The majority of likely Iowa voters say it's time for someone new to take over Sen. Chuck Grassley's seat, according to the latest Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll.

Why it matters: Grassley's seat has been viewed as so invincible in the past, electability polls haven't been conducted prior to an election cycle, said J. Ann Selzer, who ran the poll.

• But Iowa's reliably red seat now appears "vincible," Selzer said.

By the numbers: 64% of likely voters said they believe someone new should hold Grassley's seat.

• 37% of those are Republicans, 89% Democrats and 68% are independents.

Yes, but: If Grassley decides to run again, he will still hold a strong advantage over any competitor because of his name recognition and long incumbency.

• 27% of likely voters said they would reelect Grassley — the majority (51%) of whom are Republicans.

Between the lines: With a split U.S. Senate, all eyes will be on Iowa in 2022. Grassley, 87, has yet to announce his reelection plans.

What they're saying: "He still does care about the people and the farmers," Dawn Leiser, a 46-year-old independent, told the Register. "It's just that we need to get fresher and newer blood unfortunately."

Of note: 630 likely voters were polled about the 2022 midterm elections from June 13-16. The poll's margin of error is plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.

Read more about the Iowa Poll results here.

More Iowans are testing positive for a common virus that's normally seen in the fall and winter.

Driving the news: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this month warned there's an uptick in RSV — a respiratory virus that feels like a cold.

• Infants and children may now be at risk of severe illness because masks and other COVID-19 restrictions led to reduced exposure to RSV over the past 15 months.

Here in Iowa, our cases aren't as severe as the southern U.S., but we saw an uptick starting in April.

• RSV is most commonly spread through coughs, sneezes and contaminated surfaces.
• It's also the most common cause of bronchitis and pneumonia in children under one year old.

What's next: Because it's unusual for the virus to spread over the summer months, IDPH says medical experts can't predict how it will spread or when it may peak.

There are now 1,300 "smart" parking meters downtown. If you're like us, you've wondered what those lil' machines cost and rake in for our city.

Flashback: DSM has transitioned its downtown meters to smart devices since 2013. They now account for about 40% of our meters.

• The smart ones take credit and DSM prepayment cards in addition to coins.

Expenses: DSM will pay a California company $150K in support and transaction fees for the fiscal year that starts next month.

• The monthly wireless data fee for each meter: $3.75.
• The monthly management per-meter system fee: $2.
• The credit card fee associated with each transaction: 13 cents, and there are roughly 32,000 of them each month.

Revenues: Roughly $85,000 a month, a little over $1 million a year.

• 45% coin
• 55% credit card
• 5% city SmartCard

💭 Our thought bubble: That's costly, but it's also frustrating when you're out of change at a meter that won't take a card.

• It's 2021, DSM. Let's hurry it up and update the other 2,078 meters or remove them as relics of the past.

About that aphid invasion:

"Thank you for solving the mystery of the sticky car. Though I'm choosing to believe that mine is just covered in tree sap and only tree sap." — Spencer Walrath, Chicago.

To mow or not to mow?

"I meticulously care for my lawn by: 1. Cutting it high ... higher notches on mower. 2. Keep my mower blade sharp. Toro shop in Windsor Heights will trade out your used blade for a sharp one for $10 or so. 3. Avoid mowing in heat and drought." — Doyle Karr, Des Moines

ChuChu Donuts is one of the best bakery stops in Des Moines. But the pièce de résistance are its cronuts for $2.50.

• Cronuts are the best of both worlds — delicate, buttery layers of a croissant + the sweet glaze of a doughnut.
• Linh's tip: Pop it in the microwave for 20 seconds for a warm treat.

Open: 5:30am to 2pm, Tues.-Sun.; 580 SW 9th St #116, Des Moines