Iowa
The Myth of the Iowa Caucuses Got Busted
There was at all times one thing undeniably stirring in regards to the Iowa caucuses, the quadrennial political ritual during which the world’s most maniacally formidable folks tried to win over voters, virtually one after the other, in small cities on the prairie. Iowa’s rites—the stump speech delivered in the lounge, the marketing campaign bus pulling up subsequent to the grain silo, the compulsory admiration of the six-hundred-pound butter cow on show on the state honest—turned embedded in America’s political psyche. In 2019, whereas I used to be following Democratic Celebration Presidential aspirants across the state, I drove by two billboards off I-80, exterior Mitchellville. The primary billboard mentioned “JESUS.” The second mentioned “TULSI.” In Iowa, this type of factor made sense.
This previous weekend, the Democratic Celebration introduced a plan for Iowa to now not be the primary official cease in its Presidential-nomination course of, doubtless placing an finish to an association that dates again to the nineteen-seventies. This information was a very long time coming. For years, there have been arguments that Iowa is just too white and too rural to serve such an outsized function in selecting the chief of a celebration that depends so closely on nonwhite voters in cities. It didn’t assist that Iowa’s Democrats additionally most well-liked to vote by way of an advanced, in-person caucus system that harkened again to frontier days. Within the twenty-first century, this quaint custom persistently saved turnout low. Iowa’s diehards would reply with varied arguments of their very own: in regards to the significance of rural points receiving nationwide prominence, in regards to the openings {that a} small state with low cost media markets make for upstart candidates, in regards to the built-up institutional reminiscence and human political expertise that exist within the state. Iowa can also be a mythmaking place—the place else would the ghosts of disgraced ball gamers emerge out of cornstalks?—and that led to loads of paeans in regards to the “seriousness” with which Iowa voters took their obligation as first-in-the-nation voters. The parable of Iowa, amongst Democrats, was strengthened lately by the success of Barack Obama, after which Bernie Sanders, within the state.
What finally did Iowa in was the 2020 caucuses. After greater than a yr of energetic campaigning, throughout which greater than twenty folks declared their candidacies, and figures as diverse as Andrew Yang, Pete Buttigieg, and Marianne Williamson gained nationwide profiles, the caucuses resulted in a complicated mess of delayed reporting, glitchy apps, and unusual math—checked out a technique, Sanders received, checked out one other, Buttigieg did. Joe Biden got here in fourth. The parable was busted.
Underneath the proposal put ahead by the Democratic Nationwide Committee, Iowa’s place on the Democratic Celebration calendar will now be held by South Carolina, adopted by New Hampshire and Nevada, after which Georgia, then Michigan. The transfer, which has loads of broad promoting factors—giving Black and Hispanic voters an earlier say in who leads the Democratic Celebration, and opening up the definition of the nation’s political heartland—has tactical which means, too. South Carolina Democrats, personified by Consultant Jim Clyburn, got here to Biden’s rescue within the state’s 2020 major, after early stumbles in Iowa and New Hampshire. Transferring South Carolina as much as the entrance of the voting line in 2024 is a neat reward. Harry Reid, the late Nevada senator, spent years increase the Democratic Celebration’s infrastructure in his state, and urging the nationwide Celebration to present it first-in-the-nation standing. He, too, can be happy with the proposed modifications, which transfer Nevada nearer to the entrance.
In December, Pat Rynard, a veteran Iowa reporter who runs the Website Iowa Beginning Line, warned of the implications of tailoring nominating contests to the pursuits of social gathering kings and kingmakers. “Iowans like their outsider candidates, and institution front-runners have usually met their match right here,” Rynard wrote. “That type of competitors on a extra even taking part in subject is extraordinarily wholesome for a celebration.” After the information got here out final weekend, some Iowa Democrats, in addition to New Hampshire Democrats, issued statements suggesting that they may go in opposition to the nationwide Celebration’s needs and maintain their Presidential nomination contests early anyway. Each states have legal guidelines on the books to guard their first-in-the-nation standing. These legal guidelines have been at all times foolish. Primaries aren’t constitutionally mandated. They’re social gathering workout routines. There’s no ignoring the politics behind this shakeup. However politics are actual, and myths aren’t.
