Author Archives: Jeff

Apr 02

Dish-Gray dispute enters another week

Posted on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

It’s been a while since I’ve posted about a retransmission dispute, but there’s two of them going on, and one may be severed permanently. Five Gray Media (formerly Gray TV) stations serving Iowa were pulled off Dish on March 10: … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Dish-Gray dispute enters another week
Mar 31

Traer pharmacy to close

Posted on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

NuCara Pharmacy in Traer, which for a long time was Wright Pharmacy, is closing forever today. The NuCara pharmacies in Conrad, Ackley, and Zearing are also closing. This is not, or at least not directly, related to Traer’s loss of … Continue reading →

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Mar 26

🚨 Mid-America Publishing reportedly shutting down

Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2026, at 7:00 AM by Jeff

A tip from a reader led to this bombshell printed in the Eagle Grove Eagle: Nineteen Iowa weekly newspapers are at immediate risk of closing. Their owner, Mid-America Publishing, sent a message to employees that the company “will shut down … Continue reading →

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Mar 24

Boyson Road interchange opens

Posted on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The second diverging diamond exit of three for the Cedar Rapids area opened Monday, KCRG reports. The Tower Terrace Road exit on the far north side of the metro has been open a while. The airport exit on the far … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Boyson Road interchange opens
Mar 18

A look at statewide enrollment tables

Posted on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Enrollment at public schools in Iowa dropped by the most in four decades, both numerically and percentage wise, and the Iowa Department of Education seriously underplayed it. There was so much to write about from that angle, in fact, that … Continue reading →

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Mar 16

Dysart grocery store closing

Posted on Monday, March 16, 2026, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Despite having its financial situation profiled in the media, Bobby’s Grocery and BBQ in Dysart couldn’t find a way forward. The North Tama Telegraph reported earlier this month that the store is closing. In addition to problems with equipment that … Continue reading →

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Mar 13

‘PIEOWA’ came to Gladbrook

Posted on Friday, March 13, 2026, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Beth Howard’s documentary “PIEOWA,” about the history and social  connections of pie in Iowa, was shown at the Gladbrook Theater last month. It was berry, berry good. It was in Gladbrook because Laura Bru, “The Pie Lady,” is one of … Continue reading →

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Mar 11

Two construction projects to start in Black Hawk County

Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Back-to-back press releases from the Iowa DOT indicate two construction projects in Black Hawk County will start March 23. The US 218 bridge in La Porte City, between the four-way stop and the north side of town, is going to … Continue reading →

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Mar 05

Victor I-80 rest area reopens

Posted on Thursday, March 5, 2026, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The westbound I-80 rest area south of Victor opened at the end of February, the Iowa DOT said in a press release. It closed in October for full reconstruction. “The rest area’s theme, ‘Modernization of America,’ displays murals that celebrate … Continue reading →

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Mar 03

Mandated March spring break a possibility

Posted on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

My Substack “sports grab bag” a month ago started with the re-emergence of the “Iowa High School Sports History” website and also mentioned a good bill in the Legislature (mandating acceptance of cash for event admissions) and a very bad … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools, Sports | Comments Off on Mandated March spring break a possibility