~a column by Colleen O’Brien Most of us who plan to leave a legacy for our children think in tangibles like money or land, heirlooms, family portraits and photographs, precious books and art. A woman named Christian Figueres, head of the UN Climate Change Secretariat, thinks about leaving her children a habitable planet.
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Ernst comments on Trump speech to joint session of Congress
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joni Ernst issued a statement following President Donald Trump’s first address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday: “For the last eight years, Americans have been hamstrung under the weight of burdensome regulations, increasing taxes, and a stagnant economy, making it difficult for folks to get ahead. Tonight, we heard from President Trump about the…
Read MoreBranstad, Reynolds, Northey applaud Trump action against WOTUS
DES MOINES –Gov. Terry Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey on Tuesday applauded the Trump administration’s executive order to begin the process of rescinding the harmful Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule.
Read MoreRon Wagner draws
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Read MoreQ & A: Iowa agriculture
Feb. 24, 2017 ~with U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley Q: Are you concerned about how new trade agreements may impact Iowa’s economy? A: As a lifelong family farmer and U.S. Senator representing Iowa, I am keenly aware that our state has an export-dependent economy. Iowa exports roughly $15 billion in goods to foreign shores and across our borders. On average, export-related jobs…
Read MoreThe Behn report
February 23, 2017 In the Legislature: Last week, we talked about a bill to make texting and driving a primary offense. There was a subcommittee this week on Senate Study bill 1079 which is commonly referred to as the “hands-free” bill. This bill would prohibit the use of a hand-held electronic communication device while driving a motor vehicle unless the…
Read MoreIntroducing Thumbs
Sometimes readers really like what they read or see on GreeneCountyNewsOnline, and sometimes they don’t. Thumbs will be an ongoing post under GreeneCountyNewsOnline’s Opinion tab. Share your thoughts in 50 (or so) words or fewer. Thumbs entries should be concise, specific, and civil enough that you won’t feel compelled to duck into another aisle if you see the “subject” of your entry…
Read MoreProtest on
~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,
Read MoreReader 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.
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