Considered one of my lasting reminiscences of overlaying the Iowa caucuses occurred in August, 2019, after an occasion known as the Wing Ding, which occurred in within the summer-vacation city of Clear Lake, on the Surf Ballroom—well-known for being the venue for Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Large Bopper’s last present, earlier than their fateful, deadly flight. The Wing Ding had change into its personal Iowa Democratic Celebration custom, and that yr younger staffers and supporters for greater than a dozen candidates had gathered exterior to yell and cheer like they have been at a pep rally. Inside, the candidates have been dropped at the stage to ship fast speeches, which glided by in a blur, as attendees nibbled on hen. Hours later, everybody stumbled out into an Iowan summer season evening. A colleague and I ended in at a close-by gas-station comfort retailer to purchase some espresso earlier than the drive again to Des Moines. Inside, we noticed Joe Sestak, the retired three-star Navy admiral and former congressional consultant, perusing the cabinets. Sestak was one of many extra long-shot figures who had entered the race, and my colleague and I each hesitated for a second, questioning if we had a journalistic obligation to ask him some questions. However what does one ask Joe Sestak in a fuel station after the Wing Ding? That was Iowa. ♦
WATCH: Dowling’s Ian Middleton scores walk-off touchdown to beat Valley
Dowling Catholic scores walk-off touchdown to defeat rival Valley in overtime
It’s Week 3 of the Iowa high school football season, with another big week of rivalry games on the IHSAA on tap for Friday night.
Ames travels to Iowa City to take on Iowa City High in the Little Cy-Hawk game and Ankeny hosts Dowling Catholic in a rematch of last year’s 4A state quarterfinals. Several other intriguing matchups are happening around the state Friday night. Check out the full Week 3 IHSAA football schedule below.
Stream Iowa HS football games on the NFHS Network
Iowa high school football schedule, Week 3
All games are listed with the home team first
Thursday, September 12
Sioux City East vs. Bishop Heelan, 7 p.m.
Des Moines Roosevelt vs. Waukee Northwest, 7 p.m.
Riceville vs. Don Bosco, 7 p.m.
Cedar Rapids Washington vs. Davenport West, 7:15 p.m.
Friday, September 13
Le Mars vs. Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley, 7 p.m.
Cedar Falls vs. Ankeny Centennial, 7 p.m.
AGWSR vs. North Tama, 7 p.m.
AHSTW vs. Kuemper Catholic, 7 p.m.
Akron-Westfield vs. Hinton, 7 p.m.
Albia vs. Chariton, 7 p.m.
Algona vs. Estherville-Lincoln Central, 7 p.m.
Springville vs. Easton Valley, 7 p.m.
Alta-Aurelia vs. Gehlen Catholic, 7 p.m.
Ankeny vs. Dowling Catholic, 7 p.m.
Atlantic vs. Greene County, 7 p.m.
Audubon vs. Exira-EHK, 7 p.m.
Ballard vs. Creston, 7 p.m.
Baxter vs. St. Edmond, 7 p.m.
Bellevue vs. North Cedar, 7 p.m.
Bettendorf vs. Urbandale, 7 p.m.
West Branch vs. Columbus Catholic, 7 p.m.
CAM vs. East Mills, 7 p.m.
Cardinal vs. Davis County, 7 p.m.
Carlisle vs. Winterset, 7 p.m.
Carroll vs. Denison-Schleswig, 7 p.m.
Cascade vs. Monticello, 7 p.m.
Pella vs. Indianola, 7 p.m.
Central Decatur vs. North Mahaska, 7 p.m.
Central Lee vs. Durant, 7 p.m.
Central Springs vs. Garner-Hayfield-Ventura, 7 p.m.
Cherokee Washington vs. Ridge View, 7 p.m.
Clarinda vs. Treynor, 7 p.m.
Clarion-Goldfield-Dows vs. Southeast Valley, 7 p.m.
Clear Lake vs. Iowa Falls-Alden, 7 p.m.
Collins-Maxwell vs. Coon Rapids-Bayard, 7 p.m.
Colo-NESCO vs. Glidden-Ralston, 7 p.m.
Edgewood-Colesburg vs. Central City, 7 p.m.
