Ribbon cutting ceremony marks opening of Liberty High

Alyson Kuennen, News Editor and Photographer
August 13, 2017
Filed under News, Showcase

North Liberty welcomed all to their new high school on Aug. 12 for a ceremonial ribbon cutting. Tours led by the Student Advisory Group were held after the ceremony for community members to follow and learn about the high school, where an expected 700 students will attend when school starts on Aug. 23....

Scheels draws crowd with third annual DockDogs

Natalie Dunlap, Reporter
August 11, 2017
Filed under Metro, News, Showcase

Metal tags jingle on collars and dogs shout over the music as Dan Mussell kisses his golden retriever’s head. He lets go of the dog. Maddie’s paws race across the dock and she launches herself into the water, landing at 17’ 4’’. “Her first jump was one foot 11 inches. She ran down...

All about AnimeIowa

Luke Reynolds, Reporter
August 2, 2017
Filed under Metro, News, Showcase

Walk into the Coralville Marriott hotel on the last weekend of July, and the lobby will be packed. Not with people anxiously waiting for a room, though. There are people with wigs of all colors, dragon ears, giant televisions on their heads and even wearing elaborate dresses that they've sewn themselves....

Johnson County Fairgrounds embrace another year of festivities

Alyson Kuennen and Anjali Huynh
July 30, 2017
Filed under Metro, News, Showcase

Victorious cattle moos, musical performances and euphoric carnival riders' shouts filled the air at the Johnson County Fair Grounds for the annual Johnson County Fair last week. The fair started July 24 and ended with a bang July 27 to a show of fireworks that left festival goers eager for next year's...

Iowa City Jazz Festival sparks community involvement

Natalie Dunlap, Reporter
July 6, 2017
Filed under Metro, News, Showcase

For three days every summer, downtown Iowa City hosts an annual jazz festival. This past weekend was the 27th jazz fest. The free music festival is popular among jazz enthusiasts, as well as Iowa City inhabitants looking to enjoy a night downtown. The festival kicked off with a performance from Un...

The invisible wall down First Avenue

Nina Elkadi, Print Editor-in-Chief
June 22, 2017
Filed under Metro, News, Politics, Showcase

The last time Donald J. Trump made an appearance in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, it was as the Republican nominee for president. He returned to the Double Tree Hilton on June 21 as President of the United States. Outside of the convention center, protesters stood side-by-side with supporters. Car horns blared as pe...

Iowa City gathers together to celebrate Pride

Emma Brustkern, Print Entertainment Editor
June 19, 2017
Filed under Metro, News, Showcase

On Saturday June 17, hundreds of people gathered together to celebrate the LGBT community at the annual Iowa City Pride Festival. Iowa City Pride originated in the 1970s following the Stonewall Riots, and has been a staple of Iowa City culture ever since. The organization aims to promote diversity and...

West’s forty-ninth annual commencement ceremony graduates over 400 students

Alyson Kuennen, News Editor and Photographer
May 31, 2017
Filed under News, Showcase

Earn a Silver Cord this Summer

Sadie Rhomberg, Reporter
May 30, 2017
Filed under News, Showcase

With busy schedules during the school year, getting volunteer hours to earn a Silver Cord can be difficult. As the summer break begins, though, many opportunities arise. Some students find it easier to regularly volunteer during break because they aren’t occupied with school for eight hours a day....

Jazz bands perform for “Friday Night Concert Series”

Anjali Huynh, Reporter
May 28, 2017
Filed under Metro, News, Showcase

Playathon successful despite low turnout

Cameron Cook
May 27, 2017
Filed under News, Showcase

The now semi-annual Music Playathon–an event where students, staff and local musicians perform for a casual audience–was held in the West High cafeteria this past Saturday. The event featured food from local businesses and student and parent sponsors; all genres of music and a dim lights ...

West Side Story staffers help kickstart Van Allen Elementary student-run newspaper

Alyson Kuennen, News Editor and Photographer
May 24, 2017
Filed under News, Showcase

After weeks of preparation and a little help from a few West Side Story staffers, students from Van Allen published their first entirely student-run newspaper today. The online publication includes articles, interviews, and a countdown to the end of school. To visit the first edition of Rocket Times,...