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 […]
Statewide
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowans overwhelmingly approve constitutional amendment that ‘prohibits current and future common-sense gun laws’
Public Measure 1, which amends the Iowa Constitution to make it harder to pass new gun safety laws and easier to eliminate existing ones, was overwhelmingly approved by voters on Tuesday. Just over 64 percent of voters statewide voted yes, and the supporters of the measure prevailed in 97 of Iowa’s 99 counties. Only Johnson […]
Posted inElection Coverage
Election 2022: Gov. Reynolds wins reelection; Iowa GOP bans KCRG from its victory party
Less than five minutes after the polls closed on Tuesday, the Associated Press declared Gov. Kim Reynolds had won reelection, defeating Democrat Deidre DeJear and Libertarian Rick Stewart. Within minutes, Reynolds herself had declared victory in a tweet. THANK YOU! pic.twitter.com/RzyKil67hT — Kim Reynolds (@KimReynoldsIA) November 9, 2022 As rapid as it was, the AP’s […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Press Profile: Midwest Writing Center Press, directed by Ryan Collins
Founded in 1979, the Midwest Writing Center (MWC) was created to provide a “permanent home” for writers in the Quad Cities. MWC, the only literary arts nonprofit in the Quad Cities, boasts a long tradition of uplifting local writers through resources, including space for book signings, events and most recently, the addition of its very […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Press Profile: 508 Press, founded by Mackie Garrett
Mackie Garrett, founder of Iowa City’s 508 Press, started taking classes on the letterpress after receiving an invitation to an event at Public Space One by a colleague. “I was at a point with professional changes where I felt a little adrift in Iowa City and I started going to poetry readings,” Garrett said. He […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Iowa’s record stores remain community hubs, weathering ups and downs in the vinyl market
For the music industry, 2021 was definitely a memorable year. With concerts and live entertainment essentially on ice for much of the year, consumers pivoted, directing their expendable income to physical products instead, resulting in a landmark year for record stores. Variety reported in March that 2021 marked the first year since 1996 that both […]
Posted inElection Coverage
Election Day FAQ: Where to go and what to know before casting your ballot in Iowa
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 8. The 2022 midterm election in Iowa includes races for local, state and congressional offices, in addition to a statewide ballot measure. Q: When are polls open on Tuesday? Also, where do I vote? A: Voting starts at 7 a.m. and ends at 8 p.m., although if you’re in line […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Label Profile: Ox Cart New Music, founded by Gabi Vanek
Justin K Comer & the Unblessed Rest of Us by Justin K Comer & the Unblessed Rest of Us Gabi Vanek is the “label boss” of Oxcart New Music, but she isn’t precious about it. She didn’t use the word “curate” once in this interview. “So I have wanted to use the name Oxcart New […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Label Profile: 5CM Recordings, founded by Mathias Timmerman
“In 2013, I played my first solo set (as Underwater Escape From the Black Hole) at one of the Zeitgeist fests that were held in Boone,” Mathias Timmerman, of Des Moines label 5CM Recordings, said in an email. “And I ended up meeting a lot of other folks who were running little DIY labels, putting […]
Posted inAstrology
Astrology forecast — November 2022
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “Fear is the raw material from which courage is manufactured,” said author Martha Beck. “Without it, we wouldn’t even know what it means to be brave.” I love that quote—and I especially love it as a guiding meditation for you Scorpios right now. We usually think of fear as an unambiguously […]
Posted inStatewide
Holiday markets around Iowa to spice up your gift shopping
Receiving gifts is great, and giving them can feel even better. But even the best gift givers can find themselves scrolling glassy-eyed through Cyber Monday sales, sweating in a mile-long self-checkout line or cursing the supply chain gods as the estimated delivery date gets bumped to Dec. 26. Give yourself a present this year and […]
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: Iowa officials must ensure long-term funding for 988 and mental health services
By David Leshtz, Iowa City COVID, the derecho, and financial stress continue to take a heavy toll on Iowans’ well-being. Governor Reynolds and other state officials have said that mental health services are needed more than ever, whether it be affordable and accessible counseling, psychiatric beds, or suicide prevention. There is a new, cost-efficient, and […]
