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COVID-19: Iowa adds 13,000 new cases; Gov. reynolds celebrates legal win; Johnson County passes new mandate

By Paul Brennan, Dec. 8 In its update on Wednesday, IDPH disclosed another 105 deaths from COVID-19, bringing the state’s official death toll to 7,550. The update came one day after Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a written statement celebrating a federal judge in Georgia blocking the Biden administration’s requirement that employees of federal contractors be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Dumpling Darling in downtown Iowa City is closing

By Paul Brennan, Dec. 13 Dumpling Darling, a farmers-market favorite turned downtown Iowa City eatery, is closing the doors of its Iowa Avenue space for good on Dec. 19. “This decision wasn’t an easy one but we know deep down it is the right thing,” owners posted on social media. “Operating under these current circumstances isn’t serving our staff, our customers, or ourselves.”

‘We are under spiritual attack’: How Iowa’s anti-mask parents became a GOP force — and why they’re leveraging their power to ban books

By Emma McClatchey, Dec. 22 Whether Republican lawmakers are cynically exploiting or genuinely share some parents’ fears about “pornography” and “woke grooming” in schools, this rightwing movement to give parents more control over district policy is gaining steam in Iowa, and like mask and vaccine mandates this past year, is likely to dominate Republican discourse in 2022.

Paris, Milan, new york … Iowa City? Designer andre’ Wright works to establish Fashion activism Institute in downtown IC

By adria Carpenter, Dec. 27 Andre’ Wright, Humanize My Hoodie co-founder and creator of Iowa City’s Black Liberation Space, wants to teach skills in graphic design and financial literacy to students young and old. At the end of the program, the students will hold a fashion event where they will present their projects.

WaTCH BLS: Black Liberation Space (2021)