Editorials

EDITORIALS

BY ART CULLEN

The Iowa House of Representatives has denied press credentials to a digital journalist from Des Moines because she has liberal viewpoints. Laura Belin, publisher of Bleeding Heartland, was singled out for denial while other political journalists with conservative points of view were allowed credentials. It is an attempt to silence independent journalism, plain and simple.

EDITORIALS

BY ART CULLEN

What a relief that Alta Mayor Al Clark summoned some good sense and appointed Kirk “Bubba” Reetz fire chief over a stupid dispute. A few weeks ago the mayor refused to appoint Reetz after a 19-year career as chief in which he has given selfless service to the community, and offended the sensibilities of volunteer firefighters who did not sign up to play politics.

EDITORIALS

BY ART CULLEN

President Trump dangled what appeared to be an enticement in front of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: Give $5 billion for a border wall, and he will reopen the government and give Dreamers a three-year reprieve. Pelosi was right to reject a deal that was no deal at all. Holding young innocents hostage to his empty campaign promise — in a crisis of his own making — is simply dealing against himself.

Dreamers should never have been put in this position.

EDITORIALS

BY ART CULLEN

With respect, we disagree with our friends at The Des Moines Register and Sioux City Journal who this week called on Rep. Steve King, R-Kiron, to resign over his remarks involving white supremacy, white nationalism and western civilization, as it were. They argue that he is not fully representing the Fourth Congressional District because the House Republicans just stripped him of his agriculture and judiciary committee assignments, and that his statements do not reflect mainstream Iowa values.

EDITORIALS

BY ART CULLEN

Everyone in Alta should appreciate the work of the volunteer fire department and former Chief Bubba Reetz. Certainly they should appreciate that the volunteers raised the money to build a new fire station. Nobody cares where their donations come from except for Mayor Al Clark, who fired Reetz for refusing to turn over all volunteer-raised funds to the city. Reetz says that would violate trust with donors, who thought they were donating to the firefighters and not to the mayor’s desires.

EDITORIALS

BY ART CULLEN

Sen. Randy Feenstra, R-Hull, set the Iowa political class to chattering Wednesday with his announcement that he will challenge Rep. Steve King, R-Kiron, in the Republican primary for Congress from the Fourth District. This is a serious challenge with a former Kim Reynolds staffer on board, and we have heard repeatedly in recent weeks that the GOP money was looking for someone to cure that migraine that King brings with his racist and idiotic comments.

EDITORIALS

BY ART CULLEN

Sen. Elizabeth Warren kicked off the Iowa Caucus cycle in Storm Lake Saturday in grand fashion, attracting overflow crowds as well in Council Bluffs, Sioux City, Ames and Des Moines. These were not merely the curious, they were the committed and came from three states to hear the populist firebrand rail on the corruption of money and politics.

EDITORIALS

BY ART CULLEN

EDITORIALS

BY ART CULLEN

Before we all get too excited about an idea to build a Buena Vista University recreation center into Scout Park, let’s consider the realities: no plans have been drawn (to our knowledge), the park is largely composed of silt from dredge infill and doubtless unsuitable for much but a Boy Scout shed and restroom and, most vexing, there is no clear title to the property.

EDITORIALS

BY ART CULLEN