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On Sept. 30, Speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives Linda Upmeyer announced she was not going to seek re-election in 2020 and was stepping down as Speaker. This move effectively allows the incoming Speaker an opportunity to take the reins early, while still having the former Speaker in the Chamber to assist with the transition. Former Speaker Kraig Paulsen afforded the same opportunity to Speaker Upmeyer...

Students and families seeking to avoid student loan debt might be tempted by creative alternatives. One idea growing in popularity at schools in other states is income-sharing agreements (ISAs). The hook: Give up a certain percentage of your future earnings to cover the cost of your education. The amount repaid is linked to the amount you earn after graduation. If your degree fails to pay off, you may end up repaying less. ...

Farming is about community. It always has been. From the earliest known farming communities in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia to the modern farms punctuating the landscape of rural America, people have worked together for centuries to cultivate the crops that feed the world...

The Legislative Fiscal Committee met for the first time during the 2019 interim on in September. One of the major presentations was by Northeast Iowa Community College and the Greater Dubuque Development Corporation, discussing their initiative to connect childcare with education and training programs for in-demand jobs. ...

A recent survey of lenders offering private student loans to Iowa students and families highlights a clear lesson: Shop around and do your homework, or risk paying more for your education.   Federal student loans are always the best option for student borrowers. However, many Iowa students will find that scholarships, grants, and federal student loans fail to cover all their costs. Private student loans can close gaps in financial aid packages. ...

Universities have long been centers of political correctness. But campus administrations increasingly seem to be indulging students who, when faced with uncomfortable ideas, complain of feeling "harmed" or "unsafe." This is reaching its breaking point and making it hard for professors to teach...

Recently there has been a lot of talk about ending the electoral college and instead move to a popular vote. These talks have been brought on lately due to several of the more recent presidential races ending with an electoral victory and the popular vote going to the different candidates. Most recently President Trump won an electoral election and lost the popular vote...

The Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency (AEA) hosted a professional development course Aug. 5-6 called "School on Fire: Institute for Creativity & Innovation in Education." While it is routine for the AEAs to host professional development courses, this one was a little different. ...

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Melissa Loehr. I am the Court Appointed Special Advocate and Foster Care Review Board Coordinator. My job is to recruit and train volunteers to become advocates for children who have been abused and neglected and are involved with juvenile court. ...

Avast ye mateys! Thursday was "Talk Like a Pirate Day," so pull up a stool, ye landlubbers as I tell ye o' the great go-kart plunder of 2011. I can remember it like the smell o' a shipmate after three weeks at sea. A chill was in the salty October air when a Scandinavian pirate whose name has been lost t' time eyed some bounty near the Port o' West Okoboji. The ornery cuss were bein' near some pubs 'n thrill attractions...

Let me give credit where credit is due. The Trump administration — on Sept. 11 of all dates — said the Food and Drug Administration has been instructed to crack down on "non-tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes." A statement from the FDA says this is in an effort to tackle the epidemic — their word, not mine — of vaping among young people. ...

U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst issued a statement Tuesday encouraging Iowans to "forget Area 51 — waste at the Pentagon is out of this world." The combat veteran's point was to let Iowans know about the need to consolidate unneeded and underused warehouses in the Department of Defense...

The United States Department of Transportation recently announced that Iowa was awarded a $33.4 million federal Competitive Highway Bridge Program (CHBP) grant. State Departments of Transportation in 25 eligible states were invited to apply under the program — by law eligible states were limited to states with population densities of less than 100 people per square-mile based on Census data...

With the first-in-the nation caucuses this winter, prominent national Democrats like Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, and Elizabeth Warren have continued to endorse extreme ideas and socialism. Not to be outdone by presidential candidates' far-left health care proposals, Iowa House Democrats introduced legislation last session that would force Iowans into a socialist-style, government-run health care system that would eliminate private health insurance (House File 96). ...

Maintenance projects will be getting started after Labor Day at various trail locations. The work will include an asphalt overlay of the Nature Center-Kenue Park Trail starting at 175th Street in Okoboji and going west to the Nature Center. The Spine Trail along Kiwanis Park and 20th Street in Spirit Lake will be getting an overlay and curb ramp improvements as well. ...

Our world is more connected than ever. In a lot of ways, this is a good thing. In an instant, I can send a tweet from my office in Washington, D.C., or post a photo to Instagram from my farm in New Hartford. These are just a couple ways I keep my constituents informed about how I'm working for them. ...

Folks in northwest Iowa have been seeing a number of political candidates come through the area as of late. It's almost as if there's an election cycle coming up in the near future. I kid of course. We Iowans know what's coming. Soon there will be a bombardment of campaign ads and recorded telephone messages from those seeking office. Without fail, those campaigns will both give and take criticism from their opponents as well as the public...

