How to contact me: [email protected]
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.
Most places require that snow be removed from public sidewalks within a reasonable amount of time. About 12% of U.S. adults don’t bother.
From iconic actors and musicians to activists and political leaders, here’s a look at some of the people we said goodbye to in 2025.
We took a look back weird 2025 headlines, found some surprising themes, and even answered the question, “Where does the lone sock go?”
Some beloved brands completely disappeared in 2025, while others closed underperforming locations and focused more on e-commerce.
Among key changes, older recipients who are still working can earn a little more without being dinged by the Social Security Administration.
Stores will close underperforming stores and adapt their models to digital as consumers increasingly shift to e-commerce.
Resolutions varied, some tangible and others reflecting neighborhood-specific, yet widely held concerns. Many want to know neighbors better.
Recalls include more pools with a defect tied to nine drownings in 15 years, and certain Ford sports cars, Ram trucks and Toyota hybrids.
Four years later, dog found 2,300 miles away; “Delco Pooper” tries to wipe record clean; fake heiress in $30M scam on FBI most-wanted list.
Merchants balance the cost of returns to their bottom lines with appeasing consumers, who are increasingly casual about return fraud.
Supermoons bookend 2026. The year also features a total lunar eclipse, a “blue moon” and perfectly dark skies for the Perseid meteor shower.
The Weather Channel releases its outlook for the first three months of 2026 and explains how the polar vortex affects winter predictions.
Many, but not all, grocery stores will close early on Christmas Eve. And last-minute shoppers need to be aware of retail early closings.
What resolution would you like for your community or neighborhood to make in 2026 to improve the quality of life? What can you do to assist?
If Santa Claus plans to leave these toys under the Christmas tree, he should check for warnings about choking and other hazards first.
Food prices increased at less than the rate of overall inflation in November, despite steep increases for proteins such as beef and fish.
A family tradition of taking hay from the manager; why sisters balked at fetching their gifts from under the tree; more holiday memories.
Major retail stores offer expedited shipping, in-store pickup on Christmas Eve and other options for holiday shoppers still choosing gifts.
Nut used in holiday baking or given as a gift may contain salmonella; a popular nasal spray has been recalled after the discovery of mold.
Phthalates, a class of chemicals used to make plastic more pliable, are widely found in consumer products and foods, despite known risks.
