This year, America has lost several people who were part of many of our childhoods and early adulthoods, including Dolly Parton and Chuck Norris. Their deaths came as a shock to many of us because they appeared to be living full, active and independent lives. more

"Providing healthcare is the way we take care of each other.  Medicaid supports the elderly and disabled ..." more

At the risk of sounding parasocial, last week was a rough one, with a pair of celebrity deaths, Dolly Parton and Tim Curry. more

Sept. 7, 2011: A large, standing room only crowd turned out for a North Scott School Board candidate forum at the Scott County Library. There were eight candidates for four seats on the board. These included incumbents Paul Dierickx, Tim Lane and Krista Long; first-time candidates Dennis Albertson, Dennis Kirby, Barb Kuhl and John Maxwell; and former school board member Joni Dittmer. more

"I don’t expect every elected official to agree with me. I expect them to put Iowa ahead of partisan politics and work with anyone willing to solve problems ..." more

"I’m thankful we can still have an opinion in this country, and that’s mine ..." more

Aug. 29, 2001: Iowa state law dictated that all communities with a population of 3,500 or more be divided into at least two voting precincts by the end of August. Eldridge missed the deadline as members of the city council disagreed over whether the town should be split into two or three sections and how the community should be divided up. more

As State Auditor, I’ve been sounding the alarm on the unaccountable private school voucher program for years. Politicians who like to lie say it’s because I’m against private schools. That’s not true at all.  more

As an educator who’s spent years building a foundation for children, I believe that school choice is a foundational freedom that Iowans should have. Parents should be able to have more say over where their kids go to school and more say over where their tax dollars are spent. more

"What is the City of Eldridge thinking when they allow their city attorney to behave publicly in such a manner? I feel sorry for all of the residents who are having to be disgraced yet again by city leadership as the City’s dirty laundry continues to make headlines in the Quad Cities and beyond ..." more

"The same day the National Debt hit $40 trillion, Representative Miller-Meeks ran an ad celebrating her proposed bill, the Permanent Tax Relief for Seniors Act. The debt is accelerating faster than predicted, due in part to massive tax cuts under last summer’s Republican tax and spending bill, HR-1 ..." more

Most of the time I attend government meetings in person. It’s hard to get to know people when they crackle through a microphone and freeze up on your screen. But last Tuesday I tuned into the Long Grove city council meeting online—and you’ll see why that’s important in a moment. more

Aug. 19, 1976: With some reluctance, the Buffalo City Council agreed to grant a special use permit to the Scott County Landfill Commission. This would allow the commission to pursue a new landfill on a 100-acre site owned by Linwood Stone Products, located within the Buffalo corporate limits. Under the agreement, Scott County would pave Linwood Road from Highway 61 to Highway 22 at no cost to the city. Although some residents had objected to a landfill in their community, commission chair Birch Holden said, “We think all their concerns are unfounded. We’ll be a good neighbor.” more

"Saving democracy will take mass turnout and unity in November’s election ..." more

"I am deeply disappointed, that a handful of council members, and the Mayor, feel they have the right to make decisions for the entire Eldridge community. This should have been decided by the residents of Eldridge, not a handful of people ..." more

“What if they hired a mediator?” That question has been asked more and more often by those of us following discussions over the future of fire service in Eldridge. Both the city and the fire department are aggrieved and bitter. Both have said bitter and grievous things. In recent weeks, what looked like bluffs—the fire department would pack up and go home, the city would trudge blithely forward—have become realities.  more

Aug. 17, 2011: Miss America, Teresa Scanlan of Nebraska, visited Cinnamon Ridge Dairy Farm in Donahue. Her appearance was part of an upcoming episode of “America’s Heartland,” which aired on PBS. The program was designed to promote agriculture. Scanlan was also interested in agriculture, and had recently penned an editorial called "All Americans Have a Stake in the Success of Our Farmers and Ranchers,” which was published across the country. While at the farm, she was also able to meet with a group of students from Davenport and 36 visitors from Ukraine, whose visit was sponsored by John Deere. more

"It has become blatantly clear to me that Mayor Campbell and the council have failed. EFD gave you an answer with regards to how many volunteers would remain, you then have the audacity to demean and disrespect the loyalty and faithfulness of its members ..." more

"Public safety cannot be an afterthought. We urge the mayor and council to pause, hold open work sessions, and present a clear operational plan that guarantees continuous fire and EMS coverage before Oct. 1. The volunteers’ experience is leaving; the community needs assurance that protection will not leave with them ..." more

"We believe including senior cooperatives in the commercial classification was an oversight, not an intentional action directed at Iowa seniors. We respectfully urge you to introduce or support an amendment to SF 2472 that excludes senior cooperatives from the multi-unit commercial classification and preserves our residential status ..." more