As a science teacher I understand that you are officially dead when your heart stops beating. As a human being why would you not be recognized as being alive when your heart starts beating?For 200 years this nation of men and women recognized this fact. In 1973, a vote of 7-2 legalized murder. ...
Newsletter for January 31, 2019In spite of the cold and nasty weather, the legislature met in session every day this week. I continue to commute to the capitol from home most days, but as the years go by I find myself staying overnight more often in order to avoid driving when the roads are ...
With Iowa's 2019 legislative session in full swing, many policymakers have sports betting on their minds. Since the Supreme Court struck down the failed federal ban in May 2018, seven new states created and implemented legal sports betting markets. In the coming months, Iowa could potentially ...
The ceremonies and speeches are done and the House has gotten down to business this week in spite of the cold and freezing rain. The emphasis now is on finishing up the research on bills, having them drafted and reviewed, filing them, assigning them to the pertinent committee and conducting ...
One of the biggest contrasts in public access to state and local governments in Iowa came into focus last week, and Iowans should be concerned by what occurred.A bit of context: Iowans have long had the right to sit in on almost every meeting of state government policy-making and governing ...
In the LegislatureThis week was the first week of the 88th General Assembly and the first week of the 2019 legislative session. We heard from Governor Kim Reynolds as she gave the Condition of the State, as well as speeches from Chief Justice Mark Cady on the judiciary and General Timothy Orr ...
January is both Human Trafficking and Stalking Awareness Month. Trafficking and stalking are problems that continue to plague our society. Estimates show there are more than 40 million victims of human trafficking around the world, most of which are women and children. It's happening in Iowa ...
The legislative session is well underway. As always, the first week is filled with ceremony and speeches, but this year we also saw the inauguration of Governor Reynolds and Lt.Gov. Gregg on Friday. On Monday we were sworn in to the 88th General Assembly with 22 new members to the Iowa House. ...
Taking some action on the part of the City of Toledo on the Iowa Juvenile Home / State Training School for Girls campus here is a commendable step in the right direction.On a 3-2 vote the council endorsed sending a letter to Des Moines seeking some action on the matter.However, the action ...
The issues of student success and retention are something on which all colleges across the United States are focused. The goal of retention is to have students remain enrolled from fall to spring semester and from first year to second year. Retention and student success are campus-wide ...