Public comment for Iowa impaired waterways report ends soon
The period for public comment on Iowa's impaired waterways report closes this week.
Mar
2026
18
iowa talk
Feb
2026
22
10 women-owned businesses to support in Cedar Rapids
From a French bakery to a pet spa to a plant shop, discover Cedar Rapids’ top women-owned businesses.
Jan
2026
8
Clean water advocates announce demands for Iowa rivers, streams
The environmental advocacy group Food & Water Watch has announced a 20-point "clean water blueprint" it says would help protect Iowa's waterways from toxic levels of nitrate and phosphorous pollution. Manure from large-scale agriculture operations routinely pollutes ground and surface water nearby.
Dec
2025
15
Tapestry Farms Executive Director Ann McGlynn on bringing joy to the Quad Cities’ refugee community
Tapestry Farms provides resources to the Quad Cities’ refugee community. We spoke with executive director Ann McGlynn about how its mission has changed lives for the better.
Dec
2025
3
Collaboration and Care Guide Return of Meskwaki Artifacts From UNI to Their Tribal Home
The Meskwaki Nation worked with the University of Northern Iowa to return cultural artifacts to the tribe. The items will now be housed at The Meskwaki Cultural Center and Museum.
Nov
2025
19
15 Iowa food pantries to donate time, money, and food to this holiday season
Looking to give back this holiday season? Discover 15 Iowa food pantries you can volunteer at or donate money or food to.
Oct
2025
21
Changing the Channel: Des Moines bar puts women’s sports front and center
Des Moines is on the precipice of becoming a safe haven for women’s sports.
Sep
2025
22
Iowa Girl Scouts Troop 535 is building confidence, character, and culture
Troop 535 is the first official bilingual group of Girl Scouts in Iowa. Here’s how the girls are building a sense of culture and community within their troop.
Jul
2025
2
WATCH: America 250 kicks off in Iowa. Will Trump plays GOP Kingmaker? (PT 2) – Cornhole Champions #31
President Donald Trump returns to Iowa this week for a July 4th America 250 celebration at the state fairgrounds - but this isn't the "Great American State Fair" he promised during his 2023 campaign.
On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amy Rivers, and Avery Staker break down Trump's Iowa return and what it means for 2026 politics.
Toss some bags about Iowa rolling back civil rights protections for trans Iowans… officials debunk water safety rumors amid the ongoing nitrate crisis... and a conversation with Christina Bohannan.
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 - Trump Returns to Iowa - July 3rd State Fairgrounds Rally for America 250
02:00 - Broken Campaign Promises - The "Great American State Fair" That Never Was
02:30 - 50-State Tour Abandoned - Mexico Wall-Level Promise Keeping
06:00 - 2026 Stage Sharing Speculation - Who Gets Trump's Blessing?
07:00 - Regina George GOP Politics - Mean Girls Fascism Edition
*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
Jul
2025
2
WATCH: Iowa becomes first state to strip trans civil rights (PT 1) – Cornhole Champions #31
Iowa makes devastating history this week---becoming the first state ever to strip away existing civil rights protections from transgender residents.
On this episode of Cornhole Champions, Zachary Oren Smith, Amy Rivers, and Avery Staker cover Iowa's historic civil rights rollback that removes gender identity protections from employment, housing, public accommodation, and education.
Toss some bags about Trump's stop at the Iowa fairgrounds… officials debunk water safety rumors amid the ongoing nitrate crisis and a conversation with Democrat Christina Bohannan.
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:*
00:30 - Zach's "Par Excellence" Pun Disaster - Tech Out of There Falls Flat
02:49 - Iowa's Historic Civil Rights Rollback - First State to Strip Existing Trans Protections
04:00 - The Energy of Hope - Trans Community and Allies Unite at State Capitol
06:30 - Beyond Civil Rights - Birth Certificate Changes and "Gender Theory" Language
08:00 - Project 2025 Playbook - Scapegoating as Fascism Facilitation
10:00 - Hope for the Future - Protests Matter, Continued Advocacy Essential
*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
