Pesky Politics, a new columnist, and stories from DeWitt, Iowa City, Winterset, Lovilia, Cedar Rapids, Cedar Falls, and other state hot spots

...plus, a fun one about a spelling bee for adults

Feb 18, 2024

Welcome to Jason Walsmith

Today, we welcome Jason Walsmith, musician, storyteller, and self-described ‘racontourist.’ He’s famous in Iowa and beyond for his music, which you will read about in his columns as he ‘deconstructs’ song lyrics, among other topics. Jason was an anthropology, photojournalism, and reporting student, but his primary career has been in musical performance. His introductory column is: Who are The Racontourists

Speaking of music…

This week ‘in the dirt’…

Beth Hoffman bets there are a lot of things that AI does well. Writing songs apparently is not one of them. How to (not) to write a Midwestern Psalm.

Jason Walsmith appeared on Julie Gammack’s Monday Zoom Lunch podcast. And this Monday, she has Sam Helmick on to talk about the attempt by some legislators to - in effect - defund libraries.

The Iowa Legislature

The Iowa Writers’ Collaborative is aligned with Iowa Capital Dispatch. If you do not already subscribe to or support this source of news and information, we highly recommend you do so. Here is a compilation of what bills survived and what was torpedoed in this session: Iowa Capital Dispatch

Our Iowa Writers’ Collaborative columnists provide commentary and context:

Ed Tibbetts, at Along the Mississippi, writes that Iowa should adopt standards for teaching history and civics based on our values, not just copy and paste the agenda of out-of-state think tanks. And we need to continue to stand up to attempts to undermine public libraries.

The leader of Iowa’s Teamsters, Jesse Case, is fixing to raise Hell with legislators for pushing a law designed to decertify public employee unions, Art Cullen writes. Wait til the guys in black jackets and shaved heads show up at the Rotunda!

Robert Leonard recently spent some time at the state Capitol, coming back with Iowa Republican Legislators without Library Cards Seek to Undermine Our Public Libraries... and Iowa Republicans Legislate Oppression and Constituents Resist...

Cheryl Tevis offers readers a crash course in legislative efforts to insert partisan politics into public schools.

Laura Belin recounted how the Iowa legislature's clock ran out on feeding hungry kids. She and Dennis Hart also covered lots of other news from the state House and Senate on their weekly radio show. You can now find "KHOI's Capitol Week" on your favorite podcast platform.

And classroom teacher/journalist Daniel Finney asks: Are Iowa Lawmakers Giving up on public schools?

Speak of the Devil, writes Chris Jones. And that devil is in the details of what state government is and is not doing to protect citizens.

Congress

Congress has failed for the past two decades to be fiscally responsible. This week, Dave Price asks whether you would support Congress raising YOUR taxes to pay the federal debt.

A big Republican conspiracy theory Iowa’s Senator Chuck Grassley pushed collapsed in Washington this week as a witness Grassley praised as “Heroic” was indicted and arrested for lying. Read Barry Piatt.

Immigration

Two years after Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, the eastern Iowa town of DeWitt has put together a tremendous program that has sponsored 50 war-weary Ukrainians to become new residents of that area. DeWitt is sharing their success with Greene County in west central Iowa. Iowa Boy Chuck Offenburger tells the story.

Ginnel Gadimova (left), a newcomer from Ukraine, hosted two resettlement organization organizers in Dewitt, Karen McWilliams (center) and Angela Boelens.

Media

Kyle Munson takes stock of his favorite pods and the hours he spends listening to far-flung conversations while walking his dog through the streets of Des Moines. Which pods do you recommend?

Dave Busiek on Media reports on recent news stories where perception has become a reality.

Food and Culture

Wini Moranville got the scoop on a major chef change coming to one of her favorite downtown restaurants, Mulberry Street Tavern. She also offered news on two newly opened big-time restaurants in town.

Around Iowa

You've seen kids spell on TV during the national spelling bee, but have you ever seen adults give it a whirl? In an extra column at The Crossover, Jane Burns tells the story of the goofy event she's been organizing in her Wisconsin hometown since 2012.

Flip the narrative to pancakes and the ubiquitous traditional event. Jeff Morrison, our Pancake correspondent, visits a Cedar Rapids church and talks with other Iowa churches about Shrove Tuesday pancake suppers.

Love is in the air in Winterset! Vicki Minor has a humorous take in her Relatively Minor column.

Also, from Winterset, author Debra Engle is grateful for her love there. Here is her column, Heart to Heart.

Last week, Nicole Baart wrote about the epidemic of Loneliness. This week, she shares a personal story and invites us to rethink how we connect with our neighbors in Messy Hospitality: A place to begin.

A Marine Corps veteran walking from Minnesota to Texas through Iowa to promote a veterans recovery program crossed Pat Kinney's path. Meet Daniel Crawford in Pat's new "View from the Cedar Valley: column.

Fearing you might have already heard enough about a certain basketball player, Kurt Meyer takes his shot from a somewhat different angle.

World Hijab Day took place in Iowa City, and Doug Burns was there, along with about 250 others.

Travel Tales

The Irish Inspector visits Mary Swander’s course, celebrating Mardi Gras on Inishbofin Island in July.

Macey Shofroth didn’t find inspiration to write when she traveled to New Orleans recently, but that lack of inspiration proved to be inspiration enough.

Sports

Caitlin Clark's record night has been a national story, but what a treat for local journalists covering it on their home turf. At The Crossover, Jane Burns rounds up some of the excellent coverage - on deadline - from the state's reporters who were there.

The Business of Storytelling and Why it’s Important

Arnold Garson says there has never been a better time to search for the skeletons in your family closet. He found a few of his own through research.

Steve Semken is a Midwest publisher whose career choice is to publish writers with something to say. He attends many writers’ conferences. This is his take on one he attended recently.

Dartanyan Brown features a story about puppeteer Monica Leo.

Poetry

Suzanna de Baca responds to a recent interaction with automation with a new poem and asks readers how they feel when interacting with machines. Read -- and answer her query!

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