The assassination of Charlie Kirk set off a national convulsion, as it should. It’s horrible. Frightening. It is not a civil war, which is vital to keep in mind. Kirk’s murder is part of …

The week of Sept. 8 was peppered with bad news: Another school shooting was overshadowed by the murder of a political influencer, and folks had a lot to say about the latter and much less about the …

Another political leader killed, and another frustrating challenge on what to say, what to do. Charlie Kirk’s death resurfaces similar tragedies from our American past, both venerable and …

In his 2024 presidential campaign, Donald Trump famously said he was working on “the concept of a plan” to solve our country’s healthcare problems. He wasn’t and he …

I attended Storm Lake St. Marys from 1954, graduating with the Class of 1963. There were so many great, life shaping, cherished memories that even this narrative can’t describe them all. But here goes…

The farmers who spoke at a Sept. 2 meeting with congressional officials in Brookland, Ark., were respectful, plain-spoken and worried, according to the 4-minute, 30-second report aired by KAIT News, Jonesboro and …

Matt Bormann feels used and abused as a model for stewardship by an ag establishment that does not want to invest in comprehensive conservation. The St. Joe farmer, age 46, is a registered …

It should astonish us that the City of Storm Lake and Buena Vista County are deposing each other in an absurd lawsuit where justice will be done only for the Des Moines lawyers. The city is suing the …

I’ve never cared much for poetry, unless they’re dirty limericks. I much prefer prose when a person wants to explain their thoughts. But there is one poem I love — the only one …

During decades as a journalist, I had countless conversations with interesting people — future presidents, wannabe leaders, governors, business executives, religious thinkers, crooks, and …

We the people            growing more pissed off by the day            will not go quietly into fascism— This …

Growing up in my home, I would occasionally feel lonely and sad when my parents couldn’t attend my sporting events, choral concerts or even drama productions. All I really needed growing up was …

Why does Congress even bother to debate an annual budget? Every year members of the federal legislative body spend innumerable hours in committees and on the House and Senate floor debating …

September usually marks a turning point of sorts for most people. Summer turns to fall, vacation turns to school, and the green hope and promise of growing crops turns into the yellow and gold of …

Everybody has a day he or she can remember as the worst day of their life. Some unfortunate people have endless days they call the worst day of their life. As I think back, most of these times were …

The Iowa Department of Education today released new spring 2025 assessment results from the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress for students in grades 3-11. The state-level results show …

The corn looks record-setting, but Iowa State Extension figures it a loser because of falling prices. The heck, you say. We should be kings out here. The black soil, rain at the right time, …

President Trump gave Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., marching orders: Go wild on health. That’s just what RFK2 is doing at the helm of the Department of Health and Human Services. His order to cancel …

Now Trump wants to send military troops into Chicago because he thinks the Windy City is overrun with crime that only he can control. He ought to know about crime, convicted felon that he is. I …

Even the best salesman would struggle explaining away the reasons for the latest contradiction from the president of the United States. He believes crime in Washington, D.C., is so out of …