7/18 column: A new attitude about alcohol?

I’ve done my share of griping about alcohol abuse in Iowa City.
But I’m feeling optimistic after spending time on the phone this week with University of Iowa Provost Wallace Loh.
Sure, he said, students are going to drink. The UI shouldn’t condone it, but they do need to recognize that it’s a fact of life. He [...]

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3/18 Column: Accuracy applies to bars, too

I screwed up in my March 11 column — got a fact wrong when I reported that one of Mike Porter’s Iowa City bars was being sued by two men who say they were assaulted by five underage people who tanked up at the bar.
Vito’s is named in the suit, but Porter bought that Pedestrian [...]

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3/11 Column: It’s time to hold bars responsible

Iowa City bar staff members aren’t to blame for Jerome “Patrick” McEwen’s death.
But they share blame for Curtis Fry becoming so drunk he couldn’t tell whether he was inside or outside on a snowy and freezing February night.
Fry’s bench trial for second-degree murder started Monday. The 22-year-old Wilton man is accused of beating the 75-year-old [...]

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Fry case clinches it: Iowa City bars have to say “when”

Iowa City bar staff aren’t to blame for Pat McEwen’s death.
But they share blame for Curtis Fry becoming so drunk he couldn’t tell whether he was inside or outside on a snowy and freezing February night.
 

Fry’s second-degree murder trial started Monday in Johnson County District Court. The 22-year-old Wilton man is accused of forcibly entering McEwen’s home, [...]

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IC Council steps up on alcohol

Bravo! It looks like the Iowa City Council is about to make some changes to reign in irresponsible bar owners here.
Gregg Hennigan reports that councilors indicated their support for modifying their liquor license renewal guidelines to get tougher on problem bars. They also support allowing police to test bar employees for alcohol to make sure [...]

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