Caitlin to Water Quality to the 'worst of Iowa'
...and Daniel P. Finney joins the Iowa Writers' Collaborative
Please welcome Daniel Finney to the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. Finney wrote his first story for pay when he was 17- a feature about the fading tradition of high school letter jackets. He ‘stacked paragraphs’ for a living for 27 years until a final layoff in 2020. His bylines appeared in the Des Moines Register, USA Today, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, and the Omaha World-Herald. He teaches middle school English now but still comments on the passing parade in his weekly column, "The Paragraph Stacker." Topics range from remembrances of his Iowa youth and unusual family history to poking fun at a society far gone on compulsive outrage disorder. Reach him at newsmanone@gmail.com. His column on why requiring the national anthem isn’t enough of a patriotic push, can be found here:
Collaboration
Three members of the Iowa Writers Collaborative came out swinging on water quality this week. Robert Leonard interviewed Chris Jones about pending water quality legislation in the Legislature. They discussed why some Democratic legislators are weak-minded on the issue and why the media isn't covering it. Leonard offers a new media strategy for Democrats. Bob's "Common Sense Water Quality Legislation Proposed in Iowa--Will it get Traction? A Strategy" and Chris' "Interview with Bob Leonard--about Movements in Shitty City," pack a one-two punch. Art Cullen then delivers the knockout punch with "It will Kill You in the End--Nitrogen hypoxia is used to execute a convict in Alabama while suffocating the Gulf of Mexico." If only the legislature would listen.
Cheryl Tevis wants Iowans to know more about the out-of-state bills coming through the back door into Iowa and masquerading as grassroots Iowa concerns.
Ed Tibbetts at Along the Mississippi writes that Donald Trump promises another trade war with China if re-elected. The first caused much damage to Iowa's farm economy, and a new report suggests that Trump's plans for a second term will be far worse. So, why aren't the so-called free traders in Iowa's political leadership sounding alarm bells?
And Darcy Maulsby warns: stop making yourself vulnerable online.
Laura Belin looked closely at Governor Kim Reynolds' latest attack on transgender Iowans and concluded there's no way this bill could be constitutional.
Earlier in the week, she and Dennis Hart covered tons of news from the Iowa legislature.
Barry Piatt’s column spotlights comments this week by Grassley saying he opposed the bipartisan tax bill the House would later pass that day because it would make Biden look good and help him get re-elected.
Media
Dave Busiek on Media analyzes a journalism technique to combat misinformation called a “truth sandwich.”
Have you ever tried to sell a book? Steve Semken offers a light-hearted look at the not-so-glamorous side of being a publisher.
Issues
From Arnold Garson: Anthony Comstock launched a war against abortion more than 150 years ago. Now, the Heritage Foundation, having selected the three Supreme Court justices who engineered the destruction of Roe v. Wade, is counting on Comstock's ghost to finish the job with a total and complete abortion ban throughout the U.S. Amazingly, all it might take is the election of another president who worships at the feet of the Heritage Foundation. Like Donald Trump.
Kurt Meyer isn’t keen on proposed legislation requiring Iowa students to sing the national anthem. Take his quiz to test YOUR knowledge of The Star-Spangled Banner.
Dave Price was asked a question during a Q&A where he was a featured speaker. It stumped him, so he’s asking his readers, too.
Robert Leonard sounds the alarm about the possibility of defunding libraries.
Around Iowa
Nicole Baart pens an ode to the Okoboji Writers’ Retreat. Still on the fence? This might change your mind. We’d love to see you there!
Nik Heftman has a video feature story about a unique clothing boutique in Des Moines.
Pat Kinney honors his uncle and marks the passing of a generation in his new "View from the Cedar Valley" column.
Mary Swander: This week, in her Buggyland column, Swander takes us to a fun Amish auction, addressing some of the “othering" myths about this religious group.
Macey Shofroth explores how her creativity has shifted since beginning on Substack one year ago and how her newsletter will shift moving forward. She's also sharing her thoughts on the culture she consumes in a new section called "Brain Food."
Dartanyan Brown invites readers to ‘meet the family…up from Buxton’ during this Black History Month.
And Kali White VanBaale revisits the 988 Crisis Lifeline story.
Midwest grit? Check out Vicki Minor’s humorous take.
Kurt Meyer isn’t keen on proposed legislation requiring Iowa students to sing the national anthem. Take his quiz to test YOUR knowledge of The Star-Spangled Banner.
Food
Wini Moranville reports how Either/Or goes refreshingly off the beaten path with their lunch menu. Plus, a round-up of news, including the scoop on when Table 128 will open in its new location.
John Naughton visited a giant Missouri restaurant that brings big meals and drinks to your table while softball-sized dinner rolls fly through the air. Duck!
The Worst of Iowa?
The "CITYVIEW" magazine's February edition has the results of its annual "Best of Des Moines" contest. It gave Iowa Boy Chuck Offenburger a flashback 43 years ago to "The Worst of Iowa" contest he conducted in his Des Moines Sunday Register column. He had the whole state talking.
Sports
Caitlin Clark is selling out Big 10 arenas and creating shrieking crowds reminiscent of the Beatles at their peak. Tory Brecht writes about the phenomena and the inevitable backlash Clarkmania is creating among some rivals.
Women's college gymnastics is riding a wave of popularity, and Simpson College has joined in on the fun. At The Crossover, Jane Burns writes about the program that just launched last season.
Former Iowan
Ann B. Friedman, a former Iowan, is the force behind a new hit museum in Washington, D.C., called Planet Word. Julie Gammack, and readers of her Potluck column, interview her about the project. On Monday, IPR’s Charity Nebbe joins the Monday Lunch Zoom call to talk about her podcast about women: Unsettled.
Entertainment
Jane Nguyen shares some ideas about where to celebrate the Lunar New Year - the Year of the Dragon.
Fern and Joe discuss transgressions as they ask each other, “Have you ever…?"
On the Road
Julie Gammack and her puppy, Dudley, are on a road trip. What could go wrong?
Poetry
Suzanna de Baca: Our resident poetry recently had poems and an interview featured on Etched Onyx Magazine's Story Discovery Podcast, which had this to say: “Grief and loss hit us all eventually. Prepare yourself for these emotionally packed poems of passing by Suzanna de Baca. Suzanna walks us through each poem and the related experience of grieving. During the interview, we explore the difference between writing for business and writing to create, and Suzanna reveals the secrets of how she fits writing into the demands of her work as the CEO of a business publishing
The Iowa Writers’ Collaborative roster. Please support who you can by becoming a paid subscriber. We are also proud to be affiliated with Iowa Capital Dispatch, where some of our content can be found.
We now have 48 writers as members and a Letters from Iowan's column managed by Jeffrey Morrison.