The 2020 November election was historic for a number of reasons, and the race to represent Iowa’s second Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives was no different. Mariannette…

“Around 4 am I woke up because I thought I had a stomach ache. For about an hour, I rolled around trying to ignore the pain, finally, I got up and went to the bathroom for painkillers. As soon as…

November 2020 has presented a time for historic elections, and not just nationally. On November 6, City High elected two Homecoming Kings for Homecoming royalty for the first time: Joe Bacon ‘21 and…

William Hinton ‘21 was not going to vote. He decided he would walk to Alexander Elementary on the afternoon of November 3 and register at his polling place. Hinton was one of many young people who participated…

Teammates train together, compete together, and work together towards a common goal. For high school sports teams, this often means representing their school. However, not all athletes are enrolled in…

Part One: The Protests

Raneem Hamad wasn’t surprised by the tear gas.

“I don’t think we’re ever going to forget that night. A lot of people were commenting on how it was a war zone and…

As November 3 approaches, political campaigns are at their highest momentum and intensity. Because of a worldwide pandemic that is unceasing, organizing and encouraging voters to use their voice looks…

Living in Iowa City, one might hear the term “support small businesses” used often. With the ongoing pandemic and the recent opening of large corporations downtown, small businesses have expressed…

For months, well-designed, color-coordinated, patterned squares flooded City High students’ Instagram feeds; however, the content of these boxes was less pleasing than their aesthetic exterior. All under…

Trigger warning: domestic abuse

An alarming secondary crisis lurks behind the COVID-19 pandemic most of us are familiar with. The so-called “shadow pandemic” refers to the increase in domestic abuse…

For Avery Wilson ‘20, living with anxiety is a struggle, but over time, she has developed ways to cope. However,  when it comes to climate change, she can’t talk herself down.

“Climate anxiety…

Iowa is a state known for farming, leading the nation in corn, soybean, pork, and egg production according to the U.S Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. In 2012, there…

Silvia Secchi often takes walks along the Iowa River with her dog Chiquita. She enjoys the fresh air, and watching the eagles, but also keeps a careful eye out for algae blooms and the water level. She…

Sitting in class, Alex Howe ‘23, Massimo Biggers ‘23, and Ian Martinez ’23 carefully watched the clock, waiting for the time to come. Walking out of South East Junior High for the first time was…

The negative effects of climate change are expected to have a greater impact on lower-income communities, according to a federal report released in 2018. Additionally, these specifically in the United…

After the CDC’s encouragement of fabric masks and the current online homemade mask trend, curious retiree Peg Steffen was prompted to make her own in her West Liberty home. Kathryn, her daughter, and…

Since the discovery of COVID-19 in December of 2019, the virus outbreak has been deemed both a pandemic by the World Health Organization and a national emergency by President Trump. COVID-19 has led to…

Reconnecting with your soul. That’s how Amanda Hardy, a psychologist who works at Healing Passages Birth & Wellness Center in Des Moines, describes what it is like to spend time in nature. This is…

Teachers and students often feel as though conversations about race can be difficult to navigate in a classroom environment. However, these discussions can influence students’ views of race and racial…

Buses and cars lay strewn across the street, their windshields crushed into minuscule glass shards. A combination of broken engines billowed black smoke into the air, while armored police shot tear gas…

In the 2020 presidential election cycle, American voters have seen a more diverse field of candidates than ever before. Multiple women, people of color, people from different religious backgrounds, and…

The shrill sound of a whistle filled the room, signaling the end of the match. Sophia Strathearn ‘21 released her opponent and rose to her feet. This was only her second official wrestling match, but…

Everyone only has one brain, and protecting that brain can be a challenge. According to a study published in the journal Pediatrics, football is the sport with the highest concussion rates followed by…

Pew Research Center reports that about 41 percent of Iowans are registered as Republican. According to The Gazette, Johnson County–where Iowa City and City High School are positioned–is arguably…

The caucuses draw national attention to Iowans as presidential candidates tour the state, trying to persuade voters to stand in their corner on February 3. However, while the caucuses are on a national…

