Readers sound off on Iowa issues: April 28, 2026
Do you support Iowa raising the two-lane speed limit from 55 to 60 miles per hour?
- “What a colossal waste of taxpayer money! And this is what our legislators feel is important? There are already plenty of NASCAR wannabe drivers on the roads. We do not need to spend more on new signage and change documents for 5 miles an hour more. There is no common sense in government anymore.” — Carol M.
High gas prices:
- “I write to our federal congresspeople everyday on governmental issues. This is what I sent them today:
Since the majority of the crude oil used to produce the gasoline at our gas pumps comes from the US and the rest from our close neighbors, Mexico and Canada, the Strait of Hormuz is not blocking our source of oil. Why are we getting gouged at the pumps?
‘Domestic Supply: Approximately 60% of the crude oil processed by U.S. refineries is extracted within the United States, primarily from major producing regions like Texas, the Dakotas, and Oklahoma.
Primary Imports: Of the remaining crude oil imported, Canada is the dominant supplier, accounting for roughly 52-62% of total U.S. petroleum imports. Mexico is the second-largest foreign source, contributing about 7%.
Minimal Middle East Dependency: Only about 8% of U.S. oil imports come from the Middle East, reflecting a significant shift away from regional dependence over the last few decades.’
Use your power as Congressional people to control this travesty!! Do the right thing.” — JoEllen B., Bettendorf
AI problems:
- “Regarding the story with Mansur Kasali, I’m uneasy with the uplifting of AI as a solution or a tool for solving anything. Given the toxic tech bro culture driving the creation of these pieces of software, the lifeblood thrown to fossil fuels to power data centers, and the toxic waste created from clean drinking water, I feel like the Climate Change / Infrastructure argument makes its own case against using AI.
Add in the blooming threat to critical thinking, the arts, our democracy, the creation of CSAM and, from the NYTimes yesterday, advice on how to create biological weapons, and I’m very wary of AI being put forward in any way.” — Jeff S.
Animal news:
- “Spotted the first hummingbird at our feeder today. Earliest date spotted in 5 years.” — Patrick W.
- “I would love a pet but can’t have one. I Iive through friends’ pets.” — Terri S.
