The city of Dubuque on Iowa’s eastern border has once again been named an “All American City” by the National Civic League. Mayor Roy Buol says the designation means a lot.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity to showcase some of our best practices in the City of Dubuque. This is the third time in seven years that we’ve received this very prestigious honor. And really, I think it speaks to the quality of our services, our citizen engagement, and the quality of life issues the that we’ve addressed in the city,” Buol says.

The cities have to apply for the award and Buol says one of the things they highlighted is the revitalization of the Millwork District.

“Where we are redeveloping a million square feet of essentially vacate and abandoned warehouse buildings into a walkable neighborhood with great amenities, an arts community, walkable to our downtown,” Buol explains.

“We talked about some veteran issues, what we are going in support of our veterans and our workforce program.” He says that program helps those who have been out of work for some time to get back into the workforce. Ten cities are chosen each year, and Buol says two other honorees had an interesting link to his city.

“Two of the other 10 All-American City designees — Owensboro, Kentucky and Peoria, Illinois — had sent delegations to Dubuque, two, three four years ago, and actually came to Dubuque to see what we are doing to copy some of our best practices in their cities. So it was very gratifying to see those two cities to be among the top 10,” Buol says.

The other cities on the list are: Birmingham, Alabama ; Downey, California ; Montrose, Colorado; Dunn, North Carolina; Garner, North Carolina; Thomasville, North Carolina and Norfolk, Virginia.

Dubuque won the designation last year, and also in 2007. One other Iowa city, Marshalltown, was among the 20 finalists for the designation this year.

New data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows the Asian population is now the fastest growing racial or ethnic group in Iowa. In 2012, the number of people living in Iowa who identified themselves as Asian climbed to just over 60,000.

That marks a 10.6% increase from 2010. Sanjita Shrestha is director of the Office of Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs within the Iowa Department of Human Rights. She says large groups of refugees from new areas have been coming to the U.S. since 2008.

“They are coming from Bhutan. They are Bhutanese refugees coming out of Nepal,” Shrestha says. “And a big a group from Burma…have resettled in Iowa.” The areas of Iowa with the largest populations of Asians are Polk, Johnson, Story, Linn and Scott counties. Shrestha says many Asians who come here are reuniting with family members and finding jobs.

“They tend to think Iowa is a good place for employment and they find jobs quicker and easier. That’s been one of the main pulls in Iowa as well,” Shrestha says. The rapid growth in Iowa’s Asian population creates some challenges for schools, businesses, and health care providers – to name a few.

“That’s where my focus is…trying to help them, not only get ready for the new population coming in, but educating them on who they are, what kind of language assistance they might require, and things like that,” Shrestha says. Asians now comprise 2% of Iowa’s populace, according the Census Bureau. Asians are also the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group across the entire U.S. Iowa’s Hispanic population grew by 7.5% from 2010 to 2012.

Latinos making up at least 10 percent of the population in 10 Iowa counties, a jump from seven counties in 2008.

Cats found inside a Southeast Iowa home by the Animal Rescue League of Iowa.

Many animal shelters in Iowa are at or near capacity and desperately in need of both donations and people willing to adopt cats, dogs and other pets.

Scott Wilson, with the Animal Rescue League of Iowa, says the Des Moines shelter is especially full after ARL staff rescued over 50 cats and kittens from a single home in southeast Iowa this week.

“Generally, late spring and early summer are the highest population times for any shelter in the state of Iowa and we’re no exception,” Wilson says.

“We’re really full right now with the additional 50 animals. It’s really put a stress on our system.”

No charges are being filed in connection with the “hoarding” incident in southeast Iowa and Wilson is not naming the city or even the county where the rescue occurred.

The cats were well fed and are in good health, but there was a lack of spaying and neutering with the felines. This time of year is typically a busy one for animal shelters for a couple of reasons, primarily because cats and dogs are having litters.

Workers prepare to transport cats to ARL shelter.

In addition, Wilson says a lot of people tend to move into new homes or apartments in the spring and they either can’t take their pet or just leave the animal behind.

If Iowans want to help animal shelters, but are unable to adopt a pet, they’re encouraged to donate cat or dog food, blankets, towels, or cash.

“There are a lot of things that the general public can’t buy, such as medicines…and monetary donations go a long way to letting us tailer what our animal needs are,” Wilson said.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is running a special cat adoption promotion, now through Sunday. All cat and dog adoptions at ARL facilities in the Des Moines metro are just $25. The usual fee is $100.

The adoption fee include spaying or neutering, vaccinations, and a microchip ID.