Opinion

While rummaging through files the other day, I discovered some old newspapers that had been preserved by me and by my parents. These particular newpapers reflected events of significant historical importance. While the papers are yellowed, the print remains readable and surprisingly current in relation to these days in which we live...

Last week the serial anti-Trump letter writer tried to present a distorted view of the Ukraine impeachment effort. The first "whistleblower" did not have firsthand knowledge of what was said on the telephone call between President Trump and Ukraine President Zelensky. ...

The board of directors and members of the East Okoboji Lakes Improvement Corporation (EOLIC) were saddened to learn of the passing of one of our founding members, Dr. Al Klein. His signature was on our articles of incorporation in 1968 and he and his wife Sheila remained members in good standing to this day...

I appreciate the recent letter to the editor asking "who is listening?" written in response to the millions of youth worldwide that called for climate action during the Sept. 20 Youth Climate Strike. It is tempting to paint a dismal picture of climate denial among our leaders, but as a youth told me at recent Citizens Climate Lobby meeting: "There are good things happening! It just gets drowned out in social media frenzies. We need to pay better attention."...

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. ...