Gov. Kim Reynolds won’t seek reelection, giving her term an expiration date of Jan. 20, 2027. Iowa’s first woman governor has overseen more than 10,000 COVID deaths, rising cancer rates, declining public schools, unprecedented hunger, a near-total abortion ban, and culture wars galore. But LV’s Paul Brennan—who has written upwards of 500 stories about Reynolds since 2017—argues her legacy will likely be defined by a single, recent stroke of the pen.
Also in this issue: How a cult-run summer camp in rural Iowa turned into a hotbed of child labor and abuse; film lovers gather for the 25th CRIFF; Hattie the Asshat charms customers at the local cat cafe; a new Des Moines theater company pushes the boundaries; and an incarcerated Iowan experiences the purgatory of Oakdale. Plus: Why this may be be the scariest storm season yet, a Dear Kiki therapy sesh, and reviews of local albums and books—including a Pulitzer Prize winner.
