Posted February 16, 2015in Civic Skinny
Bob Mahaffey is not going to seek re-election this fall to the Des Moines City Council. His decision — which had not been made public until now — could set off a scramble for the northeast seat that the long-time Anderson-Erickson executive has filled for the past 12 years. “I
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Posted February 11, 2015in Civic Skinny
A screening committee set up by Sen. Charles Grassley has received 41 applications from Iowans hoping for one of the two federal judgeships that soon will open in Iowa. It’s an odd situation: A Republican Senator seemingly taking charge of sending names to a Democratic president for judicial openings in
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Posted February 04, 2015in Civic Skinny
Gleanings from the final round of campaign reports from state and local candidates: Bruce Rastetter appears to have given more money to state and local candidates last year than any other Iowan. All told, he gave $104,846.19, according to reports on file at the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board.
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Posted January 28, 2015in Civic Skinny
The couple who own the Gortz Haus Gallery have agreed that gay people now can rent the facility for weddings. The couple has dropped its lawsuit against the Iowa Civil Rights Commission and made a financial settlement with the two men who wanted to get married there but were turned
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Posted January 21, 2015in Civic Skinny
If Marty Tirrell owes you money — and if he does, you’re not alone — here’s the good news: You will be paid. Here’s the not-so-good news: You will be paid 12 cents on the dollar. Tirrell, the sports broadcaster, emerged from bankruptcy court the other day. His creditors are
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Posted January 14, 2015in Civic Skinny
Tom Vilsack is stepping back into Iowa politics. He has asked a couple of big hitters — Tim and Toni Urban and Fred and Charlotte Hubbell — to gather some other big contributors at the Urban house this Friday evening to “explore how to position the party for better results
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Posted January 07, 2015in Civic Skinny
Gov. Terry Branstad and his fellow defendants in the long and nasty harassment, discrimination, extortion, retaliation and defamation lawsuit filed by former Workers Compensation Director Chris Godfrey, want to turn the tables. If Godfrey wins, besides any damages he might be awarded he will in all likelihood recover from taxpayers
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Posted December 31, 2014in Civic Skinny
The year was 1925. Des Moines was booming; its population had soared to more than 125,000. It had 110 churches, 16 movie theaters and three vaudeville houses. Nine railroads served the city, and there were four passenger depots and eight freight depots. There were 172 barbers, five hat manufacturers,
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Posted December 24, 2014in Civic Skinny
Twelve drummers drumming… … for all those old folks well past 80 who still go to work every day — Bill Knapp and John Pappajohn and Stan Seidler and R.W. and Mary Nelson, among others — and who still keep this town running…and the bright younger ones, too: Zac
Read More →Remember Teresa Wagner? Probably not. Maybe this will help: She’s a Republican — an active, pro-life conservative — on the staff at the law school at the University of Iowa, which should narrow it down to one or two people. Wagner was, until the other day, associate director of the school’s
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