DES MOINES – Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and 10 agriculture leaders from across the state on May 11 sent a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer urging him to quickly resolve the Section 301 trade dispute with China. The Administration is accepting public comments through May 11. “Iowa has spoken with a unified…
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Naig highlights ag provisions of ’18 legislative session
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig on Wednesday highlighted key agriculture provisions passed by the Iowa Legislature during the 2018 legislative session. This includes long-term funding for water quality efforts, additional funding for foreign animal disease response preparations, continued funding for the Renewable Fuels Infrastructure Program and updates to the Iowa noxious weed law.
Read More‘Confirmation bias,’ a fancy term for my way or the highway
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Because the world changes so fast now, I often have the feeling that I’m getting behinder and behinder. Sometimes I think, “So what?” And other times I try to catch up. In desperation with my most despised but most necessary device – my computer – I made a pact with myself to learn each day…
Read MoreLetter to the editor -Jacque Andrew for Chapter CZ, PEO
Dear Tori, Marking 25 years of a community event is certainly worth celebrating! For a quarter of a century, the Jefferson Chapter CZ of PEO, the women’s philanthropic education organization, has hosted a spring salad luncheon to raise funds for many worthy local projects. On Tuesday, May 15, the women will again serve up a variety of delicious salads amid…
Read MoreGov Reynolds, Lt Gov Gregg reflect on 2018 legislative session
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 MoreReynolds’ 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…
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