Rivers, duct tape, softball, hardball (politics) and news you can use
Rivers, duct tape, softball, hardball (politics) and news you can use
...dining, Marilyn Maye, baseball in Cuba, garlic and new columnist who is fascinated by Iowa highways and more
The Iowa Writers’ Collaborative is welcoming Jeff Morrison, who has been a copy editor at Iowa's two largest newspapers. He has visited every town and traveled every highway in the state. Although living in Cedar Rapids, he remains a farm kid from Traer. He’ll write about Iowa's history, highways, schools, etc. His Substack is called Between Two Rivers, and his other website is iowahighwayends.net.
POLITICS
Junkie alert. Laura Belin explains - if anyone can - what is going on with Governor Reynolds and her obsession with ending abortion rights under just about any circumstance. Art Cullen sums up where we are in Iowa and his prediction for who would win the presidency if the election were held today.
Our newest political reporter, veteran WHO TV political director, weighs in on ‘freedom,’ while Julie Gammack asks ‘where is the next Harold Hughes.’
And Robert Leonard chastises the popular left-leaning podcast, Hacks on Tap.
Senator Chuck Grassley is giving our man in Washington plenty to write about, including his recent stunt that puts at risk the safety of a confidential source, to absolutely no good end other than gaslighting.
LAURA BELIN
ART CULLEN
DAVE PRICE
JULIE GAMMACK
ROBERT LEONARD
BARRY PIATT
DOUG BURNS
POLICY
Ed Tibbetts continues his two-part series on poverty in Iowa, and points out the areas that need attention. And Larry Stone is the first to review author and former Drake Law School professor Neil Hamilton’s new book.
It’s hot, and columnist Kurt Meyer writes about why this is so important.
ED TIBBETTS
LARRY STONE
KURT MEYER
SPORTS
From women’s soccer to girls’ softball, here are two thoughtful offerings you likely won’t read elsewhere:
STEPH COPLEY
JOHN NAUGHTON
INTERNATIONAL
We can always count on Cheryl Tevis for a well-reported story on an important topic that too often flies under the radar. Read about a World Food Prize recipient here. And Chuck Offenburger had to pull the plug on his dream of covering baseball in Cuba. Read why.
CHERYL TEVIS
WORLD FOOD PRIZE
CHUCK OFFENBURGER
IOWA LIFE
In Iowa Life we learn about growing garlic, the beauty of milkweed, the juggling act of a writer, the possible last Iowa appearance of legendary singer, Marilyn Maye, while Beth Hoffman reports on Crazy Legs, the goat: Shit happens on a farm (literally and figuratively), over and over and over again.
ROB GRAY
JODY GIFFORD
JULIE GAMMACK
BETH HOFFMAN
ROBERT LEONARD
DINING
Wini Moranville offers stories readers crave regarding news about area restaurants. She wrote about her favorite seven take-out spots this week and asked another writer to review his favorite pizza place. And Macy Spensley appreciates the world culture a restaurant in the East Village offers. And why not take a swing over to Waterloo to check out a real barbecue spot? Pat Kinney explains why it’s worth the trip.
WINI MORANVILLE
MACEY SPENSLEY
PAT KINNEY
POETRY
LETTERS FROM IOWANS
Iowa Writers’ Collaborative Columnists
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
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, Lovilla
Dana James: New Black Iowa, Des Moines
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
Tar Macias: Hola Iowa, Iowa
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, Iowa
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.
TO OUR PAID SUBSCRIBERS:
Your invitation to join our group of scribes on our Monthly Office Lounge call is ready. We do this via Zoom, from noon to 1 p.m. on the last Friday of the month. This week, your host is Mary Swander, direct from Buggyland.