Author Archives: Jeff

Jan 31

Two coaches, two coaching philosophies

Posted on Friday, January 31, 2020, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Iowa State women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly, less than a month ago: “The stuff that isn’t going well, I have to fix,” Fennelly said. “There will be changes made.” Fennelly often shoulders the blame for his team’s performance, such as … Continue reading →

Posted in Sports | Comments Off on Two coaches, two coaching philosophies
Jan 30

Waukee bans Valentine’s Day

Posted on Thursday, January 30, 2020, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Waukee learned their staff was putting way too many resources into helping students decorate their Valentine’s Day trinkets. The school district also realized there was a growing number of families in their community that didn’t celebrate the holiday. I didn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Waukee bans Valentine’s Day
Jan 29

New MOC-FV elementary would eliminate Hospers school

Posted on Wednesday, January 29, 2020, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Finishing a miniseries of school bond blog posts, I suppose. A proposal to consolidate elementary schools in the MOC-FV school district would result in one town losing its school. A story on KTIV says the district is proposing a new … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on New MOC-FV elementary would eliminate Hospers school
Jan 28

South Tama proposal would eliminate Toledo school

Posted on Tuesday, January 28, 2020, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Toledo could become the first county seat in Iowa without an active school building. That statement is both accurate and misleading. The South Tama High School building — and subsequent additions in the 21st century that eliminated all other sites … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools, Tama County | Comments Off on South Tama proposal would eliminate Toledo school
Jan 27

Cedar Rapids Prairie needs a bond issue. Again.

Posted on Monday, January 27, 2020, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

In early 2016, the College Community School District (Cedar Rapids Prairie) approved a $49.5 million bond issue. This paid for multiple major construction projects on the school’s sprawling campus site on the south side of Cedar Rapids. The campus is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on Cedar Rapids Prairie needs a bond issue. Again.
Jan 24

Legislature tries to circumvent will of the voters

Posted on Friday, January 24, 2020, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

OH COME ON. Of all the things that Iowans can’t find agreement on, “license plates” probably wasn’t on the list a decade ago. In 2017, the state offered voters three choices for a new license plate. A reworked version of … Continue reading →

Posted in License Plates | Comments Off on Legislature tries to circumvent will of the voters
Jan 23

Utah keeps powering past Iowa, with Nevada on its tail

Posted on Thursday, January 23, 2020, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The depopulation of rural Iowa is now a problem for the National Guard. In the adjutant general’s “Condition of the Guard” message to the Iowa Legislature earlier this month, he said: “I can’t continue to have quality infrastructure where I’m pouring … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Utah keeps powering past Iowa, with Nevada on its tail
Jan 22

How Minnesota, and California, will vote ahead of Iowa

Posted on Wednesday, January 22, 2020, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Before, states seeking to usurp Iowa and New Hampshire as the first-in-the-nation for primary cycles would move their elections forward in the calendar in a game of chicken. Now there’s a simpler, yet more insidious method: Early voting. Minnesota voters … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on How Minnesota, and California, will vote ahead of Iowa
Jan 21

Nevada paving project doesn’t change US 30 configuration

Posted on Tuesday, January 21, 2020, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

There was a meeting last week about US 30 in the Nevada area, but what may be more interesting is what it wasn’t about. In the mid-2010s, there was discussion about closing at-grade intersections on US 30 between Ames and … Continue reading →

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on Nevada paving project doesn’t change US 30 configuration
Jan 20

Mile of old US 65 turned over

Posted on Monday, January 20, 2020, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

The only interesting development from last week’s Transportation Commission meeting was a transfer of jurisdiction. The segment in question is a mile or so of US 65 that was left behind when the interchange in Jasper County was built. You can … Continue reading →

Posted in Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Mile of old US 65 turned over