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Editorials

Building an Inclusive Community: Celebrating World Down Syndrome Month

Happy Down Syndrome Awareness Month! October is a time to celebrate those with Down Syndrome and all they bring to our world. It is also a reminder of the importance of inclusion and the beauty of embracing differences. Down Syndrome is one of the most common genetic conditions, affecting one ...

Brass Tacks from Rural Iowa: Chickens coming home to roost

Our healthcare storm that’s been brewing on the horizon is getting a lot closer these days. And if Congress doesn’t get their act together soon, it could be a category 5 hurricane. As I write this, we’re about two weeks into the government shutdown. It’s shut down because Democrats ...

Serving Iowans During the Schumer Shutdown

The same Washington politicians who were whining about DOGE laying off unnecessary bureaucrats just a few months ago are now exposing who is and isn’t an essential employee by shutting down the government. The Schumer Shutdown has sent home 750,000 federal employees deemed non-essential, ...

Q&A: Red Flags in Farm Economy

Q: What red flags are catching your attention in the U.S. farm economy? A: As a lifelong family farmer, I understand Iowa farm families weather the storms of cyclical markets and natural disasters. Managing risk is central to the job. As harvest season gets into full swing, I’m keeping a ...

You Are What You Love

I just finished reading James Smith's work, "You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit." I reevaluated my life's actions to shape my spiritual habits. I was reminded of the old saying, “You are what you eat.” If I eat unhealthy foods, I cannot be surprised if I become unhealthy. ...

Brass Tacks from Rural Iowa: The worst of the worst?

Leading up to last year’s election, then candidate Donald Trump campaigned heavily on deporting immigrants on a massive scale. It’s something he’s followed through on, regularly claiming that his Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency would target “the worst of the worst.” ...

Q&A: Federal Boost for Rural Health

Q: What is the Rural Health Transformation Fund? A: Congress approved this summer a historic $50 billion federal investment to rebuild rural health infrastructure that was included in the health and tax bill President Trump signed into law on July 4. The Rural Health Transformation Fund is ...

Iowa’s AEAs: Doing what matters most for Iowa’s kids

For nearly 50 years, Iowa’s Area Education Agencies (AEAs) have provided a wide range of services designed to help students succeed. What made AEAs unique was the way we connected general education supports with special education services. This “braiding” of services meant that teachers, ...

Q&A: Stop Government Shutdowns Once and For All

Q: Why did you reintroduce your Prevent Government Shutdowns Act? A: The Constitution assigns to Congress the power of the purse. That keeps the federal purse strings in the hands of lawmakers elected by the people to represent their views and values. The federal budget operates on a 12-month ...