Ann* started smoking marijuana in the winter in junior high. Ann continued to use drugs throughout junior high and high school, eventually she was using hard drugs once a month. What started off as curiosity…

A room bursting with adults shouting and praising their candidates, long lines in her elementary school gym, the mini-caucuses in which she was allowed to participate: When she was a child, Mariam Keita…

In recent years, the makeup community has expanded greatly from what its origins on YouTube in early 2005. It’s spreading onto bigger social media platforms, primarily Instagram and YouTube. But wearing…

A sprained ankle, a broken bone, or a torn muscle all have the ability to put even the best athlete on the sideline. An injury in high school athletics can make a big difference, from sitting out a season…

Facial recognition is a vital factor of human interaction. However, there’s one variable that can cause this function to falter. Most commonly referred to as “the cross-race effect” or “own-race…

High school is one of the most important times of our lives. It’s where we truly mature and find who we are. It is a turning point between child and adult. One of the most significant milestones in this…

A few weeks ago, I was brought to a superchurch against my will. I was staying with the family friend of a family friend in Chicago. Before we had left that morning, I was told I was going to have “a…

“‘She’s feisty. I like them when they’re feisty,’” City High English teacher Jennifer Brinkmeyer heard as she walked away from a student she was supervising for testing after she asked him…

A chronic illness is defined as a disease lasting three months or longer, typically incurable and ongoing. Approximately 133 million people have chronic illnesses in the United States according to the…

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 5.8 million students were enrolled in private schools as of 2016. 

“I know most of the people in my grade and I like that,” Becky…

POV: Gen Z downloaded TikTok as a joke. Now dances, audios, and challenges cross borders to unite over 500 million teens, gays, grandmas, teachers, and cosplayers. It also unites people in the lunch line.
…

Malcom* was playing with a BB gun. He was with two friends, but they are white, and he is black. They shot at a shed, and then the cops came. Malcom served 17 months and his friends served no time. What…

The football team crashes through the City High banner, flanked by Sparkle cheerleaders excitedly waving pom-poms towards the stands. Although often overlooked by the crowd due to the bustle of a home…

According to Psychology Today, a study which examined why women may be hypercritical of each other, found that they may be more sensitive to social exclusion than men. Therefore, their first response to…

Navaro Nehring was six years old when he was given his first marionette puppet. The sophomore behind the puppets in this year’s winter play, “A Christmas Carol,” has had a fascination with the craft…

 City High’s Own Barber

The red and white carpets, the black wood-framed mirrors in place on the clean white walls of the room, and the bright orange-red chairs on the edge of the space—all…

The smell of sweat fills the air as team members of the Iowa City Bruisers push past their opponents, gaining points to win the match. The team is the only free roller derby team in the world. It includes…

“Oh hey guys,” a friend says as they enter a room. Murmurs of “hi,” “hey,” and “what’s up?” can be heard in response. However, no one objects to the use of the word “guys.” This word,…

Before the sun has risen, Heidi Stalkfleet ‘22 pulls her goggles down over her eyes and dives into the cold pool. This early morning swim practice is followed by school, another swim practice, homework,…

According to Very Well Family, 0.45 percent of all pregnancies are identical twins, or about one in every 250 births.

“Most people are really shocked and a lot of people don’t even realize [that…

It is safe to say I have a theatrical personality. I have always been addicted to the unreal: the idea of pretending I am someone I am not, the thrill of donning a costume and transforming entirely. But…

Alison* swung her legs down from her newly painted pastel desk. She smiled to one side.

“I’m in preschool mentally, but physically, I guess I’m in the 10th grade. I don’t know how I got there….

Warning: This story contains sensitive content, including mentions of violence and sexual assault.
Introduction

Sudanese native and resident of Khartoum Fatma Mohamed, eighteen, remembers when…

Advertisements for e-cigarettes, including JUUL, the e-cigarette which represents 76.1 percent of the market (Nielsen), have been a contentious issue between vaping companies and the federal government….

Every morning Thos Trefz writes a quote on the blackboard that hangs over his room. Quotes are all over his Instagram and T-shirts; they are layered throughout his coaching lessons. Any of the runners…