Why nine? Because the Patch community includes nine sites in Iowa: Ankeny, Ames, Cedar Falls, Iowa City, Johnston, Marion, Urbandale, Waukee and West Des Moines.

9. Marion Patch's coverage of a Linn County prostitution sting that nabbed 40 people continued last week with news that more arrests are expected, how the Web fit into the operation and how prostitutes warned each other about the sting to avoid additional arrests. 

8. It's OK to celebrate Fourth of July in Urbandale, just don't take it too far. Police are warning there is "Zero Tolerance" for illegal fireworks.

7. West Des Moines Patch's editor has some advice for us Iowans on how to take a vacation and stay close to home in "unapologetic Fairfield."

6. Friends and family gathered to remember the life of fallen Ames Police Sgt. Howard Snider, who died on a family vacation over Father's Day weekend. Ames Patch editor Jessica Miller captured video of the ceremony.

5. In Johnston, a Republican seeking an Iowa House seat wasn't too concerned about U.S. Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Affordable Health Care Act. Why? Jake Highfill says the decision will hurt President Barack Obama in November and help Mitt Romney win the White House.

4. Amid sending sexually explicit emails on public computers, Des Moines superintendent Nancy Sebring found room to rip Ankeny's school board as "crazy" and label former Superintendent Matthew Wendt "an arrogant guy." 

3. A stronger charge of felony vehicular manslaughter has been levied against an Iowa City woman accused of running over and killing a friend with her truck. She previously was charged only with drunken driving.

2. Waukee Patch Local Editor Jody Gifford got the conversation started with her latest Parent Talk column, which posed the question: Too Fat to Parent?

1. Cedar Falls: Parents and teachers suing to keep open Price Lab at University of Northern Iowa were dealt a blow with a judge's ruling on Monday, but they have vowed to fight on.