Des Moines IA

Ever see a burger so big it stops being lunch and starts feeling like a challenge. That is the kind of energy this Iowa stop brings right away. The draw is obvious at first. A massive cheeseburger, a rural setting, and the kind of place people happily drive out of their way to find.

HAMPTON, Iowa — EDITOR NOTE: List of affected newspapers is at the bottom of this article. Small town newspapers in 15 Iowa counties face an uncertain future after their publishing company, Hampton-based Mid-America Publishing Corporation, announced plans to close in April. Multiple affected publications issued...

Des Moines, Iowa – The state Transportation Commission has approved rules for the new hands free cellphone law that could lead to violators losing their driver’s license. The DOT’s Kathleen Meradith-Ayers the new rules make a hands-free violation impact your driving record. Meradith-Ayers says they step in...

Think your shopping stamina is solid? This Iowa destination might test it. Some places ask for an hour or two. This one can easily take most of the day. Part of that comes down to sheer size. Part of it comes from how much there is to look through once you start moving from one section to the next. In Iowa, flea...

Local governments in Illinois could see less money from the state if Gov. JB Pritzker gets his way.Cities and counties might feel the squeeze. Pritzker proposes cutting the share local governments get from state income tax collections. He specifically wants to lower the percentage they get from the local government...

UNITED STATES — A significant two-day severe thunderstorm threat is developing across the Great Lakes region starting Monday night, March 30 and continuing through Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Storms are expected to fire around sunset Monday and last through the overnight hours, with a second and more widespread round...

Major windstorms are coming to the United States' Midwest region on Monday, March 29. The National Weather Service is warning seven U.S. states about potentially significant storms on Monday. The strong storms could include major thunder and lightning, along with extreme winds. The winds are ...

Ahead of Friday night's game, Local 5's Sports Director Reina Garcia talks about how the Cyclones are trying to make school history.

The Norwalk City Council will hold its regular business meeting on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall (705 North Avenue). Residents can attend in person or join online via Zoom (Meeting ID 846‑0450‑2348, Passcode 321654) or by phone at 1‑312‑626‑6799.

Randy Evans is executive director of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that promotes openness and transparency in Iowa’s state and local governments. He can be reached at [email protected]. This essay first appeared on his Substack newsletter, Stray Thoughts. City...