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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

Listen to KRUI’s own Michael Aragon and Katie Rihel interview Jessica McCabe on 10/9/19. This follows her presentation with the University of Iowa Lecture Committee Entitled “How to Be Unsuccessful in College.” Mccabe is the creator of the influential YouTube channel “How To ADHD” and a TEDx performer. Listen below.

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I came to the TWRP show confused and left confused but slightly happier. TWRP (aka Tupperware Remix Party) are most known for the attention-grabbing costumes they wear on stage. They include a traffic cone-esque spaceman named Dr. Sung, a lion that reminded me of Chuck E Cheese’s animatronic characters, and a few others I couldn’t place. At first, I bristled at this aspect and wanted to write it off as a gimmick. However, there was something so utterly enjoyable I dropped my pretense that I was too cool for the show. Nobody is too cool for a TWRP show. An … Continued

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Like most of the audience, I didn’t come to the Good Morning Midnight show specifically for them. The big draw of the night was definitely the one-two punch of Jay Som and Mitski. I came excited for those artists and knew little about Good Morning Midnight ahead of time. However, their short set turned me around and made me a fan. Good Morning Midnight is band made up of Iowa City residents and Nebraskans, a fact confirmed after the audience yelled “Nebraska!” at the band who cheered. The band veers between hushed verses and rousing choruses. When they first came … Continued

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