Sometimes I bury the lede. I’m famous for a slow-burning, long setup that tries to make everything come together in a grand revelation at the end, or that leaves a question hanging for the reader to gnaw on. But this is a time for clarity, so let me say it clearly. Terrorism is not the ...
Greetings friends and neighbors! The full Senate began debate last week, with consideration of bills previously passed out of committees. Bills that passed the Senate last week now move over to the House for their consideration. What’s Alive and What’s Dead in the Iowa Senate Two weeks ...
This past weekend my wife and I went to the grand reopening of the Val Air Ballroom in West Des Moines. Only a few years ago, we went to a concert at this venue, and I was thankful they kept the lights dimmed as much as possible. Soon after this concert, the venue was closed for remodel. ...
Dear Editor, This is in regards to the February 16 article in the Sun-Courier [and North Tama Telegraph] about the public library legislation. By the way people talk, you would think the proposed library bill seeks to ban libraries, when it only gives city councils the *option* of exercising ...
A juniper titmouse was reported on the Tucson Audubon Rare Bird Alert in early January this year. It had never before been reported in the Patagonia Mountains of southern Arizona or anywhere in Santa Cruz County even though the area is arguably the best birding in the USA. On February 11, Matt ...
In a world where everything goes as fast as possible, time should be taken to appreciate parts of life which are not meant to be commodified. This means art, specifically, is done as a passion whether it is painting, drawings, writing, or performing. Some are lucky enough to create art which ...
Last week in the Capitol was busier than most. It was funnel week, which is the first deadline of the legislative session to get bills passed through full committees to keep them “alive”, or up for consideration, until the next deadline. Funnel week means we have packed schedules full of ...
Last week was “Funnel Week”, wherein we must have all our individually filed bills through committee. Fortunately, I have been able to move the bills I need to through the process already, so my work this week was focused on the many other bills moving through the committees I sit on, which ...
In the early weeks of the legislative session we’ve seen lots of bills on a variety of divisive topics, many of which I disagree with outright or at the very least think should not be top priorities for the legislature. These bills do not offer more opportunity, freedom, or accountability ...