Dateline- Louisiana, April 7, 2021: A 911 dispatcher was arrested for pocketing and spending money received in error when brokerage firm Charles Schwab deposited over one million dollars into her account instead of the intended $82.56 financial transfer. The woman was charged with theft, bank fraud, and illegal transfer of monetary funds as she knowingly utilized the financial windfall for…
Read MoreCategory: Opinion
Democracy versus Demonocracy
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Why can’t we – or the four retired presidents…. Or someone, anyone, a police chief, a secretary, a four-star general, a garbage collector, a Supreme justice? – arrest the muskrat and his golfing friend? I’ve been confused about the rule of law since the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. How many insurrectionists…
Read MoreView from My Window, Gov Tim Walz’s visit to DSM
This week’s VIEW FROM MY WINDOW is a guest column by my former Iowa Department of Health colleague, Kevin Teale. Kevin was the communications director for the Department. He attended the 3rd Congressional District town hall meeting in Des Moines March 14 at which Minnesota Gov Tim Walz spoke. I asked him to share his reactions. Thank you, Kevin. ~~~~~~~~~…
Read MoreSummit pipeline-impacted landowners meet with Iowa congressional leaders in DC
During the week of March 10-15, 10 Iowans joined more than 50 landowners and advocates from 8 states who traveled to Washington, DC to urge their members of Congress to cut the wasteful 45Q U.S. federal tax credit program that underpins the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) industry, and associated CO2 pipeline projects. Iowans met in-person with Senators Chuck Grassley,…
Read MoreFrom then to now – change of manners
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Jefferson, Iowa, formed me. Growing up, I knew it was the center of the universe—we all know this, wherever we’re growing up. As I grew older and roamed a little more, I – and my sister Dee Dee – called it the Center of the Universe and never quit talking about it, wherever we went.…
Read MoreMarch Madness and online sports wagering
March Madness is here, along with property taxes! What does one have to do with the other? Well, if you have been following, Wild Rose Casino felt like they were paying too much in property taxes – At a valuation of $20.7 million in FY 2023, rising to $23.4 million in FY 2024, who could blame them? So, our Greene…
Read MoreView from my window: Gene generated vaccines
There is such a barrage of unrealistic legislative changes coming from the national Trump/Musk administration, followed by out of bounds state legislative bills, it creates numbness. Perhaps that is the whole intent of these current Republican politicians. To retain focus, I have decided to spend my time only on health care issues and women’s rights. I remain hopeful other responsible…
Read MoreWe’re being taught to refuse truth
“You’re a historian; you must tell the whole truth as best you can piece it together. Acknowledging past wrongdoing is the first step toward making things right.” from the novel The Museum of Lost Quilts by Jennifer Chiaverini (2024) ~a column by Colleen O’Brien A while ago – 2020s – the far Right was suddenly aghast and against CRT, which…
Read MoreLetter to the editor, C. Henning, loss of local food funding
To the editor, As a current board member of Iowa Farmers Union AND a manager of Greene County’s Tuesday farmers market 2010-2022, I am dismayed to learn about the loss of Local Food funding. I urge you to contact our representatives on both a state and national level. Chris Henning, Franklin Township, Iowa Farmers Union northwest district board member An…
Read MoreTo the editor, D. Lautner – Diluting the meaning of ‘champion’ and money
To the editor, This time of year used to be my favorite with the girls and boys state basketball tournaments. But now I have lost interest due to the large number of schools involved. I recall when I was a senior in high school (1966) playing basketball, that all 535 schools were in one class. Only eight teams made it…
Read MoreStepping in for an anti-Democrat
~a column by Colleen O’Brien The off-the-rails President and his menacing capo, a vice-president, believe it or not, in the unusual venue of the Oval Office, acted out what appeared to be a badly rehearsed play for the benefit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week. It was awkwardly done, mean-spirited, fourth-grade level bullying in front of an invited audience…
Read MoreI Stand with Ukraine
Attn readers – Send an email to news@greenecountynewsonline.com to add your name to the signatures on this post. Victoria Riley, GreeneCountyNewsOnline, Shelly Thornton, Chris Henning, Bryan Helmus, Dale and Nancy Hanaman, Aimee (Hane) Bunker and Matt Bunker, Rob Russell, Janice Harbaugh, Sheilah Pound, Mary Weaver, Darren Jackson, Bruce, Sunje and Jack Bannister, Nick and Sue Richardson, Judy Turner, Margaret Hamilton,…
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