Catch up on the biggest headlines, videos and photos published by Little Village in the past week. Dark money group steps up support for new fee on solar panels Published Monday, March 18 A dark money group has increased its efforts to support a bill (SF583) that would let utility companies impose new fees on […]
Community/News
Posted inCommunity/News
New report shows big increase in arrests of students at Iowa schools, as well as racial disparities
Iowa saw one of the biggest increases in students arrested at school of any state between the 2013-14 and 2015-16 school years, according to a new report from the ACLU. While arrests of students at schools increased 3 percent nationwide during that period, Iowa saw an increase of 105 percent, going from 601 arrests in […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Poll: Midwesterners favor marijuana legalization more strongly than other Americans
People in the Midwest favor legalizing marijuana more strongly than people in any other part of the country, according to a new national opinion survey. The General Social Survey (GSS), conducted biennially by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, has been tracking public opinion on marijuana since 1973.
Posted inCommunity/News
The joy and pain of longing
Maybe it was the news of Luke Perry dying at 52, or this never-ending goddamn winter, but I’ve been overcome recently with a desire to do something drastic, frivolous, adventurous. I feel an urge to escape the discomfort of my body, the constant thinking, the routine, anything unpleasant and say, “Fuck it! I’m bustin’ out of these chains.”
Posted inCommunity/News
Cars blocking street sweeping routes in downtown Iowa City will be towed starting at 2 a.m. Friday
City workers will clean the streets and sidewalks in downtown Iowa City overnight starting at 2 a.m. on Friday, in order to remove sand and “other winter-related debris,” according to a press release from the Iowa City Streets Division. Vehicles parked in tow-away zones, including metered spots, will be towed. “Towing will impact Prentiss Street […]
Posted inCommunity/News
State Senate approves multi-million dollar program to promote ‘Iowa work ethic’ among Medicaid recipients
The Republican-led Iowa Senate passed a bill imposing work requirements on Medicaid recipients on a party line vote on Tuesday. SF538 would require Iowans determined to be “able-bodied” to work at least 20 hours a week at a job or as a community volunteer, or to attend school for that amount of time, in order […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Is disability a universal experience? The Obermann Center’s 2019 symposium asks provocative questions on disability and identity
“A lot of people couldn’t do what I do,” Steve Oulman says. “I survived so many surgeries when I was a baby, and I’ve had bad bedsores. Just living in this body makes me a badass.” He self-styles as OCG — the Original Crippled Gangsta — which he had embroidered on a hat along with a pot leaf. “I got bullied and called cripple so much in junior high school that one day I said, ‘Screw it. I’m just gonna make this me.’”
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa Attorney General sues two animal rescue groups for fraud
Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller has filed a lawsuit to shut down two nonprofits claiming to be dog rescue groups that he says have engaged in fraud. Miller claims Hobo K9 Rescue in the north central Iowa town of Britt, and Rescue Pets Iowa of Ottumwa, are part of a national “puppy laundering” ring. “Puppy […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Your Village: What happened to Iowa City’s steam whistle?
“What happened to the steam whistle at the power plant? Will they bring it back? I heard it may have been down for repairs a while back, and then I heard nothing about it ever again.” —Becca, Iowa City, via Facebook
Posted inCommunity/News
Dark money group steps up support for new fee on solar panels
A dark money group has increased its efforts to support a bill (SF583) that would let utility companies impose new fees on homeowners and businesses that install solar panels. The REAL Coalition of Iowa was incorporated as a nonprofit on Jan. 23, apparently to support the House and Senate versions of the bill. A dark money group is a nonprofit that engages in political activity but does not disclose its funders.
Posted inCommunity/News
After a bit of shopping, Beto O’Rourke discussed his ‘white privilege,’ Senate run, DACA and more in CR
Beto O’Rourke didn’t look like a top contender for the Democratic nomination for president on Friday night, when he was standing in Eduskate Board Shop talking to owner Nate Sherwood. He looked a customer. The two were happily discussing the classic skateboards Sherwood has on display in his NewBo shop, and looking over the planks […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Home is where the art is?: Exploring UI theme semester American Dream through notions of home
Saturday, March 16 will see the first installment of Going Home, a three-part series of conversations hosted collaboratively by UI’s Office of Outreach and Engagement, the Obermann Center for Advanced Studies and MERGE, seeking to find a common ground somewhere between the university and the Iowa City community.