An issue that surfaced late during the 2019 legislative session related to "blackout" license plates.  There was a desire to create a new license plate that was entirely black. Dordt University offered a black license plate, but featured additional white lettering. There was so much interest in an entirely black plate, people purchased the Dordt plates and used specially designed blackout brackets to cover the Dordt-specific lettering thus making a pieced-together black plate...

I started thinking about Midwest values. First, I must define Midwest values because we always talk about them. What exactly are they? Midwest values include: an honest day's work for an honest day's pay, hard work, honesty, modesty, lack of pretension, your word is your bond, always lend a helping hand, never stand by and tolerate injustice or suffering, your name/reputation/character is your most prized possession, aversion to shiny objects and flashy ways (consumerism, political spin, fast talkers, etc.). ...

Iowa is in need physicians, especially in rural areas. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, Iowa ranked 46th in 2016 for the total number of physicians active in patient care per 100,000 people. The legislature made an attempt to begin addressing this issue by bolstering two scholarship funds in the education budget this year. ...

It looked like a tennis ball. That was my first instinct anyway. After initially catching a glimpse of something round breaking through the dry dirt at the base of my maple tree, I was reasonably sure I would soon be digging out a buried dog toy of some sort. What I found was more intriguing...

The numbers are shocking:  In 2017 (the most recent year data is available), one person died every 48 minutes in a drunk-driving crash in the United States. These deaths account for approximately one-third of all traffic deaths each year, or 10,874 in 2017. Despite laws in every state, the numbers remain similar year after year. Ultimately, drinking and driving is a choice and it is a choice that puts all road users at risk...

It is my pleasure to submit this letter in support of Okoboji Community Schools and Spirit Lake Community Schools desire to update the Revenue Purpose Statement (RPS) in an upcoming special election. Our Schools must update their RPS due to a recent change in the law that regulates the SAVE and I urge a YES vote during this special election...

To the residents of the Okoboji and Spirit Lake Community School Districts: I write to urge a "yes" vote in the special election on Sept. 10 to approve a Revenue Purpose Statement for the Spirit Lake and Okoboji Community School Districts. I am honored to serve as the state senator for five counties and more than 40 communities in northwest Iowa. ...

To the residents of the Okoboji Community School District: I write in support of a "yes" vote on Sept. 10 for the Revenue Purpose Statement (RPS) as provided by the Okoboji Community School District. One of the most important bills passed into law this session was the extension of SAVE, the Secure an Advanced Vision for Education fund. This bill took several years and many minds to piece together, but I am proud to say it was a bipartisan effort...

After a summer in this beautiful community, we are gearing up for another school year. We are fortunate to call this community home and we look forward to students returning to our buildings on Monday, Aug. 26. We completed registration last week but our online portal is still open for the registration process or you can stop in the building offices...

I got to feeling a bit like the little, red hen this week. I harvested the wheat, I ground the flour, I rolled the dough and I baked the bread, when I covered the Iowa Great Lakes Rotary's inaugural Boji Brewfest back in 2017. Come last week, I found not one but four different websites using one of my photos from that year to promote the Brewfest on their events calendars and the like. ...

Seven new trail benches were placed earlier this summer and there are couple more on order to be installed later this year. DCTB also continues to replace old wood benches that are beyond repair due to maintenance and safety concerns. The bench program is a fundraiser for the trails and offers an opportunity for trail users to remember family and friends along with providing the trail with rest areas. ...

Economic activity in the Midwest is picking up, according to a monthly survey by Creighton University. The Mid-America Business Conditions Index rose in June to a rating of 55.4, according to Creighton University professor Ernie Goss. The Business Conditions Index measures economic activity in nine Midwestern states, with a rating of 50.0 or higher indicating a growing economy...

Accidents happen, but one of the week's most prominent mistakes cost a Turning Point USA employee their job. If you haven't heard, the president recently spoke at the organization's event and the presidential seal displayed behind him wasn't quite right. ...

On June 27, in a 5-4 decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled that partisan gerrymandering was a political question that was outside of the reach of the Supreme Court. This case involved a map in North Carolina (Republican) and a map in Maryland (Democrat) that favored the political party that drew them...

We've all had a good number of questions posed to us in recent days. The issue is whether we heard them and, if we did, how we responded. Above all the tweeting, name-calling and chanting, some underlying issues can easily slip through our fingers and never truly sink into our American minds. ...

In the days before we had driver’s licenses, my brother, Glen, and I rode our bicycles everywhere. We lived on a farm in northwest Iowa that was accessed only by gravel roads. Our travels took us all over these gravel roads. We sometimes rode in the ditches, across hay fields, pastures and even corn fields...

I recently found myself plucking an interesting juxtaposition out of the waters of another famous Iowa lake. My family returned to roost in Clear Lake this past Fourth of July. From tourist traffic, to fireworks to zebra mussels, Clear Lake is very similar to the Lakes Area in this corner of the state. So, with all that in mind, it's possible I should have predicted said juxtaposition waiting for me in the waters of my former hometown...

