I knew better than to meet one-on-one with Tom Cullen regarding the 28E agreement between the City of Alta and the Alta-Aurelia School District, but I did. Prior to that meeting, both the City …

In December 2023, John Hale, and by association his wife Terri, were the subject of name-calling by Gov. Kim Reynolds’ office, accused of being “so-called ‘advocates.’” At that time, the …

Julie Roland published a compelling op-ed in the April 21 issue of The Fulcrum, titled “Hegseth, Trump and the Desecration of the American Military.” Ms. Roland is a 10-year lieutenant commander …

This race comes down to one simple question: why are working Americans falling further behind while Washington insiders and special interests keep getting richer and more powerful? Iowans are …

Iowa has a deep history of military service. Hundreds of thousands of brave men and women have donned the uniform and fought for a stronger, brighter future for the American people. This includes …

Investing in Iowa’s infrastructure through the Rebuild Iowa Infrastructure Fund is always a sign that a legislative session is coming to an end. That was the case as the 2026 session concluded on …

The Iowa legislature adjourned sine die for the 2026 session on Sunday, May 3. The gavel fell in both chambers shortly after 7 p.m. We had several big issues to finish up, and our final days were …

Republicans yammer on the TV that you wouldn’t want to see Iowa become Minnesota, Illinois or California. You wouldn’t want 10,000 lakes getting in the way of corn or tech bros buying up all …

Retired Sen. Tom Harkin endorsed Josh Turek of Council Bluffs for the Democratic nomination for the US Senate seat that Harkin once held. As such, Turek could benefit from Harkin’s tutelage on how …

The New York Times reported last week on the death of a 76-year-old man in the subway. The story referred to him as “elderly.” “Elderly?” I turn 76 today and I don’t consider myself …

Many people know that former Iowa Senator Tom Harkin was the mover and shaker behind the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. One of the bill’s features required that access to …

At the risk of blurring the increasingly fuzzy line between church and state, here is a Gospel reading for public employees and elected officials, according to Matthew:  “But blessed are …

Barrels upon innumerable barrels of ink have graced the pages of court documents for many, many decades in the quest for American justice. Attorneys for both sides have marshaled their best arguments …

I was proud and honored to represent my fellow Iowans for 30 years in the US Senate. Thank you, Iowans, for giving me that opportunity, over five statewide elections, to work for you. I have a …

One of baseball Hall-of-Famer Yogi Berra’s memorable quotes was “It’s like déjà vu all over again.” Yogi’s turn of phrase implied that something being experienced had been seen many times …

On the farm of my youth, our full-time field worker, Jackie, didn’t say much. When he did, however, he often offered creative euphemisms and descriptive epigrams. A favorite, for example, was if it …

After a mini-marathon, the 2026 Legislative Session has adjourned sine die — Latin for “without day.” We have adjourned without another day to reconvene this session. The job needed to get …

Gov. Kim Reynolds can put up her pointy-toe cowboy boots and reflect on 10 years of solid damage done under the golden dome. She might not be remembered as the worst. The Iowa History Journal …

Finally, after a late-night session, the US House voted 224-200 last week to approve a five-year farm bill just three years behind schedule under Republican control. The bill heads to the Senate, …

As I sat during the Hy-Noon Kiwanis meeting Monday noon, I looked at the honor students from Storm Lake and St. Mary’s who were being recognized for their achievements, and I couldn’t help but …