Danville vs. Pekin, 7 p.m.
Unity Christian vs. Sioux Center, 7 p.m.
Denver vs. North Fayette Valley, 7 p.m.
Des Moines Christian vs. Clarke, 7 p.m.
Fort Dodge vs. Dallas Center-Grimes, 7 p.m.
Dunkerton vs. GMG, 7 p.m.
Eagle Grove vs. Forest City, 7 p.m.
Earlham vs. IKM-Manning, 7 p.m.
East Marshall vs. Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont, 7 p.m.
Easton Union vs. Southeast Warren, 7 p.m.
Sioux City West vs. Sergeant Bluff-Luton 7 p.m.
Stanton vs. Fremont-Mills, 7 p.m.
Council Bluffs-Lincoln vs. Des Moines East, 7 p.m.
Glenwood vs. Harlan, 7 p.m.
Wayne vs. Martensdale St. Marys 7 p.m.
Gladbrook-Reinbeck vs. Meskwaki, 7 p.m.
Harris-Lake Park vs. Northwood-Kensett, 7 p.m.
Woodward-Granger vs. Interstate 35, 7 p.m.
HLV vs. Calamus-Wheatland, 7 p.m.
Hudson vs. Jesup, 7 p.m.
Iowa City High vs. Ames, 7 p.m.
Regina Catholic vs. Mediapolis, 7 p.m.
Janesville vs. Clarksville, 7 p.m.
Waterloo Christian vs. Kee, 7 p.m.
Kingsley-Pierson vs. Westwood, 7 p.m.
Cedar Rapids Kennedy vs. Linn-Mar, 7 p.m.
Lake Mills vs. Newman Catholic, 7 p.m.
Lenox vs. Bedford, 7 p.m.
Lewis Central vs. Adel-Desoto-Minburn, 7 p.m.
Lisbon vs. Columbus, 7 p.m.
Lynnville-Sully vs. Pleasantville, 7 p.m.
Madrid vs. Mount Ayr, 7 p.m.
Maquoketa Valley vs. East Buchanan, 7 p.m.
MMCRU vs. Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn, 7 p.m.
Montezuma vs. Melcher-Dallas, 7 p.m.
Moravia vs. Belle Plaine, 7 p.m.
Mormon Trail vs. Lamoni, 7 p.m.
Mount Pleasant vs. Tipton, 7 p.m.
Muscatine vs. Iowa City West, 7 p.m.
Shenandoah vs. Nodaway Valley, 7 p.m.
MVAOCOU vs. Manson-Northwest Webster, 7 p.m.
Nashua-Plainfield vs. BCLUW, 7 p.m.
New Hampton vs. MFL MarMac, 7 p.m.
New London vs. Iowa Valley, 7 p.m.
North Butler vs. West Fork, 7 p.m.
North Iowa vs. Bishop Garrigan, 7 p.m.
North Union vs. Belmond-Klemme, 7 p.m.
OABCIG vs. West Lyon, 7 p.m.
Ogden vs. Perry, 7 p.m.
Okoboji vs. MOC-Floyd Valley, 7 p.m.
Panorama vs. ACGCG, 7 p.m.
Pella Christian vs. Grundy Center, 7 p.m.
Postville vs. Clayton Ridge, 7 p.m.
Cedar Rapids Prairie vs. Southeast Polk, 7 p.m.
Siouxland Christian vs. Ar-We-Va, 7 p.m.
Riverside vs. South Central Calhoun, 7 p.m.
GTRA vs. Rockford, 7 p.m.
Saydel vs. Colfax-Mingo, 7 p.m.
Sheldon vs. Emmetsburg, 7 p.m.
Sidney vs. Griswold, 7 p.m.
Sioux Central vs. Lawton-Bronson, 7 p.m.
South Hamilton vs. Roland-Story, 7 p.m.
South Hardin vs. Aplington-Parkersburg, 7 p.m.
South O’Brien vs. Sibley-Ocheyedan, 7 p.m.
South Winneshiek vs. Wapsie Valley, 7 p.m.
Southwest Valley vs. Grand View Christian, 7 p.m.
Spencer vs. Spirit Lake, 7 p.m.
