Iowa may be the home of “fields of opportunity,” but those fields are often draining directly into an extensive system of underground tiles and then into streams and rivers, creating a costly problem for drinking water treatment plants and for others interested in maintaining clean waterways. Although Iowa politicians, including Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, have pointed to Iowa’s water quality as a key issue, critics say progress is too slow and current efforts don’t go far enough.
Lauren Shotwell
Lauren Shotwell is Little Village's news director. Contact her at lauren@littlevillagemag.com.
Posted inCommunity/News
Susan Mims to seek re-election to Iowa City Council
Iowa City council member Susan Mims, who is completing her second term on the city council, announced her decision to run for re-election in November as the representative of District B. In the announcement, she said her focus would be on continuing to improve resident’s quality of life and maintaining the city’s financial stability.
Posted inCommunity/News
Panel to explore creating a more age-friendly community
A lecture and panel event on Thursday will examine how Iowa City and other communities can become more age-friendly, supporting community members who wish to age in place and and welcoming those — both young and old — who are interested in walkable, intergenerational neighborhoods.
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Three public hearings in Des Moines Monday on controversial legislation
The Iowa Legislature will hold three public hearings in Des Moines on Monday to discuss legislation that would impact independent water utilities (namely the Des Moines Water Works), preempt county minimum wage ordinances and create new election regulations, including voter ID. Individuals can sign up to speak or leave a comment by visiting the legislature’s […]
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University of Iowa reverses course, decides to reinstate scholarships
The University of Iowa reinstated legacy scholarships for current students and students entering in Fall 2017, according to a Wednesday news release. The university had previously decided to cut the scholarships, affecting about 3,000 students, following a decision by the Iowa Legislature to take back $20.8 million from the Board of Regents — including $9.2 […]
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Benefit concert at Near Future puts music to work fighting against deportation
A benefit Friday night at Near Future, a temporary exhibition space through Public Space One, will feature a night of punk tunes in support of the newly-formed Eastern Iowa Community Bond Project, which aims to help under-documented individuals swept up in immigration raids. The event will feature eastern Iowa bands Jailbus, Beyond Peace and the […]
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Megabus is back, teaming up with Windstar to revive a route through Iowa
Megabus, by teaming up with the Carroll, Iowa-based Windstar Lines, is bringing bus service back to the Iowa City area just a few months after pulling out of its previous Chicago-Omaha route. The route will begin March 1 with at least one service daily in each direction. The Iowa leg of the route includes stops […]
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House, Senate send collective bargaining bill to Gov. Branstad’s desk
Both the Iowa House and Senate passed an overhaul of Iowa’s collective bargaining measures on Thursday, sending the controversial bill on to Gov. Terry Branstad to be signed into law. The votes followed measures in both chambers to set a deadline on debate — the House cut off debate at noon and the Senate, after […]
Posted inCommunity/News, Features
More Iowans test positive for hepatitis C liver infection, report says
Three times as many Iowans were diagnosed with the hepatitis C liver infection in 2015 than in 2000, according to a report from the Iowa Department of Public Health. The disease is the leading cause of liver cancer and liver transplants in the U.S., data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows. […]
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In packed statehouse, protesters oppose proposed changes to collective bargaining
With protesters filling the rotunda of the Iowa Capitol Monday night, speakers at a packed public hearing for collective bargaining legislation overwhelmingly voiced their opposition to proposals that would strip away public employees’ collective bargaining rights.
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Cohousing community breaking new ground in Iowa City
Iowa City Cohousing Information Meeting Uptown Bill’s — Thursday, Feb. 16 at 5:30 p.m. A new housing community, Prairie Hill, hopes to bring the concept of cohousing to the Iowa City area — encouraging a greener, more neighborly living space. The development, many years in the making, broke ground in November on land in southwest […]
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Interview: Sara Goldrick-Rab on moving forward with college affordability
Paying the Price: College Costs, Financial Aid, and the Betrayal of the American Dream Iowa City Public Library — Monday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. Scholar-activist Sara Goldrick-Rab spent years following students struggling to pay for college — and sometimes failing, leaving with no degree and overwhelming debt. In talks on Monday, Goldrick-Rab will discuss […]
