DES MOINES – Gov. Kim Reynolds and Lt. Gov. Adam Gregg released statements Saturday reflecting on an opportunity-focused 2018 legislative session that achieved every objective outlined by the governor in her Condition of the State address in January. Watch Gov. Reynolds’ statement on the 2018 legislative session here.
Read MoreCategory: Opinion
Reynolds’ statement after signing ‘heartbeat bill’
Gov. Kim Reynolds released the following statement Friday after signing the heartbeat bill, Senate File 359: “I believe that all innocent life is precious and sacred, and as governor, I pledged to do everything in my power to protect it. That is what I am doing today. I understand that not everyone will agree with this decision. But if death…
Read MoreUtopia isn’t just imaginary
~a column by Colleen O’Brien We’ve been told a few whoppers in our time: There is not enough money for teachers. That bridge will last another year. The oil pipe beneath the river will not break. Hiring adequate personnel in prisons, police departments, fire departments, libraries…cannot be factored into this year’s budget. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The lack of…
Read MoreSkeptics are doing real science
I recently visited the opinion page of GreeneCountyNewsOnline searching for the letter on cats in Jefferson. When I saw Colleen O’Brien’s article “Refuting the Falsehoods”, I clicked on it and started reading. Of course it had an interesting opening paragraph – Colleen is a talented writer and I appreciate her writing even though I’m not exactly a tree hugger.
Read MoreRefuting the falsehoods
~a column by Colleen O’Brien I’m writing my column on Sunday, April 22, Earth Day. By the time you read it, the day dedicated to savoring and saving our planet will be gone till next year. But the need to keep trying to preserve the earth, its air and water, all its flora and fauna will remain our daily task.…
Read MoreGuest commentary by Matt Wetrich: Cats and the JPD
Editor’s note – Matt Wetrich has assured GreeneCountyNewsOnline that it is not the source of the “incomplete and inaccurate online journalism” to which he refers. I’m not sure if you noticed, but Jefferson’s name was recently, and is currently, being unjustly dragged through the mud. Thanks to some incomplete and inaccurate online journalism that is now traveling nationally and beyond,…
Read MoreThe Behn Report
April 20, 2018 Our last official day was on Tuesday, our one-hundredth day. We debated a few bills this week, including bills on the gubernatorial line of succession and managing the spread of disease in wild animals. We also recognized several legislators for their public service and years in the Iowa legislature. We enjoyed being able to honor our colleagues…
Read MorePoetry, lifesaver
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Our current national poet laureate is 46-year-old Tracy K. Smith. Educated at Stanford, Harvard and Columbia and a professor at Princeton, she has dedicated her laureate mission to visits to small towns across the country that have had little exposure to famous, live poets. She believes that poetry can be a lifesaver to all of…
Read MoreThe Behn Report
April 13, 2018 The governor signed a number of bills this week. One of these was Senate File 481, regarding the enforcement of immigration laws in Iowa. It requires an Iowa police or sheriff’s department having custody of a person subject to an immigration detainer request to fully comply with any instruction and legal document provided by a federal agency.…
Read MoreSchizophrenic words
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Somebody asked me if I thought I was a crone yet. I said, No, but I was looking forward to it. In the “new feminism,” the word has taken on a more tolerant flavor – wise older woman – escaping in most civil living rooms from its centuries-long diss as ugly, mean, hag, hell-hag, evildoer,…
Read MoreCongressional candidate Dr John Paschen (D) talks about issues, campaign
Dr John Paschen, an Ames pediatrician and a Democratic candidate in the Fourth Congressional district, will run against Rep Steve King (R) of Kiron if both are successful in the June primaries. Paschen says, “My goal isn’t to beat Steve King. My goal is to get to Washington to try to help.” Paschen talked with GreeneCountyNewsOnline editor Tori Riley last…
Read MoreThe Behn Report
April 6, 2018 In the Legislature This week the governor signed several bills sent to her by the Legislature, including the bill providing affordable health insurance options for Iowans, SF 2349. This bill is a very important step to help Iowans and allow for more options for health insurance options in our state. She also signed the Future Ready Iowa…
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