Iowans will soon be preparing their little ghosts and goblins for trick-or-treating and a registered nurse who's the spokeswoman for the Iowa Poison Control Center has a few advance tips for avoiding trouble. Poison information specialist Tammy Noble says those colorful glowsticks can be helpful … [Read more...]
More federal land in Iowa opened up for hunting
More federal land is being opened up for fishing and hunting in Iowa as part of the Trump administration’s move to make public land more accessible. Margaret Everson, of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, says 1.4 million acres were added to open areas this year, including at Neal Smith Wildlife … [Read more...]
Villages of Van Buren highlights fall color with weekend festival
Many of Iowa's trees are starting to show the change in seasons and a county in southeast Iowa is dedicating the weekend ahead to viewing those colorful leaves. Emily Hobbs, executive director of the Villages of Van Buren, says the county's Scenic Drive Festival runs Friday through … [Read more...]
All but one of state-licensed casinos now have on site sports betting
Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission administrator, Brian Ohorilko, says the Wild Rose Casinos opened their on-site sports betting facilities last week and now all the casinos that sought to conduct sports betting are operating. He says 18 of the 19 state facilities have retail sports betting sites … [Read more...]
Record pumpkin weighed in at Anamosa Pumpkinfest
A new "great pumpkin" for Iowa was crowned at the Anamosa Pumpkinfest over the weekend. People from all over bring their giant pumpkins to Pumpkinfest every year for the Ryan Norlin Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off, and this year, there was a state record for Iowa’s largest pumpkin. The winning pumpkin … [Read more...]
Rebuilt Cedar Bridge will be dedicated at annual Madison County festival
Visitors from as far away as Australia are expected to head for southwest Iowa's Madison County this coming weekend during the 50th annual Covered Bridge Festival. Heather Riley, executive director of the Madison County Chamber of Commerce, says there will be guided tours of the historic wooden … [Read more...]
Exhibit in Cedar Rapids features unique guitars
Lovers of guitars, music, woodworking and history will want to see (and hear) an exhibition now open in eastern Iowa. "Medieval to Metal" is a collection of stringed instruments from the National Guitar Museum in Orlando. Jeff Miller, vice president of the National Czech and Slovak Museum and … [Read more...]
It’s Pumpkinfest time in Anamosa
Today is the annual "Anamosa Pumpkinfest and Ryan Norlin Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off." Katie Gombert says the pumpkin weigh-off was started in 1989 to remember her brother after he died. She says her uncle Tom had been growing giant pumpkins and came up with the idea to start the weigh off. Gombert … [Read more...]
Casinos in Council Bluffs fined for underage gambling violations
The Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission approved fines for two casinos today at their meeting in Waterloo. Racing and Gaming Administrator, Brian Ohorilko says the Harrah's Casino in Council Bluffs was fined for allowing an underage person into the casino. "Once on the floor (she) gambled, and … [Read more...]
Former U-I writing instructor returns to Iowa to promote new novel
An author who taught creative writing at the University of Iowa will be back in the state this weekend to promote her latest book. Eileen Pollack says her new novel, "The Professor of Immortality," was inspired by her experiences teaching at the University of Michigan. The Unabomber, Ted … [Read more...]