Little Village Mag

Home
United States
Iowa City, IA
Little Village Mag

News, culture and events in Eastern and Central Iowa. Since 2001. Letters and submissions: [email protected]

10/24/2025

"The worst anti-immigrant law in Iowa’s history,” according to ACLU of Iowa's legal director, remains under injunction as a lawsuit progresses. Meanwhile, it's been confirmed a Des Moines teen was deported by ICE after a brief detainment last month.

On Thursday, a three-judge panel of the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a preliminary injunction stopping an attempt by Gov. Kim Reynolds and Republican leaders in the legislature to […]

10/24/2025

"This is a hunger epidemic, what we’re facing right now,” said Stephanie Sullivan of Food Bank for the Heartland. “We know that our neighbors are already making unthinkable decisions ... we haven’t seen a need this high in our history."

As federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is days away from running out, food banks, pantries and charitable groups across Iowa are bracing for what they anticipate will […]

10/24/2025

The word “unprecedented” was used often during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Northeast Iowa Food Bank director Barb Prather said the current moment feels “worse to some degree."

“Food banks can’t make up the difference in SNAP or WIC or any of those government programs."

10/23/2025

Ian Roberts has pleaded not guilty to the two charges he's facing, which carry a max total of 20 years in prison. Meanwhile, Rob Sand is auditing both DMPS and the state's Board of Educational Examiners regarding Roberts' hiring.

On Wednesday, a federal magistrate judge set a trial date for Ian Roberts, the former Des Moines Public School Superintendent. Roberts is charged with illegally possessing fi****ms while being in […]

10/22/2025

That's Rentertainment, Killer B's, The Hut, Hagen's — Iowa City locals have fond, if sometimes embarrassing, memories of bygone video stores. One Cedar Rapids resident even has plans to open a new rental store this year. (Yes, really).

Do you remember your favorite video store growing up? Director Alex Ross Perry, who recently released his experimental documentary film Pavements, chronicles the now virtually extinct rental shop industry in Videoheaven, […]

10/22/2025

In her lawsuit, fired Creston teacher Melisa Crook referenced a range of rightwing political posts made by the district's superintendent and school board president on their own personal social media pages.

A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order preventing the Creston Community School District from moving forward with plans to fire a teacher for her comments regarding the slain […]

10/21/2025

Refocus Film Festival 2025's Audience Choice Award winner "scathingly satirizes the disturbing lengths boys will go in the hopes of getting laid [in film's like 'American Pie'], and the annoyingly funny missteps of T-shirt q***r allyship," writes Ariana Martinez.

These Refocus titles explore the rise and fall of love and s*x, the transformative potential of emotional bonds, and the aftermath of transactional and hollow relationships. The visual medium of film inherently reflects a mirror onto audiences, daring you to ask where you fall within the prism, and....

10/21/2025

“Hey Trump, nobody paid us to be here. We all hate you for free!”

This message, and variations, could be seen on homemade signs throughout Iowa on Saturday, along with other direct critiques of Trump (and many inflatable animals). That didn't stop Sen. Joni Ernst from fear-mongering about Soros paying off No Kings protesters on Fox News.

On Saturday, millions of Americans around the country, including more than 12,000 people across Iowa, took part in the No Kings Day of Peaceful Protest. Thousands filled the Pentacrest in […]

10/20/2025

"The actors are skilled enough to keep us hooked, even as they husk corn or methodically plug in an electric razor," writes Isaac Hamlet. "The production sticks the landing."

Iowa Stage Theatre Company's 'Buried Child' continues Oct. 22-27 at Stoner Theater in Des Moines.

Most of the characters in Buried Child do not exist. Not just because the players in Sam Shepard’s 1960s-set American drama are fictional, but because nearly every character, at some […]

10/20/2025

What was your favorite spooky book growing up? Candice Smith asked her fellow librarians at the Iowa City Public Library for their picks.

October is upon us, and the veil grows thin, which means it’s time to put aside our beach reads and turn towards some darker books. As a child, I loved […]

10/20/2025

Some Iowa congressional races, particularly the 1st and 3rd districts, are expected to be among the most competitive in the nation this midterm cycle. Here's how the candidates' coffers are stacking up.

Though there have been many shake-ups in Iowa heading into the 2026 campaign season, Republican candidates have largely kept their fundraising leads in Iowa’s U.S. Senate and House races, according […]

10/19/2025

"Mary Kline-Misol blends myth and legend with natural and agricultural touchstones, achieving a vivid spirituality between humankind and the natural world," John Busbee writes of a new exhibition, opening tomorrow at Grand View University.

The exhibition “GAIA II: The Pale Blue Dot” begins a month-long run at Des Moines’ Grand View University on Monday, Oct. 20. A beguiling blend of expressive imagery and compelling […]

Address

Iowa City, IA

Website

https://littlevillagemag.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Little Village Mag posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.