~provided by New Opportunities As other states begin to decriminalize recreational marijuana, one may wonder if it is a good idea to decriminalize marijuana in our state. There are currently nine states that have decriminalized marijuana. It’s important to remember that even though there have been changes regarding possession and it may seem to be acceptable in those states, marijuana…
Read MoreCategory: Opinion
Letter to the editor – Jane Alexander
To the editor, Democrats in Iowa’s 4th U.S. House District have a rare opportunity to choose one of three candidates competing in the June 5 primary to run for the seat against Republican incumbent Steve King. By far the best choice is J.D. Scholten.
Read MoreFlowers for the fallen
~a column by Colleen O’Brien A year ago on Memorial Day a friend and I picnicked in a large, town cemetery in southwest Florida. A few graves held plastic flowers which could have been there all year or placed the day before. The two of us dropped orange hibiscus blooms on family graves she knew; we were the only people…
Read MoreTruth, Lies and Leadership
~a column by Colleen O’Brien A Higher Loyalty – Truth, Lies and Leadership is the title of former FBI director James Comey’s recent book (2018 Flatiron Books [Macmillan]). It is a good title, for the point of the book is about his president asking him to be loyal to him first. Not to the Constitution, which Comey swore to uphold…
Read MoreLetter to the Jefferson city council re: proposed move of historic house
(Editor’s note – The following letter was provided to GreeneCountyNewsOnline without signatures by Steve Brown, who operates a business at 408 W. Lincoln Way and lives there. He said he did not write the letter but concurs with the opinions stated. Twenty-nine Jefferson residents signed it, 13 of whom live in the W. Lincoln Way neighborhood. All correspondence with elected…
Read MoreWhat happened to the Age of Aquarius and to Enlightenment in general?
~a column by Colleen O’Brien Why is it that at a point of planetary crisis, the world is ignoring the encroaching end that is the result of our bad practices and blundering? I know there are plenty of people figuring out things to save the planet, but, really, the uptick of buying big SUVs and the killing of elephants and…
Read MoreIowa leaders encourage Trump admin to resolve trade dispute with China
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…
Read MoreNaig 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…
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