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Pedaling beats polarization in a huge, cross-Iowa bike ride
Ap

Pedaling beats polarization in a huge, cross-Iowa bike ride

  • DAVE SKRETTA Associated Press

American politics are tense and polarized, and the Iowa caucuses are just six months away. But you wouldn't have known that from the week-long RAGBRAI bike ride across Iowa this summer. About 50,000 riders took part in the 500-mile journey. And they mostly put politics and other divisions aside in pursuit of a common aim. That would be getting over the finish line. Many said it was a welcome change. Riders stopped to help each other. People in towns cheered them on and passed out water. One rider said the event showed that people from all different backgrounds who share a common interest can still get along.

No evidence of betting integrity manipulated by Iowa, Iowa St. athletes tied to gambling
College sports

No evidence of betting integrity manipulated by Iowa, Iowa St. athletes tied to gambling

  • ERIC OLSON Associated Press
  • Updated

One of the state agencies involved in the ongoing investigation of alleged sports wagering violations by Iowa and Iowa State athletes announced there is no evidence suggesting the integrity of any contest involving the schools was affected by gambling interests. That's according to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission. A total of seven current or former athletes at the two schools were criminally charged this week. All seven are charged with tampering with records and all are suspected of placing bets on contests involving their own schools. Four are alleged to have wagered on games involving their own teams.

Bike ride across Iowa puts vibrant small-town America into focus
Professional

Bike ride across Iowa puts vibrant small-town America into focus

  • DAVE SKRETTA Associated Press
  • Updated

It's become easy to say that "small-town America" is slowly dying. That opportunities for young people have dried up, just like businesses and main streets, and that the only way of life involves life in a big city. But the reality is many small towns are flourishing, and that quickly becomes clear on RAGBRAI, the annual bike ride across the state of Iowa. In places like Madrid, the population has grown from just over 2,500 to nearly 3,000 since the last census, and there are many towns like it. Those towns have leaned into their strengths to buck the trend toward population movement into urban areas.

As cyclists cross Iowa, craft breweries drive small-town tourism
Sports

As cyclists cross Iowa, craft breweries drive small-town tourism

  • By DAVE SKRETTA

There are hundreds of breweries represented on the jerseys of the thousands of cyclists on RAGBRAI, the annual bike ride across Iowa. They are a testament not just to the rapidly expanding craft beer industry but its place in rural America. Most small towns have at least one local brewery these days, and the most successful become destinations, driving tourism to towns that otherwise might rarely get any visitors. One good example is Decorah, tucked in the northeast corner of Iowa, where Toppling Goliath was ranked No. 1 at the US Open Beer Championship and produces the top two beers on BeerAdvocate, for which connoisseurs are willing to pay some big bucks.

Other

At RAGBRAI, 'the ride will provide' is the mantra for thousands as they bike across Iowa

  • DAVE SKRETTA Associated Press

Associated Press Sports Writer Dave Skretta is one of the thousands of bicyclists riding across Iowa in the annual RAGBRAI event. The Iowa native has ridden the 500-mile trek many times. He says each time brings new twists and turns but the friendships are a bedrock feature for everyone. Some of his fellow riders say it's like hanging out with family. Skretta also says the memories never stop flowing. And sometimes those are important to get through the challenging days.

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