May 24, 2023 by Brent Antisdel
in Stray Thoughts
When FBI agents led a Dixon, Ill., official out of city hall in handcuffs and the charges against her became public, the most often asked question was “How.” How did City Comptroller Rita Crundwell manage to embezzle an astounding $54 million from the northwest Illinois community of 15,700 people before
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May 19, 2023 by Brent Antisdel
in Stray Thoughts
In 2017, the Iowa Legislature responded to concerns from Gov. Terry Branstad and amended Iowa law to ensure when government employees are forced out of their jobs the reasons must be made public and not shrouded in secrecy. The goal was commendable. The governor was right. People deserve to be
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May 18, 2023 by Brent Antisdel
in Morain
Federal government whistleblowers have a champion in the U.S. Senate: Republican Chuck Grassley of Iowa. We can measure a politician’s sincerity about a specific issue or policy by how consistently he or she maintains that position, regardless of which party holds power. Through the years—decades, really—that Grassley has served in
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May 11, 2023 by Brent Antisdel
in Morain
“Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”—Lord Acton, 1887 We usually hear this statement when someone wants to make a point about someone else, someone in power. I’m doing just that. And those to whom I want to point in this case are the Justices of the U.S.
Read More →From Iowa’s cultural epicenter, MainFrame Studios at 900 Keosauqua Way in Des Moines, comes your Listener-supported Community Voice, the Award-Winning independent radio station, KFMG-LP 98.9 FM (streaming simultaneously at www.kfmg.org), bringing you music, literature & cultural content. – John Busbee for The Culture Buzz The Culture Buzz Podcast Library – https://archive.org/details/@the_culture_buzz 2014 Iowa Governor’s Award for Partnership &
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May 03, 2023 by Brent Antisdel
in Feature 1
Another Iowa winter passing marks the start of an Iowa summer that will have something for everyone. Looking for a music festival to enchant your weekend? We’ve got it. Searching for the surrounding area’s best festivals? Look no further. Hunting for the state’s best fair? It’s only a page away.
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May 03, 2023 by Brent Antisdel
in Feature 2
If you are looking for fast-paced sporting action this spring and summer, you are in luck. The Des Moines Menace soccer team and the Iowa Barnstormers arena football team, although being quite different, provide a similar atmosphere for their current and soon-to-be fans. On the following pages, we share some
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May 03, 2023 by Brent Antisdel
in Business Feature
On the afternoon of March 23, three women visited West Des Moines’ Historic Valley Junction. They began at Coffee Cats and made their way south. Along the way, they stopped at Bing’s, Sister’s, Memory Lane Antiques and Bozz Prints. While the group made their way around the district, Bing’s Owner
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May 03, 2023 by Brent Antisdel
in Civic Skinny
After a long delay, sales prices have been recorded for the high-end Grand Avenue condominiums developed by Harry Bookey and Pamela Bass-Bookey. The Kathleen J. Fehrman Revocable Trust paid $2,838,799 for a unit that takes up half of the top floor in the eight-story building at 3750 Grand Ave. (Or,
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May 03, 2023 by Brent Antisdel
in Political Mercury
Hawaii is Barry Obama’s home state, and Illinois is Senator Barack Obama’s home state, but Iowa is President Obama’s home state. One of the last questions I asked President Barack Obama during an interview in his first term was this: Would he consider locating his presidential library and museum in
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