Grassley on prisons’ pork removal: ‘How did this stupid decision get made?’ enate Judiciary Committee chairman Chuck Grassley made the following statement after the Bureau of Prisons officially responded to his request for information regarding the decision to remove pork from the federal prisons’ menus. After Grassley learned of the removal and asked questions, the bureau reversed its decision and put…
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Branstad announces creation of Wrongful Conviction Division
Division will focus on reviewing and identifying potential cases involving wrongful convictions DES MOINES – On Oct. 26 during the administration’s weekly press conference, Gov. Terry Branstad and State Public Defender Adam Gregg announced the creation of the Wrongful Conviction Division at the Office of the State Public Defender. The Wrongful Conviction Division will systematically review and identify potential cases…
Read MoreMoving along, generation to generation
~a column by Colleen O’Brien As the new technology zooms along, I make periodic half-hearted stabs at figuring it out. I have no intuition about it or what to do with most of it; the explanations on how to work the latest gizmo confuse, and the names of things are letters and numbers that are way too reminiscent of algebra…
Read MoreBranstad talks about a variety of issues at town hall meeting
Gov Terry Branstad talked to and with voters at a town hall meeting Oct. 20 at Pizza Ranch in Jefferson. It was his third official visit to the county this year – he toured Power Lift in Jefferson last February and was a special guest at the opening of Wild Rose Casino in August.
Read MoreGrassley visits Greene County HS seniors
Senator Chuck Grassley (R) finished his annual tour of Iowa’s 99 counties at Greene County High School Friday morning. He talked with all seniors, with those taking government class this trimester having prepared questions for him. Grassley fielded soft questions, like what he likes most about being a senator and what his daily routine is like, and tougher questions about…
Read MoreTo rant or not to rant, this is the question
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Years ago I told my husband I didn’t like or dislike a certain president, I simply felt sorry for the guy because in my opinion he was not smart enough for the job. My husband, who disliked the fellow intensely and thought he was ruining the country, said, “You know what happens to people like…
Read MoreLetter to the editor – John Thompson
Another Columbus Day has come and gone with a bunch of college beatniks stepping out of their drum circles to fuss about Christopher Columbus. They decry the racism of the term “Indian” as opposed to the more politically friendly, “Native American.” Frankly, I do not know why a term originating from Columbus’ misunderstanding of where he put down port is…
Read MorePolls and pols
~a column by Colleen O’Brien The first televised presidential address aired Oct. 5, 1947. President Harry Truman broadcast a speech from the White House. At that time — 1947 — there were only about 44,000 TVs in the country. People got their news from the Motorola radio in the living room, from Movietone News at movie theaters and from daily…
Read MoreLetter to the editor – John Thompson
As our nation suffers through another tragedy of some crazy fanatic unleashing violence on a community college in Oregon I am struggling to not just jump on a partisan rant. I would prefer to talk about something that can save your life.
Read MoreLetter to the editor – Tina King
To the editor, My treatment at the Greene County junior varsity football game Monday night, Oct. 5, held at the field in Grand Junction was beyond unprofessional. There is simply no excuse for a school employee to swear at anyone, but an employee certainly swore at me.
Read MoreBranstad, Reynolds set goal for post secondary training
Ambitious goal aims to give Iowans the skills needed for rewarding careers and provide Iowa employers with the skilled workforce needed to grow and innovate DES MOINES – A new report released Monday by the Branstad-Reynolds administration in collaboration with the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (Georgetown Center) projects that from 2010 to 2025, Iowa will add…
Read MoreA brave guy visits the land of the free and the home of the brave
~a column by Colleen O’Brien I have yet to talk to anyone who doesn’t like Pope Francis after having “met” him more intimately last week. He is a positive fellow and he speaks forthrightly, no pulling back from controversial subjects that 99 percent of our representatives at all levels shy away from as if there are more important things to…
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