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MPL boardroom antics part 3

Regarding the TR article published Jan. 27, 2025, titled, “Director warns of “ Terrifying” legislation affecting MPL“ during Friends of the library meeting. Friends of the Library Pres. Hutton ”Said they, staff and board of trustees, have faced a lot of unnecessary criticism during the past two years.” The criticism is appropriate because the MPL administration ignored direction from the State Library Trustee Handbook beginning in Nov/Dec 2022. MPL staff/board, refuse to discuss the matter. According to policy and procedure, the trustees are allowed to engage patrons in ...

A time for grace

This week, a 3-year-old girl from Marshalltown passed away due to her injuries in a house fire on Monday, Feb. 10 despite the heroic acts of the Marshalltown Fire Department, Police Department, Call Center operators, UnityPoint Ambulance, UnityPoint Hospital and University of Iowa Hospital. Very few of us can imagine the darkness the parents, family and friends are experiencing right now. The Marshalltown Homeless Task Force has arranged temporary living space for this family, and permanent housing will be ready very soon. I am sure that Marshalltown will show their hearts in helping ...

Americans are no longer friendly

The criticism of USAID as a group of criminals reflects what many Americans support. Attacks on LGBTQ individuals align with the sentiments of a significant portion of the American populace. The lack of dignity and respect shown towards immigrants mirrors the attitudes of most Americans. The removal of rights from the entire population living in Gaza is something that many Americans seem to endorse. This distancing of care towards fellow humans results from a blatant general attitude. So, the next time you hope for a friendly greeting from a stranger in America, don’t expect ...

New Trump section

I suggest that the T-R designate one new section of the paper to exclusively cover all the news about 45/47’s anti-democracy ravings. All of the news about the felon-in-chief should be in one section so that it will be handy for readers to wrap the garbage in or line the bottom of the bird cage. Of course, the T-R will have to increase the page count exponentially, but it will be far more interesting (or exasperating, to those of us with an education) and much funnier than the comics section. Also note - 45/47 means there are a couple of crucial ingredients missing.

Let virtual kids test virtually

As a parent of a student at Iowa Virtual Academy in Marshalltown Iowa, I am writing to address a significant challenge facing virtual school students: the requirement for in-person state testing. This policy creates undue hardship for families and raises serious concerns about equity and access. My child excels in virtual school; virtual school provides a personalized education tailored to fit a student’s individual needs, allowing them the room to thrive. However, the current testing policy requires travel to designated testing centers. This involves taking time off work, traveling ...

My first lady

Great kudos to the Episcopalian Lady Bishop who recently had the courage to explain true Christianity to senile old Donald Trump and his band of blind bullies. She has more backbone, brains, and compassion than all of them put together.