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🌱 Patch AM: How many Ames kids are missing out on meal benefits now?

Coming up on the Ames Patch calendar: Storybook S.T.E.M. – Ames Public Library

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Hi there, Ames! We've got your morning read ready! Read on to stay connected. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How many Ames kids are missing out on meal benefits now?
  • Where does every cent of your $98 Student Government fee really go?
  • Need a ride home from Ames for break? Here’s every option.

Also on today's calendar: Mannheim Steamroller Christmas.

Find out what's happening in Amesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did the alien say to the puzzle? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
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Find out what's happening in Amesfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Weather forecast:

  • Wednesday: Cloudy, windy and colder, with a high of 27 and low of 14 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!
  • Thursday: Snow and flurries at times, temps: high: 27, low: 23.
  • Friday: Cloudy and breezy, with a high of 28 and low of 4 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. How many Ames students qualify for free or reduced-price meals? (amestrib.com) — Families in Ames can still apply for free or reduced-price school meals this year, even as new federal SNAP work rules take effect. Ames Community School District reports 471 applications so far, with about a third of students historically qualifying. The article explains current meal prices, who qualifies automatically, and how to apply through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal.
   

2. Student Government's $98 fee revealed in cent-by-cent breakdown of spending (iowastatedaily.com) — If you’re an Iowa State student in Ames, your $98 Student Government fee is helping fund local social services, campus upgrades, and advocacy trips. A.S.S.E.T., which includes the City of Ames and Story County, directs much of that money to basic needs, mental health, childcare, and other supports students actually use.
   

3. Home for the holidays: How students get home for break (iowastatedaily.com) — Iowa State students in Ames have several ways to get home for winter break, from driving themselves to catching flights out of Des Moines. The story highlights the Greyhound stop at the Ames Intermodal Facility, nearby Amtrak access in Osceola, and CyRide and university shuttles that connect students to airports and train stations. It’s especially useful for those without cars on campus.
   

4. Keeping the season fresh and festive (nwestiowa.com) — If you’re decorating in Ames this winter, an Iowa State University horticulture expert has practical tips to keep your Christmas trees, wreaths, poinsettias, and amaryllis looking great all season. From daily watering routines to light placement and post-holiday reuse, the guidance helps local households stretch their greenery, reduce waste, and enjoy longer-lasting color indoors and out.
   

5. Iowa Farmland Values Show Slight Increase (westerniowatoday.com) — Farmers and landowners around Ames may see only a slight uptick in farmland prices this year, with Iowa State University’s Ames-based survey showing a 0.7% average increase statewide. The report highlights how high interest rates, softer commodity prices, and regional differences are pressuring land values, with many counties seeing real, inflation-adjusted declines despite nominal gains.
   

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Iowa State University posted a job opening for Assistant Teaching Professor of Chemistry in Ames. Apply here.
  • L Brands, Inc. posted a job opening for Seasonal Retail Sales Associate-NORTH GRAND MALL in Ames. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Ames here.

Ok Ames! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I come in peace. You come in pieces.
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