July 01, 2026 by Brent Antisdel
in Political Mercury
Democratic candidate for governor, Rob Sand, has selected Crawford County Supervisor Dave Muhlbauer, a cattleman-farmer and deeply rooted rural Iowan from Manilla in western Iowa who ran for the U.S. Senate five years ago, as his lieutenant governor running mate. The pick fortifies Decorah native Sand’s efforts to bridge the
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July 01, 2026 by Brent Antisdel
in Food Dude
Thirty years old this year, Tacos Mariana’s has no peer in Des Moines. Not as a taqueria. Not as what some call “a hidden gem” and others label a “hole in the wall.” Certainly not as a vehicle for the transportation of expectations. Mariana Gomez’ taqueria occupies a little more
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July 01, 2026 by Brent Antisdel
in Film Review
When Pixar announced “Toy Story 5,” split feelings could be felt amongst the Millennials who grew up alongside Andy’s plastic companions. “Toy Story 3” (2010) was perfect. A tear-jerking trilogy closer that made adults ugly cry more than their kids. We watched as our beloved friends accepted the inevitable over
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July 01, 2026 by Brent Antisdel
in Des Moines Forgotten
In the late 1990s, I discovered the late-night talk show “Coast to Coast,” hosted by Art Bell. It was more personal than watching television because it felt like it was just me and the host. He was filling me in on what was going on around the country in the
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July 01, 2026 by Brent Antisdel
in Joe's Neighborhood
“Dad, you’ll love the sauna. And then we’ll do the cold plunge.” She smiles at me and nods up and down waiting for me to mirror her. Yup, that’s how you talk to your ancient dad: slow with lots of nodding and guidance. And, if you didn’t know, a “cold
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July 01, 2026 by Brent Antisdel
in Center Stage
While the shows receive most of the spotlight, it is the producing teams behind the productions that make the magic happen. Two major leadership transitions recently took place in central Iowa’s performing arts community. Monica Holt assumed the role of president and CEO of Des Moines Performing Arts. She previously
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July 01, 2026 by Brent Antisdel
in Your Neighbors
Who doesn’t like fireworks? Maybe those with sensitive ears — or most dogs. But, by and large, Americans love a boom followed by a sparkle of light that paints the night sky. There may be no one more familiar with that feeling than Kelm Brueschke. Brueschke has been in the
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July 01, 2026 by Brent Antisdel
in Art News
A red rectangular abstract by Mark Rothko sold for $85.8 million at spring auction in New York. The seller of the 1957 work, “Brown and Blacks in Reds,” was the estate of art dealer Robert Mnuchin, who paid $6.7 million for the work in 2003. That price was described as “art-becomes-reality”
Read More →‘A Resistance History of the United States’ American history is, like all history, a giant tangled knot of perspectives and fables and winner’s lies. The story that’s been told is always angled in such a way to achieve a certain effect a reader has to work to uncover. So the
Read More →What will happen to the 55 mph signs now that the speed limit is changing? Gov. Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 378 on June 1, increasing the speed limit on most rural, two-lane state highways from 55 miles per hour to 60 miles per hour. This change took effect on
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