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Tourism Outside Urban Iowa

Situated in the heart of the heartland, Iowa is ranked 40th in tourism by the United States Department of Commerce. Nevertheless, tourism is vital to communities of all sizes, supporting local businesses and strengthening community identity. One of the easiest ways to gauge tourism is through the revenue generated from…

by Xavier Lago  •  Jan 25, 2025
News

Waukee Aquatic Center Plans Sink: What Next?

A proposed aquatic center for the city of Waukee was included on the ballot on November 5, 2024’s election. Despite receiving a majority of the vote, the referendum fell through, leaving questions about what could have been and what is next for a potential aquatic facility. A Waukee aquatic center…

by Nolan Craig  •  Jan 25, 2025
News

Savor the Season: Holiday Recipes from Northwest Families

Story by Michael Miner. Videos by Krista Giltner, Delphi Lonsdale and Xavier Lago As the holiday season approaches, people all over the world come together and make memories over food. However, food can hold memories, as well as make them. Northwest students and faculty share their unique and personal holiday…

by Michael Miner  •  Jan 14, 2025
News

Social Media’s Role in the 2024 Election

One of the most impactful moments of 2024 was the presidential election, and with it, Americans saw the birth of new social media-based campaigning strategies.  In the months leading up to the election, TikTok, Instagram and X feeds were flooded with political ads promoting presidential candidates. This is nothing new…

by Avery Herman  •  Jan 13, 2025
News

Federal and State Voting Breakdown

Voting in the United States has a long history of being exclusive, rather than inclusive.  Ever since America’s independence in 1776, it has been a symbol of democracy and freedom. Yet, only the top few select Americans were allowed to enjoy that freedom. In the beginning, only white male landowners…

by Sarah Wigton  •  Jan 13, 2025
News

Loss of Iowa’s Natural Prairie

In 2025, less than 0.1 percent of Iowa’s native tallgrass prairie remains due to rapid expansion and agricultural settlements. Iowa was once the heart of the prairie lands, with 28.6 million acres of natural plants and grasses covering 80 percent of its landscape—today, about 90% of Iowa’s land is crops.

by Addax Hicks  •  Jan 12, 2025
News

FFA’s Food Drive Feeding Waukee

Starting January 7 and continuing through the month of January, the Waukee Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter is holding a food drive for the Waukee Area Christian Services.  The Waukee FFA is asking for unexpired, non-perishable food items from members of the Waukee community. Food items can be turned…

by Avery Herman  •  Jan 11, 2025
Culture

Scheduling Tips For Students

At Northwest High School, taking classes to earn all the credits is extremely important, especially when it comes to scheduling and choosing how to expand students’ learning after High School.  One of the several classes that students must take to graduate is financial literacy. Financial literacy teaches students how to…

by Meredith Muller  •  Jan 8, 2025
Sports

Waukee Northwest eSports Season

This year’s 2024 esports season has come to a close with both the Super Smash Bros, and the Rainbow 6 Siege team (R6) bringing home the state runner-up trophy to the Northwest Wolves medal case. Esports is a group of anyone who decides to join the team. In that team,…

by Grace Mgana  •  Jan 8, 2025
Culture

History of Christmas Decor

The history of Christmas holiday decor has a long intertwined past, cultivating a mix of iconic images some people still associate with the festivities to this day.  A prominent example of the long-ranging past of Christmas iconography is the history of Christmas trees. The beloved pine tree tradition has historic…

by Michael Miner  •  Jan 8, 2025