Author Archives: Jeff

Aug 13

Breakdown of 2026-30 highway plan

It’s moderately confusing to have the Iowa DOT release its five-year programs on the fiscal year, but that’s been the case since it formed in 1975. That means that the contracts for 2026 started July 1. I waited until the … Continue reading

Posted in Construction, Highway Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Breakdown of 2026-30 highway plan
Aug 11

One-stoplight play

Community members put on the play “One Stoplight Town” at the Wieting Theatre in Toledo on July 12. It was a good play. Perhaps the most emotional part for me, though, was learning that the lead was played by someone … Continue reading

Posted in Tama County | Comments Off on One-stoplight play
Aug 08

‘God bless Harry Truman’

Two related, but discrete, items from the past week show us the significance of the loss of the Greatest Generation. First, from Pew Research: Reflecting on the United States’ actions, 35% of Americans today say using the atomic bomb on … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on ‘God bless Harry Truman’
Aug 06

Update on historic Toledo, CR school buildings

Orient-Macksburg is dead-but-not-dead. We know that. But did you know that a campaign to save Harrison Elementary School in Cedar Rapids more or less succeeded? Also, Toledo’s historic school is being replaced by a site at the Iowa Juvenile Home.

Posted in Schools | Comments Off on Update on historic Toledo, CR school buildings
Aug 04

Tractorcade coverage from Washington, Iowa

The Great Eastern Iowa Tractorcade switched sponsors from WMT to KXEL this year, partially because one of the main coordinators switched jobs. The 26th edition of this ride was in June, and for 2025 they started in Mount Pleasant and … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on Tractorcade coverage from Washington, Iowa
Aug 01

KCRG graphics package shifts

As of the 4 PM newscast on Wednesday, KCRG has wholly (or 95%?) adopted the graphics package used by all the other Gray Media TV stations. Two words: CALLED IT. It’s also dropped having a ticker at the bottom in … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous | Comments Off on KCRG graphics package shifts
Jul 30

License Plate Letters — PWZ

Here we are, getting close to the end of the P’s. Now, there are some cars I’ve seen recently with letters that are pretty close to the beginning of the alphabet that should have been replaced by this point, but … Continue reading

Posted in License Plates | Comments Off on License Plate Letters — PWZ
Jul 28

More stories on upcoming Black Hawk Bridge closure

There’s still no firm date for the closure of the Black Hawk Bridge over the Mississippi River in Lansing, but we have another clue. The PBS Wisconsin show “Here & Now” has a 4-minute story about the closure and says … Continue reading

Posted in Construction | Comments Off on More stories on upcoming Black Hawk Bridge closure
Jul 24

Dyersville, Shoeless Joe, and Pete Rose

(Well, it’s state tournament week, so that’s the hook. — Ed.) On May 14, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced a change that would allow Pete Rose and the Black Sox (but yeah, it’s all about Pete Rose) to enter the … Continue reading

Posted in Sports | Comments Off on Dyersville, Shoeless Joe, and Pete Rose
Jul 22

Analysis of RAGBRAI LII route

Between my vacation to the Lincoln Highway convention and trips home and the usual severe depression, I’ve been lax in posting links to my Substack stories, so they’re going to be a bit dated. But if you haven’t read them, … Continue reading

Posted in Iowa Miscellaneous, Maps | Comments Off on Analysis of RAGBRAI LII route