Trump is bonkers, our congressional reps remain silent

January 20, 2026

Celebrated historian Heather Cox Richardson says Donald Trump’s demand for Greenland is bizarre. She also called it bonkers. I agree. Trump has demonstrated bonkers behavior many times in recent years, especially the past twelve months. But Iowa’s congressional representatives have remained silent. Crickets. When will Ashley Hinson, Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Zach Nunn, Randy Feenstra and Senators Grassley and Ernst stand up to Trump and challenge his excesses? This is not a time for cowardice. I’m looking forward to the mid-term elections this November. Maybe early voting ...

Back-in parking

January 17, 2026

The Chamber of Commerce promotes downtown activity. I think the proposed back-in-angle parking will discourage it. After all, few people back into their own garage.

Real reform starts with PBMs

January 14, 2026

Working in public health has given me a front-row seat to how hard it has become for Iowa families to simply stay healthy. I’ve spent years volunteering with mobile clinics and nonprofit groups, meeting people who are blocked at every turn by pharmacy benefit managers. These PBMs sit between patients and their prescriptions with zero transparency. It’s heartbreaking to stand in a mobile clinic and watch a patient walk away without the medication their doctor prescribed because a PBM denied it or pushed a different, higher-priced drug. I’ve seen patients end up in the ER over ...

COP climate talks

January 13, 2026

As world leaders gather for climate talks, one major contributor to climate change continues to be sidelined: industrial animal agriculture. While energy and transportation dominate the conversation, factory farming remains a leading source of greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, water pollution, and biodiversity loss. Ignoring this reality weakens any serious climate plan. We cannot meet climate goals while leaving animal agriculture off the table. Fortunately, solutions already exist. Shifting toward plant-based foods reduces emissions, conserves water, and lessens pressure on ...

Our representatives

January 12, 2026

Dear Editor, Iowa’s significant public health crisis, high cancer rates and polluted waters don’t bother Representatives Blom and Fisher as they are questioned about the upcoming legislative session in the TR. In their final comments Blom asks people to contact him, which I have done, and he has not responded. Even Grassley at age 92 responds to letters. Fisher just gaslights about spending, book censorship and making Iowa a place to raise a family. My family is tired of cancer. Many things are more important than censoring library books.

Iowa can’t survive its current government

January 2, 2026

Iowa cannot survive another government that we have been living with. Grassley still getting a paycheck for governing must be an easy job. Healthcare — let’s demand what they have! Those responsible for meeting once a month with the resident council at IVH did not meet once and denied them more than $120 a month from their pension. How about free rent, better meals? Reynolds decreased food budget twice. The last filling, delicious meals were from the private company that Branstad hired then fired because it was costing him too much money. The last good governor was Tom Vilsack. ...