COVID-19, coupled with social distancing, facemasks and cancelations, have altered central Iowa’s summer plans in a big way. That is no news flash. But as pandemic restrictions begin to lift, and local organizations adapt and improve sanitization procedures and implement other precautions, the forecast for fun in the area is beginning to clear up. A [...]
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The food business has long operated on the brink of terror. Before the 20th century, when the U.S. became the best-fed country in the history of the world, people were dependent on the whims of the apocalyptic horsemen to feed their families. Prayers and sacrifices were made to save the harvest from famine and pestilence, [...]
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Greg Stoll learned in January from several sources, as well as his own research, that a new virus was about to break out in China. Stoll, who taught international strategic planning for the U.S. Army, regularly reads news from New Zealand and Australia because he believes it to be more nonpartisan. That’s where he first [...]
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Your state and local tax dollars at work: The Iowa Economic Development Authority has granted Cargill $6 million in tax credits and tax refunds, and Monroe County has thrown in another $5.5 million in tax abatements as part of a $233 million expansion of Cargill’s chemical plant in Eddyville. The state grant from the Iowa [...]
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Walk a box store or surf a retailer’s website with one of our nation’s top product safety advocates, and you’ll see some of the horrors he’s dedicated a professional life to removing from the seemingly, but often deceivingly, safe shelves from which Americans grab the stuff of quick errands or big birthday bashes. In Bethesda, [...]
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From the very first frame to the opening shots of Spike Lee’s epic new Vietnam chronicle (though referred throughout the film by U.S. veterans and Vietnamese soldiers and civilians alike as “America’s War”), “Da 5 Bloods,” it is clear where the film’s heart lies. It all starts with Muhammad Ali, perhaps the most outspoken voice [...]
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Change is the only constant. The frustrations of quarantine have inspired some people to become seriously cautious and others to become seriously oblivious of caution. I now get as many dirty looks for wearing a mask as for not wearing one. The city seems to have a much higher percentage of masks than the suburbs. [...]
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“Someone on our street…has been playing the bagpipes lately, and I love it!” writes one northwest Des Moines neighbor on an online community forum. “…I heard her practicing, (too)…” types another interested ear in the area. “I’m not sure who it is,” responds a third, “but it’s greatly appreciated!! Very cool.” Other neighbors also added [...]
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“Dad, isn’t FaceTime a great way for us to talk during this weird virus time?” The smiling face of my daughter locked down in England greets me. Lively, personable and true to real life. And then I make the mistake of looking at the small screen in the right corner. Ahhhhh! Who is that person? [...]
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The COVID-19 pandemic changed all aspects of our lives as it insidiously swept into every corner the world. The world of live performing arts was immediately plunged into a foggy realm of uncertainty. Shows were canceled, then seasons. Audience participation evaporated. This was a catastrophic blow to live theater. Central Iowa was forced into cultural [...]
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When the pandemic silenced live music at bars and music venues, Iowa musicians and music lovers mourned. Pre-coronavirus — on any given week — the area offered more than 65 live music opportunities. Fortunately, persistent musicians and venues found a way to offer live local music to satisfy both the musician and live-music junkies through [...]
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Shutting down a new neighborhood bar less than a month after it opened is not how the owners of Pour Choices envisioned their restaurant debut. But for Pour Choices, located in Grimes, a recent Thursday evening proved hungry and thirsty patrons were ready to make some new choices in pub and food fare, and the [...]
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The decision illuminated an embarrassing disconnect from the norms of government transparency and accountability in our state. The decision to cancel the Iowa State Fair was a reminder of the seriousness of coronavirus and the consequences of many people’s anxiety about returning to activities that normally are an important part of Iowa life. But the [...]
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The art world has traditionally had an off-season, usually summer. Before air conditioning, patrons and artists aestivated in the mountains while urban arts venues shut down. The Des Moines Metro Opera capitalized on this by luring talent to Indianola in a season when singers were unemployed by the major companies of the world. This year, [...]
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July is “America’s Party Month” to me, and a few weeks back we accepted the decision that the Iowa State Fair was going to be postponed due to that thing most all of us have been talking about since March. In fact, much of our customary summer fun has been postponed, including the Des Moines [...]
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After nearly 30 years in the employee benefits business, Steve Flood retired from Holmes Murphy at age 57. Reflecting on his career, he said, “I have embraced our company’s two major goals. The first was to help our business partners attract, retain and retire the most productive workforce in the country. The second goal is [...]
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When you think of a violinist, you might envision a musician dressed in conservative black attire while expertly bowing her instrument to a Mozart song. Not for Kathryn Fox. Her recent repertoire includes the gamut of genres from western swing, to bluegrass, to classic rock. Her latest gig had her playing at various bars and [...]
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