As the Trump administration continues its attempts to erase and rewrite history — on Tuesday, President Trump said he had “instructed my attorneys to go through the [Smithsonian] Museums” to ensure the Smithsonian is focused on “Success” and “Brightness” instead of “how bad Slavery was” — Iowans will rally on Saturday to demand the state protect […]
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Posted inCentral Iowa
The 10th annual Cloris Awards will bring together Des Moines’ theater pros and fans on Sunday
The Cloris Leachman Excellence in Theatre Arts Awards, a celebration that brings together Des Moines’ theater professionals, reflects its namesake. Leachman was a dynamic, versatile performer whose work spanned nearly eight decades and every acting medium. From dramatic roles (including Ruth Popper in The Last Picture Show, which earned her an Academy Award) to her […]
Posted inCommunity/News
J.D. Scholten drops out of the Senate race, endorses Josh Turek
Eleven weeks after entering the 2026 race for U.S. Senate, J.D. Scholten has ended his bid for the Democratic nomination. Scholten, who represents Sioux City in the Iowa House, endorsed fellow western Iowa lawmaker Josh Turek in his announcement on Monday. “I’m ending my campaign because I believe it’s the right thing to do,” Scholten […]
Posted inCommunity/News
This corn fungus, dreaded by most Iowa farmers, is a south-of-the-border delicacy
Father and daughter returned to their field to assess the tumors’ growth. The father stepped forward into the sea of shimmering florets, plucked an ear of corn from its stalk and squatted to face his daughter. Look, he said. It’s ready. The lumps had multiplied, infecting the kernels. Some had taken the shape of a […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Ramen, pastries and that vindaloo they do so well at Iowa City and Coralville restaurants
For the 2025 Bread & Butter dining guide, Little Village food reviewers visited and reviewed six Iowa City area eateries, including a few notable newbies to the scene. Saj Grill, 23 S Dubuque St, Iowa City: Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dining have come full force to downtown Iowa City. Locals boast about the quality of its Jordanian cuisine — falafel, shawarma, baba ganoush, hummus, gyros and more — citing it as “food that tastes like home.” Owners promise bold spices, fresh ingredients and halal-certified meat.
Posted inFood & Drink
Cult-favorite pasta salad, the perfect ‘mother-in-law restaurant’ and more eats in Cedar Rapids and Marion
For the 2025 Bread & Butter dining guide, Little Village food reviewers visited and reviewed 10 Cedar Rapids area eateries. You can find more local restaurant coverage here. MARION New York Gyro 808 7th Ave, Marion, 319-200-1750 I feel like once a year when I do these reviews, there’s always one restaurant I’ve never visited […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Aaron Pang isn’t brave. But he’s currently sharing stories from his sex life at the Edinburgh Fringe festival.
Only a day removed from a red-eye journey from Iowa City to Edinburgh, Scotland, Aaron Pang, as he puts it, is a sleepy baby. Pang and crew did that thing you try to do when traveling; power-through a night-turned-day sans sleep, hoping that your circadian rhythm can catch-up to the change in time zones. But “the time difference is a bitch,” Pang shares.
Posted inCommunity/News
Democrat Jackie Norris, Des Moines School Board chair and Michelle Obama’s former chief of staff, is running for U.S. Senate
Jackie Norris, chair of the Des Moines School Board, is running for U.S. Senate. Norris hasn’t run for federal or statewide office before, but she’s been active in Iowa politics for almost 30 years. “Red versus blue isn’t fixing anything. Iowa needs a Senator who doesn’t just talk tough but rolls up their sleeves, and […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Hundreds gather for presentation on Polk County water quality report; researchers, crowd call for regulation
More than 500 individuals gathered Monday to hear what comes next following the release of an in-depth water quality report commissioned by Polk County. Another 500 watched online to hear years’ worth of research on water pollutants and key steps forward at the individual, watershed and state levels. One speaker said it was the first […]
Posted inCommunity/News
FilmScene begins two-year process to buy their Ped Mall building after Moen foreclosures
In April, GreenState Credit Union surprised Iowa City by foreclosing on some of the city’s best-known buildings, properties owned by real estate developer Marc Moen and business associates. When news broke, one of the questions that immediately lit up social media was, “What will happen to FilmScene?” FilmScene, the state’s oldest and largest year-round nonprofit […]
Posted inCommunity/News
‘I just keep thinking about it. Why us?’ Pascual Pedro Pedro thanks supporters in Iowa as protests of his deportation continue
The parking ramp across the street from the federal building in Cedar Rapids provided shade and some relief from the heat, so that’s where people started gathering before noon on Tuesday for the biggest demonstration yet in support of Pascual Pedro Pedro, a 20-year-old West Liberty resident who was suddenly and unexpectedly deported to Guatemala […]
Posted inCommunity/News
Gov. Reynolds celebrates ‘a culture of life’ one year into abortion ban; Iowans seek care across state lines as reproductive health clinics close
Gov. Kim Reynolds has been a featured speaker at the Family Leadership Summit every year during her governorship. When she took the stage at Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines for this year’s event on July 11, Reynolds — who announced in April she is not running for reelection — reflected on […]
