Breaking News

Opinion

The unwritten story of America's 250th: What it means to be an American

Columnists

I once read a story about the greatest danger any civilization can face. It wasn't an army. It wasn't a king. It was a people who forgot why they started. That is the danger America stands closest to on her 250th birthday. We do not turn 250 because we won wars. We turn 250 because fifty-six men in a stifling Philadelphia room signed a resolution of paper that, in the eyes of the British Crown, was a death warrant. They closed it with one of the most dangerous sentences ever written by human hands: "And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine ...

Some thoughts on the data center moratorium proposal

Columnists

I spent years as the Director of Marshall County Development. Part of that work involved sitting across the table from industrial site selectors — companies actively looking for places to put significant capital investment. Some of those conversations were about data centers. Marshalltown kept coming up as a candidate. And it kept getting passed over. Not because of our land. Not because of our location. Because data centers run on electricity — massive amounts of it — and Alliant Energy, our local utility, did not offer a rate that made Marshalltown cost-competitive for that ...

Becoming resilient

Columnists

One of the things I have been focusing on early in my term as Mayor, is making Marshalltown more resilient. What exactly does that mean? Being a “resilient community” means that we are ready for what Mother Nature throws our way. We can argue about why disasters are happening more ...

Marshalltown Ride Right Committee helps keep RAGBRAI safe and enjoyable for all

Columnists

As the city of Marshalltown prepares for thousands of RAGBRAI cyclists coming to town on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, riders and citizens safety is the number one goal for our Marshalltown Ride Right Committee. Ride Right is the official bicycle safety program developed by RAGBRAI. The name carries a dual meaning: riders are encouraged to ride on the right side of the road and to ride correctly according to Iowa traffic laws and safe cycling practices. This group has been working behind the scenes to help ensure riders safety by riding the route, working with local officials for possible ...

Standing up for Iowa family farmers

Columnists

As a fifth-generation Iowa farmer, I understand the importance of making decisions that sustain a farm for future generations. My family has been farming and raising pigs in central Iowa for more than 155 years. Today, my wife and I, and our son and daughter-in-law raise pigs, corn and beans ...

Bible truth or tradition: The purpose of the Word of God (The Bible)

Columnists

The US Open Golf Championship is being contested this weekend. Participants are competing according to the United States Golf Association official rule book. Believe me, no one wants to be disqualified for not playing according to the rules. So who makes the rules for life? Society? The government? Philosophy? Religion? I would venture to say that with few exceptions, each one of us decides for ourselves what we believe to be the rules for living our lives and it will be a combination of all of the above and based on our personal experience. My personal experience has led me ...