Iowans will not receive mail and banks will be closed on Oct. 14, as it is a federal holiday, but Iowa is one of 10 states that recognize it not as Columbus Day, but rather, Indigenous Peoples Day. Remember….“Columbus sailed the ocean blue, in fourteen hundred and ninety-two.” In 1992, 500 years post-Columbus coming to America, Indigenous Peoples Day was…
Read MoreCategory: Opinion
America in love and loathing
~a column by Colleen O’Brien The man has said, “You know that. And everybody knows that.” He’s not talking about his own lack of honesty but about every subject he brings up. This is an oft-heard collection of words from a former President who averaged using it 154 times a day for the four years of his administration. He continued…
Read MoreGuns, school shootings, and the 2024 campaign
Shootings now compete with the ringing of the school bell as another year begins. Iowa needs to do more than have more shooting drills. As the school year began with the ringing of the bell, Iowa policymakers should be called upon to do something during this campaign season. We can address the gun violence crisis and safeguard our communities and…
Read MoreAre we done yet? Or done for?
~a column by Colleen O’Brien How is it that an ex-president of the U.S. who promoted a chaotic, unstable administration and a non-existent record of anything done for the people except a tax cut for the wealthy during his reign, who is also a 34-count felon, a womanizing rapist, a congenital liar, a slimy name-caller, an insurrectionist against his own…
Read MoreLetter to the editor: John Brunow, school safety
To the editor, Eighteen months ago I wrote a letter urging people to take action to protect our children from being murdered at school. I endorsed adding trained law enforcement officers with plans to provide greater safety. My suggestion was that the leaders in our county form a plan, budget the money, and reduce the opportunity for a local tragedy.…
Read MoreQ&A: Farm Safety Week
with U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley Q: What’s the history behind Farm Safety Week? A: Since World War II, National Farm Safety Week is observed in September to boost public awareness before the harvest season gets fully underway. It’s one of the most dangerous times of year in farming. President Franklin Roosevelt called America’s farmers and ranchers “the source from which the…
Read MoreFearless integrity
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Are the undocumented immigrants living in my town eating my neighbor’s dogs and cats? Once-President of the United States Donald Trump said pet eating was happening in Springfield, Ohio, a place where 15,000 legal immigrant Haitians now live. He heard a man telling the story on TV, as he related several times during the presidential…
Read MoreView from my window: Goldilocks and the electoral college
Are you sad? We Iowans were used to the presidential campaign limelight. TV cameras, reporters, and if we did not interact with the presidential candidates at least three times we were not completing our civic duty. Hearing them twice, the third time looking them in the eye while shaking their hand was my goal. Now we only hear about the…
Read MoreVoting for a ‘disability’
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Who’s going to win the upcoming general election is an even fight right now, and even that info depends on who’s telling us the news. Both sides are polling closely, claiming bigger crowd size than the other (one side truthfully, the other habitually not, since 2016) name-calling on both sides, one a little more practiced than…
Read MoreLetter to the editor – Opposing Summit CO2 pipeline
To the Editor: The Iowa Utilities Commission (IUC) hasn’t issued any permits for Summit Carbon Solutions for Phase 2. Iowa law states that once the information meeting is held, they can send out survey letters and land agents. Those along the path will be contacted with a “Restricted Certified Letter.” PLEASE, do not sign for this letter. Iowa law states…
Read MoreView from my window – Equality, equity
~a column by Mary Weaver Most of us are aware that we are living in an historical moment, with a female being nominated as a candidate for President of the United States this past week. Though Hillary Clinton was previously nominated for that position the “vibe” appears to be different at this moment. It seems appropriate to provide a column…
Read MoreMalignant instigator of the amygdala
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Things I wonder about contrarians – those who say “no” immediately, no matter what you ask them, and those who are negative about people that if they had any brains would not denigrate (revered war heroes, women who aren’t beautiful, overweight people, especially if they themselves, the contrarians, are overweight). Why would anyone who blatantly…
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