Who owns Anton’s Garden in downtown Waterloo? Your Call the Courier questions answered

Q: Is it safe to eat lettuce now?

A: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said last week that it is confident all of the recalled iceberg lettuce related to the Cyclospora outbreak is off the market. That affected lettuce would have expired by now, anyway. You should always thoroughly wash any produce.

Q: We get the Waterloo Courier and it’s all about Democratic stuff. Iowa’s a Republican state, so why isn’t anything written about the Republicans when our state is all Republicans? It’s all about Democrats. So just wondering, are you guys prejudiced against Republicans? 

A: We’re not sure what version of The Courier you’re reading. We publish stories about both Republican and Democratic politicians. In this week’s papers alone we have had a story about Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds discussing kratom, a story about both Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson and Democrat Rep. Josh Turek regarding debates, a campaign stop from Turek with a story right next to it about Republican U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks discussing cancer, a light-hearted story about Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley getting a bobblehead with his beloved vacuum, a campaign stop from Democrat Rob Sand, Hinson’s annual Republican BBQ Bash and a steak fry fundraiser for Democrats.

Q: I’m confused with these political ads. Did the Insider Trading Act get passed or not? Is it law or not?

A: It has not become law but has passed its first hurdle in the process. The bill, which prohibits members of Congress and their spouses and dependent children from purchasing stocks and requiring public notice before they sell stocks, has been passed by the U.S. House. It now has to pass through the U.S. Senate and then be signed by President Trump before it becomes a law.

Q: Who runs or owns Anton’s Garden there at Fourth and Sycamore? Does the city make any money off that or is it a private industry or private owner? 

A: Anton’s Garden is owned by 4east Dining, a subsidiary of JSA Development, according to Main Street Waterloo. The land and business are privately owned.

Q: What percentage of veterans actually fought for our country? About every veteran I know had a non-combat job. 

A: According to the Pew Research Center, 29% of veterans had combat experience during their military career. Newer veterans have seen more combat than veterans who served before 9/11. About half of veterans who served after Sept. 11, 2001, have had combat experience, compared to 24% of veterans who served before that. 

Q: We are wondering, will Canada rename Lake Michigan Lake Canada after President Trump renamed Lake Ontario to Lake America? 

A: Anything is possible in 2026.

Q. Was the lawsuit that Trump won against the IRS because they disclosed that he paid no taxes or was there some other reason that he won that lawsuit?

A. President Trump did not “win” the lawsuit. He originally sued the IRS for $10 billion, alleging the agency failed to keep his tax records confidential. In May, the Department of Justice and the Trump family agreed to a $1.776 billion “settlement” and the government agreed to use the money as an "anti-weaponization" fund to pay Trump allies who claimed they faced government persecution. It also agreed to grant Trump, his family and allies broad tax immunity. In July, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams threw out the settlement, stating it was the product of “collusion” – that Trump controls the agencies he was suing so there was no real legal battle. Lawyers for Trump said they will appeal the ruling. Attorney General Todd Blanche later told Congress the "anti-weaponization" is dead, but the tax immunity for Trump and his allies apparently remains.

Q: Will imported beef be labeled as imported and as to where it came from when it’s on the counters in grocery stores? 

A: Beef producers can already add “Product of the USA” stickers to their meat, but that label is voluntary. Some beef products also list their country of origin on the labels – imported beef from Canada and Mexico is not uncommon. Where the new imported beef is from, which will be lean beef trimmings used in ground beef production, has not been announced, but The Hill reported that most of that meat will be sold to fast food restaurants instead of grocery stores.

Q: Who would I contact on the City Council about putting the data centers on hold? There needs to be more research done on that about the water consumption, the cost for electricity and everything else and who’s going to pay for it.

A: You can reach out to your council person with your concerns at cityofwaterlooiowa.com/government/city_council. Councilmember Dave Morrow has proposed a three-month moratorium on the matter, but that has not officially come before the council for a vote.

Q: Is it true that Rob Sand is a billionaire? And how much is Zach Lahn worth?

A: Rob Sand’s annual salary as the state’s auditor is roughly $104,000, according to the state employee salary book. However, Lahn’s campaign argues that Sand’s family, including his wife, Christine Lauridsen, is what makes him rich. She is the CEO of The Lauridsen Group, which “provides health and nutrition solutions for both animals and humans,” according to its website. Since that is a private company, its market value is not required to be published. Iowa Public Radio reported that from January to May, Sand’s wife and in-laws have donated $4.5 million to his campaign. As for Lahn, his net worth or income is unknown since he is not a public official. He did loan his campaign $2 million last year, IPR stated.

Call (319) 291-1550 to leave a voicemail or email newsroom@wcfcourier.com with your question.