Category Archives: Iowa Miscellaneous

Jan 25

This is supposed to be a flattering piece about Des Moines

Posted on Monday, January 25, 2016, at 10:12 AM by Jeff

Because “it’s not cool unless there’s a graffiti festival” is a New York value. In the late period of caucus season, the coastal media has a habit of rediscovering Iowa in “wow, we found pockets of civilization here” articles and … Continue reading →

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Jan 18

Utah could overtake Iowa in population in 2020

Posted on Monday, January 18, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Speaking of up-and-coming locations zooming past more-established ones, the Census Bureau put out its 2015 state population estimates at the end of the year. Iowa crept upward, but it’s no match for what’s going on in the South and West. … Continue reading →

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Jan 15

North Liberty special census blows Newton out of the water

Posted on Friday, January 15, 2016, at 10:14 AM by Jeff

The result of North Liberty’s mid-decade special census is out, and the city’s bigger. Much bigger. It added the population equivalent of Spirit Lake in five years to reach 18,228. Depending on the outcome of a Waukee special census being taken for … Continue reading →

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Jan 11

‘The Good Wife’ goes to ‘Iowa’

Posted on Monday, January 11, 2016, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

Prime-time CBS drama “The Good Wife” focused Sunday’s episode on fictional presidential candidate/Illinois Gov. Peter Florrick running against the actual candidates for the 2016 Democratic nomination. In the end, the Iowan who got shown in the best light might have … Continue reading →

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Dec 30

Des Moines represents ‘backwoods rubes’ in column

Posted on Wednesday, December 30, 2015, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

It’ll cost you $400 to eat at the Times Square Olive Garden on New Year’s Eve night. To those of us foolish enough to think income of $250,000 a year is nothing to sneeze at, forking over four Benjamins (before tax) for … Continue reading →

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Dec 25

Your present: Updates from 2014 added to pages

Posted on Friday, December 25, 2015, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

That and a $15 iTunes card will get you a dozen songs. October 22, 2014: Opening of the new US 34 bridge from Iowa to Nebraska. I finally put pictures from fall 2014 and especially the opening of new US … Continue reading →

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Dec 23

Photo 28,000

Posted on Wednesday, December 23, 2015, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

June 8, 2015: US 67/State Street heading toward I-74 in Bettendorf. The view ahead will change as part of the I-74 bridge construction project. It’s hard to tell how many standalone I-74 shields with the state name will remain after … Continue reading →

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Dec 16

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

Posted on Wednesday, December 16, 2015, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

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

Posted on Tuesday, December 15, 2015, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

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

Posted on Monday, December 14, 2015, at 10:00 AM by Jeff

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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