"As the government shutdown drags into its second week, Congress seems more focused on blame than on passing a budget ..." more

Two things can be true. more

Oct. 8, 1975: The top five candidates for North Scott’s Homecoming Queen included Brenda Kaczinski, Keri Nagle, Pat Green, Debbie Bockwoldt and Michelle Baughman. more

A cardinal rule as elected officials is not to break things – as in, if it isn’t broken, don’t “fix” it – not unlike the medical profession’s Hippocratic oath: first, do no harm. more

I have spent decades in healthcare, both in clinical settings and in policymaking, and one thing has become crystal clear to me: the best solutions for rural Iowa’s healthcare challenges come from Des Moines – not Washington, DC. more

"Based on the state of the facilities our students are using (a newly built $6 million football field), it seems feasible that the district could afford to install metal detectors, employ armed guards at all school entrances, and take other proactive measures that districts across the country are taking to enhance security and safety ..." more

"Apparently, the term 'conservative' does not necessarily imply fiscal responsibility in the political sphere. In fact, it appears that when Republicans realize the possibility of losing a forthcoming election, they often leave a large deficit to hinder the political goals of Democrat administrations ..." more

"Happy National 4-H Week! I want to take a moment to celebrate the creativity and leadership of Scott County youth ..." more

When I was a student in Chicago, every day at lunchtime I would head for Ellis Avenue, where a platoon of food trucks parked to feed the huddled masses. There was Jamaican food, halal food, Asian food. But nothing beat the Mexican food, served by half a dozen different trucks each offering half a dozen different meats, in corn tortillas, topped with onion and cilantro, wrapped in tin foil. Best devoured standing. more

Sometimes you can prepare for a reporting assignment all you like, and the end result still surprises you. more

Oct. 6, 2010: The third floor of Boll’s Community Center in Princeton was returning to use as a community theatre space. The newly reformed Princeton Players planned to present “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” in December. “This is a wonderful facility. Everything we need is here,” said Gary Clark, the show’s director. “It’s just a matter of amplifying it a little bit.” more

Sometimes great minds think alike. more

Welcome to a special edition of From Where I Stand, written just for the fall edition of Home Improvement. more

Sept. 23, 2020: North Scott High School was shut down for a week due a surge in positive COVID tests. There were 11 cases among students and staff in seven days, and eight more were reported since the school shut down. Principal Shane Knoche was in quarantine after being exposed to the virus, but so far had tested negative. The State of Iowa rejected a request from the district for a two-week waiver that would have allowed for online learning. The junior high and elementary buildings were not affected. more

"Can we please focus on our commonalities and provide each other with some grace, no matter our political affiliations? We cannot maintain our democracy with fury and suspicion ..." more

"The BBB Act’s concentration camps are cruel and inhumane.  We should have learned a lesson from the treatment of Japanese Americans during WWII, which did not come close to this horror ..." more

"There was once a man who rose to power through a gradual process that exploited his nation’s legal system and political instability. He initially pursued a strategy of gaining power through elections, political and legal manipulation, and later resorted to unchecked aggression ..." more

Two weeks ago, Central Iowa Power Cooperative (CIPCO) announced it had optioned 90 acres of agricultural land outside Maysville in the hopes of building a natural gas power plant. The news caught many by surprise, including the staff of The North Scott Press and many of the local officials we contacted for comment. more

Sept. 18, 1985: A rash of break-ins in the area prompted Eldridge police to remind residents to keep their doors locked, even if they were outside working in their yards. Police chief Gil Hansen said two residential burglaries, plus a break-in at the Eldridge Pharmacy, appeared to be related to a string that had taken place from Dubuque to Davenport. During one of the residential burglaries in rural Davenport, the homeowner was assaulted by the robber. more

"Charlie Kirk’s assassination is an assault on the very fabric of our republic ..." more