Those of us old enough recall when the Iowa Republican Party stood for local control of schools. It disturbs our nostalgia that the contemporary GOP controlling the statehouse has taken to …

As a native Iowan, I'm an appreciative reader of the Storm Lake Times Pilot. I especially enjoy Art Cullen's editorials and columns. I do have one little bone to pick in one of Art's recent …

Having everyone under one roof for the holidays is a fantastic feeling. It’s been getting harder and harder each year, though. Convincing my oldest, Morganne, to grace us with her college presence …

Our reporter Tom Cullen called city and county representatives late last week to see if they sat down for constructive talks on how to find millions of dollars in missing tax increment financing …

The 2024 legislative session is off to a controversial start. Lawmakers have already heard from thousands of Iowans concerned about a proposal offered by the governor that would reduce mental health, …

Gov. Kim Reynolds may have “jumped the shark,” as they say in the TV biz, by going all-in with Ron DeSantis presumably with Washington in her dreams. Reynolds and her Republican majority in …

USDA Rural Development recently provided a $279,246 grant to Iowa Lakes Electric Cooperative  to help fund a pass-through loan to Iowa Central  in Storm Lake.  The funds will be used …

The city council last week set on course to pay for some $92 million in water system improvements over 10 years entirely on the backs of local consumers. Water rates are scheduled to go up at least …

Last week was shortened a little due to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, as well as the caucus. However, many of us are still able to work from our districts and keep things moving, so I am not sure it …

Every January for the past 33 years we have taken this opportunity to deliver a report of our journalism during the past year and what we hope to achieve in the coming year. We figure we owe an …

Reality check: Two-thirds of Iowa Republican caucus-goers think Donald Trump won the 2020 election and would vote for him even if he were convicted of trying to overthrow the democratic process. The …

The increasing secrecy by Iowa law enforcement and their lawyers about identifying people by name raises important questions underlying public confidence in the critical work of first-responders. The …

As Iowa’s taxpayer watchdog, I hear from Iowans just about every day with concerns about state and local government. Oftentimes, there are steps my office can take to address those concerns; other …

Relief is the immediate feeling in the wake of the Iowa Caucuses by those involved: the frozen press corps, the campaigns trying to crack a hard-headed lot, and we residents who could use a respite …

The 2024 session of the 90th General Assembly officially kicked off last week. One of the greatest honors of my lifetime is to serve in the Iowa General Assembly. The first week involves …

Before I get into the theme of this column, a few words about the recent mass school shooting in Perry would be appropriate. If I could find some. I can’t. There are no words. Many, many Iowans and …

As the Iowa legislature returns to start its 2024 session, Iowans should look at what is happening in Arizona. The Arizona legislature begins its 2024 session facing several major issues. The state …

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared firearm violence “a serious public health problem that impacts the health and safety of Americans.” Officials state there are important …

Those who love music and rural Iowa, lend me your ears: Byron Stuart needs our help. Now. He of Byron’s Bar world fame. “The hipness center of the universe,” is how Bruce Katz, former …

Like many Iowans, my thoughts have been rather chaotic since the horrible news from Perry High School last week. The events were so sad and senseless. A 17-year-old student was dead, having shot …