June 21, 2000: Business owners were upset about a spate of vandalism in downtown Eldridge. The most recent was graffiti on a mural at the Eldridge Library Annex, where vandals defaced characters from “Sesame Street.” Eggs were also dropped in the book return box. Others downtown reported spray painting on vehicles and private property, dog feces in the video return box at Movies To Go, and the removal of an “S” on the Chambers & Sass Funeral Home sign. more

Q: Why did you convene a Judiciary Committee hearing about 23andMe? more

"What happened to standing with rural Iowa? What happened to protecting property rights? We are being told to sit down and hand over our land – and that’s wrong. No one should be forced to give up their farm for corporate greed ..." more

"Reynolds’ decision not to seek reelection is a wise one. After what she’s done to our state, she wouldn’t stand a chance ..." more

"Trump has said he based his decision to include National Guard and military personnel on his insistence that Los Angeles is staggering under violent riots. Governor Newsom responded to the claims of MAGA politicians that the city is a hellscape with actual statistics showing that California is safer than their states ..." more

"Some cheered and others feared the DOGE chainsaw chaos, corruption and cruelty but I believe we all hoped our economy would be stronger in the end. Then we saw Congress’s pork filled budget plus the $45 million parade boondoggle and realized nothing is improving ..." more

June 16, 2010: Iowa Gov. Chet Culver visited the Eldridge Preschool to announce a $90 million expansion in access to preschool programs throughout the state. Just over half of the 85 students at the Eldridge Preschool attended on “scholarships” from the North Scott School District. The state provided funding to the district to provide the scholarships to families that met certain criteria. more

Brenna Bird and the Trump administration apparently don’t see eye to eye when it comes to what constitutes hindering the enforcement of federal immigration laws. At least not when it comes to one northeast Iowa county. more

"This planet will thrive again before the Sun grows large enough to swallow it. When that happens, humankind will have been extinct for millenniums ..." more

June 4, 1975: As a strike the by Iron Workers Local 111 continued into its fifth week, construction remained halted on the new North Scott Junior High building. With completion on the building now slated for no earlier than Oct. 1, the North Scott School Board voted to institute a split shift schedule for students in grades 7-12 so all students could start the school year in the high school building.  The shifts would run from 8 a.m. – noon and noon – 4 p.m., although no decision was reached on what instruction levels would go in the morning or afternoon. more

Last week, the Pentagon accepted the emir of Qatar’s gift of a Boeing 747, a $400 million bauble donated for our president to enjoy by a monarch whose family has ruled the tiny Mideast nation for more than a century. more

Travel insurance safeguards your investment in a costly trip by covering unexpected events that could disrupt your plans.  It can reimburse pre-paid, non-refundable expenses for unforeseen circumstances.  Consider purchasing a policy if there is a chance the trip could be impacted by severe weather, a loved one has a pre-existing health condition, or non-refundable expenses have already been incurred.  Before purchasing a policy, understand the different coverage options, exclusions, and limitations, as policies vary significantly.  Check current insurance policies and credit card protections for coverage already provided.  more

"Our goal is to provide a free, nutritious lunch to children in our community through this twice a week ministry on Tuesdays and Thursdays from June 10-Aug. 21 ..." more

May 27, 2020: Frank Wood wrapped up a 47-year career in education, with 35 of those years spent at North Scott. He came to the district as a gym teacher fresh out of college in 1973. In that time, he served as a teacher, coach, athletic director, associate principal and elementary school principal. His career at North Scott bookended a 12-year stint in Rock Island and Riverdale in Illinois. “Up until the day he leaves, he will give 110 percent to make the high school and the district a better place than it was,” said superintendent Joe Stutting. “That’s just Frank.” more

Wow, what an adventure the voters of Scott, Clinton, and Jackson County sent my wife (served as clerk) and me on. We went to work immediately on Day 1 and on Day 2, I gave my first floor speech entitled “School Finance 101” about why 2% SSA was a property tax hike for local communities. As bills came up, I reviewed the lobbyist declarations to determine where different groups stood on the issues. Following the old cliché of “trust, but verify,” I made personal calls and sent emails to our local elected officials, business owners, and impacted constituents to ensure that I was representing their interests. As your voice in the Iowa Senate, I gave support protecting the 5th Amendment regarding the limitations of eminent domain, and after much research and personal phone calls, I voted against the pesticide bill as it would hurt the farmers, and their heirs, should they be unfortunate enough to incur non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. I voted to provide an even business model for our local pharmacies. In summary, I continue to educate myself in areas in which I do not have much background and provide real-life examples in areas that I do. I will continue to answer emails and attend multiple events throughout the year as your State Senator.  more

Americans check their phone on average 205 times a day or around once every five minutes. With phones seldom out of reach, it can be difficult to moderate usage in an increasingly connected world. For many people, this habit can persist even when behind the wheel, but the distraction it provides can have real consequences. more

"Since our founding in 1985, the North Scott Educational Foundation has awarded 1,617 scholarships totaling more than $2.3 million. As we approach the 40th anniversary of our first scholarship award, we are more committed than ever to expanding our reach ..." more

"Thank you to everyone who helped with my Eagle Project of a Gaga Ball Pit for Pioneer Village.  I am certain that the day camp kids are going to love it ..." more

"Trump openly defies the rule of law. He publicly commits ethical violations. He glorifies money and panders to dictators ..." more

"The journey from Paul’s pen to our bookshelves included much copying. He only wrote one letter, which was copied by whoever could do so and sent to others ..." more