Google expands AI presence, investment in Iowa
Data centers in Cedar Rapids and the Council Bluffs area are among the new Google projects related to artificial intelligence that have compelled the worldwide company to invest another $7 billion into Iowa’s infrastructure (The Gazette). Google executives did not specify what specifically those funds would be spent on; Google has already invested $6.8 billion in Iowa’s infrastructure since opening its Council Bluffs data center in 2007. The new Cedar Rapids data center is anticipated to create 1,200 construction jobs and 100 long-term operational positions, The Gazette reports. The city has also approved a second data center project near the Google site.
Wahls receives Elizabeth Warren's endorsement
Zach Wahls (above left) became at least the sixth U.S. Senate primary candidate to be endorsed by former presidential nominee candidate Elizabeth Warren (NBC News). The Massachusetts senator endorsed Wahls over Josh Turek (above right) in Iowa’s Democratic primary race for U.S. Senate, happening June 2, while two of Warren’s fellow senators have endorsed Turek. Warren also endorsed Illinois Lt. Gov Julianna Stratton in the 13-person Democratic primary that Stratton just won, and has endorsed candidates in Democratic primaries in Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan and Minneapolis. NBC News notes that in each case, Warren has used the word “fighter” in her endorsements.
World Atlas names Iowa's "7 Most Neighborly Towns"
Decorah, Dyersville, Fort Madison, Le Mars, Orange City, Waverly and Winterset are getting love from World Atlas as Iowa’s “most neighborly towns.”  Its write-up of the informal selection noted that Waverly was also recently cited by Nerdwallet as the Best Place for Young Families in Iowa; that Le Mars considers itself “the Ice Cream Capital of the World;” and that Dyersville has also dubbed itself “the Farm Toy Capital of the World.” Dyersville and Winterset were also scenes of popular movies (“Field of Dreams” and “The Bridges of Madison County”), and Fort Madison is considered Iowa’s oldest Mexican settlement.
