Author Archives: Jeff

Apr 21

Mocking Iowa’s 2020s congressional districts (3)

Posted on Wednesday, April 21, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

After reading parts 1 and 2 of my attempts to create 2020s U.S. House districts for Iowa using 2019 population estimates, someone might ask: These districts are too practical. Can you do something weird? Something that an unscrupulous non-Iowa legislature … Continue reading →

Posted in Maps | Comments Off on Mocking Iowa’s 2020s congressional districts (3)
Apr 20

Porker up

Posted on Tuesday, April 20, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The principal at Duncombe Elementary in Fort Dodge (not Duncombe) kissed a pig to make good on a student fundraiser promise. It wasn’t a piglet, either. Come for the fourth-grader’s shocked face, stay for the pigs doing…what pigs do. From the … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Porker up
Apr 19

The (Volunteer) Corn State

Posted on Monday, April 19, 2021, at 10:05 AM by Jeff

August 18, 2020: Flattened corn near Keystone, Benton County. Last year’s derecho sowed the seeds of a weed that is Roundup Ready, extremely visible, and scattered across most of Iowa. Volunteer corn is going to be all around this season, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on The (Volunteer) Corn State
Apr 16

There’s a creek there?

Posted on Friday, April 16, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

From the DOT’s website: The Iowa Department of Transportation is requesting public input for proposed improvements on Iowa 8 in Tama County. OK, pertinent to my interests. The proposed project includes the removal and replacement of an existing 12’ x … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction, Tama County | Comments Off on There’s a creek there?
Apr 14

US 20 concrete in Waterloo getting replaced

Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The Iowa DOT has announced that starting tomorrow, US 20 between the US 63 and IA 21 exits will move to head-to-head traffic to remove and replace the pavement in the eastbound lanes. (Is it Infrastructure Week here? — Ed.) The … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on US 20 concrete in Waterloo getting replaced
Apr 12

I-35 bridge project creates detours for US 30

Posted on Monday, April 12, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Two years after a permanent change to the I-35/US 30 interchange in Ames, a temporary one is here, and this time it will affect some football gameday traffic. Starting last week, the DOT closed some ramps at the interchange in … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on I-35 bridge project creates detours for US 30
Apr 09

Iowa’s 1920 Highway System: The short and winding road

Posted on Friday, April 9, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Iowa Highway Commission 1919 map. Notice the absence of a primary road southeast of Waukon and the town of “North McGregor,” which did not become Marquette until March 29, 1920. IA 51 has never been outside of Allamakee County, but … Continue reading →

Posted in 1920 Highway Sytem | Comments Off on Iowa’s 1920 Highway System: The short and winding road
Apr 07

Mocking Iowa’s 2020s congressional districts (2)

Posted on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, at 10:10 AM by Jeff

The Iowa State Fair does not have a redistricting contest. There are no awards for Most Politically Balanced, Fewest Counties, Best District Made With Bacon, etc. Nevertheless, I have a hankering to be the Robin Tarbell-Thomas of submissions. In my first set of … Continue reading →

Posted in Maps | Comments Off on Mocking Iowa’s 2020s congressional districts (2)
Apr 05

‘Against Professionalism’

Posted on Monday, April 5, 2021, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

From the Cedar Rapids Republican, March 15, 1901: Against Professionalism. At the close of the football season last fall representatives of ten middle western colleges and universities met in Chicago and adopted a set of rules to the regulation of … Continue reading →

Posted in Sports | Comments Off on ‘Against Professionalism’
Apr 02

Your call cannot be completed as dialed, er, tapped

Posted on Friday, April 2, 2021, at 10:03 AM by Jeff

June 14, 2011: A (non-functioning) wonder of the ancient world in Winthrop. Awfully public for a changing room, don’t you think, Clark? Another part of a simpler technological life is going away in two large swaths of Iowa. According to … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Your call cannot be completed as dialed, er, tapped