Hello! Thanks for stopping by my page. I'm a native Cedar Rapidian and a graduate of the University of Iowa. When I’m not at the station, I can be found hanging out with my rough collie, Velvet, and a cat named Coop. I love exploring NewBo and going to concerts and shows of all kinds. Aside from the Hawks, I love the Bulls, Bears, and White Sox. I also have a soft spot for the Los Angeles Dodgers. (I’ve even been to a game at Dodger Stadium!)
Chad Cooper
Lovin’ That New Modest Mouse Track
You could call Modest Mouse the forefathers of indie rock. They've been active since 1993 and they were one of the first bands to bring their particular sound to the masses.
Fans of the band were probably getting anxious for new music from the group -- they hadn't released an album since 2007's We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank...
The Flip Side: Urban Dictionary Loves Iowa City
By this point, most of us know that Urban Dictionary hates Cedar Rapids.
But what about our neighbor to the south? Iowa City is probably my favorite locale in the entire state. It sounds like Urban Dictionary agrees. Here are a few excerpts from several posts up at the UD site (Please excuse any grammatical/spelling errors):
Simply put, the best town in the world home to the best state U in the wo
Why is CR Removing This?
There's a really cool mural on the side of the DowntownTire store in Cedar Rapids. It's a depiction of the famous scene from the film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Maybe you've seen it. If you haven't, better get a look soon -- city code will require it be removed...
Coop’s Artist Spotlight: Big Data [VIDEO]
Back when we made the official transition over to "Iowa's Alternative," one of the first new artists to hit our airwaves was Big Data. The brainchild of producer/artist Alan Wilkis, Big Data is a crazy mash-up of electrofunk and catchy guitar riffs...
Marlins Slugger Giancarlo Stanton Hits a Home Run Out of Dodger Stadium
I've been to Dodger Stadium a few times. It's a huge ballpark -- the largest in MLB. There aren't many balls leaving the stadium. So when one does, it's the stuff of legend.
Cue last night in Los Angeles:
Giancarlo Stanton of the Miami Marlins hit one out of Dodger Stadium...
Pizza Daddy, Say it Ain’t So!
The feds cracked down today in Cedar Rapids. They carried out raids at two businesses in CR.Turns out they were looking for guns and ammunition bound for the Middle East. Authorities said they intercepted two shipments and seized more than 152 firearms and ammunition bound for Lebanon...
Iowa Landowner Claims Oil Company Offered Him a Prostitute
Oil pipelines are big business. Oil companies will offer lots of cash and benefits to landowners willing to have pipeline go through their property.
Hell, they may even offer the services of a prostitute.
According to Hughie Tweedy of rural Montrose (great Iowa farmer name, by the way), a representative of Dakota Access LLC offered the "sexual services of a woman" if Tweedy would allow p
Golfer Wins in More Ways Than One
Rickie Fowler won the PGA's Players Championship on Sunday. The win was the biggest of his young career, and if you believe those closest to him, was motivated, at least in part, by a recent Sports Illustrated poll naming him one of the game's most overrated players...
You’ve Been Heard
A few days ago I posted a blog about the upcoming NewBo Music Festival coming to Cedar Rapids on Saturday, August 8th. The point of the blog was my excitement about the festival and the fact that this would be an annual event.
Some listeners thought I was deliberately ragging on the current local music scene in CR...
Iowa Football: Crash & Burn
It's gonna get worse before it gets better.
Spring practice wrapped up a few weeks ago for the Iowa football program, which means we effectively don't have to think about football for the next three months.
Nothing on display during the practices or annual spring game made me feel any better about the Hawks...