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Culture

Weather Cancellations and Delays in the WCSD

Nearly every winter the Waukee Community School District faces harsh weather conditions that require delays and cancellations, impacting students, families and staff.  When growing up in most areas of the Midwest, extreme winter weather can determine quite a bit in the day-to-day routines of many. For school-age children and their…

by Ava Hansen  •  May 12, 2025
Culture

Impacts of social media on teens

In today’s digital age, youth around the world have to navigate the effects of social media, which has impacted their communication, mental health and self-perception.  Most social media platforms have become a way for the youth to communicate with their peers, to share their experiences and to express themselves. However,…

by Laurel Richards  •  Mar 26, 2025
Culture

The Effect Of Diversity

As small Iowa towns like Des Moines and Waukee experience shifting demographics, they face a pivotal question: how can they preserve their unique community identities while welcoming greater racial and cultural diversity? In communities like Des Moines and Waukee, Iowa, local identity is often defined by close-knit, mostly white populations.

by   •  Mar 13, 2025
Culture

Tenth Street Times People of the Year Award Recipients

Northwest High School is home to hundreds of talented students and staff, and the Tenth Street Times People of the Year awards recognize the best the school has to offer.  This December, Northwest students and staff nominated and elected three students and one staff member to represent the High School.

by Avery Herman  •  Jan 31, 2025
Culture

Self-Driving Vehicles

The introduction of self-driving vehicles across the United States has impacted the automotive industry in a major way, but they may not be as environmentally friendly as they claim to be. Tesla is the only car manufacturer available that has a self-driving feature, and no other company has tried to…

by Lucas Ressler  •  Jan 25, 2025
Culture

2024 in Retrospect

2024 was a whirlwind of milestones, memes and movements, leaving many with memories that they will carry well into the next decade. 2024 was one for the history books, so let us look back on what Northwest considers the most important events of 2024. January: Rat Hole! The year started…

by   •  Jan 25, 2025
Culture

Tourism Outside Urban Iowa

Situated in the heart of the heartland, Iowa is ranked 40th in tourism by the United States Department of Commerce. Nevertheless, tourism is vital to communities of all sizes, supporting local businesses and strengthening community identity. One of the easiest ways to gauge tourism is through the revenue generated from…

by Xavier Lago  •  Jan 25, 2025
Culture

Scheduling Tips For Students

At Northwest High School, taking classes to earn all the credits is extremely important, especially when it comes to scheduling and choosing how to expand students’ learning after High School.  One of the several classes that students must take to graduate is financial literacy. Financial literacy teaches students how to…

by Meredith Muller  •  Jan 8, 2025
Culture

History of Christmas Decor

The history of Christmas holiday decor has a long intertwined past, cultivating a mix of iconic images some people still associate with the festivities to this day.  A prominent example of the long-ranging past of Christmas iconography is the history of Christmas trees. The beloved pine tree tradition has historic…

by   •  Jan 8, 2025
Culture

Ozempic and the Media

In recent years, GLP-1 blockers like Ozempic have become more frequent in Western culture through a spike in social media fame, often straying away from the real purpose of medications like these. Anyone on social media is aware of the trend cycle that seems to come and go faster than…

by Ava Hansen  •  Dec 16, 2024