On Friday, Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate held a ceremony to mark Public Measure 1 becoming the latest amendment to the state constitution. The new amendment requires courts to use “strict scrutiny,” the most stringent form of judicial review, when considering existing or future regulation regarding guns. It’s a higher level of scrutiny than […]
Statewide
Posted inCommunity/News
Civil War hero William W. Belknap rose from Keokuk militiaman to U.S. Secretary of War. Then it all came crashing down.
Iowa was a bulwark of the Union in the Civil War, with more of its citizens joining the U.S. Army than any other state per capita. Over 13,000 Iowans gave their lives to defeat the Confederacy. Many veterans went on to politics or government service, but none achieved the dubious fame of William W. Belknap. […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
After 37 years, Bob Dorr will end his IPR rock history show ‘Backtracks’ this month
“Thirty-seven years and four months, but who’s counting?” That’s how long Iowa blues icon Bob Dorr has been hosting his rock and roll history show, Backtracks — a mainstay of Iowa Public Radio’s top-notch music programming. But on New Year’s Eve 2022, that all comes to an end. Dorr isn’t retiring, thankfully: The voice that […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
50 ways to explore the state, from Council Bluffs to Lansing
Best town? Boring. Best restaurant? Hackneyed. Best tourist attraction? Nah. Little Village staff and contributors would like to draw your attention to these truly Iowa-y sites, stories and experiences. Some are recommendations, others cautionary tales, but all make our godforsaken state just a little more amazing. Introducing, the Independent Iowa Awards. MONUMENTAL SITES A […]
Posted inStatewide
Video premiere: Halfloves, ‘Hospice’
“Try to imagine what it must be like to go to sleep and never wake up …” — Alan Watts On Halfloves’ first new single since June of 2021’s bouncy “Do U Follow Me,” we find the band exploring their more contemplative side with “Hospice.” Trevor Polk and Jeff Roalson both lost their grandmothers in […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Prosecutors recommend more than five years in prison for Iowan who led mob on Jan. 6
Doug Jensen of Des Moines is facing more than six years in federal prison for his leading role in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. In a sentencing memorandum filed in U.S. District Court in Washington D.C. on Wednesday, federal prosecutors recommended Jensen serve “64 months’ imprisonment, three years of supervised release, […]
Posted inAlbum Reviews
Album Review: Elizabeth Moen — ‘Wherever You Aren’t’
Wherever You Aren't by Elizabeth Moen When Elizabeth Moen and her band rolled into the AudioTree Studios in Chicago in mid-December 2019, she had just wrapped up a whirlwind back-to-back 18 shows in Italy in November following the release of two new singles, “Headgear” and “Ex’s House Party,” originally planned for her fourth album. Already […]
Posted inAstrology
Astrology forecast — December 2022
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Sagittarian comedian Margaret Cho dealt with floods of ignorant criticism while growing up. She testifies, “Being called ugly and fat and disgusting from the time I could barely understand what the words meant has scarred me so deep inside that I have learned to hunt, stalk, claim, own and defend my […]
Posted inCommunity/News
New phone scam involves caller claiming to work for Iowa Auditor of State’s Office
Phone scams continue to proliferate, and on Monday the Iowa Auditor of State’s Office (AOS) reported a new one. “A concerned citizen notified the AOS Office on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, that they had received a phone call from a person inquiring about their mortgage,” the office said in a news release. “The caller also […]
Posted inStatewide
“The Caretaker”: A Christmas story by Tom Gingerich
Story by Tom Gingerich, Kalona The old man was on his knees busily mulching one of Oakland’s expansive flower beds when he noticed the SUV approaching in the brisk, early November air. Slowly negotiating the narrow, winding roads traversing the hillside, it pulled up near him. A young man emerged, a leather-bound notebook in his […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Dear Kiki: How do I tell a customer ‘TMI’?
Questions about love, sex or relationship can be submitted to dearkiki@littlevillagemag.com, or anonymously using this form. Questions may be edited for clarity and length, and may appear either in print or online. Dear Kiki, I have a client who is getting a little … too personal with her stories. She works in a location that […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa will not receive $30 million in federal aid for child care
The state of Iowa is losing $30 million in federal money that would have helped families access basic child care services. The governor’s office says the loss of that money is the result of a deliberate decision to avoid having to commit $3 million in matching state funds toward child care. But a Democratic state […]
