In its program-slashing, 2027 Department of Agriculture budget plan, the White House hoped to head off sure-to-come complaints by tying spending cuts to that handy whipping boy, big, bad government. …
After spending Easter weekend with our families, the 13th week of session was busy as we talked about important issues in the Iowa Senate. One of the big issues debated this week was House File 2254, …
If you steal from taxpayers, you should go to prison. It's as simple as that. But in Iowa, that's not what happens. Public dollars meant for schools, roads, and public safety have been …
Iowa has proven something many states are still struggling to figure out: you don't have to choose between public safety, accountability, and rehabilitation. You can have all three. Iowa's …
My name is Don Johannsen. I am a landowner in Cherokee County affected by the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline, which would travel 1,070 miles across Iowa and transport captured carbon …
Ashley Hinson and Randy Feenstra might regret hitching their wagons to Donald Trump’s star. It could turn out to be the Hindenburg. Rep. Hinson says she is honored to fight beside Trump …
As waterfowl move through, avian flu again floats to the fore. Dr. James Roth, recently retired dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University, reminded us with a 2024 essay he …
I’m tired of being held hostage. Aren’t you? This guy, bulldozing democracy with the same unconcern that he ravaged East Wing, says we have plenty of our own oil. In one breath, he says that we …
In the movie version of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” attorney Atticus Finch’s young daughter Scout says to a schoolmate of hers at dinner, “What in the Sam Hill are you doing?” It’s the same …
It may be a surprise that last year’s biggest ag story — tariffs — was swept off today’s front pages by even bigger news: a Middle East war, its sharply higher fuel and fertilizer prices and …
We are in the final weeks of this year’s legislative session. While we continue debating bills, we are covering several topics brought to us by constituents, inspired by recent events in our state, …
Interesting that IRFA's Monte Shaw (Letter to the Editor, April 2, 2026) portrays landowners wishing to protect property rights as “noise.” He refers to a “supermajority” of landowners …
President Trump took over the TV to tell the world that he intends to bomb Iran back into the Stone Age. God Bless America. And YABADABADOO! I had been thinking that I might be losing my …
The Maple River Solar team was thrilled to receive unanimous approval for our conditional use permit on March 26. TED Renewables first began the process of developing Maple River Solar in 2023, and …
Sunshine is good. It can power a solar array. It also can illuminate what goes on in the dark recesses of our government. The Cherokee County Board of Supervisors surprised the public with a 4-1 vote …
Let’s be honest. America is no longer the greatest nation in the world, and it certainly isn’t the happiest. It is usually considered the richest country by gross domestic product, but we all …
Noah Petersen and Priscilla Villarreal live 1,200 miles from each other, Petersen in Newton, Iowa; Villarreal in Laredo, Texas. They share a key connection despite that distance. Each has …
It’s pretty amazing how much progress the medical community has made in the past century or so. Some basics haven’t changed much, but new research, medications, treatments, surgeries and …
There’s a saying in business: “Where there’s mystery, there’s margin,” meaning complexity, confusion and a lack of transparency create profit opportunities for those at the top. Sounds a …
My name is Don Johannsen. I am a landowner in Cherokee County directly affected by the proposed Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline. In Iowa, the 1,070 mile pipeline segment is intended to connect 31 …