Over the last two years, the legislature has passed bipartisan mental health reform and created the state's first ever children's mental health system. These bills have been consistently regarded by mental health advocates as the most significant steps forward Iowa has ever taken to increase access to mental health services statewide...

On Tuesday, July 9, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (IDALS) issued a press release in which the state agency noted that unfavorable planting conditions this spring commonly delayed, and in some cases, prevented crop planting...

Consumers, farmers and businesses should watch out for fraud Whenever the public is confused about the law, the potential for fraud is high. That maxim applies to hemp and cannabidiol (CBD) products. The 2019 Iowa Hemp Act and recent changes in federal law have led to questions about what is legal and safe in Iowa. ...

The Legislative Services Agency issued their monthly revenue memo for June 2019, closing up a strong year for state revenue as collections grew 6.6%.  Through June's report, the state has taken in $7.7312 billion in net receipts in Fiscal Year 2019.  That is a $478.9 million increase over the same figure at the end of June 2018. ...

As the United States celebrated its 243rd birthday, I was reminded of moments in American history that distinguish our nation as the land of the free and home of the brave. These moments have shown how America's quest for independence paved the way for freedom from tyranny at home and abroad...

I'll tell you a story. Take it for what it's worth. I don't think it's any secret that some of my opinions aren't widely supported in this corner of the state, particularly on immigration. The issue almost always circles back to potential violence and crime among those crossing the border illegally, and my critics have asked me in the past how my opinion might change if my own child were harmed because of it. They're on the right track. We do need to consider the children...

The Okoboji Foundation is inviting everyone to participate in the $5,000 July Nonprofit Challenge at GiveOkoboji.com. The fund with the highest giving total over $5,000 in July receives an additional $5,000 from the Okoboji Foundation. Please consider giving to the Dickinson County Trails Endowment Fund during July to help the trails win. ...

The 2019 Kids Count report was released by the Annie E. Casey Foundation last week and it showed good news for Iowa. In this 30th anniversary report, Iowa was ranked 3rd in overall Child Well-Being Support, which is comprised of indicators in four separate domains: Economic Well-Being (Iowa ranked 2nd), Education (7th), Health (8th), and Family and Community (8th)...

Governor Reynolds vetoed House File 732, which would have altered Iowa's cannabidiol program. The veto leaves Iowa's current cannabidiol law in place. HF 732 would have made several changes to 2016 law. The largest of which would be removing the 3% THC cap and allowing a person with a medical cannabidiol card to receive up to 25 grams of THC in 90 days. Patients would be responsible for managing their dosage in those 90 days and would be prohibited from receiving more in that time...

  Throughout its history, Iowa has been a place where women break barriers. Time after time, Iowa women have shown if they set their minds to something, work hard and believe in themselves, they can accomplish anything. On July 2, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Iowans ratifying the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It granted women the right to vote...

Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth. May was another strong month for state revenue, as tax collections were 28.1 percent higher than what was collected in May 2018. The $145 million increase in monthly collections raised the year to date growth in state revenue to 7.8 percent in Fiscal Year 2019, putting the state well ahead of the Revenue Estimating Conference’s projection of 4.8 percent growth. ...

Starting July 1, Iowa Total Care will be joining the Iowa Medicaid program and UnitedHealthcare will be leaving the program. All Medicaid members that have UnitedHealthcare have been notified with their initial assignment to either Amerigroup Iowa or Iowa Total Care. Those Medicaid members will have until June 18 to switch to the other managed care organization to be effective July 1...

DCTB received two grant awards in May for trail development in the Iowa Great Lakes. The first is a Wellmark Large match grant in the amount of $100,000 for construction of the Jones Pasture Trail that will be completed this summer. Wellmark offers these grant opportunities to communities in Iowa and South Dakota for projects that can help individuals, families and communities achieve better health though built environment initiatives that encourage physical activity...

Senate File 86 is a bill (now law) that places an organ donation symbol on hunting, fishing, or fur harvester licenses, similar to what is done with Iowa driver licenses. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed this bill on May 6.  Under this new law, there is an option to request that a donor symbol is added to your hunting, fishing, or fur harvester license will be added to the application for license, and future hunter education courses will include information on being an organ, tissue, or eye donor...

People who open up their homes and their hearts to children in need are truly special. They provide a stability, comfort and safety to kids who otherwise wouldn't have it. They offer support, guidance and most of all, love. The time and effort they willingly give is not only a blessing to the children they care for, but also their communities...

I'm going to go ahead and tell you. "Mental Health in the Heartland" has taken a good chunk of time and energy for every one of the authors in this series. It's a really complex subject, with a lot of background and a lot of faces in a lot of different fields. Just like everyone's least favorite Facebook relationship status — it's complicated...