The beloved Dogtown venue Lefty's Live Music is packing up its amps, owners Anne Mathey and Erik Brown announced Thursday afternoon. “To all the patrons – be curious and find new art,” they wrote.

With SNAP funding still unrestored for more than 10,000 people in Johnson County, Iowa City staff will help collect groceries at three local stores on Friday to benefit CommUnity Crisis Services' food bank.

"Kollwitz’ subject matter is utterly ordinary and secular, but she makes both social and personal history sacred," Andrea Truitt writes of Cedar Rapids Museum of Art's ongoing show. "In this exhibition, I went to art church."

If you missed last night's light show, check the skies tonight — the colors may return.

A U.S. District Court judge has ordered the U.S. government to follow due process and provide bond hearings for two individuals being detained in Iowa county jails.

Noting that more than 100,000 Iowans will see their health insurance premiums double or triple as a result, Nathan Sage, Josh Turek and Zach Wahls have all scorned Senate Democrats for caving on the GOP spending bill last night.

“I try to find meaning and purpose every time I practice,” Yo-Yo Ma told a young cellist in the Hancher audience on Oct. 30. “I treat each note with respect, the way I would treat a dear friend.”

Little Village made a board game! 🎲 Wind your way across the state and learn some fun (and not-so-fun) Iowa facts along the way. It's free and easy to play, whether you use the centerfold of the November issue, a print-out or the virtual version online:

"The dancers carried a small red plane around the stage, incorporating it into the choreography in a manner that had the audience constantly anticipating disaster," writes Meghan Klinkenborg of the Buddy Holly tribute by BODYTRAFFIC at DMPA this week.

Water pollution has become a bad habit for hundreds of Iowa-based ag companies, including some that boast about being "innovative" and "sustainable."

According to the report, the five-year survival rate for Black Iowans diagnosed with lung cancer is 21.9%, and for white Iowans, 27.5% — both "significantly lower" than the national survival rate.

Turns out community organizing works! Throw good money after good this holiday season to fight hunger, illness, isolation and apathy in Iowa.

Some Iowa groups and consumers say it's time to redeem Gov. Robert Ray's favorite piece of legislation: the 1979 "bottle bill," which was drained of its potency in 2022 with the passage of SF 2378.

Des Moines Symphony kicked off its concert on Indigenous Peoples' Day with "Chokfi’" (the Chickasaw word for "rabbit") by Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate, which was packed with "musical moments that felt large and cinematic," reviewer Meghan Klinkenborg writes.

ON STANDS NOW: Little Village's November 2025 issue 📍 Find a copy: bit.ly/lvlocations 🌐 Read online: littlevillagemag.com/lv-november-2025 📬 Subscribe for home delivery: littlevillagemag.com/subscribe Cover photo by Sahithi Shankaiahgari

The Escucha Mi Voz Iowa co-founder and West Liberty faith leader had just met with Pope Leo XIV to discuss immigration issues when his health took a turn for the worst.

Signed into law in June, SF 383 was supported by many advocates and business owners of small and rural pharmacies, including pharmacists. Wellmark is suing to stop it, saying it raises costs for Iowans.

"Every book on display, colorful children’s chair and comically familiar signage speaks to the micro-utopian aspirations of progressive education — and to the fragility of that vision once conflict arises," writes K. Margaret Smith of Riverside's set for 'Eureka Day,' running through Nov. 9.

Two Iowa Head Start child care programs are expected to face funding lapses and could have to reduce services after Nov. 1.

Some Cronenberg heads might accuse Violet Lucca of being contrarian, but she considers 'M. Butterfly' and 'Map to the Stars' two of the director's best. The film critic from Cedar Rapids examines many David Cronenberg deep cuts in her new book. littlevillagemag.com/interview-cr...

Randy Feenstra, by far Iowa's tallest representative, launched his gubernatorial campaign with a 1.5-min. video that makes seven references to him "standing tall" and reaching "new heights." (That's not the main story, but we just had to point it out.)

Trump's legal team filed a motion with the 8th Circuit for a writ of mandamus, which is usually only granted in extreme cases when no other form of appeal is available. Two of the three judges granted the motion anyway.

