The discussion was lively when Sen Jerry Behn and Rep Phil Thompson met with constituents Saturday at a “Meet Your Legislators” event hosted by the Thomas Jefferson Gardens board. About 30 persons attended, with a near even split of known political affiliations. Behn and Thompson are both Republicans.
Read MoreCategory: Opinion
Williamson suggests a national transformation is needed
Marianne Williamson has made leading people through personal transformation her career. As author of 13 books on transformational wisdom, she uses spirituality and psychology to help people tap into what it takes to change their lives for the better. Now, 35 years into her career, Williamson wants to transform the country in the same way. She’s running for the Democratic…
Read MoreSpeak up from a social conscience
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Who is it I know who lacks a sense of moral responsibility and social conscience? Not anyone I know personally, but I fear I read about a person like this more often than my health can tolerate. But there is something compelling about watching self-serving people and how they get away with it. Reading about…
Read MoreThe Behn Report
March 1, 2019 This was the seventh week of the 2019 legislative session, and a week busy with subcommittee meetings. Next week is the first funnel week of the year, meaning Senate bills need to be out of Senate committees in order to be considered for the rest of the year. This does not apply to bills that are in…
Read MoreA late reminisce for a 20th-century Twain
~a column by Colleen O’Brien New York Times columnist Russell Baker died five weeks ago. For me to get his autobiography, Growing Up, from an interlibrary loan took a month, but I was happy to have it in hand, however belated. I’d read it when it came out in 1982 because he, along with columnist Ellen Goodman of the Boston…
Read MoreCandidate Marianne Williamson in Jefferson March 2
Greene County Democrats will host presidential hopeful Marianne Williamson on Saturday, March 2, at 2 pm at the Welcome Center at Thomas Jefferson Gardens, 201 E Lincolnway, Jefferson. The event is free and open to the public. Presidential candidate Marianne Williamson has sold more than 3 million books world-wide, with millions of people attending her lectures over a 35-year career…
Read MoreThe Behn Report
~by State Senator Jerry Behn February 21, 2019 The legislature continues to work on subcommittees and debate a number of topics. The topics for the sixth week ranged from organ donation and the sale of mushrooms in farmers markets, to financial literacy, and yes, even traffic cameras. The months we are not in session are productive for a number of…
Read MoreAn example of a new kind of leader in the world
~a column by Colleen O’Brien The kind of leader I would like right now – Carlos Alvarado Quesada, 39-year-old president of Costa Rica – is actually concerned about climate change. Along with citizens of his country, he is figuring out how to do something about it.
Read MoreSeveral bills in legislature could impact hunting, fishing license
~courtesy of The Scranton Journal Greene County resident and hunting enthusiast Fred Long is active in the field hunting wild game but also keeps a close eye on the Iowa State Legislature. At the Greene Gobblers Hunting Heritage banquet, Long touched on some bills in both the House and Senate. He provided an update for The Scranton Journal, noting that…
Read MoreLetter to the editor – Patti Naylor,
To the editor, A unique opportunity to learn about organic pork production is coming up on March 8 and 9 in Waterloo. Sponsored by the Iowa Organic Association and supported by a USDA Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative grant, the Midwest Organic Pork Production Conference will bring together farmers and researchers in the organic and niche pork production fields.
Read More91 years ago
Editor’s note – Colleen O’Brien’s column this week uses many different formatting styles. To preserve those styles most efficiently, the column is posted as a .pdf. Click on the link below to read the column as formatted. ~a column by Colleen O’Brien Excerpts from The Jefferson Bee, February 29, 1928 [The following is a story about the influence of radio.…
Read MoreThe Behn Report
In the legislature February 14, 2019 As we moved into the fifth week of the legislative session, subcommittee work remained the primary focus. One of these subcommittee bills is Senate Study Bill 1128, which allows driverless vehicles to operate on public highways. The bill requires the vehicle to meet a series of criteria and requires the owner of the vehicle…
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