Iowa
2024 Iowa State Fair’s Best New Food named
![2024 Iowa State Fair’s Best New Food named 2024 Iowa State Fair’s Best New Food named](https://gray-kcrg-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UNHDJDIRABDQRO4DXIGM7EOOBQ.jpg?auth=f9bdb99c28db39df04c5a87a4856a32721a4e42b3f7fe75bd99485edbc626912&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – The Bacon Cheeseburger Eggroll from Winn & Sara’s Kitchen took the top honor in the 2024 People’s Choice Best New Food Contest at the 2024 Iowa State Fair.
Fair organizers described the Bacon Cheeseburger Eggroll as a fusion between American and Asian-inspired cuisine that blends season ground beef, cooked smoky bacon, pickles and cheese filling in a crispy, pastry eggroll. It’s then drizzled with Winn and Sara’s house-made burger sauce.
The Iowa Sm’Oak’ed Roll from Whatcha Smokin? BBQ and the Lobster Corn Dog from Destination Grille were the runners-up.
Fair organizers said there were 9,204 votes for the People’s Choice Best New Food, and the Bacon Cheeseburger Eggroll took 48.6% of the votes.
Copyright 2024 KCRG. All rights reserved.
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Iowa
USDA criticizes Iowa’s planned summer feeding program, raising doubts over waiver approval
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has criticized Iowa’s proposal to launch its own summer feeding program with federal money, saying it shows the state believes it “knows better than its own families do about what their needs are” and raising questions about whether the state’s plan will be approved.
Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Thursday that Iowa will seek a waiver from the 2025 Summer EBT program. The EBT program would provide Iowa families with pre-loaded electronic benefits transfer cards that could be used to buy groceries. Instead, Iowa is seeking to use the same money it would get through the Summer EBT program — about $29 million — to set up a summer feeding program that would distribute boxes of food to families at existing sites at nonprofits, food banks, churches and other organizations around the state.
Iowa’s waiver application needs approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which runs the Summer EBT program. A USDA spokesperson issued a statement Thursday afternoon defending the benefits of the Summer EBT approach and criticizing Iowa’s proposal.
“USDA’s Summer EBT program is designed to tackle one objective: feeding kids at a time when we know hunger goes up,” the statement says. “It is backed by a decade of demonstration projects and rigorous evaluation showing that it works to reduce child hunger and support healthier diets. It also provides families with the freedom to make their own decisions on what food is best for their unique needs.”
More: Kim Reynolds seeks waiver from Summer EBT food program, says state can serve more kids
“Through this waiver request, the governor is asserting that the State knows better than its own families do about what their needs are,” the statement continues. “The evidence-based Summer EBT program is successfully being run in more than three dozen states, territories, and tribes helping 21 million children across the U.S. USDA stands ready to support additional states, including Iowa, in offering Summer EBT to even more kids.”
Department of Agriculture officials said they will review Iowa’s waiver request just like they do with other requests. They also said pilot projects must demonstrate a plan to research and measure their effectiveness before they will be approved.
Reynolds and state officials said Thursday they believe their proposal will provide a healthier alternative to Summer EBT, and said the state pilot would make about 300,000 children eligible, compared to 245,000 under Summer EBT.
But some anti-hunger advocates raised questions about whether picking up a box of food each month will be as accessible or offer as much choice as using an EBT card at a grocery store.
“One concern is that the current proposal will limit extensive choice for families,” said Michelle Book, president and CEO of the Food Bank of Iowa. “With the summer EBT card, it’s loaded onto their card. They go to the grocery store and they choose whatever in the grocery store would be of most benefit to their family.”
Luke Elzinga, chair of the Iowa Hunger Coalition, said he’s worried “some folks could fall through the gaps” of the program, even despite the state’s plans for a food box delivery option.
“By providing that card that’s going straight to those 245,000 kids and their families, we know that it’s getting to them,” Elzinga said. “I’m not sure that we’ll see all 300,000 Iowans or children in Iowa that would be eligible actually be able to participate in the program.”
Iowa’s waiver application says the state will offer food box deliveries to families with transportation challenges, something it says is an advantage over Summer EBT, also known as SUN Bucks.
“Three monthly boxes with healthy, nutritious foods will be available at food distribution sites during the summer months,” Kelly Garcia, director of the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, wrote in a letter Thursday to U.S. Department of Agriculture officials. “Iowa recognizes that for some families, transportation may be a barrier to access. For that reason, food box delivery options will be available for families with transportation challenges, ensuring food is delivered right to their door. The SUN Bucks (Summer EBT) program does not offer this convenience, even though transportation is also necessary to utilize an EBT card at a grocery store.”
