Submitted by
clare@stormlake.com on Wed, 02/28/2018 - 9:20am
EDITORIALS
BY ART CULLEN
There isn’t a whole lot we can do about it, but Gov. Kim Reynolds’ plan for a billion-dollar tax cut is a tremendously bad idea. We are running chronic state deficits whose size, for now, is obscured; we believe it to be easily more than $100 million per year. The last thing we should be talking about is a tax cut. But, it worked for the Republicans in Washington for a few weeks if not months, so maybe it can work for the Republicans in Des Moines to get them through November.
Submitted by
clare@stormlake.com on Fri, 02/23/2018 - 9:20am
Submitted by
clare@stormlake.com on Wed, 02/21/2018 - 9:58am
EDITORIALS
BY ART CULLEN
For those who think that police are racist and shoot before they think: Gilo Akwai, 21, was approached while sitting in a car early Monday by a Storm Lake Police officer. Akwai, an African American, was a suspect in an assault at a bar earlier, and the vehicle allegedly had tried to run over a bar employee. When the officer made contact a gun was seen between Akwai’s legs in the car seat. Turns out it was not loaded and Akwai was taken in without incident.
Still, Akwai is lucky to be alive.
Submitted by
clare@stormlake.com on Fri, 02/16/2018 - 9:29am
EDITORIALS
BY ART CULLEN
Public employees have it too good. That’s why the Iowa Legislature last session gutted their unions and took away their collective bargaining rights. They’re too fat and powerful. This week, the Buena Vista County Board of Supervisors allowed 2% raises for county workers (the engineer got 3% in a fair negotiated tradeoff). This is pretty much the trend. The snow plow driver actually isn’t getting fat. The Consumer Price Index in January rose 2.1%. There goes the raise and the tax cut.
Submitted by
clare@stormlake.com on Wed, 02/14/2018 - 9:16am
Submitted by
clare@stormlake.com on Fri, 02/02/2018 - 9:05am
EDITORIALS
BY ART CULLEN
It would be a shame if voters did not have a choice for Buena Vista County supervisor this November. None of the three incumbents has an opponent. Dale Arends, Tom Huseman and Paul Merten are, at this point, destined for re-election. Candidates may emerge as county political party conventions loom a couple months out. But we certainly aren’t hearing any news about challenges.
Submitted by
clare@stormlake.com on Wed, 01/31/2018 - 9:06am
Submitted by
clare@stormlake.com on Fri, 01/26/2018 - 9:06am
Submitted by
clare@stormlake.com on Fri, 01/19/2018 - 8:45am
EDITORIALS
BY ART CULLEN
We congratulate Paul Allen on his announcement that he will run for Buena Vista County Attorney to succeed his boss, Dave Patton. Allen comes well-prepared to the job, having handled a heavy load of criminal cases, many of which are complicated and important. We understand that he has the respect of law enforcement and the support of Patton, which tells us a lot.
Submitted by
clare@stormlake.com on Wed, 01/03/2018 - 8:55am
EDITORIALS
BY ART CULLEN
We necessarily discussed race and immigration quite a bit last year, and especially in more recent months, as the issue is thrust upon us primarily by outside forces. Over the holidays we had a little time to reflect and we keep returning to a theme: pride. We are proud of Storm Lake. We are proud of the way we have handled ourselves over the past quarter century. We live in a diverse, interesting and wonderful place that has become a model for rural communities anywhere.