RAGBRAI will feature a twist this year. Instead of arriving at the Mississippi on the final day of the week-long ride across Iowa, cyclists will have the chance to dip their wheels in the river on Friday night in Burlington, before following the river the next day to the ride’s final destination, Keokuk.
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Following backlash, the Iowa City Council has decided to replace some of the new Ped Mall benches
The Iowa City Council decided to alter the Ped Mall Improvement Plan to include benches with no center armrest, during its work session on Tuesday. Twenty percent of the 70 new benches, or a total of 14, will be without center armrests. The council also directed the city engineer’s office to determine how many of […]
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Judge strikes down Iowa’s ‘fetal heartbeat’ law
A district court judge in Polk County struck down Iowa’s so-called “fetal heartbeat” law on Tuesday. Judge Michael Huppert ruled the law, which banned almost all abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected at six weeks, violates the state’s constitution. “We are grateful the Court blocked Gov. Reynolds’ egregious attempt to ban safe, legal […]
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‘We’re on the road to better days’: Iowa City’s third Women’s March celebrated progress and the power of love
Bitterly cold temperatures didn’t seem to dampen the enthusiasm of the almost 200 people gathered on the Ped Mall Saturday morning for Iowa City’s 2019 Women’s March. “In Des Moines, they decided to move this inside the Capitol,” said state Rep. Mary Mascher, referring to the freezing weather. “We said, ‘hey, we can do it.’ […]
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‘Bright Radical Star’: When John Brown came to Iowa
Halfway to Springdale, Iowa — a town about 15 miles east of Iowa City — on a snow-laden December evening in 1857, Owen Brown decided to journal. “Very cold night,” he wrote, “prairie wolves howl nobly.” He recounted the “hot discussion” had on the road that day: about the Bible, war, racial prejudice and abolition […]
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Sen. Joni Ernst (or an Ernst staffer) tweets about Steve King and white supremacy (Updated)
On Saturday morning, Sen. Joni Ernst’s official Twitter account posted two tweets addressing the New York Times profile of fellow Iowa Republican Steve King published Jan. 10, which featured the congressman asking, “White nationalist, white supremacist, Western civilization — how did that language become offensive?” I condemn Rep. Steve King’s comments on white supremacy; they […]
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Steve King regrets the ‘heartburn’ caused by his white nationalist statements, but doesn’t regret making white nationalist statements
Iowa’s most famous congressman, Steve King, took to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday to assure the nation that, despite his long history of white nationalist statements, his loudly professed belief in white nationalist conspiracy theories and his endorsement of white nationalist political candidates, he is not a white nationalist. “But […]
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Federal judge strikes down Iowa’s ‘ag gag’ law
A federal judge struck down Iowa’s “ag gag” law on Wednesday. Senior Judge James Gritzner of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa ruled the 2012 Iowa law that made it illegal to gain access to an agricultural production facility under false pretenses with “the intent to commit an act not authorized […]
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Group asks Iowa City to remove ‘hostile’ new Ped Mall benches
A group demanding the removal and replacement of the new Ped Mall benches met with Iowa City Manager Geoff Fruin on Monday morning. Organized by Iowa City’s Catholic Worker House, the group believe the design of the new benches, which have armrests in the middle, are a form of hostile architecture, intended to stop people […]
Posted inFood & Drink
BeerBurger’s new location in downtown Iowa City is open
BeerBurger opened a second location on Monday, two years to the day after its original location in North Liberty opened it doors. The new downtown Iowa City location is at 108 E Burlington St, in the space formerly occupied by Zombie Burger + Shake Lab, which closed at the beginning of February 2018. BeerBurger is […]
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Joni Ernst sends fundraising letter attacking Democrats for ‘dirty tricks’ against Brett Kavanaugh
In a year-end fundraiser letter for her reelection campaign, Sen. Joni Ernst warned Iowans that billionaires “from both coasts” are trying to undermine their “Heartland values,” and reminded potential contributors about her support for Brett Kavanaugh. “I sincerely respect that others hold different views,” the Iowa Republican, who frequently touts her commitment to bipartisanship, wrote, […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Top five 2018: Iowans make waves on the national arts scene
Here in eastern Iowa, it’s no secret that we are blessed with a bevy of talented artists. At any given time, there is always someone, somewhere nearby making magic. It’s only to be expected that the rest of the country take notice of what we have to offer.
