How’s fall looking where you’re at?
“Here in Waukee, the leaves on the remaining ash trees are starting to show color, red or yellow, depending on the variety. Some soft maple are also showing hints of color. That’s red in my neighborhood. A couple of chilly nights and the turning will accelerate.” — Bill S.
Should we keep our daylight saving time or axe it?
“I would LOVE to stay on standard time/sun time/God’s time all year long. Research has proven it is so much better for our bodies…and I need the sun to get up in the morning!” — Mary A.
“Regarding Daylight Savings Time: Yes eliminate it, but use standard time not Daylight savings. We should operate with the sun as our bodies are meant to.” — Pat B.
“I want standard time all year long. Please and thank you.” — Cathy S.
“Don’t really care if we keep time change, but if not, highly disagree with making DST the standard time. It has been shown to be a worse option for our health, besides being very unpopular when tried in the past. If we do abolish time changed, standard time year round should be adopted.” — Jami M.
Is a steel plant coming to Iowa?
“NO! Lee County will NOT get a steel plant. The announcement of this is purely political hoping to help Donald Trump in his election bid. It will go away after the election. This company has done the same thing in France.” — ghthelen
“This, to me, is a mirage Trump is using for the midterms, expecting Iowans to pay for it in taxes gifted to the wealthy oligarchs. I’m really more interested in how much Trump makes on the grift. Iowa will be the loser here.” — Karen B.
“No way do I support using state funds for a steel mill. If that company can’t finance it themselves, it shouldn’t be built here.” — Aileen O.
“Apparently the Iowa Republicans who stood with Trump knew that Mesabi did not purchase land or file a permit. According to ‘Necessary Noise’ on FB, a post by Iowa Senator Molly Donahue says the steel plant was slated for Paducah, Kentucky, then a couple of months later it’s being built in Iowa. Something fishy here.” — Ellen B.
“Nope, don’t believe it’s going to happen. Just another lie coming from the Con in Chief. I do want the Dems to use the clips of him talking about what a terrible state IA is as Hinson & (was Ernst there?) smile on.” — Sara C.
“One detail missing from most coverage of this story is: How do they expect to transport processed iron ore from the still remote Mesabi Range to a brand new Iowa plant? Slurry pipelines are the usual (expensive) method and one would likely need to be built since Iowa is not at all adjacent to Lake Superior or any other Great Lake.
“Hasn’t all the action with Mesabi Range taconite ended up in America’s steel belt? To think steel could suddenly be made just anywhere is laughable at best.
“It ain’t gonna happen and everybody should just ignore it. It’s unserious and isn’t practical, even if a plant was sited along the Mississippi. And, of course, what sort of remedy is this for farmers?
“This is yet another Trump distraction. But the cure that will start to turn the tide is right around the corner!” — Jay T., Northwood
“No way should state money support this. I grew up in the smoke from US Steel in Gary, Indiana. Think twice about this carrot being dangled. Where will the coal come from to make the steel?” — Stephen M.
“Smells like Foxconn’s Wisconsin ‘investment.’ Just another $5 Billion to cover the inflation.” — Douglas N.
“You might enjoy this piece.” — Ed W. [NOTE: We’ve surely got trouble right here in River City!]
Breast Cancer Awareness Month:
“Today, I diagnosed a 27-year-old with aggressive breast cancer. I’m a fellowship-trained breast imaging specialist, one of a handful in Iowa. Practicing here feels like being in the trenches: Iowa has the second-highest cancer incidence in the nation and is one of just three states where rates are rising. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Iowa women.
“Every day, I see how much early detection changes the outcome. Here are two things I wish more women knew to protect themselves and the people they love.
“Know your risk. Every woman should have a risk assessment by age 25. High-risk women should start screening years before the age of 40 most people assume, yet many only learn their risk in their 40s or later. In my practice, more than a third of patients are high risk and a risk score is only a snapshot. It can’t capture exposures Iowans live with, like radon in our homes and nitrates in our water.
“Know who is reading your mammogram. Screening only works if the cancer is seen, and we are looking for changes the size of a grain of sand. Yet many mammograms are read by general radiologists, who receive about three months of breast training in a five-year residency. To keep reading, they need only 480 mammograms a year, or as few as 240 if they are combined 2D/3D exams, which count double. Some call themselves breast specialists, but that often means only that they meet the federal minimum. A true specialist completes a fellowship devoted entirely to breast imaging and makes that the focus of their practice. I have read more than 100,000 mammograms.
“‘Are you fellowship-trained in breast imaging?’ is the crucial question.
“That expertise matters most for the subtlest findings, including atypical, precancerous changes we can remove before they become cancer.
“This October, ask about your risk. Then ask who is reading your images.” — Dr. Rachel Preisser, GRACE Breast Imaging and Medical Spa, Clive
Joe Mitchell on showing up to a job:
“Congressional candidate Joe Mitchell recently posted a clip of his Iowa 2 News debate with Lindsay James, calling for her to be fired because ‘if you only showed up to your job half the time, you would be fired.’
“I haven’t seen any coverage of it previously, but while Joe Mitchell was a representative in the Iowa House, he was also on the payroll for his father’s company, MD Orthopaedics (my dad was the business manager there at the time). While he was on the payroll there, he hardly ever showed up, but there was essentially no expectation for him to actually do any work there. I don’t know how much public records can reveal about this matter, but I would humbly recommend that your team look into it if you haven’t already had the chance. As always, thank you for all the work you guys do to preserve and embody the free press that our democratic spirit requires.” — Elle T. [NOTE: Mitchell listed his position at the company “public relations director” on his Iowa Legislature page.]
Random:
“Just emailing because I just joined this group.” — Patrick H. [NOTE: Glad to have you!]
“So you are Iowa local but your address indicates you are based in Long Island? What’s with that?” — Rob K. [NOTE: I swear, I am asking my manager today to put some sort of thing on there that says it’s COURIER National’s address.]
“Too bad you only see the liberal side. My dad said everything in moderation. Sick of the extreme on both sides. But you do you and I’ll do me.” — Nora R.
“Hi, do you only review foods in and around Des Moines or do I seem to click on those articles? We do have 99 counties, so the best food can’t all be in Des Moines.” — Joe S. [NOTE: Oh, it is NOT. Browse way more here!]
“My freshman year of undergrad, I was raped on Halloween. I’ve hated that day since. Then, later with my husband, I had two sons. Halloween was manageable. After he died, I adopted six children. Do you know how much sugar can come into one house with eight kids? Nope. Don’t do it with decorations. I have handed out books and fruit. One year kids wanted potatoes.” — Diane B. [NOTE: I am so sorry that happened to you, Diane.]
They need to teach about the unsubscribe button:
“Cancel my subscription. I have so many obligations at the moment.” — Birgit C.
“Please unsubscribe me from this. Way too liberal for me.” — Rick H.
“I don’t care about politics. I thought this was something different. Thanks.” — Lennie D.
“Stop and go Badgers.” — Dale M.
