Breaking News

Opinion

Protecting Iowa landowners is a fundamental conservative principle

Columnists

The very first bill passed by the Iowa House in the 2026 Legislative Session sent a clear message — private property rights must be protected from eminent domain abuse. No issue has generated more passionate feedback from my constituents than this one. The connection Iowans have to their land runs deep. For several years, the debate surrounding eminent domain and carbon capture pipelines has been at the forefront of state politics. Under my leadership, House Republicans have never wavered. We have tried various legislative avenues to protect your private property rights. This year, ...

All wheels welcome

Columnists

We believe RAGBRAI is about more than the ride, it’s about the people. That’s why this year our message is simple. All Wheels Welcome. Marshalltown is an inclusive, diverse community and we pride ourselves in our friendliness, collaborations, and global innovations. Marshalltown is proud ...

Iowa Republicans failed to deliver on eminent domain

Columnists

Kim Reynolds vetoed a bipartisan eminent domain bill in 2025 after a private company tried to use eminent domain to take over private land in Iowa, leaving Republicans unable to agree on how to protect Iowa landowners from private corporations that stand to profit from the taking of private land. Republicans at the statehouse spent the 2026 legislative session divided on the issue. Despite the imminent threat and Republicans’ promise to deliver some protection to landowners, no bills were moved this year. Let me be clear: Eminent domain for private gain hurts farmers and ...

Loneliness: People do need people

Columnists

Ashley, North Dakota, is a small farming town where the local diet leans hard on sausage, deep-fried chicken and strudel. It has something of a medical center, but the nearest trauma hospital able to handle the most serious injuries is almost four hours away in Fargo. Yet the elders in McIntosh County, with Ashley as its county seat, frequently live into their 90s, and sometimes beyond. It had the highest proportion of people 85 and older in the country. Doesn’t make sense until you see why it does. Stress levels are low. The farmers pursue a lifetime of physical exercise. When ...

Politics shouldn’t come at the expense of decency

Your View

Political campaigns should be about ideas, leadership, and the future of our communities—not personal attacks aimed at families and small businesses. Recently, Annette Sweeney and her campaign chose to distribute misleading and negative mailers throughout Senate District 27 targeting me, my family, and the business we have worked tirelessly to build. The ads reflected a style of politics that I believe falls short of what Iowa voters deserve. Rather than encouraging an honest discussion about issues and priorities, they focused on creating division and casting doubt on the character ...

Court makes clear: Donor intent cannot be casually discarded

Columnists

Here we go again. If the University of Iowa and Iowa attorney general’s office get their way, a legacy gift from a grateful and accomplished graduate will no longer help students like him. The graduate, Ezra L. Totton, was an esteemed chemist during the latter half of the 20th century. One chapter in his great American success story was written in the chemistry building at the University of Iowa in the 1940s. Totton’s story deserves retelling because he was at the center of an Iowa Supreme Court decision last week. The court rebuffed the university’s attempt, at least for ...