FilmScene’s Refocus Film Festival returns to Iowa City Oct. 9-12 with a full platter of cinematic goodness. We asked our resident film scribes Ariana Martinez and Benji McElroy to share the shows they’re most excited to see. We also broke down the lineup by mood, with only a little fighting about what fit where. Click […]
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Posted inCentral Iowa
Iowa Sen. Claire Celsi dies at age 59
Iowa Sen. Claire Celsi, D-West Des Moines, died Monday, according to a social media post from her daughter and statements from lawmakers. Celsi, 59, entered hospice care Sept. 18 and was no longer seeking curative treatment, according to her family. She had been battling an undisclosed medical issue for several months. She returned to the 2025 legislative […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Review: Des Moines Symphony’s debut concert featuring Viet Cuong was a goosebump-inducing start to an ambitious season
Des Moines Symphony kicked off their 88th season with the aptly titled debut concert Triumph–Tchaikovsky 5 on Sept. 27 and 28. Their program featured a stunning composition by a rising American composer sandwiched in between two beloved masterpieces hailing from Russia, a true celebration of the old and the new. The symphony embraced technology on […]
Posted inCommunity/News
‘We’re on a knife’s edge’: Art Cullen chides Reynolds’ meanness, Big Ag’s death grip on Iowa land and livelihoods
“When I was a kid in the 1960s, you could drive from Carroll to Storm Lake, and see cattle lining green hills the entire way,” Art Cullen said in a matter-of-fact voice. “Now it’s all row crops, and cattle in feedlots. It’s a different situation. Those green hills are plowed up.” That transformation, the economic […]
Posted inCentral Iowa
DMPS sues consulting firm that vetted Ian Roberts; DOJ criminal complaint against Roberts unsealed
The Des Moines School Board is suing the consulting firm that conducted its search for a superintendent in 2023, resulting in the hiring of Ian Roberts. The board made its decision during a special session that began at 8 a.m. on Friday. The lawsuit against JG Consulting, a Texas-based firm, was filed in Polk County […]
Posted inCommunity/News
With elections in November, an Iowa City Council candidate forum is set for Monday night
Candidates for the Iowa City Council in November’s election will meet to discuss the issues at the League of Women Voters of Johnson County Candidate Forum on Monday night. The 90-minute forum will take place in the assembly room of the Iowa City Senior Center (28 S Linn St), and is scheduled to begin at […]
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: SNAP supports Iowans and the local economy. Miller-Meeks must vote to reverse cuts
By Sue Bryant and Sharon Lake, Iowa City Recently, we attended a community forum at the Coralville Public Library that highlighted how Trump’s Big Ugly Bill will hurt Iowans. Republicans, including Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks, voted for a $187 billion reduction in federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Over the next 10 years, […]
Posted inLetters
Letter to the editor: Healthy cities don’t build bigger jails
By Finch VanDyk, Iowa City Imagine a utopia. A city of heaven, perfect in every way. What do you see? Sunshine, probably. Clean air. I imagine rolling green parks and beautiful buildings made of glass. You might see electric cars or shiny, speedy public transit. What are the people in this city like? What do […]
Posted inCommunity/News
DMPS was ‘victim of deception,’ says school board; former superintendent Ian Roberts transferred from Woodbury County Jail to DOJ custody
On Wednesday evening, the Des Moines School Board issued a statement in which Chair Jackie Norris called the board “a victim of deception” by Ian Roberts, who the board hired as superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools (DMPS) in May 2023. It was a noticeable shift in how the board has talked about Roberts since Friday, […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Little Big Screen: ‘The Dark Knight’ and more blockbusters tattooed on George Kittle’s arms
There hasn’t been much Kittle to watch on Sundays since. A stupid hamstring sidelined him in the first half of the first game this season. But hey, Little Big Screen can still watch what must be a few of his favorite movies. Considering the characters are tattooed all over his arms.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Locals Bar & Stage is ‘bringing entertainment back’ to Walnut Street
You could say it has risen out of the rubble — a long-awaited, much-needed presence in the neighborhood. Locals Bar & Stage is helping bring Walnut Street in Des Moines back to life. The area has suffered some losses: the shutdowns of the Gas Lamp, Vaudeville Mews and other downtown establishments have left the area […]
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Review: Alto and bass flutes converse at a masterful recital by Rose Bishop and Heather Neuenschwander
Rose Bishop and Heather Neuenschwander, two classical flutists who recently released the duo album Unseen/Unheard, performed a release recital on Sept. 26 at the James Theater. The album, released on the same day by Strange Moon Records, collects several pieces commissioned by the duo from contemporary composers. It boasts the distinction of being the first-ever […]
