I’m a glasses-wearing college professor, so no one is surprised when I tell them I was a nerdy kid. Like a lot of nerdy kids, I got bullied in school sometimes. Whenever it happened, some adults and other kids would either look away and act like they didn’t notice, or else they’d give me the […]
Letters
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Essay: RAGBRAI’s one-note music lineup is an insult to riders
This is the 50th anniversary of the RAGBRAI, the yearly summer bike ride from the Missouri to the Mississippi. I remember the first one happened when I was in high school. Between being a fan of Donald Kaul and John Karras’ writing in the Des Moines Register and hanging out at the local hippie bike […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Essay: A Floridian encounters beauty, love, bad weather and discomforting deja vu in Iowa
I knew nothing about Iowa before I knew it was taking my partner away from me. The original plan was to break up at the end of the summer, before college; four years later, we’ve somehow made the long distance work. The first time I visited Billy in Iowa was fall 2019. Since then, I’ve […]
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: Why not make it a no-mow year?
By Sam Moon, Des Moines Some of you may have seen that this year in May, the mayor of Des Moines asked citizens to not mow our lawns, for the sake of pollinators and local wildlife. If you’re a tree hugger like me, this excited you quite a bit. Think about it: not hearing the […]
Posted inLetters
Letter from Joe Bolkcom: Reynolds has failed to protect Iowa County workers and residents
By Joe Bolkcom, Iowa City Why was Governor Reynolds the only Iowan to be surprised that a company trying to turn roofing shingles into diesel fuel would require a poisonous mix of toxic, dangerous chemicals? And why wasn’t it obvious to her that the workers involved in turning shingles into diesel fuel would be working […]
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: Unsung heroes from Iowa City’s LGBTQ history
By David Leshtz, Iowa City Congratulations on your excellent series examining the history of LGBT activism in Iowa City. The third installment brought back many memories of other friends and allies who deserve mention: Attorney Duane Rohovit did the heavy lifting of writing the bylaws for the Iowa Center for AIDS Resources and Education. ICARE […]
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: The governor must veto these bills
Dear Governor Reynolds, I remember your 2018 campaign ad with you pictured as the loving grandmother surrounded by your 10 grandchildren. You stated, “My family means everything to me. Being a grandmother of 10 helps you multitask, be a good listener, and most importantly serves as a reminder about why I want Iowa to be […]
Posted inLetters
Letters to the editor: How you can support DVIP’s plans to build a new emergency shelter in Iowa City
By Jillian Nagle, Iowa City I am excited to share with you that Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP) of Iowa has announced they are planning to build a new emergency shelter to better serve the victims and survivors in our Southeastern Iowa Communities. My name is Jill Nagle, I have been an Iowa City resident […]
Posted inLetters
In memoriam: Trevor Lee Hopkins’ small stakes
This month, Iowa City lost its Swiss Army knife, Trevor Hopkins. “Trigger,” “Sheriff,” sound guy, bartender, drummer, brother, dog dad, cook, uncle, tireless encourager, ray of social media sunshine, nickname artist, husband to wonderful Ashlee, and longtime Little Village distributor, Trevor’s big heart chose a quiet, cold, homebound Saint Patrick’s Day to finally give out […]
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: The stage is being set for a worker-centered arts scene
By Jennifer Sherer President, Iowa City Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO For music fans and literature lovers flocking to Iowa City’s Englert Theatre during this year’s Mission Creek Festival, there’s a new reason to celebrate the historic, beloved Englert’s role in sustaining a vibrant, community-supported music and performance scene. Englert production technicians and stagehands who work […]
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: New traffic cameras around Iowa City spark concern
By Kyle Nilson, Iowa City Over the past few weeks, citizens of Iowa City have noticed new cameras watching our roads. These cameras, made by Flock Safety, are advertised to capture license plates and other details that Flock saves to construct a “Vehicle Fingerprint.” These capabilities are used to track vehicles in real time, notifying […]
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: Smaller government and protecting children
By Pat Bowen, Iowa City If Iowa Republicans were serious about protecting children, and smaller government, our public schools would be fully funded and they wouldn’t be wanting to rollback long established protections governing child labor. Recently the Senate and House passed (SF 538, HF 623) to ban gender affirming medical care for transgender children. […]
