Sen. Chuck Grassley issued a statement on Monday intended to clarify his recent defense of repealing the estate tax as a way of rewarding people who don’t spend “every darn penny they have” on “booze or women or movies.” Grassley’s defense of the estate tax caused a firestorm on social media over the weekend, with people accusing the senator of being out of touch with reality.
Community/News
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Local high school musicians will join Lindsey Stirling during performance at U.S. Cellular Center
Eight local high school students will join Lindsey Stirling during her performance Tuesday at the U.S. Cellular Center in Cedar Rapids. Sophie Pionek, a cellist from Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids, said she learned that she would be playing with Stirling on Nov. 15, “the day we got our ACT scores back.”
Posted inCommunity/News
Voters will choose between Vernon and Hart for Cedar Rapids mayor on Tuesday
Voters choosing between Monica Vernon and Brad Hart in Tuesday’s run-off election for mayor of Cedar Rapids will find the candidates have much in common. Both list improving flood protection, fixing the city’s streets, fostering economic development and working with neighborhood associations to strengthen communities as priorities. At a candidate’s forum, neither expressed any current interest in serving more than one term, and both said they would not have run if Mayor Ron Corbett had sought reelection. Vernon and Hart even use the same phrase (“can-do”) on their campaign websites to describe the spirit of Cedar Rapids.
Posted inCommunity/News
Your Village: What’s happening with the empty lot at the corner of College and Van Buren?
Have a question about what’s going on in your community? Ask Little Village. Submit your questions through the Your Village feature on our homepage, or email us at editor@littlevillagemag.com
Posted inArts & Entertainment
FilmScene welcomes a new programming director
This November, FilmScene announced a new edition to their movie-loving family: Rebecca Fons joined the staff as the programming director of Iowa City’s four-year-old downtown cinema.
Posted inCommunity/News
Putting hashtag activism at the center of the conversation
With the almost daily revelations about well-known men who have sexually harassed (and worse) women, it can be hard to get a larger perspective on what The New York Times has called “The #MeToo Moment, ” named for the Twitter hashtag people have been using to share their experiences with harassment. Gaining perspective on the moment will be the subject of a panel discussion at the Iowa City Public Library on Monday.
Posted inCommunity/News
UI grad students rally against a Republican tax bill that might make college unaffordable
A rally on the University of Iowa Pentacrest protesting the federal tax bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives attracted a crowd of about 60 on Wednesday. The crowd was mostly graduate students, which wasn’t surprising, since the change would drastically increase the amount of taxes grad students pay.
Posted inCommunity/News
Adoptable Pets of the Week: Chill cats Indigo and Sherri
It’s not easy being the most mature person in the room, especially when you’re still a kid yourself. “Teenage” cat Indigo has his hands full with four rambuctious roommates, while Sherri waits for a castle to call home.
Posted inCommunity/News
Arrest warrant issued in Iowa City tire slashings
The Iowa City Police Department announced on Tuesday that an arrest warrant has been issued for Alexander Ruben Alvarado for the recent spree of tire slashings. According to an ICPD press release, Alvarado has admitted to slashing 42 tires in the southeast part of the city over three nights starting Nov. 14.
Posted inCommunity/News
Shelter House’s winter programs, Housing First project fight homelessness in Johnson County
Shelter House, an Iowa City nonprofit that serves the needs of the homeless, has kicked off its Out of the Cold fundraising campaign.“It’s to support all of our winter programming that includes the winter emergency shelter,” said Angelica Vannatta, development director for Shelter House. “Our fundraising goal this year is $100.000.”
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Nine local Etsy shops to browse this holiday season
Enjoy the convenience of online shopping while supporting local artists and entrepreneurs. These Iowa City and Cedar Rapids area Etsy shops offer everything from personalized art to vintage fashion to nerdy decoratives.
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa’s Meredith Corporation will purchase Time, Inc., with help from the Koch brothers
Des Moines-based Meredith Communications—publisher of such magazines as Family Circle and Better Homes and Gardens—has struck a deal to purchase New York-based magazine publisher Time, Incorporated. If the sale is approved by the boards of both companies, Meredith will acquire such well-known magazines as Time, Sports Illustrated and Fortune.
