Iowa City Owl

Not all comic/sci-fi conventions need to be megalithic to provide a weekend full of entertainment, education, and friend-making: DemiCON, a general fandom convention ran out of the Holiday Inn Northwest off of Merle Hay Road, Des Moines, is an exceptional example of how 200-300 people can provide a memorable occasion for all.

After University of Iowa Student Jordan Ramos was recently told that she was not allowed to dance on the platform at Iowa City's Union Bar, she has taken the fight to the public. She announced that the incident occurred, and recently took the fight to a protest on the streets against size discrimination.

As Marvel's The Avengers comes out tomorrow, expecting to smash box-office records worldwide, a backlash has come out from comics artists, writers, bloggers, and fans who are appalled with Marvel's lack of proper accreditation and reimbursement of the characters' creator Jack Kirby.

Last night, several severe thunderstorms ripped through the state of Iowa and much of the Midwest, doing some damage in the process. Washington and Johnson counties in Iowa were both hit by the damage.

Two very popular country starts are set to headline this year's FRY Fest in Coralville with performances. Chart-topper Lee Brice will open for yet another chart-topper, Sara Evans, on September 7 at the Iowa River Landing in Coralville.

Last month, the state of Iowa voted to demolish a house at 711 Melrose Avenue, despite opposition from local community members and residents along Melrose Avenue. The stat plans to proceed in demolishing the house, although in an attempt to preserve some history, the barn behind the house will be left standing.

In an appalling yet unsurprising move by local bar, The Union, a University of Iowa student has been discriminated against based upon her self-described 'plus size'. Jordan Ramos found herself as a target of discrimination recently when she was told that she was 'not pretty enough' and 'pregnant' (which she is not) to be able to dance on the platform at the notorious downtown establishment.

Recent investigations have shown that the Iowa Department of Public Health has not been doing radon testing, as demanded by law, due to lack of funds.[ads]State legislation demands that the Iowa Department of Health conduct radon testing and inspect radon-removal systems from basements in homes, due to Radon's radioactivity and health hazard to humans when inhaled.

Last week on Wednesday, at 1:20 p.m., President Obama gave his planned speech at the University of Iowa, focusing specifically on student loan debt and the difficulties that attempting to afford higher education can cause for students.

Next weekend, All Music music shop will be hosting an all day music festival in and near their store at 1016 Gilbert Court, featuring performances from five bands and artwork by three local area artists.