Exodus: “Most of My Friends Are Leaving”
17:30 – Why Even Iowa City and Des Moines Aren’t Safe Anymore
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10 extreme Iowa weather events that were caught on tape
From historic floods to destructive tornadoes, discover extreme Iowa weather events that were caught on tape (and watch the footage for yourself).
5 amazing Iowa authors (+ which of their books we recommend)
Iowa’s rich literary culture has produced Pulitzer Prize winners and best-selling authors. Here are five Iowa authors and a book from each to read.
WATCH: Capitol officer reacts to far-right candidate in Iowa special election
Christopher Prosch, the Republican candidate for Sioux City’s upcoming special election, claimed US Capitol Police officers were “escorting” January 6 insurrectionists around the building. Former Capitol officer Harry Dunn says that’s insulting.
WATCH: We spoke to LGBTQ Iowans who are leaving. We learned why. – Cornhole Champions #33
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.
*LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE TO CORNHOLE CHAMPIONS:*
– YouTube – https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2LsUFhizO07jdk5Wav4mOT7tArltF8z5&si=FryZd7N7tG5tJ5Ju
– Substack – https://cornholechampions.substack.com/
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– PocketCasts – https://pca.st/74atty1j
… and everywhere you listen to podcasts
*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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The link between Iowa’s worsening water quality and rising cancer rate
Iowa’s rising cancer rate has many causes. Our worsening water quality is one.
Iowa working class news you can use: July 25
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,...
Des Moines Starbucks could be 4th in Iowa to unionize; sip-in Saturday
A Des Moines Starbucks could be the next Starbucks store to unionize by next month.
LGBTQ Iowans are fleeing the state: ‘It progressively got worse’
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.
WATCH: Sioux City special election Aug. 26
What you need to know about the Special Election in Senate District 1.
🗳️ Election Day is August 26.
Follow Iowa Starting Line for more.
Pascual Pedro-Pedro not the only one: Immigration arrests, deportations triple in Iowa
Immigration arrests and deportations in Iowa have tripled. You think Iowa is hollowing out now? It’s about to get worse.
8 classic roadside diners in Iowa that are worth a detour
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.
Free or low-cost resources for those facing cancer in Iowa
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.
Your summer guide to Iowa’s drive-in movies
Nothing says summer like seeing a drive-in movie. Check out what’s playing at Iowa’s drive-in theaters.
Sioux City special election: Republicans choose far-right candidate for seat
Correction: The Iowa Senate confirms the governor's appointments to agency heads. It does not confirm judge picks. This article has been correct to reflect that. A special election in Sioux City has big implications for power in the Iowa Senate. Who voters choose...
8 best House Hunters episodes set in Iowa
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.
8 best affordable places to live In 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.
5 of the biggest true crime cases in Iowa history
Iowa has been home to many devastating crimes over the years. Here are a few of the biggest true crime cases in IA history.
7 totally free (& fun!) things to do in Sioux City
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 Iowa layoffs and more working news you can use
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....