Opinion
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Muller: Student journalism’s moment to shine
Harvard University President Claudine Gay was feeling the heat nationally after failing to say straight out in congressional testimony that calling for Jewish genocide would violate Harvard’s bullying and harassment rules. It depended on context, Gay responded to a happily waiting political opponent, Rep. Elise Stefaniak, R-New York, who had asked the question at a…
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Opinion: Johnson Co. supervisor: We’re still committed to affordable housing
This column, by Johnson County Supervisor Jon Green, is in response to a previous column by leaders from Escucha Mi Voz. On March 3, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors decided to shift funding in support of affordable housing from our American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation to county general funds. We did so to…
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Opinion: Johnson County wrong to halt affordable housing project
The following is an open letter from Escucha Mi Voz leaders to the Johnson County Board of Supervisors. Read a Johnson County supervisor’s response here. Escucha Mi Voz Iowa members urge you to immediately restore and restart the $1.5 million ARPA-funded affordable housing project you halted on April 3 without public notice or input. You…
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Opinion: I was an Iowa legislator. Where’s the substance to today’s bills?
In today’s hyper-partisan, emotion-fueled political environment, where policy proposals are seemingly presented and defended with facile slogans and tribal appeals, how can any citizen differentiate between the truly good and beneficial ones and those that either serve only a few or harm or denigrate others? I would like to advance a modest proposal based upon…
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Opinion: Donald Trump’s corruption hurts all of us
Whether it’s a small cabinet-building business, a retired schoolteacher, or the American taxpayer, Donald Trump’s long history of corruption has caused no shortage of damage, writes Chris Edelson.
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Baccam: Iowa’s Summer EBT Decision Hurts Local Economy
As a rural Iowa native, a combat veteran, former advisor at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and a candidate for Congress, I understand the challenges families are facing today. Gas and groceries are too high, wages are too low, and party politics seems to get in the way of any real solutions. Right before…
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Moore: Iowa’s raccoon bounty program is a cruel proposal
The Iowa Legislature’s proposed raccoon bounty, which would subsidize raccoon trapping, is not a novel idea. But no matter how you spin it, Rep. Dean Fisher’s House File 2481 is little more than a cruel and expensive government takeover of a dying industry. The bill is based on junk science, anecdotes and failed historic policies.…
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Kalbach: Our libraries are under attack at the Iowa Statehouse
I love my local public library. Lots of people use our libraries regularly, whether to check out books and movies, use the internet, or make copies of important documents. Iowa’s small-town public libraries are anchor institutions. They make our lives so much richer. And in addition to books, libraries provide many other services and programs.…
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Scolaro: Do we really want vigilante justice in our schools?
On Jan. 4, a 17-year-old Perry High School student killed one sixth-grader and injured five others before killing himself. In response to school shootings, Siouxland Christian School in Sioux City has decided to train and arm school staff members. However, to the contrary, there is no evidence showing that more guns decrease violence. In fact,…
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Helmick: Libraries belong to the people. Let’s keep it that way
In an era marked by digital transformation and societal polarization, the role of library boards in advocating for essential services is more crucial than ever. Library trustees serve as pillars of leadership within their communities, ensuring that libraries not only adapt but thrive in the face of evolving challenges. Central to the effectiveness of library…