Stephen Gruber-Miller covers the Iowa Statehouse and politics for the Register. He can be reached by email at sgrubermil@registermedia.com or by phone at 515-284-8169. Follow him on Twitter at @sgrubermiller.
Iowa
Former Hawkeye Scott Chandler is the new leader for Iowa City Liberty
![Former Hawkeye Scott Chandler is the new leader for Iowa City Liberty Former Hawkeye Scott Chandler is the new leader for Iowa City Liberty](https://gray-kcrg-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NRGZKQMQUJBB7LVGL3ZCS5O4LI.jpg?auth=b2f4f1596fc936e5f7b43743410903baec3d8008034f5415016695e5190dffec&width=1200&height=600&smart=true)
NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa (KCRG) – There is a new leader at Iowa City Liberty. Following a nine-year career in the NFL, former Hawkeye Scott chandler will lead the Lightning football team.
Family is what led the former Iowa tight end back to the Hawkeye State following his playing career.
“Sometimes we get through playing football and you’re able to look back with a little perspective, you see the impact that your high school coaches, your college coaches, and for me, the NFL coaches had on my life. Not just my football career, but how to be a man. When I needed somebody to talk to, my position coach was always there and my head coach was always there. I just want to be that for these guys,” he explained.
Chandler is one of three former Hawkeyes on the coaching staff at Liberty. This football season he’ll have a new title; head coach of the Lightning.
“I wanted to keep continuity with this, with what Coach Harris has built. I think that we’ve got a great group of kids, great staff and I wanted to keep that all that together,” Chandler said.
For the last three seasons, he’s served as the Bolts offensive coordinator, so its been an easy transition for the players.
“It’s been amazing. Just the energy he brings, it’s awesome. I love to have him around. He’s probably the smartest football guy I’ve ever met,” senior tight end and defensive end Ethan Barber said.
There have been changes made since Chandler took over.
“We’re putting an emphasis more on special teams. We’ve been doing that every day this week, at least, because we struggled with that last year,” senior offensive and defensive lineman Caleb Burnett said.
“This new defense is really smash mouth and I just love that,” Barber added. “It’s just get up and get in somebody’s face.
Chandler has put an emphasis on playing physical. For the last two years, Liberty has had one of the top passing offenses in their class and they believe they have the weapons to keep up those numbers.
“I think our skill positions on offense, our receivers and running backs are really good. Our quarterback is really young and very talented. I think our offensive line has taken a big step as well,” Burnett said.
The Lightning, who went 4-5 last season, open up this year with back-to-back rivalry games. The players believe this will help them set the tone for the fall.
“Got get to both trophies this year,” Burnett said.
“You try and put them in the best position, but the players got to play. That’s always been the way football works,” Chandler said.
The Lightning open the season Aug. 30 when they host Iowa City West.
Copyright 2024 KCRG. All rights reserved.
Iowa
5-Star DE Iose Epenesa, Brother of Bills' A.J., Commits to Iowa over Penn State, More
![5-Star DE Iose Epenesa, Brother of Bills' A.J., Commits to Iowa over Penn State, More 5-Star DE Iose Epenesa, Brother of Bills' A.J., Commits to Iowa over Penn State, More](https://media.bleacherreport.com/image/upload/c_fill,g_faces,w_3800,h_2000,q_95/v1723767923/pjbnrwabxgyriwjzkv44.jpg)
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The Iowa Hawkeyes have added another talented piece to their defensive unit.
Scott Dochterman of The Athletic reported that five-star defensive end Iose Epenesa announced his commitment to the Hawkeyes over program’s like Miami, Utah, Missouri and Penn State.
“Five-star defensive end Iose Epenesa committed to Iowa on Thursday night, choosing the Hawkeyes over Miami, Utah, Penn State and Missouri,” Dochterman wrote. “Epenesa, the son of former Iowa defensive tackle Eppy Epenesa and the younger brother of former Iowa defensive lineman A.J. Epenesa and current Iowa linebacker Eric Epenesa, hails from Edwardsville, Ill. He has attended numerous Hawkeyes games nearly every year of his life.”
Epenesa hails from Edwardsville, Illinois and is rated as the No. 42 player nationally, the No. 5 defensive lineman and the top player in the state of Illinois, per 247 Sports’ composite rankings.
Iowa was the only school he visited and his commitment shows further family loyalty to the Hawkeyes. He is the 14th hard commit of the 2025 class and is the second commit that is rated above a four-star, per 247.
He joins a Hawkeyes team that has had 11 consecutive winning seasons and that won 10 games in 2023. His brother Eric is heading into his junior season with the Hawkeyes and could overlap with Iose in 2025.
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