February 03, 2022 by Beckham Miller
in Stray Thoughts
A seat at the table. Iowa Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver provided that succinct explanation last week of what his fellow Republicans are looking to provide to Iowa parents as the state’s K-12 school districts wrestle with a host of controversies. His colleague, Senate president Jake Chapman, set the tone
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February 02, 2022 by Beckham Miller
in Feature 1
The best. The ultimate. The elite. The untouchable. The Best Of Des Moines readers poll annually recognizes the premier local institutions and top-notch entities that have earned the attention — and the business — of our readers. Thousands of votes were cast this year by central Iowa residents in support
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February 02, 2022 by Beckham Miller
in Feature 2
A relative recently told me that her daughter returned home from college for Christmas break and announced she was a vegan. She demanded to take meals by herself because she could no longer eat around meats, fish, cheese or the people who ate them, especially her brother. A good friend
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February 02, 2022 by Beckham Miller
in Business Feature, Business Journal
Red roses, boxes of candy, cards, dinners and diamonds — these expressions of love and affection are hits for Valentine’s Day, which is now one of the biggest annual retail holidays. The National Retail Federation reports that 2021 saw $21.8 billion spent on Valentine’s gifts for that special someone. The
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February 02, 2022 by Beckham Miller
in Civic Skinny
The following excerpts are a sample of the professional development assignments, also known as sabbaticals, that were approved by the Board of Regents for 2022-23 at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa. Iowa State University: Debra Marquart, a distinguished English professor and former
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February 02, 2022 by Beckham Miller
in Political Mercury
Republican Jim Carlin says reports of Sen. Charles Grassley’s assured reelection later this year are greatly exaggerated. In fact, Carlin, a state senator from Sioux City, who is challenging the venerable Grassley in the GOP primary, says many Iowa Republicans are tired of Grassley, who has served in public office since 1959, the end of
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February 02, 2022 by Beckham Miller
in Film Review
“The 355,” directed by Simon Kinberg (“X-Men: Dark Phoenix”), who co-wrote with Theresa Rebeck, is not an instant classic by any means. It is, however, a straightforward and solidly entertaining spy thriller that (mostly) avoids the impulse to pat itself on the back. The premise isn’t groundbreaking and is, at
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February 02, 2022 by Beckham Miller
in Food Dude
Anna Dolce is a wonderful addition to the West Glen area. It is not a national franchise, which is a rare thing in this neighborhood. It is a collaboration between two of Des Moines’ most creative groups of restaurateur/bar innovators: Dark Side of the Spoon — which has 10 different
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February 02, 2022 by Beckham Miller
in Des Moines Forgotten
As a child, I would go to Wacky Waters Adventure Park between Davenport and Walcott. When I was 9 years old, a wave pool was installed. If you wanted to know what it felt like to be tumbled by large, ocean-style waves in an overcrowded pool, then you were in
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February 02, 2022 by Beckham Miller
in Joe's Neighborhood
The two young girls shared nearly everything. No surprise. The Great Depression guaranteed a certain equality even though the girls were four years apart in age. “So you shared your sister’s dresses?” I ask. “Of course,” she says. “Weren’t you tired of only wearing hand-me-downs?” She laughs. ‘Well, my sister’s
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