After a modest start in a basement studio nine years ago, the up-and-coming indie-rock band the Melismatics is garnering national attention.

The group grew into fruition when Ryan Smith teamed up with Jeremy Ylvisaker on a musical project they recorded in a studio at Ylvisaker’s mother’s house. The project, which they began to work on in 2000, eventually became the Melismatics’ first album, Postmodern Rock, released in 2001.

Everyone has those familiar, heartwarming dishes. They are the ones people turn to when they crave warmth and comfort. These classic meals come in many forms and usually end up making a bad day a little better. Take spaghetti, for instance. This week’s recipe is a vegetarian take on the classic meal. When combined with a crispy garlic bread, these two dishes make for an easy and fabulous night of Italian eating.

Anna Paquin can’t remember much about day-to-day life on the set of Buffalo Soldiers. It’s hard to blame her – Miramax postponed release of the black comedy several times after acquiring it on Sept. 10, 2001.

Paquin plays the teenage girlfriend of military clerk Ray Elwood (Joaquin Phoenix) and the daughter of his chief antagonist (Scott Glenn).

What happens to a person who describes himself as “the kid in your class who drew comic books with himself as the hero and tight-rolled his jeans even though you told him he wasn’t cool enough,” on his MySpace page? If he’s Bill Peterson, and he is, he gets a cool nickname and starts a band.

Having served as auditor since 1977, Tom Slockett is no rookie on the job. He has worked to make voting easier with legislation like the same-day voter registration implemented this year. He plans to continue working to ensure every able voter has the opportunity to cast her or his ballot.

Challenger Hanna Gugliuzza looks to unseat current Auditor Tom Slockett from his long-standing position to change the face of the office, she said.

If anyone can spy what costumes students are plotting (for better or worse) in Iowa City, it’s Ragstock manager and UI graduate Molly Freeman. The shop at 207 E. Washington St. sees a five-time increase in business during October as a result of the college-town costume spree. The Daily Iowan asked Freeman what characters can be expected frolicking about town this year – a list that includes lumberjacks, racy doctors, Sarah Palin, and even a bog monster.

UPDATED – 02/12/09 – 12:09 P.M.

Hawkeye fans will get to enjoy the services of head coach Kirk Ferentz just a little longer.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) – With a historic evacuation of nearly 2 million people from the Louisiana coast complete, gun-toting police and National Guardsmen stood watch as rain started to fall on this city’s empty streets Sunday night – and even presidential politics took a back seat as the nation waited to see if Hurricane Gustav would be another Katrina.

The Daily Iowan will shuffle off to Buffalo to see some real snow and bad football after today.

The Iowa City city councilors have voted unanimously to pay the Howard R. Green Co. $169,414 for design engineering services. The six-figure sum will cover the design of a pedestrian bridge over Interstate 80. According to the Cedar Rapids Gazette, the project is estimated to cost $1.8 million. In our weak economy, the six figures to Green is a waste of public funds; especially given that the bridge is to be built at the North Dodge intersection.

The events of last fall demonstrated that the threat to American security was greater than had been previously thought, triggering UI officials to equip themselves over the past year with means to prevent the unthinkable.

The Hygienic Laboratory implemented employee-background checks, reduced the number of its entrances from roughly 36 to two, and hired 24-hour security guards – measures that won’t disappear anytime soon.

Since becoming Iowa’s head coach in December 1998, Kirk Ferentz has been swatting away rumors left and right about his leaving the Hawkeyes for the NFL.

Construction workers will begin restoring the historic UI Old Capitol building this summer, more than half a year after the golden dome that sat atop Iowa City’s horizon was destroyed by flames.
The $4.5 million first phase of the renovation will replace the building’s dome, cupola, and bell tower.