Sadly, most costume sets don't come with a matching can of beer. You can turn to Iowa's breweries for that, whether you're going as a witch (Clock House Brewing), ghost (7 Hills Brewing Company) or antifa hellion (Franklin Street Brewing Company).

On Friday, Miller-Meeks — who has proposed naming the University of Iowa's new "Center of Intellectual Freedom" after Charlie Kirk — complained about “the Chinese Communist Party buying up Iowa farmland," “California telling us how to raise hogs in Iowa" and Democrats making demands in a shutdown.

"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.

"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."

Ian Roberts has pleaded not guilty to the two charges he's facing, carrying 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.

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).

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.

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 queer allyship," writes Ariana Martinez.

“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 (and many inflatable animals). That didn't stop Sen. Joni Ernst from blaming George Soros for No Kings.

"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.

Some Iowa congressional races, particularly in 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.

"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.

“I love Jonathan Richman. There’s something about Jonathan.” —Lou Reed You can catch the Modern Lovers frontman, "Roadrunner" songwriter and classic rock Nostradamus at The Englert Theatre tonight.

With leather, feathers and pointy props, a dozen local and national burlesque performers portrayed sexy villains at a revue this month in Rock Island.

Complaining to fellow Republicans that they've "been beat to crap over what we did on Medicaid," Rep. Miller-Meeks said she'll hold a public town hall "when hell freezes over." "You have plenty of opportunities to yell at me and tell me I should be ashamed of myself. And, by the way, I am not.”

Early voting has begun! Here's the info you need to vote in: 🗳 Johnson or Linn County: tinyurl.com/ybvfe3t5 🗳 Polk or Story County: tinyurl.com/2t6ht2t8 🗳 Black Hawk, Dubuque or Scott County: tinyurl.com/3uj8cr5x

DMPS Board Chair Jackie Norris announced Thursday she is ending her campaign for Joni Ernst's Senate seat in order to focus on the "Superintendent crisis."

"I love Halloween and I love music. It just seemed like a great fit," Abner said of the idea behind The Howling, taking place Saturday outside Ames. "I hope people are able to escape the stress of life in 2025, indulge a little whimsy, discover some new music and experience joy with new people."

Forty Iowa cities have registered to hold No Kings events on Saturday. Despite June's massive, peaceful rallies, Speaker Mike Johnson said no average Americans will be attending, just "antifa people."

More than 2,000 music fans trekked into the woods last month for Lost Woods Music Festival in Cedar Falls, which boasted great food, a Ferris wheel and headliner Hippie Sabotage.

"To see essentially an administration try to bully comedy and limit what is said is infuriating and scary," Jordan Klepper told LV. "So to be able to come into work and talk about that is a real joy." The 'Daily Show' correspondent/co-host will perform at Cedar Rapids' Paramount Theatre on Friday.

“It has become clear to me that I can help President Trump in other ways," said Blum, who launched his U.S. House campaign on Sept. 18.

Federal funding for programs like WIC that feed thousands of young and vulnerable Iowans could run out if the government shutdown continues, according to a report from Food & Water Watch.

If you're shopping at a Fareway or Hy-Vee in Johnson County on Saturday, look out for folks from DVIP/RVAP — they'll be collecting all sorts of donations for the people they serve.

"Our country is at grave risk under a commander-in-chief and defense secretary who sow division within the ranks," writes an anonymous U.S. service member. "If this continues, the military will not fall from outside attack; it will collapse from within, hollowed out by mistrust and division."

“It’s concerning seeing those wooden pallets left outside in the humidity, in the rain,” said librarian and council candidate Clara Reynen, referring to material waiting to be loaded into an Iowa Prison Industries truck.

Refocus Film Festival's lineup is full of enchanting performances, from Tessa Thompson in 'Hedda' to Marion Cotillard in 'The Ice Tower' to Annapurna Sriram in 'Fucktoys,' which she also directed. Then there's Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones in 'Train Dreams,' the opening night show at the Englert.

Art Cullen is a realist about Iowa's shitty water, air, economy and culture wars. But he's also optimistic. “Take a farm field that’s been burned up by chemicals, and if you leave it fallow for three years, all of sudden earthworms reappear,” he noted. “The native seeds will grow again.”