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Hey Dubuque, hope your week’s off to a good start!

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: John Deere worker callbacks, 12 Iowa fried chicken joints, and a proposed property tax hike + lots of fun things to do for free.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Dubuque protect their savings as gold and silver continue to gain momentum. Their free guide explains what’s driving the surge… and what to know before adding precious metals to your portfolio. Grab your free copy here.

📰 In the news

Workforce boost follows earnings: John Deere will recall 27 workers to its Dubuque Works facility this month, bringing callbacks to 51 since January, to support construction and forestry operations after a strong first quarter — get all the details.

Seasoned skill, generous plates: Craving comfort food? A recent roundup spotlights 12 Iowa fried chicken joints built on family tradition, including Breitbach’s in Balltown, Bluff Lake Catfish Farm in Maquoketa, and Dubuque’s own Eichman’s — read the full roundup.

Budget pressures behind proposal: Dubuque homeowners could see up to a 3% tax hike for fiscal year 2027 starting in July, adding $26.68 to the average bill. The city has set a tax hearing — read the full story.

Nothing prepares you for a pet emergency: I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache. As soon as we got home, I signed up for Spot. It’s super affordable – and reimburses up to 90% of the bill.

Highlights this week:

• Explore remnant prairie restoration with Tony Vorwald
• Bounce through inflatables, obstacles, and mini golf
• Hone knife skills, master stir-fry

🫶 We got your back

Craving a serious sub: Pickle Barrell Subs is a locally owned standby with fresh-baked bread, from classic Italian combos to curveballs like egg salad. Ideal for quick lunch or low-effort dinner when the stove feels like too much, and you still want something solid.

Quick nature reset: When cabin fever hits, Mines of Spain State Recreation Area serves up bluffs, river overlooks, and easy-to-wander trails, plus the Julien Dubuque Monument and the E.B. Lyons Interpretive Center. Slip out for a quick solo loop or stretch it into a longer meander that totally counts as weekend plans.

LEGO lovers, rejoice: DuBrick is a local buy-sell-trade hub to sift bulk bricks by color, score rare sets or single minifigs, and swap your stash. They also host clubs and parties for builders of all ages, making it a bright spot for creative play.

Why your last diet didn’t work: Sustained weight loss is nearly impossible with diet alone. Your body literally fights back by making you hungrier the moment you start restricting calories. That’s why more doctors are recommending GLP-1s. The best part? Getting them has never been easier. We compared three programs to help you find the right fit. See which ones stood out →

Your data is for sale right now: There are over 400 websites selling your info to marketers, political campaigns, and scammers. They’ve got your phone number, home address, relatives’ names… you name it. That’s how robocallers seem to know everything about you before you pick up. You can remove your info one site at a time, or pay a service to do it for you. Here’s what we recommend →

📆 Free events worth checking out

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🧘 Mindful Arts & Crafts @ NAMI Dubuque | Wednesday (3/11) at 4:00 PM – Trade doomscrolling for some mindful arts and crafts. We’ll play with materials, channel a little nature, and actually breathe for once. It’s free, welcoming to every skill level, and a sneaky way to reconnect with your creative side without buying a pottery wheel.

🎨 Community Paint Night @ Comic World & Games | Wednesday (3/11) at 5:00 PM – Cancel your midweek doomscroll and head to Comic World for Community Paint Night, the free Wednesday ritual where folks paint, game, and swap tricks from the pros. No pressure, just good company and better brush control. Think therapy with acrylics, minus the bill.

🌷 Plant a Flower Day @ Kava Kava | Thursday (3/12) at 11:00 AM – Think your 2026 goals need sunlight? Kava Kava’s celebrating Plant a Flower Day with pots, soil, and seeds, relaxing tunes, and your favorite kava, free with any drink purchase, so you can plant a little hope and call it highly productive loafing.

🎲 Weekly Learn to Play @ Comic World & Games | Thursday (3/12) at 6:00 PM – Thursday at Comic World means learning Flesh and Blood with judge Joe, for free, and yes, it’s easier than explaining your streaming passwords. Pick up the basics, then, if the crowd’s game, stick around for a breezy Commoner clash, all commons, zero wallet flexing.

🎥 Dubuque County Reads Documentary Film Screening @ Carnegie-Stout Public Library | Thursday (3/12) at 6:00 PM – Whether you’ve been following Dubuque County Reads or just want something real, Carnegie-Stout screens Women of the White Buffalo, a 2022 doc on Lakota women reclaiming culture and healing. It’s free, first come, captions on, and it sticks with you, in the best way.

🧶 Spring Craft & Vendor Fair @ Kennedy Mall | Saturday (3/14) at 9:00 AM – Spring Craft & Vendor Fair is taking over Kennedy Mall with aisles of handmade goods, local makers, and finds you brag about later. It’s free, family friendly, and mall-wide, so consider this your excuse to turn the mall walk into a treasure hunt.

📚 Book Swap! @ Limerick Candle & Vintage Reads | Sunday (3/15) at 1:00 PM – Wrap an adult-fiction favorite, add a note about why it ruined your weekend plans in the best way, then draw numbers and swap. No YA, kids, or cookbooks, just grown-up reads and real conversation. Free, except for the book, and your impeccable taste.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Dubuque report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 57°F – Low: 36°F – Precip: 25%

A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 4pm and 5pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny. High near 57, with temperatures falling to around 55 in the afternoon. Northeast wind 0 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 36. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

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Tomorrow – High: 42°F – Low: 26°F – Precip: 62%

Rain showers likely before 7am, then a chance of rain between 7am and 10am, then a chance of rain and snow between 10am and 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42. North wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 26.

Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance? 🚗

Premiums have been climbing across Iowa but most folks won’t notice until they’re hit with a higher bill when it’s time to renew.

That’s exactly what happened to me. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, it was out of sight and out of mind. Turns out I was blindly paying way more than everyone else I knew.

If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too – here’s the comparison tool I used.

This house is wild

Built in 2021, this low-maintenance gem maximizes space. The main level holds an open kitchen and dining area, a bedroom, full bath, and office. The walkout level adds a second bedroom, bath, and laundry. An oversized 1-car garage and quiet cul de sac pair with a new park a block away, and mowing and snow take 10 to 15 minutes.

Take a peek inside →