Lyman Dillon resides in the dusty recesses of Iowa history for his role in 1839 in one of Iowa’s earliest infrastructure projects. Dillon’s work also figures indirectly in a modern-day lesson on how NOT to run a government. This how-not-to-do-it tutorial occurred last week during a ...

In the mid-19th century leading up to the Westward Expansion, people traveled by covered wagon to attend the first Iowa State Fair in 1854 on a six-acre tract in Fairfield. Today, more than a million visitors stroll the historic state fairgrounds in Des Moines to soak in the sights, sounds ...

A month ago, my 87-year-old neighbor Donna had a stroke in my yard. I was down on my hands and knees working in my garden. I glanced up to see Donna standing calmly above me. “We need to go to the emergency room,” Donna said, leaning on a cane, her leg stiff, the right side of her face ...

Just a few weeks ago, it was widely thought that Israel and the terrorist group Hamas were nearing a deal to end the war in Gaza. In that deal, Hamas leadership would agree to go into exile, Israeli hostages would be freed from their hellish captivity and surrounding Arab nations could help ...

All the pretty balloons reminds me of the title of Cormac McCarthy’s book, “All the Pretty Horses.” Going to the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Indianola was never a bucket list item, but when Ginnie and I were trying to decide what to do on my birthday, going to the balloon festival seemed ...

Kim Reynolds and Brenna Bird have chosen their next target. Fresh off an embarrassing defeat to Winneshiek County Sheriff Dan Marx, the state’s chief enforcers of Iowa RightThink have decided to take on someone they undoubtedly believe is more vulnerable. The governor has filed a ...