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Opinion

Were You There?

Local Columns

"Then they sat down and kept watch over him there.” Matthew 27:36 (ESV) “WERE YOU THERE when they crucified my Lord?” asks the old spiritual. Rembrandt van Rijn, the famous painter whose great art hangs in the finest galleries of the world, would have answered, “Yes, I was there, ...

The Lord’s Work

Local Columns

Last week was the second week of Lent. Lent is meant to be a time of repentance. These 40 days are set aside to praise and worship the Lord; to read the Bible more, and to pray more often. Christians who observeLent correctly anticipate deeper intimacy with the Lord. Many denominations choose ...

Heather’s Highlights: County Government and You, February 2026

Local Columns

Yes, you heard correctly…I am running for reelection as Tama County Supervisor District 3, which includes the cities of Traer and Gladbrook. I am thankful for all of the continued support and am excited to run for a second term. The primary election will be on June 2, 2026. The Board of ...

Brass Tacks from Rural Iowa: A Funnel Report Card

Editorials

February 20 saw the passage of the first legislative funnel. This is a deadline lawmakers set to winnow down bills eligible for consideration for the remainder of the session. It doesn’t apply to spending bills, but does a good job of narrowing what lawmakers will focus on around the midpoint ...

Meggers’ Memo: Week 6

Editorials

As we wrap up Week 6, I wanted to give some insights into what happened at the Capitol this week, especially because it was Funnel Week. What is Funnel Week? For those who are unfamiliar, Iowa lawmakers have self-imposed deadlines that help to keep bills moving through the legislative ...

On Nature: Arctic Under Attack

Local Columns

The coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a special and unique place in northernmost Alaska that supports calving caribou, denning polar bears, migratory birds that visit every state in the U.S., and is a sacred place of the Gwich’in people. However, it is also thought to ...

Iowa Republicans raise property taxes more than a socialist

Editorials

That damn socialist mayor out in New York threatened to hike property taxes by 9.5% unless he can ram through a wealth tax. Wait a New York minute: Property taxes on our humble metal shed along Railroad Street shot up more than 70% this year. Potholes pock the streets and we can barely afford ...

Iowans must stand up to chronic underfunding of public schools

Editorials

I started my career in rural Iowa in 1974 as an English, speech and reading teacher. Our students were top performers and the state’s education system was the gold standard. Educators and public schools in general were revered and respected by their communities. We didn’t have a lot of ...