St. Albert vs. Underwood, 7 p.m.
Starmont vs. North Linn, 7 p.m.
Storm Lake vs. Council Bluffs Jefferson, 7 p.m.
Sumner-Fredericksburg vs. Oelwein, 7 p.m.
Remsen-St. Mary’s vs. West Bend-Mallard, 7 p.m.
Waukee vs. Sioux City North, 7 p.m.
Tri-Center vs. West Monona, 7 p.m.
Tripoli vs. Central Elkader, 7 p.m.
Turkey Valley vs. West Central, 7 p.m.
Twin Cedars vs. Murray, 7 p.m.
Valley vs. Johnston, 7 p.m.
Van Buren County vs. Highland, 7 p.m.
Van Meter vs. Humboldt, 7 p.m.
WACO vs. Winfield-Mt. Union, 7 p.m.
East Sac County vs. Missouri Valley, 7 p.m.
Wapello vs. Louisa Muscatine, 7 p.m.
West Central Valley vs. Red Oak, 7 p.m.
West Hancock vs. Saint Ansgar, 7 p.m.
West Harrison/Whiting vs. Boyer Valley, 7 p.m.
West Sioux vs. Central Lyon/George-Little Rock, 7 p.m.
Western Christian vs. Pocahontas Area, 7 p.m.
Wilton vs. Camanche, 7 p.m.
Woodbine vs. Newell-Fonda, 7 p.m.
Woodbury Central vs. Logan-Magnolia, 7 p.m.
Midland vs. Lone Tree, 7 p.m.
Benton vs. Mount Vernon, 7:15 p.m.
Dubuque Senior vs. Dubuque Hempstead, 7:15 p.m.
Des Moines North vs. Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 7:15 p.m.
North Scott vs. Assumption, 7:15 p.m.
Alburnett vs. Beckman Catholic, 7:30 p.m.
Bondurant-Farrar vs. Waverly-Shell Rock, 7:30 p.m.
Washington vs. Fairfield, 7:30 p.m.
Center Point-Urbana vs. Marion, 7:30 p.m.
Central DeWitt vs. Solon, 7:30 p.m.
Charles City vs. Waterloo East, 7:30 p.m.
Clear Creek-Amana vs. Williamsburg, 7:30 p.m.
Decorah vs. Crestwood, 7:30 p.m.
Fort Madison vs. Centerville, 7:30 p.m.
Gilbert vs. Mason City, 7:30 p.m.
Boone vs. Des Moines Hoover, 7:30 p.m.
Grinnell vs. Oskaloosa, 7:30 p.m.
Keokuk vs. Burlington, 7:30 p.m.
Knoxville vs. South Tama, 7:30 p.m.
Wahlert Catholic vs. Clinton, 7:30 p.m.
Independence vs. Waukon, 7:30 p.m.
Waterloo West vs. Davenport Central, 7:30 p.m.
Mid-Prairie vs. Sigourney-Keota, 7:30 p.m.
Davenport North vs. Marshalltown, 7:30 p.m.
North Polk vs. Webster City, 7:30 p.m.
Northeast vs. Maquoketa, 7:30 p.m.
Norwalk vs. Newton, 7:30 p.m.
Osage vs. Dike-New Hartford, 7:30 p.m.
PCM vs. Nevada, 7:30 p.m.
Pleasant Valley vs. Iowa City Liberty, 7:30 p.m.
Knoxville vs. South Tama, 7:30 p.m.
Ottumwa vs. Des Moines Lincoln, 7:30 p.m.
Vinton-Shellsburg vs. Anamosa, 7:30 p.m.
West Burlington vs. West Liberty, 7:30 p.m.
West Delaware vs. Union Community, 7:30 p.m.
West Marshall vs. Hampton-Dumont-CAL, 7:30 p.m.
Western Dubuque vs. Xavier, 7:30 p.m.
Joe Randleman covers high school sports for the Ames Tribune. Contact him at jrandleman@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JoeRandleman
We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn’t influence our coverage.
A farmer harvests soybeans in western Iowa in early October 2023. (Photo by Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch)
Crop conditions for corn, soybeans and pasture are far better than conditions from this time last year, with over 75% of corn and soybeans and 63% of pasture rated as good or excellent, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s weekly crop progress and condition report for the state.
