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The Nation •

Did Avoiding the “Big Lie” Help the Iowa GOP Win Big?

While Democrats defied expectations of a national “red wave” sweeping the United States in the 2022 midterms, Republicans in Iowa gained a level of control in the state not seen in decades. Iowa’s four US representatives and its two senators are now Republicans. In Iowa’s state legislature, the party holds a supermajority in the state Senate and controls 60 of Iowa’s 100 seats in the state House. The Iowa GOP managed to secure every statewide office but one—state auditor. Why were Iowa Republic
Des Moines Register •

Grinnell College names new off-campus dorm after pioneering 108-year-old alum

It took Grinnell College 91 years to graduate its first Black female student. Eighty-five years later, and with growing recognition of her as a figure in the history of the college, she's still around to tell her story. Edith Renfrow Smith, age 108, was honored Monday as college leaders announced she would be the namesake for the new Civic Engagement Quad at the prestigious Iowa liberal arts school, founded in 1846. Smith remains healthy and engaged, though she's among the oldest Americans. S
The Nation •

In Iowa, Voters Set Their Sights on Gun Rights

This November, Iowans will vote on an NRA-sponsored ballot initiative to incorporate the right to keep and bear arms into the Iowa state Constitution. The amendment goes beyond just incorporating the language of the Second Amendment into Iowa’s law books, as many other states have done, but will instead make any push for gun regulations nearly impossible, while undermining any existing restrictions. “The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. The sovereign state of Iow
Des Moines Register •

Passerby who made a wrong turn saves four people from a house fire in Red Oak

Passerby who made a wrong turn saves four people from a house fire in Red Oak A passerby who made a wrong turn saved four people, three of them children, from a house fire in Red Oak around 2 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 23. Tender Lehman, the mother of the four residents, was in Montana for a family emergency when the incident happened. Her children, ages 8, 14, 17 and 22, were sleeping when the fire began. Fire alarms had not gone off in the house. The passerby, Brendon Birt, had made a wrong turn ont
Des Moines Register •

Reggie's Sleepout in Des Moines returns to raise awareness for homeless youth

Reggie's Sleepout in Des Moines returns to raise awareness for homeless youth For the first time since 2019, hundreds of Reggie's Sleepout participants gathered on the Drake Stadium turf in Des Moines, to build cardboard shelters in which to sleep overnight while raising awareness for homeless youth in Iowa. Iowa Homeless Youth Centers established Reggie's Sleepout in 2005 in response to the death of Reggie Kelsey in 2001. When Kelsey aged out of the foster care system, he became homeless, and
Des Moines Register •

What will a third consecutive La Niña mean for Iowa's winter?

What will a third consecutive La Niña mean for Iowa's winter? Winter is coming — and this year, temperatures in Iowa will drop lower than usual, according to federal forecasters. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released its winter forecast on Thursday, writing that much of the Southeast will face a warmer-than-average winter, but that much of the Northwest and Great Plains will experience cooler-than-average temperatures, in response to La Niña. More:Winter is coming, Iowa
Des Moines Register •

Omaha-based Chippy's brings a full English breakfast and Golden Wonder crisps to Ankeny

Omaha-based Chippy's brings a full English breakfast and Golden Wonder crisps to Ankeny This Saturday, the Omaha-based British market and gift shop Chippy's will open at 2310 SE Delaware Ave. in Ankeny, bringing Des Moines-area customers access to British foods, snacks and novelties imported from the United Kingdom. "In Omaha we had a lot of customers coming from Des Moines, Altoona and Ames, and so we just knew this was a convenience we could offer them," said Laura McLaughlin, director of op
Kitsap Sun •

Supply, vehicle cost make new $7,500 EV tax credit out of reach of most in Kitsap

Supply, vehicle cost make new $7,500 EV tax credit out of reach of most in Kitsap The Inflation Reduction Act, which passed the U.S. House on Friday and awaits President Joe Biden's signature, extends a $7,500 consumer income tax credit for the purchase of new electric vehicles (EV) and implements a $4,000 credit for used electric vehicles. But for many Kitsap County residents looking to buy an EV, the tax credit won't apply — at least, not immediately. The credit for new vehicles is limited t
Kitsap Sun •

Suspects arrested in unsolved murder of woman, 33, found in Puget Sound in 2006

Suspects arrested in unsolved murder of woman, 33, found in Puget Sound in 2006 Three people have been arrested in the murder of Shanan Lynn Read, a 33-year-old King County resident whose body was found in 2006 in the water near Manchester, according to the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office. The suspects include three men, ages 34, 39 and 42. A fourth suspect, officials determined, had died in the years after the murder. The three suspects were arrested on Tuesday in Philadelphia; Sarasota, Flori
Kitsap Sun •

Silverdale Way RV and trailer encampment cleared by Kitsap County officials

Silverdale Way RV and trailer encampment cleared by Kitsap County officials A parking lot along Silverdale Way where a number of RVs, trailers and cars were set up as semi-permanent residences without county approval was shut down Monday morning by Kitsap County's Homeless Action Response Team. According to Kristen Jewell, housing and homelessness program coordinator for the county, the Homeless Action Response Team, or HEART, had implemented the plan to remove residents from the encampment ab
Kitsap Sun •

