Columns

My fellow Americans, I have a confession to make. Quite by accident, I realized I may have actually offended a large group of people Monday morning … while the national anthem played … at a Veterans Day assembly. It was just one of those situations when we find ourselves making a potentially bigger mess while trying to be considerate — like holding the door open for someone, only to realize you hit someone on the other side squarely on the nose...

The midterm elections on Tuesday, Nov. 6, brought some changes to state government. In the legislature, the House and Senate will remain in Republican control with a 54 seat majority in the House and 32 seats in the Senate (This number has the possibility of changing with canvassing and recounts in the days to come)...

  A:  First, I join with all of my fellow Americans to pay tribute to all of the men and women who have served our country honorably in uniform during times of war and peace. This year, we mark a special centennial salute on Nov. 11. On this day one hundred years ago, Armistice Day commemorated the cease fire agreement in World War I on the 11th hour, of the 11 day, of the 11th month. ...

Consumers have tools to keep the annoying robocalls and other annoying, unwanted phone solicitations at bay. There were 4 billion robocalls placed in July, up from 2.6 billion in July 2017, according to YouMail, which tracks the most common auto-dialed calls every month. The company's website lists high-risk numbers from 515 and other area codes, including scams involving interest rates, travel, insurance and vehicle warranties...

Election Day will not satisfy us. We often think it will, but it won't. Each side hopes their chosen "wave" (both of which sound like Kool-aid flavors to me) will win the day and right everything wrong with society. If only it were that easy. Fact of the matter is, problems will persist no matter which primary color dominates the government - local or national. ...

School funding is up, and there’s no disputing it. In fact, it's up over 30 percent the past eight years, a number House Republicans have been sharing since the beginning of the year. School aid is up from $2.444 billion in FY11 to $3.212 billion in FY19, a $767 million or 30.4 percent increase...

Earlier this year, the legislature passed a bipartisan bill targeted at opioid abuse. This is not the end of the conversation or the only avenue that can curb abuse. However, it was a good start. In a study released on Oct. 31, the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), reported the number of deaths involving opioids appears to be declining — perhaps by as much as 35 percent...

As the high school football postseason continues into the quarterfinals, parents may find themselves weighing the pros and cons of having their children participate. Physical activity improves fitness, helps build strong muscles and bones and boosts academic performance in some areas, but unfortunately sports and recreational activities also send hundreds of thousands of kids to the emergency room with concussions every year...

Hundreds of thousands of Iowans are making their voices heard by casting a ballot in the November elections. Are you one of them? If so, thank you for voting. If you’re not, why not? The United States of America is the greatest and freest country in the world because we give the power to our citizens to choose our elected leaders. ...

Dickinson County Trails Board submitted two grants in October through Iowa’s 2018 Federal Recreational Trails Program. One grant was for the rail trail, Tatonka Ska Trace, from Hudson Avenue in Spirit Lake and continuing west for another mile to 219th Street. In 2019, DCTB will be constructing a mile of this trail from Hy-Vee to Hudson Avenue, and this year's grant request will be a continuation from that segment...

This week and every week, parents should have conversations with their teens about the important rules they need to follow to stay safe behind the wheel. These rules address the greatest dangers for teen drivers — alcohol, inconsistent or no seat belt use, distracted and drowsy driving, speeding and number of passengers...

It's nearing the time of year again when ladies and gents dawn fancy dress and celebrate All Hallow's Eve. Not to be left out, this column is again in its own fancy dress just to add a bit of seasonal fun. For once, I was fairly prepared. It took some shower singing and some early morning note jotting, but I think this column — at least at first glance — could pass for the later handy work of a founding member of the Quarrymen (you may know the name John Lennon). ...

President Trump's decision last week to allow the year-round sale of E15 is a promise made and kept to farmers throughout rural America. E15 is shorthand for gasoline blended with 15 percent ethanol, instead of the more common E10, and was prohibited for sale in the summer by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2011...

On Tuesday, the three-member Revenue Estimating Conference held its fall meeting to revise state revenue projections for the current fiscal year (FY 2019) and the next budget year (FY 2020).   Fiscal Year 2019 – For the current fiscal year, the REC raised the General Fund forecast to $7.7421 billion. ...

The Revenue Estimating Conference (REC) projects general fund revenue. The REC is established in Iowa Code 8.22A. This entity provides a way to arrive at a consensus of general fund revenue estimates. These estimates are used by both the governor and Legislature for the budgeting process...

Humor is an ever-changing spectrum, and we may be starting to see some new colors in that spectrum thanks to the digital revolution. The format of the magazine caption contest has mutated and multiplied on the information highway and now calls itself a meme. ...

