Impeachment, poll results, pie and picture shows
...a lot of Iowana, plus AI and Immigration
The Iowa Writers’ Collaborative Roundup column compiles posts from our members from the previous week. We encourage you to support the work of those you like and appreciate by becoming a paid subscriber for up to five writers. Readers will find a wealth of important information and commentary below. It is important to understand this is a service provided without the benefit of advertising, grants or sponsorships and is funded by those who choose to become paid subscribers. Please consider being one to as many as you can afford. Most content is free, so the information is not restricted to those who can pay. Thanks for your consideration, and participation in this effort to provide local commentary and news.
Politics
The Iowa US House Republicans Vote for Impeachment Inquiry Despite No Crime, No Evidence, reports Barry Piatt in today’s column.
Laura Belin posts a recap of her radio conversation about politics from the week, with added content about the latest Iowa Poll about the GOP presidential sweepstakes.
Robert Leonard happened to be in Des Moines last week, and decided to check out a Satanic Temple display at the Capitol. There are layers to this tale you’ll want to read.
Almost 30 Iowa nursing homes have closed in the past two years, writes Cheryl Tevis. It’s a story she delved into a year ago, and others, especially Clark Kauffman of Iowa Capital Dispatch, have been exposing for years. This week Tevis, in her well-reported column, asks, Who is Looking Out for Grandma?
There’s something very fishy going on in Davenport, says Ed Tibbetts. The lack of transparency in local government is a puzzle, and a problem.
Mental Health treatment is a beat Kali White VanBaale has undertaken, and as a result her readers learn a lot of otherwise undereported information.
Iowa Life
Owls Head, an historic Des Moines neighborhood, is on Arnold Garson’s radar in this week’s column. He says it has a rare distinction in the annals of history.
Art Cullen’s wife, Dolores, celebrated a major birthday last week, and our columnist gave her pearls—of the written sort.
Face it, life can be hard. Nicole Baart shares a time when it was so for her family, and how the Ministry of the Casserole in small town life can make a difference.
Pat Kinney has a story about an extraordinary woman who aids prisoners serving time for the similar crimes to what took her fiancee’s life.
Jody Gifford discusses Artificial Intelligence, a topic sweeping change throughout most industries. She interviews Drake associate professor Chris Snider on the topic.
In “Adeste Fideles in Chinese’” Mary Swander writes of sharing Christmas carols in multiple languages with her multi-cultural neighbors. The music comforts the grieving and brings joy to all.
There's a new indie cinema in Davenport, started by two Hollywood filmmakers who grew up in Bettendorf. Alison McGaughey shares her experience checking it out during the soft opening phase, seeing "The Last Picture Show" at The Last Picture House — and enjoying a surprise cameo of sorts by Dan Aykroyd.
From Calhoun County, Darcy Maulsby writes about her personal defining moments that she was reminded of while watching a PBS documentary about President Ronald Reagan.
Chuck Offenburger tells a holiday story he says is a part of what the American public doesn’t understand about U.S.-Cuba relations. He first explored the topic in a paper he gave to the Prairie Club members last Friday.
The rate of newspaper losses in the U.S. ticked upward, and Iowa is one of the worst, according to a study cited by Kurt Meyer. In another piece, Meyer celebrates Hamlin Garland, once an Iowan who lived on a farm near Osage in the 1800’s, by noting the death of an academic who studied the literary naturalist.
Julie Gammack has a podcast interview with Dave Busiek. She hosts a regular roundtable discussion on Mondays for her subscribers, and it’s worth tuning into to listen to folks like this veteran broadcaster.
Dave Price writes about Jamie Buelt’s pie-baking for a cause, and it’s a mouth-watering call to action.
Sports
Sportswriter John Naughton writes about sports this week. What do you know? Check it out.
Our sports guy, Rob Gray, has podcasts and stories Cyclone fanatics will relish, plus a revelation as to how he handles bouts of melancholy.
Immigration
Macey Shofroth works for an organization called CultureALL, dedicated to elevating cultural differences and acceptance of differences. She posted a blog post written on behalf of the organization. Also in this week’s post, she takes a look at an internal debate within the Substack writing community about free speech versus monetizing hate.
Dining Out
Wini Moranville is in-the-know when it comes to new and exciting restaurants on the horizon. This week she tries like heck to get a couple of well-respected restaurateurs to talk about a ‘supper club inspired’ themed eatery coming to the western metro area.
Travel
Jeff Morrison travels across the upper quadrant of Iowa and reports on the gems found along the route.
Poetry
Suzanna de Baca is a gifted poet who captures moments in time like no other. Here she is: Reckless, My Hometown Poem #115.
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