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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

Media day has come and gone here in Iowa City, fans are getting excited about the high expectations that Fran McCaffery has set for this year’s team. But how will they stack up against a very competitive Big Ten field? Here’s a breakdown of all 14 teams in the Big Ten for the upcoming season. Projected Standings 1. Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo has a loaded squad once again this year as Michigan State is looking to make their first trip to the Final Four since 2015. The return of star forward Miles Bridges almost immediately made the Spartans the … Continued

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It’s that time of year again in the state of Iowa as a handful of football teams in each of the state’s six classes prepare for the state playoffs. The 2017 edition of the playoffs meshes the usual suspects with schools who have waited a long time for a return trip to the playoffs. The class by class breakdown of the playoffs will start at the smallest level of high school football in Iowa. 8-Man Defending 8-man state champion Don Bosco, Gilbertsville is back in the playoffs again, flaunting a perfect 9-0 record led by senior quarterback Wyatt Swavel.  Swavel … Continued

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In the three seasons since Theo Epstein took over as Cubs president, the Cubs have gone a combined 200-286, good for a .412 winning percentage.  However, this was all part of a master plan to completely revamp the Cubs minor league system and eventually make a big splash in free agency, and in the offseason following the 2014 season, the Cubs made sure they let the rest of the MLB know that it was ready to make an impact.  Once Joe Maddon opted out of the final year of his contract with the Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago quickly picked him … Continued

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