~a column by Colleen O’Brien Below is a poem written in 1914 that pertains to 2017. Protest by Ella Wheeler Wilcox To sin by silence, when we should protest,
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Reader responds
Reader Nicole Gates of Downers Grove, IL, responded to Denise O’Brien Van’s column about the Jan. 21 Women’s March in Des Moines: “…….awesome. I’m proud of her for going alone and for having the fire in her to let her voice be heard.
Read MoreThe Behn Report
Feb. 17, 2017 In the Legislature It’s been a busy week as we did a couple bills on the floor for debate, and had several bills moving through our subcommittees and committees. Apart from the bigger bills, there are also smaller things we look at during the session. Here are a few bills that have generated some interest at the…
Read MoreThank you from JPRD
“THANK YOU to EVERYONE who volunteered on February 4 & 11 for the JPRD Youth Basketball Tournaments. Without your help, it would be impossible to run the tournaments. THANK YOU!!!” Vicky Lautner and Sean Ostendorf, JPRD staff
Read MoreBranstad signs HF 291 into law
DES MOINES – Gov. Terry Branstad on Friday signed the following bill into law: House File 291: an Act relating to employment matters involving public employees including collective bargaining, educator employment matters, personnel records and settlement agreements, city civil service requirements, and health insurance matters, making penalties applicable, and including effective date, applicability, and transition provisions.
Read MoreThe courage to create a better world
~a column by Colleen O’Brien I heard such an interesting talk the other day that had to do with courage that I asked my friend who gave the speech honoring two Black elders on Martin Luther King holiday if I could have a copy for my column. He obliged; below are parts of what Jaha Cummins had to say about…
Read MoreLetter to the editor – James F. Riley
To the editor, I want to compliment the Greene County boys and girls basketball teams along with their coaches. I also want to state the citizens of Greene County should be very proud of these young men and women in the way they conduct themselves in representing Greene County. We adults owe these young folks a “thank you,” but more…
Read MoreRon Wagner draws
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Read MoreWhy a Black History Month?
~a column by Colleen O’Brien It is February, Black History Month, sometimes now called African American Heritage Month. February was chosen because of two people whose birthdays happened to fall in February and who were instrumental in obtaining justice for African Americans: Frederick Douglass, 19th Century political activist, writer and vice-presidential candidate who worked for the abolition of the crime…
Read MoreThe Behn Report
February 4, 2017 With all the contentious bills we had this week, it was refreshing to have the FFA groups from Gilbert, Boone, and Webster City here at the Capitol. They were interested in learning the way government functions and they were interested in ag related issues. Overall, they were a great group of kids and I enjoyed visiting with…
Read MoreRon Wagner draws
Click here to enlarge.
Read MorePresident Pinocchio
~a column by Colleen’Brien When someone you know lies – not just once, but on a regular basis – what do you think? Oh, I’ll hang out with this guy, should be fun. What difference does it make? We all tell little white lies. What’s it mean when that person who lies says that other people are the liars? Doesn’t…
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