Spring, sports and politics madness
...a dangerous presidential candidate, and farewell to Teree Caldwell-Johnson
A Touch of Spring
Before we embark on commentary regarding the Iowa Legislature, Caitlin Clark et al., we begin with a reminder of the power of a bud in spring by our columnist and jazz musician, Dartanyan Brown: Toward a Wiser Iowa…lessons from an apple tree.
And a beautiful piece by Deb Engle on Waiting….
The Iowa Legislature
Laura Belin highlighted an inexcusable "oversight" by Iowa House Republicans on one of the most important laws enacted this year. Earlier in the week, she and Dennis Hart covered legislative action on Area Education Agencies, teacher pay, eminent domain, and more.
Our Paragraph Stacker, Daniel Finney, writes: The new AEA funding loophole is no 'drafting error'; it's part of the ongoing GOP effort to dismantle public schools.
The Iowa Angle to National News
Ed Tibbetts: What do Chuck Grassley, cheap gas, and the Iowa Constitution have in common? Ed Tibbetts explains at Along the Mississippi.
Cheryl Tevis has a warning about avian flu. Take heed.
Arnold Garson has a brief history of vaccinations, why they are so important, and why you should not vote for Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., even as a protest.
Dave Busiek on Media says times have changed since Iowa legalized same-sex marriage 15 years ago this week.
Barry Piatt writes this week that Iowa Republicans who remember one Iowa Republican icon need to start sharing that history with younger Republicans. Doing so may help save that party from today’s fanaticism and extremism.
Dave Price labeled the none-of-the-above crowd who don’t like either presidential candidate this cycle as ‘double haters.’ Find out what he thinks is going on. He also links to the Gray TV television show he’s featured in on the topic.
Doug Burns had us going for a while on this one, which was published on April 1.
Around Iowa
How does a child survive ableism? A bond with an animal saves Kayt Sunwood in this excerpt from her memoir. Read this fascinating account at Mary Swander's Emerging Voices.
Jane Nguyen begins a two-part series with her story of a Laotian refugee’s struggle to survive and find new life in Iowa. Read her column, The Asian Iowan.
Robert Leonard took a few days off to visit his daughter in Iowa City last weekend and returned with a column, "Iowa City as Artifact; and the Creation of Meaning." Bob also thinks he knows why Governor Kim Reynolds is coming after our state park system, writing, "Why is Governor Kim Reynolds Dismantling our State Park System; I Detect a Pattern." He writes at Deep Midwest: Politics and Culture.
Julie Gammack teared up listening to the U.S. Surgeon General during a Harkin Institute Wellness Symposium. Dr. Vivek Murthy’s conversation with Rekha Basu on isolation and loneliness hit home.
Beth Hoffman lost three (goat) kids. There is no avoiding it. Every year—multiple times a year—on a farm, you are forcefully reminded that you are not in control. Whether we lose calves or kids, our broccoli dies, or the rains do not come, we can be surrounded by disappointment—if we view it that way.
Art Cullen plumbs his soul and prostate, finding both wanting but presumably not beyond redemption or repair.
Macey Shofroth considers the question that sparked the idea for her entire publication: Why do I stay in Iowa?
As Kurt Meyer wisely noted in his review of Austin Frerick’s new book, Barons, the publicity around the book launch comes close to surpassing the name ‘Caitlin Clark.’ Myer is a friend of the author and brings another perspective to his take on the book (read it).
Chris Jones’ "No Man's Land" is a story of the Winneshiek Bottoms of the Mississippi River in NE Iowa.
Sports (Caitlin, of course)
Jane Burns welcomes newcomers to women's basketball with a primer to help Fake Your Way Through the Final Four, which could come in handy during today's NCAA championship game between Iowa and South Carolina.
Brecht’s Beat, byTory Brecht. Stone-cold killer Clark.
Rob Grey notes why Iowa State Cyclone men didn’t reach the Elite Eight.
John Naughton Iowa's college basketball scene has had coaching changes at Drake, administration changes at Nebraska, and a Hawkeye run at a national title.
In his new “View from the Cedar Valley” column, Pat Kinney recalls how an eastern Iowa newspaper editor turned an April Fool’s joke into a “coachable moment” with readers about taking some things like sports too seriously.
Food and Travel
Wini Moranville makes good on her promise to offer travel stories on great Midwest destinations. She enlisted veteran travel editor Christine Riccelli to tell us about Itasca State Park in the Minnesota Northwoods.
Mental Health
Kali VanBaale celebrates the six-month anniversary of her column with a roundup of Substack authors writing about mental health.
Humor
Vicki Minor says Easter is over...or is it?
Poetry
Teresa Zilk writes in memory of Teree Caldwell-Johnson, a renowned Des Moines community leader who passed away on March 31st. This poem is dedicated to Teree's radiance. I'll never forget how she quietly supported my storytelling work. She says: “I'll never forget the tenderness she showed me after my son's death. There are not enough words for someone like Teree, but I wrote what was in my heart and how I experienced her.”
Our poet Suzanna de Baca shares 7 Haikus in tribute to the women's U of I Hawkeye basketball team!
Julie Gammack’s Potluck podcast features Diane Glass, Dawn Terpstra, and Kelsey Bigelow—three leaders behind bringing Poetry Palooza to the metro area.