Iowa
Staind, Hoobastank and BigXthaPlug to perform at Iowa State Fair
BigXthaPlug, Bailey Zimmerman react to Hall of Fame exhibit
The artists discuss their crossover success and being included in the Country Music Hall of Fame’s American Currents showcase of today’s music.
Ready to rock out? Multi-platinum rock band Staind will take the Iowa State Fair Grandstand stage with special guest Hoobastank on Monday, Aug. 17.
That’s not all: breakout Texas rapper BigXthaPlug will deliver his hard-hitting southern hip-hop anthems to the Grandstand on Saturday, Aug. 22.
Here’s what to know about the performances:
Who is Staind?
Staind is a multi-platinum rock band that’s toured alongside names like Kid Rock, Limp Bizkit and Filter. Their 1999 album “Dysfunction” contained their hit song “Mudshovel,” their major-label debut, according to Musician Guide.
In 2000, Staind contributed tracks to two compilation albums: the “Scream 3” film soundtrack and a rock tribute to rap music entitled “Take A Bight Outta Rhyme: A Rock Tribute To Rap.”
Who is Hoobastank?
Hoobastank’s debut and sophomore albums have topped the Billboard charts. Their song “The Reason” hit a billion views on YouTube. Netflix also used “The Reason” in the hit series “Beef,” according to Grammy.com.
Originally a mixture of rock, metal, ska, and funk influences (with saxophones!), Hoobastank is now bristling hard rock. Their platinum-selling debut album in 2001 broke the Top 20 on Billboard charts, which included their popular anthem “Crawling in the Dark.” Their next album, “The Reason” – which pushed them into the mainstream – hit No.3 on Billboard’s Top 200 albums chart, where it stayed for more than a year.
Who is BigXthaPlug?
Dallas rapper BigXthaPlug is mixing rap and country alongside big-name country artists like Luke Combs, Ella Langley, Bailey Zimmerman, Jelly Roll, Darius Rucker and more. He’s gone from solitary confinement to Nashville’s biggest rapper, according to The New York Times.
“Hip-hop and country music both have the same base, which is storytelling,” he told The New York Times.
When is Staind performing at the Iowa State Fair? When is BigXthaPlug performing?
Staind will perform with special guest Hoobastank on Monday, Aug. 17 at 8 p.m.
BigXthaPlug will perform on Saturday, Aug. 22 at 8 p.m.
Where do I get tickets for the Iowa State Fair concerts?
Tickets for both acts go on sale Friday, April 3 at 10 a.m. and can be found online at the Iowa State Fair website.
Tickets to see Staind and Hoobastank range between $54.40 and $89.40. Tickets for BigXthaPlug range between $29.40 and $69.40.
What’s the current Iowa State Fair Grandstand lineup?
One act remains to be announced for Friday, Aug. 21. Tickets for the following shows are already on sale:
- Thursday, Aug. 13: HARDY with special guest McCoy Moore
- Friday, Aug. 14: Rod Stewart with special guest Richard Marx
- Saturday, Aug. 15: The Red Clay Strays
- Sunday, Aug. 16: Lainey Wilson with special guest Tigirlily Gold (sold out)
- Monday, Aug. 17: Staind with special guest Hoobastank
- Tuesday, Aug. 18: TLC and Salt-N-Pepa with En Vogue
- Wednesday, Aug. 19: AJR
- Thursday, Aug. 20: Riley Green with special guest Mackenzie Carpenter
- Friday, Aug. 21: Not yet announced
- Saturday, Aug. 22: BigXthaPlug
- Sunday, Aug. 23: Josiah Queen with special guest Ben Fuller
Lucia Cheng is a service and trending reporter at the Des Moines Register. Contact her at lcheng@gannett.com or 515-284-8132.
Iowa
Elections live updates: Key races to watch in California, Iowa, Montana and New Jersey primaries
Live Coverage
In California, competition is fierce for the gubernatorial and Los Angeles mayoral nominations. Iowa, Montana and New Jersey have open U.S. Senate seats. In New Jersey, a silent congressman could lose his House seat.
Iowa
Iowa joins wave of states forcing porn sites to verify users’ ages
Beginning July 1, Iowans must verify they are adults to access porn websites.
How online porn is shaping a generation of young men
Early porn exposure among boys is rising. And experts say it leads to lasting struggles with addiction, mental health and relationships.
Iowa will require porn websites to verify users are at least 18 under a new law signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds.
The Hawkeye State joins at least 25 other states, including Kansas and Nebraska, in requiring age verification for adult content in an effort to prevent minors from accessing it.
House File 864 is modeled after a Texas age verification law the U.S. Supreme Court upheld in a 6-3 decision in June. The measure will apply to websites or apps if at least one-third of their content is pornographic.
Beginning July 1, the law will require the websites to verify a user’s age using government-issued identification, financial documents or other documents that are “reliable proxies for age.” Age verification may also be performed by third parties or through any “commercially reasonable and reliable method.”
The law states websites and third parties “shall not retain, sell, lease or otherwise disseminate any identifying information of an individual subject to reasonable age verification unless retention or dissemination of the identifying information is required by law or a court order.”
It also requires third parties and websites to use “reasonable methods given the person’s scope of business to secure all data collected and transmitted” during the age verification process.
Under the new law, Iowa’s attorney general can sue companies in violation of the law. Violators could face fines up to $1,000 for each time an individual accesses a site in violation of the law. Civil penalties for providers are capped at $10,000 per day.
Iowa Senate lawmakers unanimously approved the measure while the House advanced it 82-2.
Rapid Response Politics Reporter Maya Marchel Hoff can be reached at mmarchelHoff@usatodayco.com. You can find her on X (formerly Twitter) at @mmarchelhoff.
Iowa
Iowa Democratic Senate primary: Wahls, Turek make final push before election
DES MOINES, Iowa (Gray Media Iowa State Capitol Bureau) — Iowa’s primary election is Tuesday, and candidates across the state are making their final push to voters.
One of the most closely watched contests is the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. The winner will advance to November’s general election to compete for Senator Joni Ernst’s seat.
Iowa State Senator Zach Wahls and State Representative Josh Turek are competing for the Democratic nomination.
Wahls spent Monday in Des Moines speaking with voters about the issues they want addressed in Washington.
“It’s time for change. We’ve been talking about it from day one. Iowans have been failed by leaders in both parties for far too long,” Wahls said. “In order to get the change that we need, we need a leader and a fighter who’s willing to challenge the broken status quo and clean up the corruption in Washington DC.”
Turek toured the state during the final days of the race. He was in Sioux City Friday and said he will represent working class Iowans if elected.
“I come from a working class family, a working class community, somebody that’s gone through a lot of hardships, a lot of struggle, both on the economic and on the health care side,” Turek said. “I think what’s fundamentally wrong with DC right now is we’ve got enough millionaires up there. I’m the only one in this race that’s not a millionaire.”
For the first time in more than a decade, Iowa will have an open U.S. Senate seat.
While campaigning, candidates have heard concerns ranging from affordability and housing costs to agriculture and water quality.
Polls open Tuesday morning across Iowa.
—
Isabella Warren covers state government and politics for Gray Media-owned stations in Iowa. Email her at isabella.warren@kcrg.com; and follow her on Facebook at Isabella Warren TV on X/Twitter@isabellaw_gray, and on Instagram@IsabellaWarrenTV.
Copyright 2026 Gray Media Iowa State Capitol Bureau. All rights reserved.
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