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

In today’s wallet-friendly edition: Meet interim superintendent Jim Vanderloo, a chakra-aligning sound journey, and a spring equinox hike + lots of fun things to do for free.

Today’s sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is helping folks around Sioux City 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

District navigates leadership transition: Sioux City schools named longtime educator Jim Vanderloo interim superintendent, with a contract through June 30 and an option to extend through the 2026-2027 school year while the board searches — meet the interim superintendent.

Road repair plan updates: North Sioux City could start work on flood-damaged Northshore Drive this month. Traffic should stay open until April 1, and reopening is planned before school starts in August — get all the details.

Engaging programs and shared stories: This March, Sioux City Public Library offers free events, including a Farewell to Manzanar screening, puzzles and trivia. Sioux City Reads features The River We Remember at Aalfs Downtown Library — get all the details.

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:

• Experience a chakra-aligning sound journey
• Meet service agencies under one roof
• Celebrate spring equinox with guided hike

🫶 We got your back

Upgrade your lunch plans: Brightside Cafe & Deli fuels downtown with stacked deli sandwiches on fresh, locally baked bread, plus soups and salads that don’t feel like homework. Perfect for a quick, friendly pick-me-up that tastes like you planned ahead, even when you didn’t.

Loess Hills reset: When cabin fever kicks in, Stone State Park delivers an easy reset, with wooded miles, ridge-top views, and stonework that somehow upgrades thermos coffee. Perfect for an after-work loop any week, it lets you breathe deep and remember why Sioux City still feels like home.

Two floors of fun: Thinker Toys brings an old-school toy-castle vibe, stacked with games, puzzles, LEGO sets, Hot Wheels, trains, and quirky collectibles. There’s even a blacklight room for extra wow… Ideal for birthday gifts, surprise rewards, or motivating your inner child to finally tackle chores.

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.

🎬 Zootopia @ Loess Hills Computer Programming Elementary School – SCCSD | Thursday (3/12) at 5:30 PM – Loess Hills is rolling out the gym floor for a cozy Family Movie Night featuring Zootopia, free to attend, free to enjoy. Bring a blanket, the kids, and your parental supervision, then grab concessions that support the PTO’s school events. Cheaper than a sitter, cuter.

🐟 Famous Fish Dinner @ St. Michael Parish Center | Friday (3/13) at 4:30 PM – Friday fish dinners are back at St. Michael Parish Center, and yes, they’re worth braving the back lot drive-thru or grabbing a table. Adults $15, teens $10, little ones eat free, and you can feel virtuous supporting the parish, tartar sauce included.

🛍 Lucky Finds Popup Market @ Winnie’s | Saturday (3/14) at 12:00 PM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to refresh the wardrobe, St. Patty’s weekend is your cue. A pop-up with vintage, accessories, and handmade pieces, a $5-and-under rack, a pot of gold–style freebie basket, coffee now, cocktails later, entry free.

🎤 Zach Suntken @ Vfw Post 5240 (Dakota City) | Saturday (3/14) at 8:30 PM – Skip the couch and let the Humboldt Cattlemen host your night with Zach Suntken. The jukebox is free until he takes the stage, then it is live, local, and properly twangy. Good company, cold drinks, fewer pretenses than your streaming queue.

🌄 AM: Spring Equinox Hike @ Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center | Friday (3/20) at 10:00 AM – Whether you’re chasing daylight or just your step count, celebrate the Spring Equinox with a guided hike at Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center. We’ll hunt for the season’s first hints, and maybe your lost motivation. Free, limited to 50, so register, or call day of.

🌄 Spring Equinox Hike @ Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center | Friday (3/20) at 5:00 PM – If your knees survived winter, celebrate the Spring Equinox with a guided wander at Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center. We’ll meet at the picnic shelter to hunt for birdsong, sprouts, and mud, then call it cardio. It’s free, limited to 50, so register before spots melt.

🎲 Free Game Day @ Sioux City Public Museum | Saturday (3/21) at 10:00 AM – Free, all-day tabletop and card games at the Sioux City Public Museum, hosted by the Sioux City Tabletop Gamers, is the low-stress competition we deserve. Bring the family, your favorite games, and that friend who reads the rulebook for fun, no experience required.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

📻 Sioux City report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 58°F – Low: 32°F – Precip: 1%

Mostly sunny, with a high near 58. Northeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Later: Rain likely between 1am and 4am, then rain and snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. North wind 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible.

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Tomorrow – High: 49°F – Low: 27°F – Precip: 66%

Rain and snow likely before 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 49. North northwest wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of less than half an inch possible. Later: Mostly clear, with a low around 27. West wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.

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

New construction slated for September 1, 2026, this 3BR/2BA ranch delivers 1,753 sq ft of main-level living with an open flow from family room to kitchen. Split-bedroom layout adds privacy, the primary suite featuring a spa bath and walk-in closet. Unfinished basement invites future expansion. HOA covers lawn to snow, plus clubhouse, 24-hour gym, pool, dog park, and walking path.

Take a peek inside →