Meet Iowa Capital Dispatch's reporter who will be covering higher education

Our Monday Zoom lunch guests on May 15 (in the podcast above) were Kathie Obradovich and her newest addition to the stellar Iowa Capital Dispatch team, Brooklyn Draisey. In this conversation you will listen to Obradovich, the managing editor of Dispatch, and Brooklyn. You’ll also hear questions and suggestions from experienced journalists on the call, who are welcoming Brooklyn to this very important beat.Iowa just lost Iowa Wesleyan University, a 181-year-old fixture and employer in the town of Mt. Pleasant. This is speculation, but I can’t help wonder if the plight of the school had been wider known, would it have made a difference? Read Chuck Offenburger’s report. Colleges are facing real headwinds going into the future. Will they falter? What will that do to the towns without the gowns on graduation day each year? Is it one more step toward the death of the college towns that rely on income generated by their existence?Listen to the podcast, and share this important bit of news to those you know will have an interest. And for those who can, read and donate to Iowa Capital Dispatch. We need all the local coverage we can support. A problem named can be a problem solved. Ignoring or hiding issues does not work.Our guest Monday, May 22, is Randy Bauer. He served for seven years as budget director for the State of Iowa. He’ll be able to answer our questions about tax policy, lack thereof, and other budget issues. For more: https://www.pfm.com/who-we-are/professional?name=rbauerMore: * Bauer was a  member of the Iowa Senate Democratic Research Staff from 1987-1998, with primary responsibilities for budget, tax, and economic development policy.* Governor Tom Vilsack appointed him state budget director in January 1999, and he held that position through July 2005.* Bauer joined Public Financial Management Inc., (now PFM Group Consulting LLC) in July 2005. PFM is an independent financial advisory firm to state and local governments throughout the US, with 38 locations, including an office in downtown Des Moines. He lead its state government, tax policy, and business incentives consulting practices. The Monday Zoom Lunch session is an ongoing feature available to all subscribers to Julie Gammack’s Potluck. Here is your link to the call: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89246007435What the hell happened to Iowa? Rekha Basu and I have a podcast we call: What the hell happened to Iowa? We just released a two-part episode about what the hell happened to media in Iowa. You’ll hear from Trish Nelson, Nicholas Johnson, Tom Stoner and Ted Koppel. Yep, THE Ted Koppel. The second part is a stand alone conversation with the veteran broadcaster: Iowa Writers’ CollaborativeA new columnist has joined the ranks of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative! Please welcome Wini Moranville, food writer, and restaurant reviewer, whose work has appeared in The Des Moines Register, DM Magazine, and Meredith publications. About The Iowa Writers’ CollaborativeWe do not accept advertising. We are linking readers directly to Iowa writers. By becoming a paid subscriber, you can bring a smile to a columnist for the cost of a double-quarter pounder with cheese. Pick one or more, and help sustain this movement.Laura Belin: Iowa Politics with Laura Belin, Windsor HeightsDoug Burns: The Iowa Mercury, CarrollDave Busiek: Dave Busiek on Media, Des MoinesArt Cullen: Art Cullen’s Notebook, Storm LakeSuzanna de Baca Dispatches from the Heartland, HuxleyDebra Engle: A Whole New World, Madison CountyJulie Gammack: Julie Gammack’s Iowa Potluck, Des Moines and OkobojiJoe Geha: Fern and Joe, AmesJody Gifford: Benign Inspiration, West Des MoinesNik Heftman, The Seven Times, Los Angeles and IowaBeth Hoffman: In the Dirt, LovillaDana James: New Black Iowa, Des MoinesPat Kinney: View from Cedar Valley, WaterlooFern Kupfer: Fern and Joe, AmesRobert Leonard: Deep Midwest: Politics and Culture, BusseyTar Macias: Hola Iowa, IowaKurt Meyer, Showing Up, St. AnsgarWini Moranville, Wini’s Food Stories, Des MoinesKyle Munson, Kyle Munson’s Main Street, Des MoinesJane Nguyen, The Asian Iowan, West Des MoinesJohn Naughton: My Life, in Color, Des MoinesChuck Offenburger: Iowa Boy Chuck Offenburger, Jefferson and Des MoinesBarry Piatt: Piatt on Politics: Behind the Curtains, Washington, D.C.Macey Spensley, The Midwest Creative, Davenport and Des MoinesLarry Stone, Listening to the Land, ElkaderMary Swander: Mary Swander’s Buggy Land, KalonaMary Swander: Mary Swander’s Emerging Voices, KalonaCheryl Tevis: Unfinished Business, Boone CountyEd Tibbetts: Along the Mississippi, DavenportTeresa Zilk: Talking Good, Des MoinesThe Iowa Writers Collaborative is also proud to ally with Iowa Capital Dispatch. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit okobojiwriters.substack.com/subscribe