KHAK-FM (Cedar Rapids, IA)

I love to read. My wife reads more than I do, and my oldest daughter also puts me to shame. She has finished The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, all of the Harry Potter books, the Hunger Games series and plenty of others. Then there are my 11-year-old twins. Getting them excited about a good book is a different story. Now hear me out, they are perfectly capable readers, and all of my kids have done well on their standardized tests.

Thomas Rhett took some time out of his show on Friday night (Aug. 14) to pay tribute to his sister-in-law, who he says is "cancer-free" after battling the disease since just after the turn of the year. She has been.

To say that my vacation was epic is an understatement. Time spent with the people most important to me. Views and experiences you only get in the mountains. And a 13-hour road trip with two 11-year-olds that have the gift of gab, but not of napping. Ok... so, not all of it was amazing, but the time spent in Wyoming certainly was! One day in particular, spent in Saratoga, WY, was short lived, but very beneficial.

There are craft breweries all over the state of Iowa that have won major awards for their beer, but only one of them was recognized at the inaugural North American Nonalcoholic Cup! Congratulations to Eastern Iowa's own Big Grove Brewery for taking home GOLD in one of the 2026 categories! Big Grove Brewery via Facebook Big Grove Brewery via Facebook According to the event's official website, the North American Nonalcoholic Cup (aka NANA Cup) is "a professional, blind-judged competition...

Zoos, golf courses, ballparks, food festivals, renaissance fairs, art museums, and more - some of the best attractions & events in the U.S. are right here in the Midwest! USA Today is continuing to unveil the winners of their 10Best Readers' Choice Awards for 2026, and there are all sorts of honorees from our section of the country.

Fans of a great burger have a new restaurant to check out this week. Wayback Burgers is officially open in Iowa! Wayback Burgers Opens First Iowa Location Wayback Burgers is opening its first Iowa location today in Waukee. The Des Moines Register reports that the national fast-food chain is known for made to order burgers and hand dipped milkshakes. Sounds good to me! The restaurant can be found at 1165 SE Alice's Road in Waukee. What Makes Wayback Burgers Great?

For the third year in a row, a big Iowa art festival has been recognized as one of the best in America! The Des Moines Arts Festival is one of USA Today's 10Best Art Festivals for 2026! According to the official website, the Des Moines Arts Festival is "more than an event - it's an experience." Its roots can be traced to 1958, when the Des Moines Art Center put on its first Art in the Park event.

The NFL playoffs are heating up as the divisional round is set to begin this weekend. My Chicago Bears took care of business last weekend and won their first playoff game in 15 years after beating the Green Bay Packers in a loud, raucous Soldier Field. I was elated. Everything else is gravy in my mind now, but I still want to see the Bears continue this magical season and beat the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.

Thomas Rhett and his wife Lauren Akins are expecting their fifth child in early 2026, and while they're waiting until the baby is born to learn the sex, Internet sleuths believe they have figured out the mystery. Rhett posted a picture on his Instagram to his millions of followers that instantly shifted the American population into doctor mode. Many fans are swearing up and down that Akins is having her first boy.

Grocery shopping has become a lot more expensive lately, no matter where you shop. It doesn't matter if you're a couple or a family of five like mine. Groceries add up quickly! If you're looking to save some money this year on your Thanksgiving dinner, you have some affordable options from several local retailers. Hy-Vee Offers Low-Cost Thanksgiving Dinner Hy-Vee announced this week that it will be offering a $30 Thanksgiving meal that will feed up to 6 people.