Iowa
Wait, Xi Jinping has an 85-year-old pen pal in Iowa?
- Despite US-China relations being at some of their worst, Xi Jinping apparently has a pen pal in Iowa.
- Sarah Lande, 85, met Xi when she hosted him during his first visit to the US nearly 40 years ago.
- State media revealed that Xi was still getting letters from Lande in a report on Wednesday.
China’s most powerful man still gets letters from an elderly pen pal in the US Midwest.
The interaction was documented in a Wednesday state media report highlighting Xi Jinping’s thoughts on US-China diplomacy. The focus was on Xi’s words, where he highlighted how both countries have achieved diplomatic victories through the “collective efforts” of their peoples, he said.
But the report also mentions that Xi was responding to a letter sent last week from Sarah Lande. She’s an Iowa resident, 85, who state media described as a “friend of his.”
Lande isn’t just some random American. She and her husband, Roger Lande, are from Muscatine, a small city of 24,000 that Xi visited in 1985.
Three decades before he rose to become China’s top leader, a then-31-year-old Xi visited the state to study agriculture as part of a five-person delegation from Hebei province.
A family in Muscatine hosted Xi in their son’s bedroom, and he befriended the Landes during his trip. Sarah Lande, who, per Chinese state media agency Xinhua, helped coordinate Xi’s visit, appeared to remember him fondly.
“He had a smile that would not stop. He was curious about everything and asked questions about everything,” she said of Xi, according to a Xinhua interview published last year.
Xi visited Iowa once more in 2012, this time during a state visit as China’s vice president. There, he reunited with the Landes at their Victorian home in Muscatine. A year later, he was appointed to China’s top role.
“You were the first group of Americans I came into contact with,” Xi told residents of Muscatine, per state media. “To me, you are America.”
SHAUN TANDON/AFP via Getty Images
Then, in 2023, Xi arrived in San Francisco in November for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. He invited the Landes and several other “old friends” from Iowa to dinner.
“This has been a heck of a journey — we can’t figure it out. We don’t even know why he likes us!” Lande said when she received the invitation.
“But we’re eager to meet with him, too. We’re regular, everyday people,” she said.
BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images
The pair have exchanged letters before. Xi wrote to Lande in 2022, also talking about ties between their nations and praising Iowa.
“The Chinese and American people are both great people, and our friendship is not only a valuable asset but also an important foundation for the development of bilateral relations,” Xi wrote.
The Chinese leader has recently been trying to bank on the nostalgia of his friendly trip to the US all those years ago.
While speaking to President Joe Biden at the APEC summit, Xi was presented with a photo of his younger self posing in front of the Golden Gate Bridge — which he visited in 1985.
“Do you know this young man?” Biden said, according to a China Foreign Ministry spokesperson’s retelling.
“Oh yes, this was 38 years ago,” Xi said.
Beijing’s foreign delegates promoted the snippet, which went viral on Chinese social media.
The US-China relationship, however, hasn’t been as rosy as Xi and Lande’s. The past year has seen both countries enmeshed in several tense military encounters that have soured relations to some of their worst levels in history.
In February, the US shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon after it flew over US territory. Then, in May, there was a close encounter between a US spy plane and a Chinese jet over the South China Sea.
The US has also sought to curb China’s technological developments when it imposed export controls for the semiconductor industry in October.
Representatives for China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.
How much rain does Des Moines get? See the 5 wettest days on record
Wondering how the rainfall total compares? Here are the five wettest days on record for Des Moines, Iowa.
Drought conditions in Iowa improved for a second consecutive week, though areas of moderate drought expanded in parts of the state.
The U.S. Drought Monitor offers a state-by-state tracking of drought conditions nationwide. New maps and forecasts are released each Thursday. What are the current drought conditions in Iowa?
U.S. Drought Monitor map: How much of Iowa is in a drought?
The latest Drought Monitor report, released on Thursday, June 18, showed about 46% of Iowa experiencing some form of drought. This continues the streak of conditions improving week to week in Iowa. The previous report, released on June 11, showed that 63% of the state was experiencing some form of drought.
The most recent report reflects conditions as of 8 a.m. June 16, right as storms were sweeping through Iowa, with parts of eastern Iowa seeing more than 2 inches of rainfall. Light rainfall on June 17 led to areas like Iowa City and Burlington reporting around an inch of rain.
Here is the breakdown of current drought conditions in Iowa:
- 61% of the state of Iowa is experiencing no drought conditions
- 39% of Iowa is experiencing abnormally dry conditions
- 7% of Iowa is experiencing moderate drought conditions
- 0% of Iowa is experiencing severe drought conditions
Even though drought conditions have improved overall in Iowa, the area experiencing moderate drought increased from the week of June 11, particularly in northern Iowa. Much of Cerro Gordo, Hancock and Kossuth counties are under D1 conditions, with nearby Palo Alto, Winnebago, Floyd and Mitchell also in moderate drought.