Only 44-46% of corn and soybeans and 15% of pasture cropland rated good or excellent this time last year.
Nearly all corn has reached the dough stage or beyond. The percentage of mature corn in the state doubled from 10% last week, setting it four days behind last year, but only one day behind the five-year average.
Soybeans are similarly maturing, with 95% setting pods and nearly 9% dropping leaves. Like this year’s corn, soybeans lag four days behind last year’s crops.
A report from USDA in August forecasted corn yields for the state would be up eight bushels per acre from last year, soybean yields would improve by three bushels per acre.
In preparation for harvest season, Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a proclamation on Monday waiving the need for a permit on overweight trucks bearing agricultural products.
More than 40% of the state, primarily in northern and western Iowa, is in abnormally dry conditions according to the U.S. Drought Monitor, but the state’s crop progress report shows that around 70% of topsoil and subsoil moisture is adequate.
Statewide average temperatures the past week were 6.3 degrees below normal, with north eastern regions of the state seeing some overnight lows in the upper 30s, according to State Climatologist Justin Glisan.
The lower temperatures also gave farmers 6.4 suitable days for field work such as cutting hay and chopping corn silage.
The Iowa Hawkeyes suffered a miserable loss to the Iowa State Cyclones this past weekend, blowing a double-digit lead in a 20-19 defeat.
As a result, Iowa fell out of the top 25 and now will have a very limited margin for error the rest of the way.
One thing is for sure: the Hawkeyes will now be leaning an awful lot on running back Kaleb Johnson.
Iowa released its updated depth chart on Monday, and one change was very noticeable: Johnson is now the No. 1 running back (h/t John Steppe of The Gazette).
Going into the season, the Hawkeyes considered Johnson and Kamari Moulton as interchangeable in terms of who held the title of featured back.
But after the first couple of weeks, Johnson has established himself as the clear starter.
Now in his junior campaign, Johnson was not all that impressive over his first two years at Iowa. Last season, he rushed for just 463 yards and three touchdowns while averaging four yards per carry.
However, through the first two games of 2024, Johnson has been electric, racking up 306 yards and four scores while logging an incredible 8.4 yards per attempt.
Compare that to Moulton, who has carried the ball 26 times for just 81 yards.
Johnson was one of the lone bright spots in the Hawkeyes’ loss to Iowa State, toting the pigskin 25 times for 187 yards and a couple of scores. He also caught three passes for nine yards.
Iowa will look to get back on track when it hosts Troy next Saturday.
Live updates: Airport Fire burning in Trabuco Canyon grows to 8,500 acres
Lions vs. Rams snap counts: Detroit makes surprising choices at LB, CB
Aaron Rodgers Interception Led to Perfect Adam Sandler Joke During ManningCast
The Stars Power Rankings: Who Wields the Influence in Dallas?
NFL power rankings: Where Miami Dolphins stand after successful Week 1
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
At least 2 dead as tornadoes hit Alabama, damage homes across Southeast
Kamala Harris' new climate director said she is hesitant to have children because of climate change threats
Researchers warn methane emissions ‘rising faster than ever’
The SMACKDOWN: Gucci Mane vs. Angela Davis vs. Sun Ra : It's Been a Minute
McCaul says he will hold Blinken in contempt after State Department shrugs off his demands for testimony
Germany announces temporary border checks at all land borders
-
Politics1 week agoTrump impersonates Elon Musk talking about rockets: ‘I’m doing a new stainless steel hub’
-
World1 week agoLocals survey damage after flooding in eastern Romania
-
World1 week agoTaiwan court orders release of ex-Taipei mayor arrested in corruption probe
-
World5 days agoMeloni says 'we are making history' as Italy’s FDI reviews progress
-
World1 week agoSeven EU members hadn’t received any post-Covid funding by end-2023
-
Politics1 week agoGold Star families slam Kamala Harris for 'playing politics' over Trump's visit to Arlington National Cemetery
-
World1 week agoOasis fans struggle to secure tickets for band’s reunion tour
-
Politics1 week agoMichigan becomes a top GOP Senate target as Mike Rogers ties with Dem opponent among older voters