Nordic Musikk Festival debuting in Poulsbo will fundraise for local nonprofit

Nordic Musikk Festival debuting in Poulsbo will fundraise for local nonprofit On Saturday, over 100 residents will line up at Nordic Hill Manor for Poulsbo's first Nordic Musikk Fest, with over five hours of live music and barbecue, to raise funds for North Kitsap Fishline, a nonprofit food and resource center for low-income residents. All ticket sales for the festival, which is self-funded by Nordic Hill owners K.J. and Heinz Lange, will be donated to the organization. As of Aug. 3, about $7,
Kitsap Sun •

Partial ban on outdoor burning to take effect in Kitsap County on Friday

Partial ban on outdoor burning to take effect in Kitsap County on Friday A phase one ban on outdoor burning will begin midnight on Friday, the Kitsap County Fire Marshal announced in a press release on Wednesday. Burning permits will be suspended along with all outdoor burning with the exception of recreational fires in approved appliances and locations and on permitted state or federal campgrounds. Recreational burning includes small fires for cooking, religious or similar purposes and are le
Kitsap Sun •

Walters and Hinman lead in five-way race for District 3 Kitsap commissioner seat

Walters and Hinman lead in five-way race for District 3 Kitsap commissioner seat Democrat Katie Walters, 55, and Republican Josh Hinman, 44, advanced to the Nov. 8 general election for the District 3 Kitsap County commissioner seat, earning 40.63% and 25.69% of the vote respectively. Candidates Axel Strakeljahn, Leiyomi Preciado and Jeff Wallis trail with 20.47%, 8.29% and 4.91% of the vote respectively. "I'm feeling amazing right now. I'm so thankful to the voters in Kitsap County who support
PolitiFact •

PolitiFact - Fact-checking Rep. Miller-Meeks claims that Democratic bill would allow abortion up until birth

Ever since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on June 24, state and national lawmakers have scrambled to introduce legislation that either restricts or secures access to abortion. Some Iowa Republicans, including U.S. Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks, stand firmly against the procedure. In a July 17 newsletter that addressed several topics, Miller-Meeks wrote: Here, we’ll focus instead on whether or not the abortion bill that was passed by the U.S. House — and sent to the Senate, where
Kitsap Sun •

Iconic downtown Poulsbo clock renovated after years of malfunction

On Wednesday, just before 6 a.m., clock maker George Pease arrived at Front Street in downtown Poulsbo, across from Liberty Bay Books and down the block from Sluys Bakery. That morning, Pease was to install the inner-mechanics of the refurbished Rotary City Clock, a large, iconic clock that has become a recognizable monument of Poulsbo. Within a year of the clock's installation in 2008, when it had been designed to honor the 100th anniversary of the city of Poulsbo, it began to display incorrec
Kitsap Sun •

First probable monkeypox case reported in Kitsap County

The first case of probable monkeypox has been reported in Kitsap County, the Kitsap Public Health District stated in a press release on Wednesday. The resident, an adult male, tested positive for orthopoxvirus — the genus of virus which includes smallpox, cowpox and monkeypox — early this week. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will conduct follow-up testing to confirm the case as monkeypox. Health officials are currently identifying and notifying anyone who might have had contact
Kitsap Sun •

'It feeds my soul': Hansville woman launches vinyl record store on wheels

'It feeds my soul': Hansville woman launches vinyl record store on wheels When Melanie Peters, 54, goes on vacation, she makes sure to leave open the possibility of purchasing a suitcase to lug back stacks of vinyl records to her home in Hansville. Peters, a musician and record seller, is always looking for inventory. On July 31, Peters will open Rockin' Ruby's Records and Relics, what she says is the first mobile record shop in Washington state and one of few in the United States, at the Hood
Kitsap Sun •

'An education in bread:' Los Encantos serves globally inspired baked goods in Bremerton

'An education in bread:' Los Encantos serves globally inspired baked goods in Bremerton BREMERTON — Paul Castro, baker and owner of Los Encantos, views his craft as an art rather than just cooking food. As an artist, Castro said there are few greater compliments he could receive about his art from his customers⁠ — his audience, he sometimes calls them ⁠— than a customer telling him that his puerquitos, conchas or other baked goods remind them of home. Castro began selling bread at his small,
Kitsap Sun •

184 tickets issued in second traffic enforcement emphasis in Gorst

184 tickets issued in second traffic enforcement emphasis in Gorst Kitsap area law enforcement agencies issued 184 traffic citations during their second High-Visibility Enforcement (HiVE) patrol on Thursday in the 5-mile Gorst region, one of the most accident-prone regions in Kitsap County, according to the Washington State Patrol. The 184 traffic citations included 84 for speeding, 17 for distracted driving and 17 for seat belt violations. Law enforcement officers arrested nine people on susp
Kitsap Sun •

Kitsap law enforcement begins high-intensity enforcement patrols near Gorst

The Washington State Patrol, Bremerton Police Department and Kitsap County Sheriff's Office began a series of High Visibility Enforcement (HiVE) patrols last Thursday near Gorst in an effort to reduce fatalities and collisions in one of Kitsap County's most incident-prone regions. During the July 14 HiVE patrol, law enforcement conducted 54 traffic stops and issued 67 traffic violations, according to Trooper Katherine Weatherwax, Washington State Patrol District Eight Public Information Officer
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