New Iowa columnists, news, and an invitation
...reaction to the Speaker of the House race and much more
Welcome to our new subscribers and new columnists. Thanks to your recommendations, we are on the rise. Please share this roundup of columns by members of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative.
New Columnists
Arnold Garson’s new column, Second Thoughts, takes on the story Sioux City: How Not to Build a Jail. Garson, a retired media executive who led newspapers in Des Moines, Louisville, San Bernadino, and Sioux Falls, is returning to his roots as an investigative reporter with this look at a project costing taxpayers way more than the original price tag promised.
Families Interrupted is the title of Kali White VanBaale’s column about Mental Health Care in Iowa. It’s an important and under-reported topic affecting countless families. This writer looks at the root causes of why Iowa is so far behind other states in caring for this vulnerable population.
Politics
Vote to keep Iowa a state of minds, writes Cheryl Tevis, who offers her perspective on elections to be held on November 7.
Art Cullen has been Listening to rural working families who are fed up, and Storm Lake native Jesse Case and Teamsters Local 238 are amplifying their voices. He hopes to tap into the 700,000 registered Iowa voters who don’t vote.
The new Speaker of the House ducks a crucial question, writes Dave Busiek.
Iowa members of Congress punch the extremism card in the Speaker race, writes Barry Piatt from D.C.
Laura Belin: House speaker drama, big CO2 pipeline news, and more
Sports
Youth sports are a big part of family lives. Nicole Baart, novelist, mom, and now Iowa Writers’ Collaborative columnist, wishes some things were different about the culture.
If you would like to support the group marketing efforts of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative, please consider becoming a paid or Founding Member.
Around Iowa
Our Iowa Boy and his wife, Mary Riche, took a road trip to the East Coast of the U.S., and he returned even more impressed by multiculturalism and what it can mean to make Iowa even more beautiful.
Let’s talk about rebooting the news, writes Kyle Munson. And he has an invitation for you to learn more about this important topic on Thursday evening.
Speaking of news, TV journalist Dave Price has some news to share, plus he writes about undertaking the task of tasting water from various municipal supplies.
Julie Gammack’s column features a guest post by Helen Beneke, who writes about her family’s connection to the Ku Klux Klan in Pocahontas.
A couple of old friends have much in common, even a kidney, writes Pat Kinney of Waterloo.
Robert Leonard makes a trek to Iowa City and meets up with all kinds of interesting folks, and he names names. Leonard and water quality expert Chris Jones are conspiring about a few things you’ll want to read about, too.
Our Inquisitive Quad Citizen, Alison McGaughey, opens up about the angst she’s experiencing. Raise your hand if you can relate.
Jane Nguyen writes about her experience trying to ‘fit in’ as a young college student at the University of Iowa and hopes by teaching English as a Second Language now, she is a role model for kids today.
Arts and Entertainment
Wow! Look what’s happening in Waukee! John Naughton takes us to the soft opening of the Vibrant Music Hall.
Fern introduces us to Joe’s career post-teaching. Turns out, he’s an artist. Meet Grampa Moses.
Macey Spensley invites readers to a CultureAll event featuring author Carol Roh Spaulding on November 10.
Check out Mary Swander’s Emerging Voices column, where Monica Leo writes about being a puppeteer.
Poetry by Suzanna de Baca
INVITATION
All paid subscribers will be invited to a holiday party on December 7.
Would you like to join us? To RSVP for this event, please fill out this form: Holiday Party RSVP.
The Iowa Writers’ Collaborative
Have you explored the variety of writers in the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative? They are from around the state and contribute commentary and feature stories of interest to those who care about Iowa. Please pick five you’d like to support by becoming paid. It helps keep them going. Enjoy:
Columnists
Nicole Baart: This Stays Here, Sioux Center
Ray Young Bear: From Red Earth Drive, Meskwaki Settlement
Laura Belin: Iowa Politics with Laura Belin, Windsor Heights
Doug Burns: The Iowa Mercury, Carroll
Dave Busiek: Dave Busiek on Media, Des Moines
Iowa Writers’ Collaborative, Roundup
Steph Copley: It Was Never a Dress, Johnston
Art Cullen: Art Cullen’s Notebook, Storm Lake
Suzanna de Baca: Dispatches from the Heartland, Huxley
Debra Engle: A Whole New World, Madison County
Arnold Garson: Second Thoughts, Okoboji and Sioux Falls
Julie Gammack: Julie Gammack’s Iowa Potluck, Des Moines and Okoboji
Joe Geha: Fern and Joe, Ames
Jody Gifford: Benign Inspiration, West Des Moines
Rob Gray: Rob Gray’s Area, Ankeny
Nik Heftman: The Seven Times, Los Angeles and Iowa
Beth Hoffman: In the Dirt, Lovilia
Pat Kinney: View from Cedar Valley, Waterloo
Fern Kupfer: Fern and Joe, Ames
Robert Leonard: Deep Midwest: Politics and Culture, Bussey
Letters from Iowans, Iowa
Darcy Maulsby: Keepin’ It Rural, Calhoun County
Tar Macias: Hola Iowa, Iowa
Alison McGaughey, The Inquisitive Quad Citizen, Quad Cities
Kurt Meyer: Showing Up, St. Ansgar
Wini Moranville: Wini’s Food Stories, Des Moines
Jeff Morrison: Between Two Rivers, Cedar Rapids
Kyle Munson: Kyle Munson’s Main Street, Des Moines
Jane Nguyen: The Asian Iowan, West Des Moines
John Naughton: My Life, in Color, Des Moines
Chuck Offenburger: Iowa Boy Chuck Offenburger, Jefferson and Des Moines
Barry Piatt: Piatt on Politics Behind the Curtain, Washington, D.C.
Dave Price: Dave Price’s Perspective, Des Moines
Macey Spensley: The Midwest Creative, Norwalk
Larry Stone: Listening to the Land, Elkader
Mary Swander: Mary Swander’s Buggy Land, Kalona
Mary Swander: Mary Swander’s Emerging Voices, Kalona
Cheryl Tevis: Unfinished Business, Boone County
Ed Tibbetts: Along the Mississippi, Davenport
Teresa Zilk: Talking Good, Des Moines
The Iowa Writers Collaborative is also proud to ally with Iowa Capital Dispatch.
SAVE THE DATE: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7; PAID SUBSCRIBERS ARE INVITED TO A HOLIDAY PARTY AT THE WITMER HOUSE, 2900 GRAND (former governor’s mansion). Let us know if you would like to attend: