University of Iowa President Sally Mason shared how the UI contributes about $6 billion to the state economy during the annual Rotary Club meeting at the University Athletic Club. (Note: A paid subscription may be required.)

Bruce Gronbeck, a University of Iowa professor emeritus of political communication, says the vice presidential debate made Obama-Biden supporters feel much better about themselves and their chances than the first presidential debate.

Alex Karras, who played football for the University of Iowa in the 1950s, loved to perform. Famous for his success as an actor, he will also be remembered as one of the NFL's defensive stars of the 1960s. He died Wednesday of kidney failure at the age of 77.

University of Iowa political science professor Cary R. Covington says he thinks Iowans are more receptive to Obama's claims about the economy moving in the right direction following the debate and the most recent jobs report.

Indonesian author and 2010 UI International Writing Program (IWP) participant Andrea Hirata, hopes to find out if his autobiographical novel, The Rainbow Troops, will be a hit in the U.S. after more than one million copies of the book were sold in Indonesia.

Novelist Justin Cronin, who has a Master of Fine Arts from the UI Writers' Workshop, says his daughter inspired him to write a best-selling apocalyptic thriller, The Passage, after calling his books boring.

The University of Iowa has made an educational push in recent years to curb bad behavior in its 10 residence halls.

Ranked no. 11 in the country, the UI College of Nursing has changed the format of its undergraduate program so that students will be expected to complete their general-education requirements before they enter the nursing school.

Three University of Iowa students from South Korea were among those involved in planning to thank veterans of the Korean War at a special presentation that will be held this coming Saturday at the Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center.

Cosmopolitan magazine has named Council Bluffs native Nick McCoy, 25, a University of Iowa graduate with degrees in accounting and engineering, as Iowa's most eligible bachelor for 2012.