Last month, I completed my annual 99 county meetings for the 38th year in a row. At almost every one of those meetings, Iowans asked about the progress Congress is making on a new Farm Bill. The challenges surrounding international trade have created uncertainty, especially for farmers in Iowa and throughout rural America. ...

Here's a rhetorical question: Is it possible to be unfair to people on both sides of an issue? I'm not the mayor or police chief of the opinion page — that would be my publisher and general manager — but I am traffic enforcement when it comes to letters to the editor. No one likes an officer that lets too many cars fly by at a high rate of speed. No one likes citations for everyone who doesn't quite come to a complete stop at a controlled intersection, either.

We individually may tire of discussing the finer points of the Kavanaugh-Ford-investigation-setup-circus, but we collectively have plenty of steam. Fortunately, this steamer may be closing in on the light at the end of the tunnel. Kavanaugh is now the newest Supreme Court Justice. There's not much to be done at this point...

During the 2018 legislative session, we took action for a creative solution in providing Iowans relief from unaffordable health care products on the individual market. "Health benefit plans" are offered by Farm Bureau and administered by Wellmark. Sign up will be available starting Nov. ...

A lot has been said about Water Quality!  Here are some facts:   Iowa and other states in the Mississippi River basin have been the focus of national attention lately due to soil nutrients that drain to the Gulf of Mexico...

The Brett Kavanaugh confirmation is all anyone seems to be talking about. We're all in a bustle about his potential appointment to the highest court in the land. I mean, hardly anyone was watching the video the seal who threw an octopus at a kayaker last week. All right, one of those happenings might be more important than the other...

Imagine pulling up for some burgers and fries, when you see guys throwing hands, right in front of your eyes. --- That seems to have happened at McDonald's in Storm Lake, where a beef about rapping led to one big mistake. --- We've all done something stupid, so I'm not trying to be mean,...

Dickinson County Trails Board celebrated the opening of the area's newest trail segment on Sept. 5. The Highway 71 PLAC Trail involved removal and replacement of the existing trail pavement from Pearson Lakes Art Center (PLAC) to the trailhead along Highway 71. ...

Last month the governor announced the creation of the first "Governor's Teachers Cabinet" to give teachers a more prominent voice in education policy decisions. The teachers will meet quarterly with the governor, lieutenant governor and the Iowa Department of Education Director to offer their advice about how to better prepare all students for the knowledge economy, elevate the teaching profession and strengthen the direct line of communication between the governor's office, schools and communities.. ...

Recently the IRS published a campaign encouraging taxpayers do a "paycheck checkup."  The IRS wants taxpayers to confirm they are having the right amount of tax withheld from their paychecks now that major federal tax reform is taking effect. Without such a checkup, many taxpayers could see their refund or amounts due change when they file their 2018 taxes early next year...

I've been with the Dickinson County News since the start of 2010. There's never been a week when we've left out the opinion page. Sometimes, when we get a bumper crop of commentary, we'll even add a second page. That's not a wrinkle I brought to the table, by the way. I'm sure the uninterrupted string of opinion pages goes back much farther than my arrival...

The crisp autumn air brings a lot of memories with it, many of them pleasant. The wind carries the scent of homecoming football games, comfortable sweaters and, for some, the seasonal resurrection of pumpkin spice. I share in most of those, but I've been mentally blindsided by a more somber memory the last few years. ...

Recently, the Register’s editorial board published "Republicans push health plans that undermine mental health progress," where the Des Moines Register once again showed how out of touch it is with everyday Iowans – Iowa farmers, small business owners and their employees — who need affordable health care options...

This spring, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed an executive order to create a Children's System State Board. This children's board will serve as the single point of responsibility in the development and implementation of a Children's Mental Health System in Iowa. Recently, the children's board held its first meeting, and the work of this board can be followed through the fall at the DHS website...

All 2001 and newer vehicles can again legally use E15 this fall. This change will help consumers save money and give them additional choices at the gas pump. E15, a blend of 15 percent ethanol and 85 percent gasoline, has been approved to be safely used in all vehicles that are 2001 and newer. Unfortunately, a regulatory barrier from EPA has unnecessarily restricted the sale of E15 between June 1 and Sept. 15 to flex-fuel vehicles...

The American people have now had a chance to hear directly from Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in what might be the longest nomination hearing in Supreme Court history. For more than 32 hours, Kavanaugh has sat before the TV lights of the Senate Judiciary Committee, fielding questions from our 21-member panel...

There were shouts, there were pleas and there was Sen. Chuck Grassley reservedly tapping his gavel in an attempt to maintain order. I'm talking, of course, about the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. There's apparently millions of documents to potentially review. ...

The American people have now had a chance to hear directly from Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in what might be the longest nomination hearing in Supreme Court history.   For more than 32 hours, Kavanaugh has sat before the TV lights of the Senate Judiciary Committee, fielding questions from our 21-member panel...

