A year ago, Sara Hayden Parris’s garage was packed haphazardly with books, banners, signs, and other supplies for Annie’s Foundation events. Now, because of a generous donation, those days are no more. On March 28, Parris, board members, and supporters came out to cut...
The zodiac signs of 12 iconic women offer insight into their historic accomplishments
The zodiac signs of 12 iconic women offer insight into their historic accomplishments. Here’s what you need to know about these women and their zodiac signs.
Crafty Grandma: Waterloo craft-fluencer sharing her skills
Sue Wright and I had been chatting over coffee for a while, about her crafting projects, her tiny cardboard houses, and her YouTube presence, when I noticed the buttons of her shirt bore a striking resemblance to buttons inside of the miniature house she was showing...
Heroic Perry principal dies from injuries sustained during shooting
By all accounts, Dan Marburger was a hero even before his valiant final act. The Perry High School principal died at 8 a.m. Sunday, 10 days after a lone 17-year-old shooter opened fire in the school and wounded Marburger, who tried to talk him down. “Principal...
An open letter from Iowa journalists covering a school shooting
A single gunman opened fire in the cafeteria of Perry High School in Iowa, on Thursday, Jan. 4, killing one sixth-grader and wounding seven others before taking his own life. The Iowa Starting Line staff covered this tragedy and here are our reflections on what that...
No more Kum & Go? New owner Maverik of Utah retiring famous brand
Will Kum & Go have come and gone by next year? One new report claims that's the plan by the store's new owners. The Iowa-based convenience store chain Kum & Go—a brand occasionally mocked outside of the Midwest for its mildly salacious name—was bought by...
Report: Perry shooter made racist post before killing
The Perry High School shooter made a racist social media comment minutes before opening fire on students and staff at the rural Iowa school.
Rightwing trolls quickly took advantage of Perry tragedy
Even before the identity of the student who shot multiple people at Perry High School was confirmed by law enforcement Thursday afternoon, right-wing misinformation on social media was filling the void. Posts from verified and other accounts on Twitter (X) in the...
West Des Moines teen arrested after making school shooting post
An 18-year-old West Des Moines resident was arrested after sharing a Snapchat post about shooting up a school the same day as a nearby school shooting in Perry. According to the criminal complaint, Lakeeve Fort made a post asking “Should I shoot up the school??” with...
Perry principal stable after being shot while protecting students
Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger’s daughter said he tried to talk Dylan Butler down before the 17-year-old gunman shot the longtime administrator and five others at the school on Thursday. Claire Marburger shared this tidbit in a public Facebook post to let...