Posted April 01, 2026in Civic Skinny
Iowa leads the country in wind energy, according to iSelect, a business that compares energy costs. The company reported its findings after researching renewable energy trends across the U.S. Data show Iowa’s total renewable energy share increased from 59.42% in 2020 to 65.55% in 2024, a 6.13% rise. More than
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Posted April 01, 2026in Political Mercury
It’s head-spinning to be at once depressed and optimistic. But there I was. Somewhere between ideation and actualization. Something pulled me back. Mostly curiosity, I think. Wanting to know what happens next, a reporter’s DNA, has gotten me through a lot. You gotta live to see tomorrow to know if
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Posted April 01, 2026in Film Review
With the likes of “GOAT,” “Zootopia 2” and the ongoing “Into the Spider-Verse” franchise, kids are eating good when it comes to feature-length animation. And “Hoppers” is no different, giving the kind of movie you enjoy from the first frame to the final credit. It reaches deep into Pixar’s established
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Posted April 01, 2026in Food Dude
Bubba Southern Comforts turns 10 this summer. In its first decade of growing up, the restaurant has redefined southern comforts with a Midwest appeal while becoming a bucket list destination for whiskey aficionados and an anchor of the western Gateway District of downtown. Bubba did that with exquisite attention to
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Posted April 01, 2026in Des Moines Forgotten
At least twice a week, my morning walks take me through Greenwood Park along the dirt trails that begin on the west side of the Des Moines Art Center parking lot. For the past 15 years, I’ve passed what I call “the haunted birdhouse.” Perched atop a 10-foot pole, it looks like
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Posted April 01, 2026in Joe's Neighborhood
“Trouble (oh, we got trouble) Right here in River City (right here in River City)” — Meredith Wilson, “The Music Man.” Like most of you, I generally think I’m a decent person. I let people who are in a rush cut in front of me at the grocery store. I
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Posted April 01, 2026in Center Stage
April is filled with a bounty of performing arts, from musical artists to family fare to several musicals. Enjoy the allure of cultural adventurism that these Greater Des Moines shows have to offer. One of the best traditions in regional theatre welcomes its 11th iteration when Tallgrass Theatre Company presents
Read More →In Iowa, the first crack of a baseball bat signals spring more surely than blooming trees or warming air. Baseball marks the moment winter finally loosens its grip. Fans flood the ballpark for Iowa Cubs games, turning evening outings into a cherished seasonal ritual. The smell of fresh-cut grass, the
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Posted April 01, 2026in Art News
Twenty years have passed since Des Moines Art Center hosted its tribute to Ana Mendietta. She was a Cuban refugee who escaped Castro’s reign of terror, was raised in Sioux City and first rose to fame in Iowa City where her 1973 performance piece “Rape Scene” was first performed. Photos
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Posted April 01, 2026in Belly Up To...
Walking into Lachele’s Fine Foods in Highland Park, I found a brightly lit diner. Craving a bar atmosphere, I asked myself: Where’s the bar? I didn’t have to look far. The Fitz was right next door. The two are connected, and I could have easily gone through a side door
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