  Protecting the integrity of Iowa's elections is the number one priority for my office. We work every day to ensure clean and fair elections across the state of Iowa and to protect the system from those who would like to undermine it. We are also dedicated to encouraging every eligible Iowan to register to vote and participate in our elections...

Recently, federal rules were finalized which further expand access to health insurance plans. People would be allowed to buy short-term, limited-duration health coverage that lasts up to 12 months and renew that coverage for a maximum of 36 months. Previously, these plans had only been available for less than three months and were not renewable...

This spring, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed her second executive order to create a Children's System State Board. This children’s board will serve as the single point of responsibility in the development and implementation of a children's mental health system in Iowa. Recently, the children's board held its first meeting, and the work of this board can be followed through the fall at Iowa Department of Human Services website...

On Tuesday, Sept. 4, I gaveled in the beginning of a days-long hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee to consider the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to serve as a Supreme Court Justice. It will be my 15th Supreme Court hearing as a member of the committee and my second leading the process as chairman. I’ve participated in the hearing of every sitting Supreme Court Justice, so I'd like to share some insight into how the process will unfold...

President Trump experienced Sen. John McCain's withering disapproval during their shared time in Washington D.C. but he certainly wasn't alone. Congressman Steve King supported McCain during campaign stops in Iowa, but it's safe to say any alliance faded over time. King and the 2008 GOP presidential nominee from Arizona didn't agree about border and immigration policies. McCain ultimately returned to the Senate...

There's a whole list of rules for crafting a good story. They were hand-written by the DCN's Editor Russ Mitchell in black dry erase marker on the whiteboard a long time ago, and they continue to hold true. Of course, there's a litany of writing tips he's shared that didn't make whiteboard status. ...

This summer has been a busy one for many! As a state representative, I am invited to many events throughout the year. Rarely can I make it to every single event or meeting, especially when one works a full-time job at the same time. Couple all this with the massive flooding that we saw this spring, the oil spill in Doon and finally the waste from the oil spill being transported to the Dickinson County Landfill. ...

Iowa's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 2.6 percent in July.  The state's jobless rate was 3.1 percent one year ago. The U.S. unemployment rate decreased to 3.9 percent in July. "Iowa hasn't seen an unemployment rate this low in 18 years and the amount of help available to employers to find workforce is substantial as evidenced by the more than 13,000 additional Iowans employed now compared to the same time last year," said Beth Townsend, director of Iowa Workforce Development...

The story of who killed Iowa girl Mollie Tibbetts is nearly complete. Cristhian Bahena Rivera has been charged with her murder and is going to trial. Authorities initially said Rivera was an undocumented immigrant, but now even that is being challenged. Nonetheless, the left is telling the right not to politicize this case, just as the right told the left not to politicize school shootings earlier this year. We all hold our preferred causes quite dearly...

The fourth annual Tiki ride on Aug. 4 was a big success bringing in $1,800 that will garner a total of $7,200 with matching grant funds for DCTB. Funds raised will be used to support the Dickinson County Trails Board in planning and development of priority projects. Thank you to Sportsman’s Pub for all of the work they do putting on this entertaining ride and for the donation to the trails...

There has been considerable debate recently about improving the educational system in Iowa. At the heart of this debate is the main issue of providing the best for our children when it comes to their future. Every parent wants their children to have it better than they did. ...

  This year, House Republicans made mental health a priority by passing many significant mental health bills. These bills included efforts to expand access to mental health services in Iowa communities, provide training to help teachers recognize signs of depression and to increase the mental health workforce throughout the state...

With most Iowa schools starting this week, the Iowa DOT is reminding folks about the laws relating to passing a school bus. Riding on a school bus is the safest way for children to travel to and from school. The greatest risk when traveling by school bus occurs when a child is around the bus. The "danger zone" is 10 feet in front of, behind and to each side of the bus. We need to be especially careful of this area...

Marilyn Maye reminds us that a home isn't just four walls and a roof. And, she found a new one for her performances in Okoboji. "I'm thrilled to be playing the lovely Lakes Art Theatre for two nights," she recently told us, adding that she is glad the Pearson Lakes Art Center is part of the area landscape offering audiences wonderful music and entertainment...

Each year, the governor recognizes individuals who have helped friends or neighbors in need of critical need of assistance. On Aug. 9, Gov. Kim Reynolds recognized seven people for their heroic acts of service. There are four categories in which honorees are recognized — lifesaving with valor, lifesaving, meritorious service and outstanding service...

Some of our area newspaper editors in recent days have had an interesting conversation about whether it pays to argue an irrational subject. With President Donald Trump shifting from labeling any news he doesn’t like as "fake," to dramatically painting the media as "the enemy of the American people," the question becomes — when does the press fight back?...