This past week, I had the honor of participating in Iowa City’s Latino Cultural Week, a vibrant celebration of art and heritage. When Miriam Alarcón Ávila- a photographer, multimedia artist, and visual storyteller, invited me to host a workshop, I was both humbled and excited. We’d first crossed paths years ago at the Iowa Writers’ House, while I was working on my piece for We the Interwoven, a literary series highlighting first- and second-generation immigrant voices. Though we connected on social media, life, as it often does, pulled us in different directions, until now. more

In small towns like West Liberty, it’s easy to feel like everyone knows everyone. People seem to be more united. When it comes to an issue, word spreads quickly. The most recent discussion around town are the city utility bills. Many residents are feeling confused. Noemi Herrera, a bilingual administrative assistant at city hall, is working hard to change that. As one of the first faces people see when they walk into city hall, Noemi is committed to listening, helping, and making sure residents feel heard. She is there to address high utility bills and answer questions about city services. more

This weekend, a package arrived from Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca, Mexico, a village known for its rich Zapotec weaving traditions. Teotitlán’s textiles are made on hand-operated looms, using wool from local sheep and dyed primarily with natural ingredients sourced from the land. I was thrilled to open the package because inside were tlacoyales—or ku’uty, that I had ordered from Laaza, a fifth-generation workshop and gallery that’s dedicated to preserving Zapotec art. more

May Day is an old-fashioned holiday.  Russia commemorates this date in a big way.  Children used to dance around a Maypole.  I’m not sure kids still celebrate the month.  more

At just 16 years old, Ricardo Garcia Rodriguez is proving that age is no limit when it comes to turning a passion into a thriving business. Ricardo is a sophomore student of West Liberty High School and has recently  launched Festive Flair, a party decoration and photography business that’s already making waves in the West Liberty area. more

I grew up on YouTube and Vine, so I never really felt the need to get a TikTok account. Whenever anything goes viral on there (for better or for worse), I usually hear about it second hand. This … more

April 1 is right around the corner, but I’ve never been one for pranks. It’s not that I get offended, I’m just too much of a softie. I even think some of the dumb phone call pranks … more

I was born a biological girl, and I’ve always thought of myself as a girl. I’ve never had to question my gender identity, and while I may not be the most girly or feminine woman around, … more

It seems like everywhere you turn companies are trying to push the use of AI as the backbone in various creative projects. This company’s using AI for their latest commercial, another … more

When researching the Constitution, I learned that the 18th Amendment was passed and later repealed in the 21st Amendment and it made me think about the thoughts and work that are put into making an … more

Last week, I chaired the subcommittee on Senate File 49, which relates to bots and the purchase of event tickets on the internet. These bots ruin the chances of people obtaining tickets by flooding … more

In this year’s tax bill I do intend to pursue the option for counties (including Scott County) that have already declared Emergency Medical Service as an essential service, as well as any new … more

Greetings to any and all readers of the Wilton-Durant Advocate and the West Liberty Index! I’d like to take a moment to officially introduce myself. My name is Andrea Grubaugh, and … more