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Des Moines’ plan to solve its budget crisis: gentrification.

Des Moines is facing the culmination of multiple long standing budgetary crises resulting in its present $17 million annual deficit. Without room in the general fund, transportation is facing cuts, utility rates have been hiked, and agencies reorganized. The city manager Peter Zamansky in January released a proposal to lay out reductions in spending to shrink the deficit this fiscal year. However, policy makers are looking for larger cuts and structural changes to address the city’s long increasing debt burden. Image via axios One of the largest services under scrutiny is Des Moines’ DART bus system. Reimagine Dart is the … Continued

Music
On Speaking Aloud and Breaking Boundaries: Mannequin Pussy Mission Creek Festival

Ignore the name. Or don’t, because truthfully the heart of Mannequin Pussy’s art lies in its name. Mannequin Pussy, of Philadelphia origin, gracefully blessed the hall of the Englert Theater for Iowa City’s annual Mission Creek Festival in April. As someone who has been a longtime listener, I was ecstatic when I learned they were performing on day 2. For those who are new to the band, Mannequin Pussy consists of 4 artists, Missy Dabice on vocals and lead, Kaleen Reading on drums, Bear Regisford on bass and secondary vocals, and Maxine Steen on guitar. They weren’t always called Mannequin … Continued

I Hear IC is an hour long extravaganza of people making art and music of all types, welcoming both students and residents of Iowa City to perform their finished or unfinished projects. In the past they have welcomed choirs, plays, bands, alternative singer/songwriters, poetry — if it’s art, you can perform it at I Hear IC. Wednesday, March 13 was a hodgepodge of music and poetry, ranging from opener Gabi Vanek playing adapted guitar music on her bassoon to regular Jessica King reciting poetry of heartbreak and fairy tales to Combined Efforts Men’s Chorus (directed by Michael Pelnik and organized … Continued

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Haley Bonar’s cool breathy folk is bringing its chill from Saint Paul, Minnesota down to Iowa City on Thursday, November 8th, hot on the heels of her released EP “Bad Reputation” which is out today on her own site at haleybonar.com where she also has 500 limited edition 7″s for sale. Concert begins at 9 PM at The Mill and tickets are $12. The show is 19+ after 10 PM.      

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To call the End of Daze EP the “Only in Dreams Reject Club” would be unjust as some songs never make it on their intended album. But California’s Dum Dum Girls know how to make amazing EPs (He Gets Me High EP anyone?) and End of Daze is like He Gets Me High’s lo-fi art student little sister. Despite the beats in “Season in Hell” and “I Got Nothing” this is perhaps the most chill the Dum Dum Girls have ever been. Even its first single “Lord Knows” finds itself between stoner rock and ‘60s drum beats. But all indie … Continued

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They. Are. Back. No three words remain truer for Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo, the duo otherwise known as The Raveonettes who have melted our ears in the past with high frequency synthesizers and the icy coolness of Foo’s vocals. Whether they are a soundtrack to a chill autumn evening or a heavier rock sound assisting a spontaneous dance party with friends, The Raveonettes have never been disappointing in the 11 years of their career. But how does their latest release, Observator, rank against such legendary albums such as the ‘60s inspired “Back in Black” or the lyric-driven “In … Continued

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