Governor Chet Culver will posthumously give the state's highest citizen honor to an Iowa artist whose "American Gothic" painting is both well-known and often parodied. Grant Wood was born in Anamosa, grew up in Cedar Rapids and lived in Iowa City until his death in 1942. Attorney Jim … [Read more...]
New sculpture on capitol grounds celebrates court decision
A new sculpture on the capitol complex in Des Moines west of the judicial building will highlight an early legal decision in the state. Robert Bailey of the Iowa Department of Administrative Services describes the sculpture. He says it's called "Shattering Silence' and was designed by Des Moines … [Read more...]
Iowa educators wowed on China trip
Three Iowa educators just returned from an eight-day whirlwind tour of the world's most populous nation, China. Lyle Schwartz, superintendent of the South Hamilton Community Schools in Jewell, explains the goals of the trip. Schwartz says, "To explore the Chinese culture and language and … [Read more...]
Team Archaeology to teach history while riding RAGBRAI
As thousands of bicyclists challenge their bodies with the statewide bike ride starting this weekend, they'll also be able to expand their brains and learn about Iowa's distant past. Lynn Alex, at the state archaeologist's office, says members of Team Archaeology will also be pedaling along the … [Read more...]
Spanish filmmaker shoots in Madrid (Iowa)
A small central Iowa town will be one of a handful of American cities highlighted in a Spanish documentary. Eloy Parra, a filmmaker from Madrid, Spain, says he put "Madrid" in a weather site to get the forecast one day and was surprised to see so many other Madrids in the U-S. He wanted to … [Read more...]
Former Iowa congressman to take "alluring" N.E.H. post
President Obama has nominated former Iowa Congressman Jim Leach to head the National Endowment for the Humanities. Leach, a Republican, served eastern Iowa in congress for 30 years and, after losing a reelection bid in 2006, he became a college professor. If Leach is confirmed by the … [Read more...]
New State Poet Laureate "stunned" by honor
The state's new "Poet Laureate" says she's looking forward to poetry slams, hip hop jams and all that is involved in serving as the state's "symbolic leader of poetry." Iowa State University professor Mary Swander got a phone call Tuesday night at 5:30 telling her she'd … [Read more...]
Spencer, West Union, Marquette-McGregor & Warren County — "Great Places"
Four more Iowa cities have been designated as "Great Places" and leaders from the communities were at the statehouse today for a formal ceremony to mark the accomplishment. Cyndi Peterson, director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, greeted the representatives from the … [Read more...]
Half of Indigo Girls due in Iowa this week
One of the women who makes up the musical duo the Indigo Girls is on a solo tour that brings her to Iowa for one night later this week. The reviews of Amy Ray's new effort "Didn't It Feel Kinder" range from using words like "whisper sweet" to "angry" and … [Read more...]
U-of-I professor releases "Iowa Creativity Index"
A University of Iowa economics professor has used the so-called "Creativity Index" to rank Iowa's counties. U-of-I business professor John Solow found Johnson, Story, Polk and Linn Counties top the list as most creative counties. "It certainly is true that the more densely-populated … [Read more...]