It's a common assumption in America that attending college is a student's golden ticket to landing a good-paying job and launching a prosperous career.If only it were that simple. While research shows earning a college degree does bump up one's lifetime earning potential, student borrowers ...

I tell my kids not to hate things. You can dislike Brussels sprouts, but there's no need to hate them, not really.The word "hate" itself has become a buzzword for political incorrectness. No one wants to be accused of being a hater.As a parent, I should follow my own advice - lead by example ...

As the summer rolls on the work towards finding resolution to the Iowa Juvenile Home (IJH) facility continues in earnest. An update on what is happening is in order.The legislative session ended with no action being taken by the legislature. The Senate had inserted language and funding into the ...

It's a common assumption in America that attending college is a student's golden ticket to landing a good-paying job and launching a prosperous career.If only it were that simple. While research shows earning a college degree does bump up one's lifetime earning potential, student borrowers ...

Note to readers (and self) superglue does not mix well with granite countertops. Recently I had the opportunity to experience this noxious combination in the comfort of my own kitchen.This was not of my doing. But you already knew that.Late one night (when all the excitement happens at my ...

To some observers, it might seem awfully tedious work, not worth the effort.Congressional oversight requires patience, resilience and earnestness. Tracking down answers, obtaining documents and interviewing whistleblowers typically are not met with a warm welcome by the federal bureaucracy.In ...

Note to readers (and self) superglue does not mix well with granite countertops. Recently I had the opportunity to experience this noxious combination in the comfort of my own kitchen.This was not of my doing. But you already knew that.Late one night (when all the excitement happens at my ...

To some observers, it might seem awfully tedious work, not worth the effort.Congressional oversight requires patience, resilience and earnestness. Tracking down answers, obtaining documents and interviewing whistleblowers typically are not met with a warm welcome by the federal bureaucracy.In ...

When I was in school - and dinosaurs roamed the earth - everyone took a class called typewriting 101. We wrote about the quick brown fox and lazy dog using our eight fingers without hardly any effort from our thumbs. My right thumb was responsible for only one button - the space bar. My left ...

Iowa is proof that clean energy works. We lead the nation in wind power generation and in biofuels production. We also rank among the top 12 states in the nation when it comes to energy efficiency.These successes have not come about by accident. Iowa is responding to the growing demand for ...