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Editorials

Iowa schools are making a difference in early literacy

Statewide efforts focused on making sure all Iowa students are proficient readers by the end of third grade are demonstrating a positive impact in the growth of literacy skills. A report released by the Iowa Department of Education highlights key findings since the early literacy law was ...

Question & answer; Renewable Fuel Standard

Q: What's at stake with proposed regulations that would reduce the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2018 and 2019?A:Congress enacted the RFS and other policies to boost U.S. energy security and energy independence, strategic measures designed to drive innovation and growth of renewable fuels. ...

Comment on flag and knee

Letter to the Editor:July 5, 2007, 8 a.m., a beautiful summer day. I, my wife and five kids are standing in front of St. Elizabeth's Church. A black hearse pulls in front of the church. Inside is our youngest son S.S.G.Adam. I almost go to my knees, but know I have to hold up.Two men get out ...

South Tama Schools: Superintendent Berger’s Comments

Fall is here and we are finally settling in to our routines.Thanks to everyone for making Homecoming week a nice event. We have many people to thank, but I was impressed with how the whole community came together to make the week a memorable one for our students. I've been in communities where ...

Five priorities to reduce opioid overdose death in Iowa

Prescription opioid drug overdose death has become an increasingly well-documented epidemic in Iowa and across the country in the last 15 years. More and more, people are using prescription opioid medications, often transitioning to heroin, destroying families and lives. Too often, it proves ...

Cornfileds, Common Sense and Community

This has been the fastest moving summer ever! This summer was filled with many hours of meetings, seminars, emails, phone calls and good old fashioned hard work. That is what this country was founded on - hard work!As we move ever closer to the upcoming legislative session, I would like to take ...

Congressman Blum’s September 2017 Mailbag

Do Members of Congress really receive their full salary as a pension after serving only one term? Judy from Cedar Rapids on FacebookThe Congressional pension plan is one I have long regarded as a "Cadillac" plan and one that needs to end. Toward that end, I was an original cosponsor of H.R. ...

Marshalltown Commnuity College’s commitment to campus safety

What keeps me up at night? As a parent, wife, daughter, friend, colleague, and college leader there are many issues and concerns that oftentimes keep "the sandman" away. But I have to admit that headlines like "32 Killed at Virginia Tech" (2007), "27 Killed at Sandy Hook Elementary" (2012), ...

A community compromise

As a supporter and participant in the arts, I would ask the new owners of our Toledo community building to consider merging it with the theater as an Arts complex. There is ample space for dressing rooms and a upper floor to utilize for dance venues, choreography, rehearsals and exercise. In ...