A former Iowa cop appears to have plagiarized heavily in a recent column defending police aggression. Mark Breneman, a retired Polk County Sheriff’s Deputy…
Adam B Sullivan
Posted inCommunity/News
Miller-Meeks, Loebsack spar in Iowa City
During a debate in Iowa City Thursday night, Incumbent U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack had to answer to being named the least effective Congressman, while challenger Mariannette Miller-Meeks had to explain why she hasn’t won this race in her last two attempts. Democrat Loebsack and Republican Miller-Meeks participated in a debate hosted by Iowa Public Television […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Increased flooding, extreme weather in Iowa raises concerns over food production
The Iowa River surging over its banks and the reservoir north of town threatening to breach its emergency spillway in early July marked the second major flood…
Posted inCommunity/News
The war on drugs: A new direction?
When Kanye West said George Bush doesn’t care about black people, a lot of people probably thought he had a point. The former president was under heat for his handling of Hurricane Katrina’s destruction of New Orleans. But long before that, some Republicans had earned the reputation from their opposition to the civil rights movement […]
Posted inCommunity/News
ACLU report criticizes ‘excessive’ militarization of U.S. police
American police are usually using their tactical weapons and armor for drug raids, rather than hostage or active shooter situations, according to a new study. There are thousands of SWAT teams — “special weapons and tactics,” known locally as special response teams — across the country, including in Johnson County. The new report from the American Civil Liberties Union harshly criticizes their widespread use and calls for increased restrictions.
Posted inCommunity/News
Poll: Clinton takes narrow lead in Iowa
A slim majority of Iowans view Hillary Clinton favorably, despite the former First Lady making herself sparse here over the last six years. Polling data released this week by Quinnipiac University shows Clinton’s support in Iowa leads that of a handful of possible Republican presidential candidates. Clinton has a 52-percent approval rating here, according to […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Study shows IC police stop minority drivers at disproportionate rates
Iowa City cops tend to pull over more black and Hispanic drivers than white and Asian drivers, according to a third-party analysis, but city leaders aren’t chalking…
Posted inCommunity/News
Lyness wins big as Johnson County sees highest primary turnout since 2006
Contests for this fall’s elections are set following primaries across Iowa on Tuesday night. Nearly 13 percent of Johnson County voters turned out to nominate county…
Posted inCommunity/News
Gov. Branstad expected to sign Iowa’s first medical cannabis bill this Friday
Iowa will join the majority of states in allowing some form of medical cannabis this week. Gov. Terry Branstad is expected to sign Iowa’s very narrow marijuana bill…
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Books: Out in the Ordinary
Iowa didn’t mean anything to gay rights six years ago when novelist Nick Burd was in New York writing The Vast Fields of Ordinary. The presidential candidates vetted here didn’t tend to favor expanding gay rights. And while most of the state’s bigger towns were generally tolerant–for the Midwest, at least–same-sex unions seemed destined to […]
