×

Opinion

Heather’s Highlights: County Government and You, February 2026

Local Columns

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 ...

Dengler Domain: Corn Crib

Local Columns

Driving between Cedar Falls and Des Moines has happened many times in my life. Whether it was visiting my then-girlfriend, now wife, in Des Moines after she graduated early from college or while making random trips back to the Cedar Valley, I know this route like the back of my hand. There are ...

Brass Tacks from Rural Iowa: A Funnel Report Card

Editorials

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 ...

The Sires Sentinel: Friday, Feb. 27, 2026

Editorials

A week of debate This was the seventh week of the legislative session and it was filled with debate following our first legislative funnel deadline last week. Some of the bills we passed in the Senate this week include: Senate File 2219: This bill requires school districts to grant a ...

On Nature: Arctic Under Attack

Local Columns

The coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is a special and unique place in northernmost Alaska that supports calving caribou, denning polar bears, migratory birds that visit every state in the U.S., and is a sacred place of the Gwich’in people. However, it is also thought to ...

The Sires Sentinel: Friday, Feb. 20, 2026

Editorials

Funnel Week The sixth week of the legislative session officially kicked off the rush toward the first major legislative deadline. The initial "funnel" deadline is this week, making it imperative to advance any ideas intended for further consideration. This deadline brought a flurry of ...

Iowans must stand up to chronic underfunding of public schools

Editorials

I started my career in rural Iowa in 1974 as an English, speech and reading teacher. Our students were top performers and the state’s education system was the gold standard. Educators and public schools in general were revered and respected by their communities. We didn’t have a lot of ...

Dengler Domain: Winter Olympics

Local Columns

When a new baby needs to be fed, the Winter Olympics are a perfect background watch. These winter athletes have graced the television screen as the baby feeds. National pride is always sky high with gold medals on the line. Chanting U-S-A comes easy during the Olympics, though quietly with ...