How to contact me: beth.dalbey@patch.com
Beth Dalbey, a longtime award-winning community journalist, is Patch’s national editor. She has been with Patch since 2011 when she launched sites in Iowa and provided national Iowa Caucus and swing-state general election coverage. She worked as a regional manager before moving to the national desk in 2017. Throughout her time at Patch, she has reported and written about local topics of national interest and is currently focusing on exclusive Patch content, including Block Talk, an only-on-Patch neighborhood etiquette column for which readers supply advice.
Dalbey and the newspapers she has edited have earned numerous awards for news, feature and government coverage, editorial and column writing, and overall general excellence from the Iowa Newspaper Association, the National Newspaper Association and the Associated Press Media Editors. In 1992 in Iowa, she led the weekly Dallas County News to win the INA's prestigious Newspaper of the Year award, competing against metro newspapers many times its size. She was the youngest recipient ever of the INA’s Distinguished Service Award in 1994. At Patch, she received the Todd Richissin Award for Excellence in Reporting and Writing for the “Menace of Bullies” project.
In Iowa, Dalbey’s byline has also appeared in the Fairfield Daily Ledger, where she was editor for five years; and in the Des Moines Business Record, Cityview, dsm magazine and other publications under the umbrella of Business Publications Corp., where she was the editorial director for several years. Dalbey also freelanced for the Des Moines Register and other print and digital publications
Dalbey grew up in Missouri and majored in journalism at Northwest Missouri State University. Except for a three-year stint as communications editor for a scientific institute doing ape language research, she has spent her entire career in community journalism. At the former Great Ape Trust of Iowa, she wrote about the world-famous resident bonobos Kanzi and Panbanisha.
Vacant schools are often perfect candidates for adaptive reuse because they have strong bones and are often architecturally interesting.
More Americans are in the path of totality than in 2017, and an eclipse during the sun’s most active phase opens a unique scientific window.
Thomas Jefferson was president and the ink was barely dry on the Louisiana Purchase the last time two cicada boods emerged simultaneously.
Aurora borealis displays could dip down in to the nation's midsection Monday after geomagnetic storms Saturday, according to NOAA.
Researchers sound the alarm on hearing damage and tinnitus associated with prolonged exposure to high-intensity sound levels in video games.
When neighbors continually ask for annoying favors, it’s best to shut it down, even if they never talk to you again, several readers said.
![The ‘Need-A-Favor Neighbor’ Who Just Won’t Give Up [Block Talk]](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/shutterstock/790386/20240118/114908/styles/patch_image/public/shutterstock-2400859387___18114143622.jpg)
Citizen scientists can help NASA track gamma-ray bursts from billions of years ago that contributed to today’s stars and galaxies.
Severe winter weather exacerbated an emergency blood shortage as the nation faces the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years.
People who grew up playing pinbal now have the disposable income to introduce their kid to the game by including arcades in their homes.
Several of the places where King and the Civil Rights Movement made history have volunteer opportunities on MLK Day, a day of service.
Current and former Verizon customers no longer have to wait for the company to get in touch about how they can get their settlement share.
Below, read a collection of oddities and weird news from Patch that may make you scrunch up your face and ask, “Why?”
It’s not the people who need help in a pinch who are annoying, but those who habitually take advantage of your generosity. What do you do?
![How To Say No To Neighbors Always Asking Annoying Favors [Block Talk]](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/shutterstock/790386/20240111/042920/styles/patch_image/public/shutterstock-1564858954___11162405258.jpg)
With missing and loose bolts among installation issues found on grounded Boeing 737 Max 9 jetliners, how do you feel about flying right now?
![Does Boeing Door Plug Blowout Make You Hesitant To Fly? [Flightmares]](https://patch.com/img/cdn20/ap/790386/20240111/114202/styles/patch_image/public/ap24008258297354___11113551499.jpg)
What if you could enjoy resort-style living without having to travel — if you had the millions of dollars to buy one of these luxury homes?
There’s a big difference between the caucuses in Iowa and open primary in New Hampshire, which kick off the 2024 GOP nominating calendar.
The United States lurched through 28 weather disasters in 2020 that caused a combined $93 billion and shattered a 2020 record.
Riley’s Way Foundation, a nonprofit encouraging youth leadership rooted in kindness, will accept grant applications through March 25.
People are such Stanley cup stans — zealous fans — they’re “getting trampled” in Target as they try to get one, one person said on TikTok.
Verizon has reached a $100 million settlement in a class action lawsuit that accused the company of hiding administrative fee increases.
