From board games and a celebrity, here are the Press-Citizen's most read stories of 2023
The year 2023 was a busy one. From ongoing investigations to special surprises, the Iowa Citizen-Press Citizen staff covered it all.
Here are the top 10 most-read articles we published this year.
10. Waterloo woman dies when two teen drivers run Iowa City stop sign, hit her car, ISP says
A 22-year-old Waterloo woman, Jennifer Russell, died in Iowa City when two Iowa City teen drivers ran a stop sign and collided with her car at the intersection of East Court Street and Seventh Avenue in May. The Press-Citizen reported on the incident as the story unfolded, which occurred shortly after 11 p.m. The teen drivers were eventually charged with vehicular homicide and involuntary manslaughter after Russell's estate claimed they were drag racing.
More: Waterloo woman dies when two teen drivers run Iowa City stop sign, hit her car, ISP says
9. Jack McCaffery, son of Iowa basketball coach, found guilty of failure to yield in fatal accident
A Johnson County District Court judge found Jack McCaffery guilty of failure to yield to a pedestrian in a fatal accident on Melrose Avenue. The Iowa City West High student and son of Iowa men's basketball coach Fran McCaffery was involved in a collision with veteran Corey J. Hite, an Iowa Army National Guard soldier, who was jogging at the time of the incident. Hite later died from injuries sustained in the accident, and McCaffery, a highly-ranked basketball recruit, was sentenced to pay a $1,000 fine and his license has been suspended for 180 days.
Details of the accident weren't immediately available in May, as both names were withheld from incident reports before being released a few weeks later.
More: Jack McCaffery, son of Iowa basketball coach, found guilty of failure to yield in fatal accident
8. This Iowa girl is wrestling against boys — and she's winning at the Iowa high school state tournament
Reanah Utterback, a sophomore wrestler from Sigourney-Keota, made it to the quarterfinals of the Class 1A state boys wrestling tournament, aiming to secure a spot on the podium at 106 pounds. Despite the official sanctioning of girls' wrestling, Utterback participated in the boys' division due to a loophole that allows girls to compete for boys' teams if their school does not have a girls' sports program. She told reporters she wanted more of a challenge but also wants to see more progress for girls wrestling as she continues her career.
More: This Iowa girl is wrestling against boys — and she's winning at the Iowa state tournament
7. 'The Miracle Season': Meet the real people who inspired the movie
The tragic death of Caroline Found, the vibrant heart of the 2011 Iowa City West volleyball team, and the inspiring story of her team's championship season are portrayed in the film "The Miracle Season." The movie was officially released in 2018 but it is a story that remains important to the Iowa City community.
More: Remembering 'The Miracle Season': How the Iowa City story made it to Hollywood
6. $2M winning Powerball lottery ticket bought in Iowa
A $2 million Powerball ticket, just one number away from the $1.4 billion jackpot, was purchased in October at a Casey's in Tiffin.
More: $2M winning Powerball lottery ticket bought in Iowa Saturday
5. Police escort Iowa City High team from basketball game vs. Fairfield after 'racially charged' comment
A boys' basketball game between Iowa City High and Fairfield High School came to an abrupt end when a racially charged comment was directed at City High's Black coach, Brennan Swayzer. The Little Hawks chose to leave the gym for safety reasons along with the use of a police escort.
4. The 8 most anticipated new restaurants coming to Johnson County in 2023
Iowa City is continuing to grow, and so is the food scene. This well-read Press-Citizen article highlights some of the new restaurants that opened this year, from local franchises to breweries to the best new brunch spots.
More: The 8 most anticipated new restaurants coming to Johnson County in 2023
3. After bomb threats, Iowa City school district removes book targeted by anti-LGBTQ Twitter account
Book removals have been a hot-button issue in Iowa for the last several years.
The book "This Book is Gay" was removed from Iowa City Community School District libraries following a Twitter attack and related bomb threats. The bomb threats prompted Northwest Junior High to evacuate the building.
The district chose to withdraw the book from shelves on a temporary basis. The threats aligned with a series of incidents targeting LGBTQ-related school activities in various districts.
More: After bomb threats, Iowa City school district removes book targeted by anti-LGBTQ Twitter account
2. 1980s board game created by Iowa native gets reboot thanks to fans across US, Canada
Vintage is the new vibe in Iowa City and it guided this particular story to the second spot.
The beloved 1987 board game, "Personal Preference" garnered a 2023 reboot after persistent requests from dedicated fans, including a Canadian enthusiast who reached out to the game's creator, Donal Carlston. The revamped version, supported by a $25,000 crowdfunding campaign and a passionate volunteer team, features new categories and expansion decks. It was released in December.
More: 1980s board game created by Iowa native gets reboot thanks to fans across US, Canada
1. Comedian Will Ferrell, on the road, drops in on Iowa City bar to film a documentary
The most popular Iowa City Press-Citizen story of 2023 drew plenty of laughter and joy back in March.
Comedian Will Ferrell surprised patrons on a random Wednesday at The Deadwood. He was in town filming a road trip documentary. The star of cult comedies "Anchorman" and "Elf," spent a couple hours playing pool and drinking a few beers while being filmed. He didn't interact with the patrons, Deadwood manager Carlos Amaya said, but he drew a big crowd.
The film's production crew said the producer used to frequent the Deadwood.
Ferrell and company arrived in a vintage, wood-paneled station wagon, setting off a whirlwind of excitement and gossip.
More: Comedian Will Ferrell, on the road, drops in on Iowa City bar to film a documentary
Jessica Rish is an entertainment, dining and business reporter for the Iowa City Press-Citizen. She can be reached atJRish@presscitizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @rishjessica_.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Here are the most read Press-Citizen stories in 2023
