The growing number of clean and natural beauty brands offers one the opportunity to live a life free of harsh chemicals. Organic makeup, clean beauty, ethical skincare: these terms are popping up everywhere in the beauty industry. Many brands that claim to be natural or organic are attracting cult followings. However, that ethical face cream …

“I see a lot of young people in the audience. You are so important. You can enact change, and if my music inspires you to do that, then it’s working,” said musician Jordan Benjamin, also known as Grandson, to a sold-out theatre in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 10. The 25-year-old singer began his “No …

Updated: May 9, 2019 | 11:40 a.m. The two can be combined for an even better experience. On the outskirts of the Old Market in Omaha, NE sits an old reclaimed brick building. Inside, there is a bustling scene of men and women working to make their dreams come true. The two words modeling and …

Photographer Jayson Hinrichsen and personal blogger Rachel Mallas both audibly groan when they talk about the struggles of building a career through Instagram in the Midwest. “People ask me where I’m from, I tell them Iowa, and they say ‘Idaho’?” Hinrichsen explains. “Like, they don’t even know where Iowa is.” “It’s so hard,” Mallas adds. …

The Iowa governor’s office exhibits the work of female artists. Successful women are often noted as trailblazers in every field. Art has been kept away from women for centuries, partly because women were not allowed to obtain formal education during the biggest art moments in history. For a long time artforms women specialized in were …

A staggering number of senior citizens in Iowa are battling hunger. Food insecurity affects over 83,000 of them based on the latest data provided by Meals on Wheels Association of America. In Polk County alone, 9,000 are suffering from this epidemic. Food insecurity often happens due to poverty, but is also common for people over …

Presidential races can be a lot to track, we know that. To help stay on top of it, this is your guide to the 2020 presidential race. Candidates have qualified for a profile in this guide by generating at least 2% support in polling (so you know we didn’t just pick who we liked). Polling …

Sharing her anecdotes of the Midwest and appreciation for the heartland, critically acclaimed journalist visits Iowa. On Thursday, Apr. 11, accredited journalist Lisa Ling ventured to America’s Heartland and spent an evening in Des Moines, Iowa, as she presented the 40th Bucksbaum Lecture at Drake University. Ling, currently a host and producer of CNN’s This …

Comedy— a male dominated industry no more. Behind every belly laugh,  there is an even greater, hilarious comedian. Comedy is a male dominated industry, but that is slowly but surely beginning to change. Women comedians can act, write, perform and direct stand-up just as well as men. Breaking down these stereotypes and getting comfortable in …

Meet the fans who travelled all the way to Minneapolis, MN, to cheer on their team during their bid for a National Championship. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGVsSgVfGdo As March Madness rolled into April, Minneapolis, MN prepared to host the Final Four. After 64 teams were eliminated over 20 days of play, the NCAA Tournament came down to just …

Those smoky homemade flavors that you can’t find just anywhere. Americans love their comfort food, and barbecue is no exception.  In the Midwest, barbecue is one of the most hotly debated food topics. It’s no secret that this classic is an all time favorite. It’ is now a primary dish in many American restaurants due …

How Good is Casey’s Pizza? Casey’s General Store sign, right outside the doors. It is not commonplace in the United States to think of a gas station as the prime spot for a good slice of pizza, but, Casey’s General Store has made itself “Famous for Pizza,” as the slogan goes, in its home state …

It takes a Midwesterner to truly understand the intricacies of the micro-cultures represented by each state and even each city in the region. All over Middle America, people have pride in their homeland and they take that pride wherever they go. This pride is expressed in many different ways, but themed bars and restaurants make …

Women are making strides to advance their careers in the male-dominated industry of craft beer making. The beer making industry has been dominated by men for decades. Advertisements and commercials have created a skewed image of women and their relationship with beer — ranging from their taste in beverages to their ability to properly brew …

The floors of The Plant are cleaned with beer. Okay, not beer, per se. More like leftover beer water — or at least the water Whiner Beer Co. has at the end of the beer-making process. It doesn’t smell. It doesn’t have any alcohol. It’s just water. And normally it’s just flushed down the drain. …

Gabby Carlson and Kaitlyn Menz, two college students, share their story over their eating disorder recovery journey. Eating disorders are a prevalent issue in today’s society. Many people aren’t aware of the serious impacts these disorders have on young adults and kids. According to Eatingdisorderhope.com, ten million females and one million males struggle with an …

Usually people know where their nearest doctor or dentist office is but not many know about their nearest chiropractor. West End Chiropractic is located just one mile off Interstate 80. This isn’t just any chiropractic practice. Owners Justin Behnke and Kaitlyn Bottorff hope to have a bigger impact on the health of their community. Photo …

Recently, there have been several depictions of HIV/AIDS (Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)  in shows like ABC’s How to get Away with Murder, Amazon’s Transparent, HBO’s Looking, and Logo TV’s Finding Prince Charming. The recent successes of the live showing of RENT on FOX and Bohemian Rhapsody, the movie, have allowed for HIV/AIDS to …

How community pets were doing their best to survive freezing temperatures Through late January and early February, the Midwest and Northeast were bundling up and hunkering down against drastic arctic temperatures. With winter winds reaching speeds of 30 miles per hour, cities had been hit with frigid temperatures falling far into the negatives. Chicago reached …

The recent “polar vortex” spells only the beginning of environmental trouble for the Midwest This year’s winter has led heavy piles of snow and extremely cold temperatures in the Midwest, but summer will ultimately prove the damages climate change will bring to the region./ Picture by Jacob Reynolds Earlier this year, a “polar vortex” barraged …

How to make simple and strategic steps to living a more sustainable lifestyle. Our garbage cans are stinking up more than just our kitchens; they’re smelling up our conscience. The United States Environmental Protection Agency reported that in 2013, the U.S. produced 250 million tons of waste, with about 150 million tons sent to sit …

Epilepsy. AIDS. Cancer with severe pain. Multiple Sclerosis. These medical conditions seem completely unrelated, with one exception: They respond to treatment with medical cannabidiol, which can be purchased – with proper documentation – in Iowa. The first law legalizing medical marijuana was passed in California in 1996. Iowa is now one of many states where some form …

Meet the fans who travelled all the way to Minneapolis, MN, to cheer on their team during their bid for a National Championship. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGVsSgVfGdo As March Madness rolled into April, Minneapolis, MN prepared to host the Final Four. After 64 teams were eliminated over 20 days of play, the NCAA Tournament came down to just …

The Hotel Nauvoo brings together history and hospitality for relaxing atmosphere in Illinois small town In the town of Nauvoo, Illinois, history whirls all around. From its basis in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) to utopian settlers called Icarians to an influx of German settlers, Nauvoo is notable for attracting unique …

Each year Connor Sports creates a unique basketball court to be used in the Final Four – dubbed the ‘Final Floor.’ But, what happens to it when March Madness is over? More than a month before the first tip of the 2018-2019 NCAA basketball season, on a fall Michigan day, 500 of the most stunning …

Downtown Perry on a snowy evening, across from Hotel Pattee on Willis Street. Photo by Abigail Wallner. Located about 40 miles outside of Des Moines, Perry is a small town with a massive gem. Standing at three stories tall, with forty rooms, the Hotel Pattee is a huge draw for the town.   “This isn’t …

Take a road trip through the Midwest, and you’re likely to pass any number of various sideshow attractions: from the National Hobo Museum in Britt, Iowa, to the magic capital of the world in Colon, Michigan; Lamar, Missouri’s birthplace of Harry Truman, to Riverside, Iowa’s future birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk. Trekkies and hobo-enthusiasts …