Pockets of moderate drought also persist along the northwest edge of Iowa in Lyon, Sioux and Plymouth counties. In eastern Iowa, Jackson, Clinton and Scott counties saw their moderate drought status ease week to week.
Most of the U.S. is facing drought conditions
About 73% of the U.S. is experiencing some level of drought, a 2-percentage-point improvement from the prior week. Some of the most intense drought conditions are in the southeast and the mountain west.
Iowa Drought Monitor tracks conditions weekly
The U.S. Drought Monitor offers a state-by-state tracking of drought conditions nationwide. New maps and forecasts are released each Thursday.
The intensity levels range from abnormally dry, or D0, to exceptional drought, or D4.
Typically with D0 conditions, corn can show drought stress. Pond levels start to decline under moderate drought conditions and soybeans abort pods, according to the Drought Monitor. The Drought Monitor also has a look-back chart that compares drought conditions from 3 months ago up to 1 year ago.
Cooper Worth is a service/trending reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach him at cworth@gannett.com or follow him on X @CooperAWorth.
Confirmed tornadoes were reported in Illinois and Iowa Wednesday night as severe weather descended on a large swath of the Midwest.
According to the National Weather Service, a confirmed tornado was reported near the small northeast Iowa community of Harpers Ferry at 5:10 p.m., while a second confirmed tornado rolled through Charleston in central Illinois at about 6:40 p.m. local time.
Both tornadoes were flagged by the weather service as a “particularly dangerous situation,” a rare designation used by the weather service for environments in which “strong and violent tornadoes” are possible.
Photos and videos obtained by CBS News showed extensive damage in Charleston, with downed trees and power lines. Hail that measured 2.75 inches was also reported in the Charleston area, according to the weather service.
“There are a large number of trees blocking roadways throughout Charleston at this time,” Charleston police said in a Facebook post. “Unless it is an absolute emergency, do not drive or attempt to go anywhere.”
The city of Charleston later declared a local state of emergency.
One cell phone video captured the terrifying moments what appeared to be a large tornado tore through Effingham, Illinois, located about 40 miles southwest of Charleston.
Larry Thies, coordinator for the Effingham Emergency Management Agency, told CBS News that initial information indicated damaged buildings, trailers, and downed power lines and trees. He said officials were working to set up an emergency operations center, but were facing challenges because internet was down in the area.
The extent of the damage to region was still unclear. There was no immediate word of injuries or fatalities. CBS News senior meteorologist Rob Marciano said there were at least seven reported tornadoes during the weather event.
According to utility tracker PowerOutage.us, at least 55,000 customers were without power in Illinois.
Earlier Wednesday, Marciano reported that more than 125 million Americans were facing severe weather advisories, including the Gulf Coast states, which were under flood alerts due to Tropical Storm Arthur. Speaking on “CBS Evening News,” Marciano said such ripe tornado conditions were rare for June.
“This is unique for June, this is unusual to have such a strong jet stream just screaming across the country, then you’ve got the summertime tropical moisture coming in…and then some cold air coming in,” Marciano said. “And winds coming at different direction, at different levels, creating that spin. So what that equates to is really the high probability of seeing, not just tornadoes, but intense tornadoes of EF2 strength or higher on the ground for a long time. And also damaging winds at 75 mph or higher, and of course big time hail.”
When is Juneteenth and how is the holiday celebrated
Juneteenth is coming up. Here is what the holiday is about and how it’s celebrated.
It is a busy weekend in Iowa City as summer officially begins on Sunday. From Iowa City Pride and Juneteenth celebrations, there is no shortage of activity happening around town.
Here are four events to check out.
Enter the whimsical world of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ at Lower City Park
Thursday to Sunday: Riverside Theatre’s summer tradition, Shakespeare in the Park, has returned to Lower City Park. Catch a free performance of William Shakespeare’s iconic comedy, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” that follows the chaotic events of four entangled lovers and a troupe of actors wandering into a mystical forest. All of the free shows through the weekend start at 7:30 p.m.
Celebrate Juneteenth with live entertainment and community
Friday: The Black Voices Project and Dream City are teaming up to host the community-wide Juneteenth Celebration. At 1 p.m. Friday, June 19, at the South District Market Parking lot, enjoy live music from Kevin Burt, along with community presentations, activities for all ages, and a fashion showcase.
Show your pride at Iowa City Pride events
Saturday: Iowa City Pride is back for the 56th year. Principal events, the Pride Parade and Pride Festival, will start at noon on Saturday, June 20. The festival will be on the Ped Mall, and the parade will begin at College Green Park, working its way downtown along Iowa Avenue and East Washington Street. The festival runs from 12 to 9 p.m.
Catch a romantic comedy under the stars at FilmScene in the Park
Saturday: FilmScene in the Park returns at 9:15 p.m., Saturday, June 20, with a screening of the cult classic “13 Going on 30″ at Chauncey Swan Park. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Concessions, including beer and wine, will be available 30 minutes before the film begins.
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and education reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached at JRish@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @rishjessica_
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