Gov. Kim Reynolds on May 4 released the following statement in response to the conclusion of the 2023 legislative session: “Iowa’s national profile is rising, and Americans are taking notice as states around the country are looking to Iowa as a beacon for freedom and opportunity. This year’s historic legislative session saw transformational education reform that kicked off a national…
Read MoreCategory: Opinion
End of an era – Rippey branch of Peoples Bank closing
To the editor, We received an unexpected letter on May 1 that the Peoples Bank branch in Rippey will be closing effective July 31, 2023. This will end a long tradition of two banks in Rippey with the First National Bank chartered in 1905 and the Rippey Savings Bank, now Rolling Hills, opening its doors the same year. The First…
Read MoreLetter to the editor, D. Weaver re: SF 542 relaxing child labor laws
State Sen. Jesse Green, a Republican who represents Boone and Greene County, stated that “the Left had fun twisting this bill and some of the words for use in the media to try to fearmonger and poke holes in this bill” when he described Senate File 542, the youth employment bill. Jesse Green went to Facebook to post after the debate…
Read MoreWill you yield for a question?
To the editor, It is alarming, the rough shod ways the Republican majority in the Iowa State Senate are using to ram legislation through. A low point showing this disregard for Iowans’ right-to-know occurred earlier this week on Senate File 542 dealing with child labor laws. During the debate, which went on through the night, State Senator Dotzler (D) Black Hawk County…
Read MoreView from my window
State funding for rural economic development ~a column by Mary Weaver This is going to be a convoluted circuitous column. It involves Springbrook Park, a nephew by nursing sisterhood, a workshop, and rural economic development. I am an only child, but I have a BROW family. The BROW family sisters were assigned dorm rooms at our original diploma nursing program.…
Read MoreThe Capitol Roundup
~by State Senator Jesse Green (R), District 24 Greetings from the Golden Dome. The Senate is moving many bills as we are nearing the end of session. I’ll touch base on a few of them. SF 315 is the “Raw Milk” bill. My good friend Senator Schultz has been working on this bill for many years now and finally got…
Read MoreView from My Window
Books and library control in Iowa ~a column by Mary Weaver OK! I admit it. When in Mrs. Osborn’s fourth grade class at the former Rippey Consolidated School, two of the boys showed me National Geographic colored photos of bare breasted African women. I suspect our teacher knew what we were giggling about. No parents called the school in protest.…
Read MoreThe Capitol Roundup
The property tax blame game ~by State Senator Jesse Green April 7, 2023 Greetings from the Capitol. We are entering into the final stretch of this session. This past week Iowans received their new property tax assessments, which has made property taxes the main topic of conversation at the Capitol from my perspective. Property owners are rightly fearful of what…
Read MoreInside the Iowa House: Lowering costs for Iowans
~By Iowa House Democratic Leader Jennifer Konfrst April 8, 2023 The Iowa Legislature is supposed to wrap up work at the end of April, but progress slowed significantly this week. The reason for it is pretty simple – politics – and it’s no secret at the State Capitol. Things have ground to a near halt because the Republican leaders running…
Read MoreWhose best interest?
Once again, Senator Jesse Green is trying to use scare tactics and his own misguided opinion to influence constituents. In an opinion piece, Senator Green claimed that parents, teachers, and doctors are encouraging children to “mutilate” themselves and intentionally harming them. This is not only offensive to parents and professionals, but it’s dangerous. First, let’s look at the facts. “Senate…
Read MoreView from My Window
There are ways to reduce your risk of dementia I am taking a break from the anxiety being created by this legislative session and Governor Reynolds. Every day local control is being usurped in our schools, libraries, and the courts. In my opinion, every child should be equally loved, and parents have the responsibility and right to determine health care…
Read MoreInside the Iowa House: Protecting reproductive freedom
~by Iowa House Democratic leader Jennifer Konfrst March 25, 2023 All session long, we’ve been working on priorities that a majority of Iowans support and turning those into legislation that will impact the lives of Iowans. We know folks are tired of politics and division. They just want lawmakers to work together to make their lives a bit better. One…
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