Your friendly local Spider-Man

As the semester begrudgingly pulls uphill, students at the University of Northern Iowa all need a boost. And sometimes that boost is your friendly, neighborhood Spider-Man. If you have been to any football games or other campus events this semester, you most likely have seen the Panther Spider. In his...

Regulars Keep Coming Back To This Marion, Iowa Cafe For All-Day Biscuits, Gravy, And Huge Home-Style Plates

Some breakfast places make you feel like a guest. Others make you feel like family before you even sit down. In one small Iowa town, there is a cafe where the hostess remembers your usual order, the plates arrive stacked high, and the same faces show up week after week just to say hello. The prices stay friendly, the food comes out fast and hot, and the atmosphere leans old-fashioned in the best way.

Five Restaurants Named Tenderloin Finalists

Iowa’s iconic breaded pork tenderloin sandwich is once again taking center stage as the Iowa Pork Producers Association (IPPA) announces the five finalists in its 2026 Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest. The five finalists, listed alphabetically, are:. Friends Hide-A-Way — Underwood. Landmark Grill & Grind — Williamsburg.

5 Mom and Pop Restaurants in Cedar Rapids, Iowa that Locals Swear By

Cedar Rapids, Iowa — a city stitched together by the slow bend of the Cedar River, where brick mills and painted murals stand as sentinels to resilience, and where the laughter of families and the hum of industry mingle in the summer air. Here, Czech heritage and Midwestern warmth meet in every handshake, every festival, every plate passed across a crowded table. The neighborhoods pulse with the stories of newcomers and old-timers, of artists and engineers, of dreamers who build and rebuild, again and again.

‘Beautiful and Haunting’ Works by UNI Art Professor on Display at Monmouth College

Beautiful, haunting dreams – the kind that stay with you well after you’ve risen for the day. The new art exhibition at Monmouth College, which features the work of a college art professor, Kenneth Hall, strives to create that sensation. Hall, a professor of drawing and painting at...

This Tiny Eastern Iowa Diner Serves Plate-Sized Pancakes That Have Become A Local Legend

I thought I was ordering a pancake. Then the plate showed up, and suddenly that description felt a little dishonest. The thing stretched almost to the edges, with barely enough room left for butter and syrup. My first reaction was to laugh. My second was to start wondering whether ordering...

Wild bear raids Nexstar reporter’s garage fridge

"We caught him again."

Linn’s Haunted House carrying on tradition after founder Meryln Linn's death

Marion church holds annual pet blessing

MARION, Iowa — Faith Lutheran Church in Marion held its annual Blessing of the Pets Jubilee on Saturday, welcoming people and their furry — and not-so-furry — companions. Dogs, cats, hamsters, reptiles and other pets received individual blessings at the church. People also could bring stuffed animals...

North Iowa author puts local restaurants on the map

A North Iowa author hopes her latest book gives people a reason to try a new restaurant—and explore the community around it. Sarah Broers, who lives between Mason City and Rockwell, is the author of Unique Eats and Eateries of Iowa. She says the book focuses on the people and stories behind the food. Two Hampton businesses made the book: B&C Kitchen and God Fuel.

You’ll Feel Like You’ve Walked Into The Music Man At This Recreated Iowa Town Square

One moment you’re walking through an Iowa museum, and the next you’re standing on a recreated street that looks ready for a scene from The Music Man. At Music Man Square in Mason City, storefronts, signs, and period details recreate the small-town atmosphere that helped make Meredith Willson’s beloved musical feel so distinctly Midwestern.

Meet Taco from Last Hope Animal Rescue!

Amanda Rushton from Last Hope Animal Rescue introduces Taco, a lovable 7-year-old bulldog mix looking for his forever family. Plus, get all the details on Barks & Brew, an upcoming fundraiser supporting the rescue on Saturday, Oct. 10, in Guthridge Park.

This Iowa Shop Is A Treasure Hunt Of Vintage Toys, Retro Games, And Childhood Nostalgia

The familiar Nintendo beeps reached me before I had even finished looking around. A few steps later, I was staring at an action figure that looked suspiciously like one I had lost decades ago. That pretty much ended any hope of a quick visit. Every shelf seemed to trigger another...

Howard County Youth Horse Program Launches Campaign for New Horse Barn

Youth member, Claire Kach said the need for a permanent barn has been developing for some time as the program continues to grow, “This has been a long process, we've been waiting for a barn because we currently don't have a horse barn. Our program is growing so we need more space.” Also adding, "We are going to also replace our old bleachers because they were unsafe, so we'll have a new safe space for spectators”.

Folk duo juni + betty to play Mason City's Artoberfest fundraiser

MASON CITY, Iowa — The Charles H. MacNider Art Museum will host its annual Artoberfest fundraiser on October 23. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $50 and can be purchased at the museum or on its website. The event is open to guests 21 and older. The fundraiser...

City of Cedar Falls Earns 'High Flyer' Bird-Friendly Community Honors

Cedar Falls is soaring as the city earns the 'High Flyer' Bird-Friendly Community award!. Presented by Bird Friendly Iowa (part of the Bird City Network), Cedar Falls has maintained its bird-friendly community status since 2019. The city is now proud to add the 'High Flyer' accolade to this designation. According to the Bird City Network, this acclaim is presented to communities that go 'above and beyond for birds, including protected habitats such as native plants in public landscaping and education'.

Cedar Rapids neighborhood grocery store announces closure

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — As he often does, Ben Anderson made a stop Wednesday at his neighborhood grocery store, but this time with a heavy heart. Matthew 25, the nonprofit operating Cultivate Hope Corner Store, announced Sept. 30, 2026, that it will be closing its doors on Dec. 18.

The End of an Era: Cedar Rapids Applebee’s Closes After 32 Years

The signs are coming down at a longtime Cedar Rapids restaurant that served customers for more than three decades.

12 Iowa Mom-And-Pop Restaurants Perfect For A Cozy October Meal

Add a hot plate, a slice of pie, and a family behind the counter, and I am probably staying longer than planned. That is what kept happening while I worked through these stops. Some have been run by the same families for generations. Others are newer, but they still have...