Animatronic zoo experience coming to Le Mars this week
A brand-new zoo experience is coming to Le Mars this Wednesday, May 6th, with the arrival of WILD ADVENTURES at the Olson Cultural Events Center.
Organized by traveling food truck I Heart Cookies, the event will feature “hyper-realistic and fully animatronic” animals, including lions, tigers, elephants, pandas, monkeys, and a “smoke-breathing 40 foot king cobra.” Along with the animatronic animals, the event will feature a virtual reality aquarium, soft play equipment for children, fossil dig pits, facepainting and temporary tattoos, and photo opportunities. The food truck’s Deep Dish Cookies will also be available for attendees.
Admission to the event will cost a cookie purchase per person for $5, or 6 cookies for $25. WILD ADVENTURES will take place this upcoming Wednesday, May 6th, from 2-7pm at the Olson Cultural Events Center.
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Spring water flushing starts today
The Le Mars Water Department would like to remind residents that spring flushing has begun in Le Mars, and will continue over the next couple of weeks.
The department began flushing the north side of Le Mars this morning, and will start flushing the south side of town next Monday, May 11th. Residents should refrain from washing any clothes or running any more water than needed during the hours of 8am to 3:30pm. The department says they expect flushing on the south side of Le Mars to take two weeks.
For questions or concerns about the process, contact the department at 712-546-5555.
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Three Democrats running for Congress to speak at Morningside University forum
Three area candidates seeking the Democratic nomination in Iowa’s 4th congressional district will speak at a candidate forum hosted by Morningside University on Monday evening.
Attorney Dave Dawson, retired nurse Stephanie Steiner and Ashley Wolf Tornabane will appear and answer questions submitted by the public, with Korey Cantrell emceeing. The event will be held in the UPS Auditorium on Morningside’s campus, with doors opening at 6:30 and running from 7-9pm. Admission is free with seating limited.
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Legislature sends $1 billion spending plan for education system
As the legislature moves toward ending its 2026 session, the Iowa House and Senate have approved a bill that outlines one billion dollars in state spending for Iowa’s education system in the next academic year. It includes a one-point-four percent increase in state funding for community colleges, which had requested a four percent increase. And Representative Dan Gelbach of Urbandale says Iowa’s three state-supported universities are getting a “flat line” budget — which means no increase from the current year.
Representative Elinor Levin, a Democrat from Iowa City, says the plan misses the mark.
Senator Herman Quirmbach, a Democrat from Ames, says students at the three Regents universities are seeing their tuition rates increase as a result of this plan.
The bill sets aside half a million dollars to help Iowa school districts enhance cyber security. There’s also a two percent increase in state funding for the Iowa School for the Deaf in Council Bluffs and statewide education services for blind and visually impaired students.
(Story via Radio Iowa)
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