Author Archives: Jeff

Dec 16

If nominated I will not run; if elected I will not serve

A reversal of sorts from Monday’s blog item about Branstad: Second Swaledale write-in candidate turns down council seat Is it possible more tiny towns in Iowa will end up disincorporating because they can’t get people to run the town? This … Continue reading

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Dec 15

A sense of humor, the DOT has

Drivers on major Iowa highways yesterday were greeted with a batch of “Star Wars”-related messages encouraging good traffic safety practices. Did you know “Star Wars Episode VII” comes out Friday? (he typed, while a Star Wars-themed Ford commercial played on … Continue reading

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Dec 14

Branstad now nation’s longest-serving governor

For Iowans born after 1974 (including myself), Terry Branstad has run Iowa for more than half our lives. Now his record for longest-serving governor in US history is official. On Monday, Terry Branstad will have been Iowa’s governor for one … Continue reading

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Dec 11

License Plate Letters — DXY

It looks like the state of Iowa will come close to using up four letters’ worth of plates in a span of three years and three months. There are a few stragglers out there whose county offices didn’t check the … Continue reading

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Dec 10

Chambers Ford Bridge is doomed

October 30, 2015: The Chambers Ford Bridge west of Belle Plaine has been closed to traffic for years. It consists of spans built in 1890 and 1903. No buyers came forward for the Chambers Ford Bridge over the Iowa River … Continue reading

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Dec 09

Forevergreen Road plans out, including six-lane I-380

The plan for construction of an I-380 exit at Forevergreen Road in North Liberty is out. It includes upgrading I-380 to six lanes under Forevergreen but narrowing to two to the north. South of there, I-380 will be six-laned as … Continue reading

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Dec 08

Bloomington Road bridge is a goner

August 24, 2013: The Bloomington Road bridge over Big Creek in Linn County is part of the Lincoln Highway loop route through Marion. Linn County had it taken down at the end of 2015. As previously noted, a classic truss bridge in … Continue reading

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Dec 07

Iowa’s second diverging diamond planned for Ankeny

Last week, shortly after the first diverging diamond interchange in Iowa opened in Dallas County, the Iowa DOT released plans for a second interchange of that style, also in the Des Moines metro area. The DOT has multiple maps and … Continue reading

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Dec 04

Politico: Iowa still matters

As the Iowa caucuses get nearer, so too does criticism about the state’s role in the presidential process. But Colin Woodard, whose research has divided much of North America into 11 “nations,” writes in Politico that Iowa’s settlement heritage makes … Continue reading

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Dec 03

Great River Road near Montrose open again

The Keokuk Daily Gate City reports that River Road (County Road X28) south of Montrose reopened about 10 days ago. The road had been closed since July because of a slide, and a temporary fix has been applied.

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