Back on the Farm: Local and National News
Local and University News
Blizzard hits IC! For those of you currently enjoying your semester in balmy climates count yourselves lucky! Your fellow Hawkeyes spent several weeks battling the elements earlier this semester as a blizzard wreaked havoc on Iowa City. So much havoc in fact that Governor Brandstad officially declared Johnson Country a disaster area. But it wasn't all bad; no school and lots of sledding were a good distraction from the subzero termperatures!
Back in the Land of Lawsuits...In Iowa City news, Apartments Downtown, the IC rental tycoon that runs hundreds of rental units throughout downtown and the campus area is being sued for possible legal violations within their leases. Over 50 current and former tenants have come forward with complaints of swindling behavior by their landlords (including one charging a student for a door damaged when someone broke into their apartment!). The case to build up evidence is still in the works.
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National News
Democracy in the Heartland
Amid the recent successful political uprisings around the world Wisconsin is witnessing its own homegrown displays of activism. For days protesters have filled the streets of the state's capital to oppose a bill that would cut funding to labor unions and strip many workers of their bargaining rights. It is being promoted as a solution to close Wisconsin's budget gap but is widely criticized. So much so that all of Wisconsin's Democratic senators have fled the state in order to prevent a vote taking place.
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And the Oscar Goes to...
The Academy Awards took place recently. If you're looking for good films for a lazy evening in here's a brief overview of some of the winners:
Best Picture: "The King's Speech"
Best Actor: Colin Firth ("The King's Speech")
Best Actress: Natalie Portman ("Black Swan")
Best Foreign Film: "In a Better World" from Denmark
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