Huge Fish Returns to Okoboji, New Bike Trail Link Opens, Books Banned, Child Abuse Victims Face Further Trauma,
...Water Quality Packs the House, and Burns on Sports
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National Politics… State Politics… Local Politics… Around Iowa…. Cars and Travel… Sports... Our Environment… Dining & Entertainment …. Iowa History…Humor…. Poetry
National Politics
From : Are Iowa independents an endangered species? Look at what's changed over the past ten years.
writes from Washington, DC that the U.S. Capitol Police appear to be sending a subtle, but tough, message to would-be insurrectionists if Trump loses.
After judging some amazing pies (including a five berry pie winner) at the Iowa State Fair, wondered whether the economy is as bad as many think it is. Read his thoughts in this week's Dave Price's Perspective. Also, he links to an interview with Iowa’s governor Kim Reynolds.
Are you a pet owner? The rising cost of veterinary care is the topic of a column titled Sh*t Richard Says in ’s Potluck. Her husband, Richard Gilbert writes a guest column, and their dog, Dudley also has an opinion.
State Politics
From - Are Iowa independents an endangered species? Look at what's changed over the past ten years.
looks back at the life of Leon Mosley, Waterloo's anti-crime crusader and the first Black person to head a major political party in Iowa.
A panel of federal judges, in a ruling on Iowa's book ban law, says the state doesn't have to tolerate speech that undermines its mission of educating children. , at Along the Mississippi, asks: In what sane world does banning books like "To Kill a Mockingbird" further Iowa's educational mission?
How do we address the Iowa banned book law? Ask Angie Carter who writes this week’s ’s Emerging Voices column, putting the whole issue in historical context.
moderated a gathering in Iowa City last week where fellow Iowa Writers Collaborative member Chris Jones and Missourian Jess Piper discussed issues related to water quality and rural decline. The room at Big Grove Brewery was packed, and the mood was electric. This week Bob shares Progressive Power Grows in the Rural Midwest; and Folk Heroes Emerge at Deep Midwest: Politics and Culture.
This week's Rekha’s Shouts & Whispers, by , looks at another regressive Iowa Supreme Court ruling, of which Justice David May, Gov. Reynolds appointee, was lead author. May also voted with the majority against abortion rights for women past six weeks of pregnancy. His other appalling verdict prevents child-abuse- and juvenile sex-abuse victims from being able to testify against their adult perpetrators by one-way camera to avoid the trauma of facing them in court.
Local Politics
profiled the record number of LGBTQ candidates running for the Iowa House this year.
and Spencer Dirks covered Iowa reaction to the Tim Walz pick, court rulings on Iowa's book bans and regulations of cannabis-infused drinks, new Congressional campaign ads, and more on "KHOI's Capitol Week."
Around Iowa
From : Summer isn't over but back-to-school looms... In between seasons can be messy and difficult, but maybe if we reframe them we can find grace in the midst of the everyday.
Iowa Boy helped open another important link for Iowa recreational trails on Saturday -- the connector between the High Trestle Trail and the Raccoon River Valley Trail. He writes from the little Bouton, a new trail town ready to bloom.
In this week's column, Blazing a Trail on Two Wheels, suggests that recreational trails may transport more people to Iowa's small towns than the railroad ever did.
Quilters, like all normal people, love their cats and dogs. , in Reporting from Quiltropolis, proves it in this week's installment , "A Puppy and Her Quilt."
What the heck???? has a story about the return of a long gone Lake Okoboji creature. Not a joke
Art Cullen gives a mid-year accounting for community journalism, and appeals for your support. Small-town newspapers are the conduit of democracy but they’re folding across the country. A little help from our friends makes all the difference.
"Rebuilding a Legacy" by Joaquin Ramirez, of , highlights the resilience and determination of the Lara family, particularly the women, in rebuilding their Latina-owned bakery in Marshalltown after a tornado that destroyed their new downtown bakery. Despite setbacks, including being scammed by a contractor, the family persevered, successfully reopening and expanding their business, inspiring other Latina entrepreneurs.
Cars and Travel
has been busy this week. Here are her three terrific stories:
(1) Injured Detroit Lion has a chance encounter with Bill Ford, creates $250M company
(2) Car/child car seat dangers trigger bipartisan demand for action from Pete Buttigieg
(3) A Florida billionaire spends $4M to fix ferries in Midwest that shuttle 1.2M tourists a year
Sports
writes about how she believes the Paris Olympics hit their mark, and is likely the only columnist who finds a way to connect that with “a 42-year-old housewife from Jefferson, Iowa.” That would be 1972 Olympian Doreen Wilber, and you can read more about her at The Crossover.
previews a film that unearths a long-forgotten story about a women’s World Cup soccer tournament that played to 100,000-plus rabid fans in 1971 and then was quickly forgotten. “Copa 71” is playing at the Varsity Cinema in Des Moines and streams on Prime Video.
Baseball is dead. What's left is bizarro baseball. It's about to get worse, writes Paragraph Stacker .
Media
on Media says VP Kamala Harris needs to meet with the media before it turns into a "thing".
You can find out what our Midwest Creative, , is thinking about the things she's reading, watching, and listening to this week.
Our Environment
Why Iowans can learn a lesson from Hurricane Debbie, writes .
While lamenting the number of animals who get killed on Iowa roads, found a century-old study proving that road-kills are not a new problem.
Dining, Entertainment & Iowa State Fair
is holding a contest for the most beautiful-looking seasonal salad platters. Everyone who enters wins, and premium prizes will be awarded to the top-three winners!
Kansas City is known for great barbecue. But has discovered an all-you-can-eat Italian feast there. Leave the BBQ, take the cannoli.
Iowa State Fair
After judging some amazing pies (including a five berry pie winner) at the Iowa State Fair, Dave Price wondered whether the economy is as bad as many think it is. Read his thoughts in this week's 's Perspective.
visits the Iowa State Fair, and the West Des Moines United Methodist Church food stand, the last church-operated stand on the fairgrounds, in its 75th year of service.
Iowa History
In his latest column, “Wise Too Late,” tells about an interesting character, an almost forgotten radio pioneer from a century ago who helped launch WOI in Ames.
Who remembers Teen Town? Our own takes us back in time. And, Part II. Dartanyan’s view of Iowa music history, and the people he calls out in his League of Extraordinary Iowans, is fascinating.
Humor
, Vicki Minor says: It was all in the numbers.
Poetry
responds to recent interviews in which politicians continue to use the term “anti-family" as well as random conversations about summer trips in a new poem called "Summer Vacation for the Female of the Species."
Iowa Writers’ Collaborative
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