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Hello IRRC staff,

Yesterday was Groundhog’s Day, and according to Punxsutawney Phil, we are in for six more weeks of winter. However, there is controversy in the world of rodent weather forecasting. A second groundhog meteorologist has entered the scene: one Charles G. Hogg, informally known as Staten Island Chuck. The Staten Island groundhog did not see his shadow yesterday, suggesting to some that spring may be on its way. But to true Punxsutawney fans, this Staten Island spoof is nothing but a cheap knock off. "The groundhog is above science, and we expect impostors to try to get in the act," says Harry 'Butch' Philliber, a self-proclaimed Groundhog’s Day expert. "There's only one Punxsutawney Phil and he's the only true prognosticator of the weather." Staten Island fans fight back, claiming that their beloved weatherhog has an accuracy rate of 80%, much higher than Phil’s measly 39%.

We have three updates for today:

Weekly Update New Format

We are experimenting with sending out weekly updates through Mailchimp instead of email. Let us know if this creates any issues for you!

Staff Poll: Where is your dream vacation spot?

If you haven’t already, check out the staff board to see people’s answers to our last staff poll. Then, fill out this form to answer this week’s question. If you could vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go?

IRRC Staff At the State Capitol

Ben, Nina, Lindsay, and Sean were at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines yesterday to talk to state legislators about the work that we all do and to continue to foster a good collaborative relationship with lawmakers. We were there alongside our collaborators from Decoding Dyslexia Iowa, who were there to advocate for families affected by dyslexia and to push for increased funding so educators in our state can get scholarships to enroll in the Dyslexia Specialist Endorsement program. Our joint presence made it into a literacy day in the statehouse rotunda!

Dozens of senators and representatives stopped by to chat, take flyers, and pose for pictures.  
Thank you Decoding Dyslexia Iowa for sharing space with us in the rotunda!
IRRC cookies next year?
The Des Moines skyline in a photo taken inside the Capitol.
The very long tunnel that leads from a administrative building to the Capitol. Ideal for pulling a cart full of promotional items and avoiding the freezing cold.
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