Welcome to Week in Iowa.

Along with the wildfire smoke and incoming summer heat, it was a busy news week in Iowa.

Week in Iowa usually starts off discussing politics, but there's a human interest story to shine light on today: the Big Lake Park "ripper." What is "the ripper"? No, it's not a new roller coaster, it's a railroad bridge in Council Bluffs that is known for ripping the tops off of large trucks that dare to drive under it. You'll have to read the full story by Andrew Smith of the Daily Nonpareil below to learn more.

Now on to politics. Campaign season continues to ramp up despite it being more than a year out from the 2026 election. A few candidates threw their hats into the ring for governor, including a West Des Moines Democrat and a Republican state lawmaker from Johnston.

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