Though this may university may hold the record for longest mall, Iowa University now boasts the country’s tallest garden gnome.

The gnome constructed in Wisconsin travelled to Iowa via truck.

The 15-foot tall, 3,500-pound garden sits in the university’s Reiman Gardens and is part of the year-long “Celebration of Garden Ornamentation.” The giant gnome (oximoron?) cost around $8,000 to build. As part of the exhibit, other garden decor will be on display along with a crowd of other small gnomes to be built by local organizations. A gnome kingdom, if you will.

The world record for tallest gnome is currently held by an 18-foot gnome in that Poland erected a month ago.

Quick Hits:

>> The 4th U.S. District Court of Appeals upheld a Virginia law banning alcohol ads in student papers. The lawsuit was brought by Virginia Tech’s Collegiate Times and the University of Virginia’s Cavalier Daily.

>> Metro and D.C. commuters beware of increased security and rerouting in the capital for the Nuclear Security Summit. A large grid of roads will be blocked off from traffic and parking and the Mount Vernon Square metro station is closed.

>> The state Senate is preparing to make a final decision this week on a bill allowing the use of medical marijuana. Preliminary approval was given last Friday and the Senate is set to make a final decision as early as Saturday.

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