Good morning Ames! The em dash (—) is apparently no longer the most reliable way to tell if AI wrote something. A new report from Barron’s says the sentence structure, “It’s not just a _____, it’s a _____” was found in 50 public company communications in 2023 (before AI was super common) and over 200 in 2025.

Btw, I’ve been using the em dash since before Sam Altman was out of diapers and I don’t plan to stop… It’s not just a phenomenal piece of punctuation, it’s a lifestyle. Sorry, couldn’t help myself…

In today’s scoop:

Lets get started.

— Chance

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801 Day Fines

If you've lived in Ames for more than a year, you know what 801 Day is. It's the unofficial end-of-summer party tradition the Saturday before Iowa State classes start, and for residents near campus, it can make for a very long weekend.

This year the city is cracking down. First offense nuisance fines jump from $100 to $650. Repeat offenses will run $855 each. The elevated penalties cover Friday August 21 through Sunday August 23.

It's a significant increase, and a pretty clear signal that the city is serious about holding party hosts accountable. Whether it actually moves the needle on 801 Day remains to be seen but if you live near campus and have spent previous years counting down the hours until it’s over, this one's for you. (source)

Bike Around Ames With the Mayor

Mayor John Haila and the Ames City Council are hosting a free, family-friendly community bike ride on Saturday, May 9. The 8.5-mile route starts and ends at City Hall, 515 Clark Ave., with riders meeting in the west parking lot at 9am. No registration, no cost, all ages and experience levels welcome. Just show up with a helmet.

The route winds through some of the best parts of Ames: Brookside Park, south campus, Stuart Smith Park, and a stop at the new Fitch Family Indoor Aquatic Center. Along the way the group will also visit the site of the new west Ames fire station being relocated from Welch Avenue. It's essentially a moving city update tour on two wheels, which is a pretty great way to spend a Saturday morning.

And if you bike to work, mark your calendar for Monday May 11 as well. Mayor Haila and Council members are hosting a free Bike Commuter Continental Breakfast from 7 to 9am in front of City Hall to kick off Bike to Work Week. Show up on your way in, grab a snack, and feel good about your commute for once. (cityofames)

CyTown: Here's Where Things Stand

If you've driven past Jack Trice lately and noticed the construction activity between the stadium and Hilton Coliseum, that's CyTown taking shape. And it's moving faster than you might think. Phase one (the new parking lots near Hilton) is already done. Crews have moved on to the first actual building: a McFarland Clinic location that's on schedule to be completed by the end of 2026 and open for patients in early 2027.

Once McFarland wraps up, everything else goes up at the same time. The full CyTown spine will include two buildings with suites, retail, and commercial space on the ground floor, two office buildings with retail below, a dedicated food and beverage spot directly across from McFarland, and an amphitheater anchoring the north end of the walkway. A hotel connecting Hilton Coliseum and Scheman Building is also set to break ground in the coming months.

Executive Director Rick Sanders put it plainly: Iowa State used to be a premier destination for concerts, conventions, and events, and gradually lost that over the last 50 years. CyTown is the plan to bring it back, while also generating revenue to fund deferred maintenance on the existing Iowa State Center buildings. (source)

Art Show & Comedy Night @ Morning Bell Coffee Roasters - 7pm 

String Class Recital @ Tye Recital Hall - Featuring ISU string class and Cello choir at starting at 7:30pm (info)

Trivia Night @ Torrent Brewing Company - Five rounds of trivia, show up, grab a drink, and finally put all that useless knowledge to good use going for two hours. Be there at 7pm. (details)

🎸Big Richard w/ Casey Joe & The Foxes @ Alluvial Brewing - Music at 7pm

In Our Backyard @ Labyrinth Coffee - A New Eco-Play Festival at 7pm (details) 

Streamliners Across America @ Ames Public Library - Transportation consultant and local railroad historian Bob Bourne is breaking down the golden age of Iowa's sleek railroad Streamliners. 

Ames Shootout (Dart Tournament) @ Inside Golf - Lots of details listed here 

Season Openner @ The Parc - The Parc is kicking off its 2026 season with five food trucks, live music from Royce Johns, yard games, a bounce house, and a caricature artist. 12-2pm (info)  

Horn Studio Recital @ Tye Recital Hall - ISU Horn Studio and members of the Des Moines Horn Club will present a concert of horn chamber music at 1:30pm (details)  

Cyclone Voice w/ Saint Motel @ Memorial Union - Indie-pop/rock band Saint Motel — yes, the platinum-selling, Coachella-performing, half-a-billion streams band — is hosting ISU's annual Cyclone Voice singing competition on May 2nd, where 14 student finalists will compete for the title while Saint Motel performs a full set in between. 7pm (info)

Ames Houseplant Swap @ Lockwood Cafe - Ames plant lovers, this is your Super Bowl! A free all-day houseplant event with expert talks, repotting demos, personalized plant advice, and a full swap with fellow plant nerds 10am-4pm (info)

🎸Matt Woods @ Cornbred BBQ - 6-9pm

Bookmark Embroidery @ Prairie Rose Needleworks - A bookmark embroidery class with kits included and no experience needed. Then go pick up a book worthy of your new handmade bookmark. 4-6pm (tickets)  

Masterworks Concert @ Stephens Auditorium - The Iowa State Singers, Iowa Statesmen, ISU Orchestra, and the Des Moines Choral Society are all joining forces for a massive collaborative concert featuring two stunning large-scale works. 3pm (info)  

Memory: Music from Cats, Mozart, and Lord of the Rings @ St. Andrews Lutheran Church - Featuring music from iconic moments and masterworks from the past, this concert is sure to have you remaining. 7-8pm (details)

Thanks for reading this weeks scoop. If you found something useful, send this to someone who just bought an American Flag.

See you next week.