When you crack open a ’70s sci-fi/fantasy paperback like On Wings of Song, you expect to slip into a world wholly unlike your own. For an Iowan living through Inauguration Week 2025, this particular novel isn’t too much of an escape — and not just because it’s set in Iowa and penned by a Des […]
Iowa
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Peak Iowa: An 11-year-old master, ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ author and a chess-related murder
Chess, like most discernible parts of human society, saw its usage affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, in this case, the 550-year-old game saw a marked rise in interest.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Hinterland 2024 had the hottest lineup yet. But has Iowa’s largest music festival gotten too big?
Live music was once the center of my young adult life. Road tripping from venue-to-venue. Mountains, gorges or rolling hills backdropping stages. Foggy memories of great music, and artists I’d forgotten by the time their sets ended.
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Photos: Iowans protest ‘tyrannical power grab’ as new abortion ban speeds through legislature
From Tuesday morning well into the afternoon, the Iowa State Capitol brimmed with Bans Off Our Bodies protesters and counter protesters, responding to a bill from Governor Kim Reynolds intending to ban abortions after just six weeks of conception. Currently, abortion is legal up to 20 weeks after conception in Iowa. Mazie Stilwell, the director […]
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Tips for growing a more natural lawn (that you can still play on!)
“In environmental circles, lawns often times get a bad rap,” observed Fred Meyer, director of Backyard Abundance. The Iowa City-based nonprofit, founded in 2006, is dedicated to helping individuals connect with and appreciate nature. Grass lawns offer little environmental benefit, reduce biodiversity and don’t do anything for local pollinators. That’s made traditional lawns a contested […]
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Five Iowans share how forgiveness of student loan debt would impact them
About 420,000 Iowans owed a combined total of $12.8 billion in student debt, as of September 2020. The average amount for Iowans with student loan debt was $30,500. People in Iowa are more likely to have student loan debt but owe “significantly less on average” compared to individuals in other states, according to data and […]
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Advocates for Social Justice offering free Uber rides to the polls for all voters and childcare reimbursement
Iowans who need transportation to their polling place can use a free Uber voucher provided by the Advocates for Social Justice. The Cedar Rapids group announced on their Facebook page Wednesday evening that they are partnering with Democracy Defenders Iowa to expand their free Uber voucher to all Iowa voters. The group has already been […]
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Iowans have through Thursday to complete the 2020 Census
Iowans who have not completed the 2020 census have limited time to submit their responses to ensure they’re counted. The Supreme Court approved a request on Tuesday that allows the Trump administration to move forward with ending the census earlier than planned. The new deadline is Thursday, Oct. 15, at 11:59 p.m. Hawaii time. (For […]
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What you need to know about the 2020 Census, as the nationwide count begins (Updated)
Iowans will begin receiving information in the mail starting on Thursday telling them how to respond to the 2020 Census. While that sounds simple enough, understanding the census can be difficult — especially with information and misinformation floating around. The Pew Research Center found that most people know the census is coming and are ready to answer it — but don’t know key details, like how citizenship will not be asked and how this is the first count that will be done primarily online.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Lissie records acoustic session at The Magic Barn
It’s the day after Christmas and singer-songwriter Lissie begins pouring a glass of Castle Rock Pinot Noir and pairing it with a variety of Harry Potter references. She’s prepping for what will be a two day acoustic session at The Magic Barn recording studio just outside of Solon. Lissie heard about the Magic Barn from […]
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Hometowns: Key City Spirit
Here are just a few examples to illustrate a fact that cannot be denied: my town can beat up your town To walk through downtown Iowa City on a Saturday evening is to cross paths with people originating from locales as near as Osceola and as far as Nairobi. And while most of us who […]
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What's The Matter With Stephen Bloom?
Little Village readers following the ongoing controversy about Professor Stephen Bloom’s article about Iowa in the Atlantic may have noticed the lack of direct response from us. Thomas Dean made a glancing mention of it in his essay about the complicated feelings he has about his hometown Rockford, Illinois. Mostly, we thought that there wasn’t […]
