2021
-
Mathis Criticizes Hinson For Medicare Expansion ‘Socialism’ Comments
Iowa State Sen. Liz Mathis pushed back last week on Rep. Ashley Hinson’s characterization of congressional Democrats’ budget proposal as “socialism” for, in part, expanding Medicare coverage, saying Hinson was simply using “a political buzzword” to dismiss the popular policy. During an Iowa Press appearance, Hinson called the proposed budget “the biggest dive towards socialism.”…
-
An Iowan Combining Latin Music With Environmental Activism
Artes Latinas director Karin Stein lives the Spanish saying of “trae la música en la sangre,” meaning she has music in her blood. She’s used that spirit to lead Artes Latinas, an Iowa consortium of Latin ensembles and music theatre productions that cover a large variety of musical genres. Karin, a rural Colombia native, and…
-
Six New Trail Renovations Are Coming To Iowa; Here’s Why
Recognizing the increased demand sparked by the pandemic, six Iowa trails are getting federal relief money for repairs, renovations, and some expansion. The COVID-19 Relief Recreational Trails Program was created to offset COVID’s effect on the funding for the State Recreational Trail program, according to Scott Flagg, the program manager for federal and state recreational…
-
Rushing: ‘Storm Lake’ is a Love Letter to Community Journalism
I honestly couldn’t tell you the last time I became really emotional in a movie theater before I saw “Storm Lake” on Monday. This is not me pretending I’m some super macho guy who doesn’t ever cry or express his emotions; I just don’t get teary in theaters. However, if I’m at home, it is…
-
Des Moines Immigration Attorney Fights to Empower Women
When one of the biggest immigration raids in American history took place in Postville, Iowa, attorney Sonia Parras Konrad led a rapid response to try and keep as many families together as she should. She mobilized people to help hundreds of workers and dedicated close to five years of pro bono legal assistance to the…
-
Are Iowa Hospitals ‘Full’? A Chief Medical Officer Explains
Iowans seeking out emergency care are increasingly showing up at their local hospital only to be met with long waiting lines for open beds or a scramble to find an available ICU unit elsewhere. However, if you look at the state’s COVID data dashboard, you might come away thinking there is plenty of beds free…
-
How The Far-Right Can Take Over A School Board, And What Happens Next
Many of Iowa’s school board races in November are shaping up to be unusually hyper-partisan contests, with far-right candidates challenging incumbents over masking policies and the teaching of American history. In several high-profile cases, they’re being publicly backed by local fringe activists and groups who often promote disinformation about COVID, among other topics. In Ankeny,…
-
Four Iowa Politics Takeaways From This Year’s Steak Fry
Democratic activists and candidates gathered on a sunny, hot field on Saturday for the Polk County Democrats’ annual Steak Fry, which returned to an in-person setting this year (with plenty of COVID precautions). Illinois Rep. Lauren Underwood keynoted the event to give an excellent look at what young leadership in Congress looks like, while Iowa…
-
Anti-Masking Parents’ New Plan to Defund Schools With Their Kids
Some of Iowa’s anti-mask mandate parents have a new strategy to get what they want: threatening to defund public education by temporarily pulling their children out of school. Jeff Fahrmann of Ankeny started a petition that opposed the Ankeny School District implementing any sort of mask mandate following Monday’s ruling by a federal judge that…
-
Thrane: Why Hispanic Heritage Month is Important
Hispanic Heritage Month started Sept. 15 and it is a time to celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of Latinos/Hispanics/Latinx to the United States. It was California Congressman George E. Brown who introduced the first commemorative week in 1968. President George H.W. Bush became the first president to declare the period of Sept. 15-Oct. 15…
