Get everyone involved in school planning

Like Perkins Elementary, the entire Des Moines Public School System needs to be gutted. A new plan needs to be fashioned. And then that plan needs to be acted on. What we have now is simply not doing the trick. People are disgusted by the actions taken - or seemingly soon to be taken - by our school board. Superintendent Eric Witherspoon interviewed for a job out of town at a time when he frankly needed to be putting out fires here. And plans are being made for expanding the Pappajohn Learning Center while inner-city schools and schools not filled with wealthy white kids face uncertain futures because the district is hundreds of millions of dollars short of what it needs to save our schools - at least all of them. >> more

Votes, feds seem to be killing it

Polk County insiders are saying any chance of the new jail being done with a Public Labor Agreement (PLA) is on life support. With supervisors Angela Connolly and Tom Hockensmith squarely on board and Bob Brownell and E.J. Giovannetti against, the swing vote will likely come down to John Mauro, and we've heard Mauro will vote "no." "Hockensmith is getting a rubber hose job from the union folks on this one because he basically promised he could deliver it and said he had the votes," a top Polk source told us. "But he doesn't." Making matters worse for lobbyist Tom Jochum and trades union president Thomas Gillespie is the fact that President Bush signed an executive order stating that if federal funding is involved in a local project (Polk County's jail would get money from housing federal prisoners), it can't have a PLA. However, the union folks are saying it doesn't apply, while county attorney Michael O'Meara is scurrying to figure out what's what. "In all fairness...>> more

By Jim Duncan
CVFDude@aol.com

Some people think this is a cushy job, but professional food dudes are burdened with obsessions that spoil many a great dinner. Our recent tour of Nashville included three consecutive dream-come-true meals. First, at the Country Music Hall of Fame we had dinner with Richard Lee, the legendary songwriter for Crystal Gayle and Reba. The next evening a dinner show at the Bluebird Cafe introduced us to four young songwriters on the rise. The third day, Josh Turner showed up while we were eating at Red Wagon, the Music Fest's restaurant. >> more

By Michael Swanger
michael@dmcityview.com

Each week we do our best to tell you about some of the coolest concerts in Iowa and each week we're faced with the unenviable task of narrowing the field to which shows to cover. This week, however, presents a particularly daunting challenge for us because the Fourth of July weekend is chockfull of quality concerts and festivals. Thus, we decided to give you the lowdown on a handful of can't-miss events. Take a look. >>more