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 ...
As the holidays approach and you stock up on candy canes or chocolate Santas, do you know if you paid sales tax on that candy to the state of Iowa? Here in Iowa, most food is exempt from sales tax, while candy is taxable. But the definition of what is "candy" may surprise you.The Streamlined ...
Q: What is the Every Student Succeeds Act?A: In the first rewrite of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) since 2001, the Republican-led Congress restored a much greater degree of local control and decision-making authority to parents, teachers and local school board members in ...
There is no doubt that the terrible events of Spring 2015, when Iowa's egg farming community faced one of the most devastating times in our history with the multi-state avian influenza (AI) outbreak, will not soon be forgotten. Through this time, however, our egg farmers never lost their ...
The federal government gave out grants to state and local governments totaling more than $628 billion last year, according to the Congressional Research Service. Why wouldn't states and local governments take grants from the federal government? Leaving aside the argument that the money the ...
I am committed to maintaining a state government that runs efficiently, offers good service to Iowans and is transparent in its operations. This year, we voted to maintain open, transparent government with more support for Iowa's Public Information Board and Office (HF 659) and technology that ...