This year marks a remarkable milestone in our community’s history — the 125th anniversary of Varina. On June 7-8, 2025, we invite friends, family and neighbors — past and present …

The Trump tax cuts, enacted in 2017, are due to expire at the end of this calendar year, 2025. The new 2025-26 federal fiscal year doesn’t kick in until Oct. 1, 2025. Plenty of time for …

Previously, I discussed the divisions fueled by both the radical Right and extreme Left factions in America, and I also suggested that both extremes bear possibly as many similarities as they do …

From 30,000 feet, the Port of Los Angeles looks like a child's toy being unfolded into a multi-faceted Transformer. This blocky, brawny big brother, however, covers 7,500 acres and lies …

Earlier this spring, homeowners received their 2025 property tax assessments. If you disagreed with your assessment, you had until the end of April to file a protest with your local board of review. …

My buddy Walt Bradley of Algona asked me why we came back here from college in Minnesota over 45 years ago. That’s easy: Family. It’s the only reason. Walt was an art major who …

What a gorgeous Saturday in early May as Buena Vista University sent another class out into the world. Storm Lake was picture perfect. Most of these eager Beavers would like to burrow into a place …

After touring the new residence hall at Buena Vista University last Friday afternoon, the consensus among us Baby Boomers was we’d all like to go back to college. The new building, as yet …

At least one member of the Iowa House appears to live by the mantra “Do as I say, not as I do” as he demands access to sensitive personal information and commands silence as he trolls for …

I’ve never pressured my kids to procreate, never said that the best thing they could give me was a grandchild. Frankly, I didn’t give it much thought. A lot of my high school friends have …

The deeper one dives into history, the more nuanced and complicated it seems. The nuances are all-important, though, because they enrich our understanding of human nature and of why things happened …

“These are the times that try men’s souls.” Is it an overstatement to suggest that Thomas Paine was describing our own times? An understatement? Clearly, circumstances have …

On April 26 our beloved family member, Rebecca Rassler, passed away. On April 29, we held a funeral procession that traveled from Storm Lake through Newell and on to her final resting place in …

Somewhere along life's highway most of us learned to balance a checkbook. This task usually involved a pencil, the back of a used envelope, and some basic math. Today, however, a click or two in a …

On July 25, 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt gave a radio address to 125 million Americans in which he coined the term “first 100 days.” Today the 100th day of a presidency is …

In a newly released national report, Iowa maintains its top five ranking in preschool access for four-year-old children. The state’s national ranking in preschool access for three-year-old …

Iowans do not like change. It might be our strongest attribute. Sen. Chuck Grassley has been in politics since 1959. Terry Branstad holds the national record for longest tenure as governor. A third …

Solar panels create 31 times the energy from an acre of land that corn does in the form of ethanol, according to research coordinated at Cornell University in New York. Put another way: If solar …

Our representatives in Congress and Statehouse don’t really represent all of their constituents. They only represent the constituents of their own party. And that is way less than half of all …

Give Gov. Kim Reynolds credit for consistency. When it comes to wanting to hide details of possible misstatements or misdeeds, she treats Lutherans and atheists alike. Soon, Iowans may learn …