Newsletter for January 21, 2016We are finishing our second week of the session and the pomp and circumstance of the first week is behind us and the real work of the Legislature is underway.The BudgetOver the next few weeks and months there will be lots of discussion on the budget, and no doubt ...
At year's end, most Americans take stock of the previous 12 months and consider if they met their goals for the year. A review of one's bank account, pay stub or job status and even a peek at the bathroom scale give folks a pretty good idea if they stayed true to their New Year's ...
As a result of funding provided by the Teacher Leadership and Compensation (TLC) grant, many Iowa schools are placing teachers into newly created leadership positions. All school districts served by Area Education Agency 267 (AEA 267) have applied for this voluntary grant. While 10 of those ...
The 2016 legislative session is underway. Monday morning we began with the swearing in of Rep. Linda Upmeyer as our new Speaker of the House. This was an historic moment not only because she is the first woman Speaker in Iowa, but she may be the first daughter of a former Speaker to attain the ...
Iowa's courts are committed to:Protecting Iowa's childrenOperating an efficient, full-service court systemProviding faster and less costly resolution of legal disputesOperating in an open and transparent wayProviding fair and impartial justice for allIn his annual Condition of the Judiciary ...
In not that many days of the past, campaign operatives were "glad-handing" the voters. Last Friday, at the Reinig-Toledo Civic Center, these supporters of Senator Bernie Sanders bid for the Democratic presidential nomination were all still "hands-on," but this day concentrating on hand-held ...
Thinking about giving. Are we like Rodin's statue "The Thinker" and ponder about giving our money and to whom or what charity?I bet we do in some form. I know that I sometimes fantasize about winning the Powerball and what I would do with the winnings. Aside from personal "wants," I would look ...
EDITOR'S NOTE:IowaWatch assistant editor, data analyst and reporter Lauren Mills participated in the Iowa portion of this investigation, asking predetermined questions, doing follow-up interviews, responding to investigation organizers' requests for more information, re-checking data and ...
In the old game by this name, participants are first asked if they want to agree to "tell the truth" about what they will be asked (usually something embarrassing), or if not, if they will "do a dare" instead (again, usually something embarrassing).When you Google "Truth or Dare" you find a ...
Just over a year ago, Eastern Iowans sent me to Washington to represent them in Congress. I'm humbled by the trust placed in me by the voters, and I see it as my responsibility to report back on my efforts to serve the First District.I told you during my campaign that if you like the status quo ...