Ron Paul wins the Iowa Caucuses.

Rick Perry trails the field, further embarrassing all those who gushed over his “Bigfoot” entrance into the race last August (even the Iowa City Press-Citizen ran not one, not two, but FIVE photos of Perry’s 30-minute visit to the Hamburg Inn).

The Iowa City City Council votes unanimously to prohibit pedestrians on the pedestrian mall.

Coralville City Manager Kelly Hayworth lures Pagliai’s Pizza away from Iowa City with $20M in TIF subsidies. Hundreds of furious Regina High School alumni occupy the Coral Ridge Mall food court.

Wellmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield lowers its premiums after Chairman John Forsyth voluntarily cuts his salary and bonus package by 90%, to $260,000.

Gov. Branstad resigns to work as a teacher’s aide at a Des Moines pre-school. “It’s  always been my dream job,” he
said, while announcing that he will continue to draw two pensions to supplement his starting salary of $20,000.

Congress extends tax breaks to upper income “job creators.” In fairness to his secretary, Warren Buffet raises her salary to $1 million.

The Iowa City City Council installs cameras downtown to help enforce its bans on bird costumes, gathering signatures for petitions, and anyone who makes them feel uncomfortable.

Iowa City developer Mark Moen converts Hotel Vetro into a homeless shelter.

To make up for falling basketball ticket sales, the University of Iowa Athletic Department allows Herky to be used in ads
promoting jello shots in downtown bars.

The Board of Regents announces an emergency tuition surcharge to help pay for the additional cost of arresting students downtown.

The Iowa Lottery announces a new tuition aid program to provide free lottery tickets to UI students who cannot afford to pay the new tuition surcharge.

Despite a 44% approval rating and 8% unemployment, Barack Obama defeats Romney or Gingrich in November.

After business profits plummet downtown, the Iowa City City Council lowers the drinking age to 16.

Angry Prairie Dogs becomes the hottest new game of 2012.

Reprinted with permission from the January 2012 issue of The Prairie Progressive, Iowa’s oldest progressive newsletter, available only in hard copy for $12/yr.!!  Send check to PP, Box 1945, Iowa City 52244.