If anyone remembers the Tribune's weekly entertainment section circa 2012 — Ames Out Loud — that was one of my projects. (And if you have physical copies, I'm looking for a few missing issues from my collection.)

In the years since leaving the Tribune, I've freelanced at several places, including the former Ames Living magazine. I also wrote the book Campustown: A Brief History of the First West Ames, which chronicles the history of the campus-adjacent district. It fed my avid consumption of local history.

I've been involved with the Ames Voice since late 2023, so I'm quite eager to finally get this project in front of you.

If you have any story ideas or suggestions or even questions about Ames you want answered, don't hesitate to reach out.

And if you'd like to dip your toe into reporting for the Voice, I'd love to sit down and talk about it.

Anthony Capps | newsroom director 
[email protected]

Ames Voice Updates

Help Grow the Voice and Join Our Community Meeting!

The Ames Voice, your new community-owned and operated news organization, is almost here. A dedicated group of volunteers has been working for years to bring this free and vital resource to our community, and we're excited to give you these updates.

We're hosting a special open house and community meeting on Monday, July 21, at 4:30 p.m. in the Green Hills Community Room (2200 Hamilton Drive, Ames). Enjoy some refreshments and learn all about how you can access the Ames Voice, support our amazing volunteers, and even contribute your own stories!

Here's how you can help us make the Ames Voice a success:

• Spread the word! Do you know someone who would benefit from timely, local news? Encourage your friends, family and neighbors to subscribe to the Ames Voice newsletter. The more subscribers we have, the stronger our voice becomes.

• Join us at the meeting! This is your chance to learn firsthand about our mission, meet the team, and discover how you can get involved. Whether you're interested in writing, editing, or simply staying informed, your presence at the meeting shows your support for independent local journalism.

Now, on to the news!

Ames Voice thanks all of its advertisers

Top Story

4 fun facts about the history of Ames

by Kyle Warner | Published on July 10, 2025

What began as a platted piece of land in 1864, the city of Ames grew from its humble beginnings into a bustling university town.

With beginnings dating back to 1864, after the founding of what would later become Iowa State University, Ames has grown exponentially and offers a special history.

Here are four fun facts about Ames, its founding, and some bits of history you won’t find anywhere else in Iowa.

City of Ames

Iowa State University

A&E

Sports