🌱 Patch AM: How Johnston teens just topped a national AI-in-agriculture contest

Greetings Johnston! Your go-to source for what's happening in town is here. Stay in the loop and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How Johnston teens just topped a national AI-in-agriculture contest
• Why Iowa’s new free-speech center says it’s not political

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Johnston? Post it to Johnston photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Freezing fog in the morning, with a high of 41 and low of 26 degrees.
• Wednesday: Freezing fog in the morning, temps: high: 43, low: 35.
• Thursday: Very windy; cooler, with a high of 41 and low of 10 degrees. ⛄️ Brr!

📰 News we're reading

• Iowa youth lead the way in National 4-H AI in Agriculture Challenge (hpj.com) — Johnston teens are in the national spotlight after Henry Zou and a Johnston-based 4-H team captured first and second place in a nationwide AI-in-agriculture challenge. Their award-winning tools help farmers diagnose corn diseases and predict yields under climate stress, underscoring how local students are shaping the future of smarter, more resilient farming far beyond Iowa.
   

• University of Iowa Center for Intellectual Freedom Director: ‘It's not a political enterprise' (siouxcityjournal.com) — Johnston figures in a statewide debate as Iowa PBS studios there hosted a discussion on the new University of Iowa Center for Intellectual Freedom, created by the Legislature. Center leaders insist the initiative isn’t partisan, even as they respond to polling about campus speech and field questions from community members at an inaugural event in Iowa City.
   

📸 Around Johnston

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Johnston

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Saturday December 20

• Back Roads Lounge
  Back Roads Lounge, 8460 Birchwood Ct Suite 900, Johnston
  7:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday December 18

• Board of Adjustment Meeting
  Johnston, IA Calendar , 6221 Merle Hay Road PO Box 410 , Johnston
  6:30 pm
• Canceled - Board of Adjustment Meeting
  Johnston, IA Calendar , 6221 Merle Hay Road PO Box 410 , Johnston
  6:30 pm

📣 Johnston Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday December 16

• Public Art Committee
  Urbandale, IA Calendar , 3600 86th Street , Urbandale
  4:00 pm
• Girls Basketball: Des Moines East vs Des Moines Lincoln (JV1)
  East High School Des Moines, IA 50316
  4:45 pm
• Boys Basketball: Des Moines North vs Des Moines Roosevelt (JV1)
  Roosevelt High School Des Moines, IA 50312
  4:45 pm
• Boys Basketball: Des Moines East vs Des Moines Lincoln (JV1)
  East High School Des Moines, IA 50316
  4:45 pm
• Girls Basketball: Des Moines North vs Des Moines Roosevelt (JV1)
  Roosevelt High School Des Moines, IA 50312
  4:45 pm
• Zoning Board of Adjustment
  Ankeny Kirkendall Public Library , 1250 SW District Dr , Ankeny
  5:00 pm
• Library Board of Trustees
  Grimes, IA Calendar
  5:00 pm
• City Council Meeting
  Grimes, IA Calendar
  5:30 pm
• Girls Basketball: Des Moines North vs Des Moines Roosevelt (Varsity)
  Roosevelt High School Des Moines, IA 50312
  6:15 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• Iowa Staffing posted a job opening for Custodian (Full-Time) in Johnston. Apply here.
• Planet Fitness posted a job opening for Overnight Custodian in Johnston. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Johnston here.

🗞 Nearby News

Grimes

• Two Iowa National Guard soldiers killed in Syria ambush identified (wcvb.com)
• War Sec Hegseth issues statement after two US soldiers killed in Syria are identified (timebulletin.us)

Ankeny

Ok Johnston! 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 don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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