Campaigning for public office is no picnic. Day after day there are speeches, Q&A’s, interviews and the constant need to think before you speak. Candidates eat enough chicken to have …

A special election on Tuesday in Warren County (Indianola) offers us a snapshot of where Iowa stands on democracy: four-square for it. Democrat Kim Sheets beat Republican officeholder David Whipple …

This session, the Iowa Legislature continued to prioritize expanding access to mental health care in every corner of the state by passing bills to recruit and retain mental health providers in Iowa. …

In weeks like this, it’s not hard to recognize that AAC life is certainly more comfortable than BAC life. That’s After Air Conditioning and Before Air Conditioning. The dividing line …

We had the pleasure of attending a Practical Farmers of Iowa field day at the Zack Smith farm just east of Buffalo Center in Winnebago County. The heat dome lifted for a glorious Saturday morning as …

Even before Congress returns from its five-week, no-work period to its usual three-day weeks of little work, Republicans in both chambers are already signaling global markets, the White House and …

Age appropriate books My granddaughter had a book when she was four months old that had black and white geometric patterns. Perfect for a baby to focus on during tummy time. Very age-appropriate. …

Heading into the Labor Day turn, Donald Trump holds several lengths of a lead as we clear the Iowa State Fair, round the turn past the first big Iowa Poll, and snort through the much-hyped TV debate …

There were more disclosures in recent days in the ongoing saga involving the ethical standards of justices on the U.S. Supreme Court — or, more accurately, the lack of ethical standards. With …

The Alta city attorney told officials that they cannot walk away from a 28E agreement with the Alta-Aurelia School District over their shared library. The pact binds them until 2025. Meantime, the …

Storm Lake City Councilman Tyson Rice did the public a service on Monday by questioning whether the Ahlers law firm of Des Moines, if hired as city attorney, would have a conflict of interest when …

Vouchers will erode public education On Aug. 18, Iowa PBS’s Iowa Press hosted Josh Bowar, Sioux Center Christian School head of school and Jennifer Raes, principal of Des Moines’ St. Anthony …

We’re grateful and relieved, for now, that the Storm Lake School Board and administration are not rushing to ban any books from the curriculum or the library. A state law bans books that mention …

Here we sit sweating it out under a heat dome. It’s supposed to get hot in an Iowa summer, but like this? One heat dome after another. Then a shower just in the nick of time. They say it’s a sign …

We feel sorry for the elected leaders of the City of Alta and the Alta-Aurelia School District who are stuck in an impossible situation because of a state law banning books that mention sex from …

His license plate reads “Car Guy” and that pretty much describes Frank Alderton, who is retiring after a lifetime in the car business. Frank grew up in a family whose father was a General …

Another day, another indictment. This one at the hands of the district attorney in Atlanta, Ga., accusing Donald Trump and others of conspiring to fraudulently overturn the 2020 election results. …

Deanna Mahoney was like countless Iowa women through the years. She nurtured three children. She worked outside the home to supplement the family income. She loved bowling and mushroom hunting. That …

Where’s the audit? Once again we read about the misappropriated money. Our taxes also pay for the state auditor’s salary. It’s past time for asking for a state audit. It’s $5 million. …

Ever wonder why our Midwestern rural layout consists of 36 one-mile-square sections per township? Or where the Midwest’s emphasis on public education comes from? Or why slavery never gained a …