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Editorials

A New School Year Brings New Challenges

Greetings friends and neighbors! Fall is in full swing now, and I’m loving it! I hope you are, too. Last month I attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Cedar Falls High School and enjoyed touring this impressive new facility. I’m proud to have been a part of the early stages of ...

Q&A: Passport Renewals

September was National Passport Month. Q: What new option do Americans have to renew their passports? A: The U.S. Department of State announced in September a new service, enabling Americans to renew passports online. This is good news. Americans have enjoyed a robust return to ...

I’m Not a Fan of Project 2025

With the November 5 elections getting closer, I’ve been talking with friends and neighbors about the candidates running for office and issues that matter in our day-to-day lives. We have a lot of important decisions to make. One topic that keeps coming up is Project 2025. It’s a ...

Brass Tacks from Rural Iowa: ‘Education Wars’ a must read for all Iowans

This is a wonderful time of year in Iowa. We’re gearing up for harvest here on the farm. The hottest days of summer are behind us. And our public schools are once again bustling with activity, opening their doors to all kids regardless of who they are or how much money they have in their ...

A message for the Class of 2025

Hello, Iowans of the Class of 2025. You seniors are leading off the second quarter of the 21st century and need a speech from someone big to match that status. Unfortunately, you’re stuck with me, the third male lead in a 1999 production of “Bye Bye Birdie.” Really, though, what better ...

The Importance of an Updated Family and Consumer Sciences Classroom

You may be surprised to learn about the long list of improvements in the bond issue for Union Community School District's four attendance centers to be on the November ballot. Many activities take place in a school building about which we give little thought. We send our students to school and ...

Need for an Updated Athletic Training Room at Union High School

My name is Taylor Vaske and I work for Athletico Physical Therapy in Waterloo as a contracted employee in the Union Community School District. I am currently in my ninth year serving as the head athletic trainer at Union High School where I oversee the health and well-being of our ...

Why is Reynolds saying “No” to summer food program?

I love getting together with my kids and grandkids for family meals. Passing dinner around the table, sharing stories and enjoying time with one another – these are some of my favorite things to do. Unfortunately, having enough money to pay for those meals is difficult for too many Iowa ...

Illegal Immigration Poses Threat to Election Integrity

I recently had the distinct honor of joining a naturalization ceremony at the iconic Field of Dreams, where 35 new Americans took their oath of citizenship after diligently putting in the work to legally become American citizens. I was humbled to hear their stories and see their excitement to ...