Signed by Coralville Mayor Meghann Foster, Iowa City Mayor Bruce Teague, North Liberty Mayor Chris Hoffman and University Heights Mayor Louise From In 2008, Johnson County voters overwhelmingly approved a $20 million conservation bond, and the results have been outstanding. That investment helped protect 1,176 acres of land, build 9.2 miles of trails, and safeguard […]
Eastern Iowa
UI Theatre alum Brian Quijada on staging a ‘reverse border story,’ how it feels when audience members walk out and why new plays are more exciting
Brian Quijada is an Emmy-nominated playwright, actor and composer. He also happens to be a University of Iowa Theatre Arts alumnus, getting his start as an undergrad that ended up double majoring in English and Theatre. Quijada has returned to Iowa City for a visit culminating in a performance with collaborator Nygel D. Robinson on […]
Photos: UI Homecoming Parade brings out local orgs, political rivalries and Hawkeye greats
Just as it has for more than a century, the University of Iowa Homecoming Parade wound its way through the streets of downtown Iowa City on Friday. This being an Iowa City parade, local realtors were well represented among the groups marching, and almost all the groups in the parade distributed candy to kids along […]
Kalona Brewing will close at the end of this month
Kalona Brewing Company will close at the end of the month. The craft brewery and restaurant located in downtown Kalona will serve its final beers on Oct. 31. “Unfortunately, we have been unable to recover financially from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” owners Ted and Becky Nagy said in a post on the brewery’s […]
Streets will close in Iowa City on Thursday and Friday for a mini block party and the UI homecoming parade
Dubuque Street between Washington and Iowa Avenue in downtown Iowa City reopened to traffic at the end of August after closing down in March for infrastructure updates as part of Iowa City’s revitalization efforts. But on Thursday that block is closing down again as the Iowa City Downtown District (ICDD) holds its Back to Dubuque Celebration. […]
Deliberately scratched frames, disquieting docs, dreamy shots of Iowa: Reviews of 10 films featured at Refocus
It is officially a wrap on the 2024 Refocus Film Festival, which means it is time to unpack all I was able to see and experience following opening night.
Early voting at satellite locations in Dubuque County starts Tuesday
With just two weeks to go before Election Day, satellite voting locations are opening in Dubuque County for people who want to vote before Nov. 5. The Dubuque County Auditor’s Office has scheduled eight sites, each operating for just one day. Four are in Dubuque; the others will be in Durango, Dyersville, Worthingon and Asbury. […]
Letter from Sen. Elinor Levin: Voting YES on the conservation bond is a small ask for a big win
By Iowa Sen. Elinor A. Levin, Iowa City I’ve only lived in Johnson County since the year after its voters approved the first Conservation Bond in 2008, which means I’ve had the pleasure and benefit of seeing all of the good that has been done with the funds that were raised, natural areas that were […]
A packed Englert audience sees and celebrates ‘Nightbitch’ movie as Refocus 2024 kicks off
Last night, a giddy audience gathered in the historic Englert Theatre, its marquee beautifully illuminating their entrance, for opening night of the third annual Refocus Film Festival. Onstage, Andrew Sherburne and Programming Director Ben Delgado expressed their gratitude for all who made the festival possible and shared some backstory on their efforts to screen Marielle […]
Swallowing a tooth, and other ways local poets ‘harness a feeling’ in short films at Refocus
“It is October. Everything is overturning,” writes Hannah Bonner in her debut book of poetry, Another Woman. “I pack a suitcase to get through October and drive to the shore with a video camera,” begins the poem “Video Footage” in Julia Anna Morrison’s Long Exposure, her first book of poems. It is October. And with […]
‘Star Search: All Stars’ Ep. 7: Well-steeped tea spills, patterns clash and a fan favorite falls in the semi-final roast
Girl, this is not RuPaul’s best friends race. I can’t believe it’s already the top four but here we are, and what a challenge for it. I feel like everyone knows that the roast is harrowing.
Letter to the editor: The JoCo conservation bond is a step towards expanding Iowa’s public lands
By Nick Bergus, Iowa City I love the outdoors. It’s a place of solitude and calm. It’s worth traveling for.But it’s also necessary to preserve places here, near home. That’s why I’m going to flip my ballot over and vote “yes” on the $30 million county conservation bond. The previous bond helped build out the […]

