‘Meskwaki Nation Does Not Pay Property Tax, and That Isn’t Fair!’ Does this sound familiar? It may not sound familiar if you don’t live near Indian Country. I live in Tama County, Iowa. Tama County is home to the only federally recognized tribe in Iowa. I have heard this statement or ...
There has been much discussion around the state and around the Capitol regarding water pollution from fertilizers, pesticides, and manure from factory farms. It affects all Iowans every day. We have 12-15 state park beaches closed every weekend of the summer due to pollution from nitrates and ...
One moment can change a child’s life forever. A car crash. A fall. A sports injury. Suddenly, a student who once kept up in class is struggling to remember directions, control emotions, or keep up with schoolwork. When that student walks back into school, the question becomes: Who knows what ...
We have entered “debate season” in the House chamber. Each day this week we caucused on a long list of bills, then debated them on the House floor, sending over 80 of them to the Senate. One significant bill that we passed late last week was House File 2565, creating a Human Trafficking ...
"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, ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
When you see a freight train chugging along the tracks, we rarely think about what that train is carrying. But a freight train is an integral piece of our transportation infrastructure, especially here in Iowa. From grain and fertilizer to ethanol and machinery, reliable rail service supports ...
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 ...