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Return of the Goldfinches, or Duke comes visiting

Columnists

Iknow summer is here when I see the Goldfinches return. I call them Iowa Gold, and they are the State Bird of Iowa. They color coordinate with the dandelions that are ubiquitous in our yard. I’m not going to lift a finger to eradicate these globes of sunshine for three reasons: 1. When my grandkids come out to the Empty Nest Farm, I can show them how to hold a dandelion under their chins, and if their chins reflect yellow, it means they like butter. They love it! 2. The bees use the dandelions as a source of nourishment. We must protect our bee population! And, 3, I’m too short of ...

PIE shouldn’t cost Iowa taxpayers millions

Columnists

Paying an out-of-state vendor millions of dollars to do what the State Auditor’s Office can do at a fraction of the cost — literally about five cents on the dollar — isn’t efficient: It’s a waste of your tax dollars. Iowans love pie — me included. My favorite is strawberry rhubarb. Local governments also love a different kind of PIE — that’s short for Public Innovations and Efficiencies. It’s a program I launched in 2019 that encourages counties, cities, and school districts to use innovation and common sense to save tax dollars. About 500 local governments around ...

The power of the pause: Why productive struggle is key to math success

Columnists

We all know the scene: the pencil pauses, the brow furrows, and a deep sigh escapes. Watching a student wrestle with a challenging math problem feels, to any caring adult, like an emergency. Our impulse is to intervene, hand over the answer, and end the suffering. But when it comes to mathematics, we must resist that urge. That very moment of uncertainty — the struggle — is not a sign of failure, but the birthplace of true learning. Educators call this phenomenon “productive struggle”. It’s the critical, supported window of time when a student must genuinely grapple with a ...

RAGBRAI housing volunteers needed

Your View

On Wednesday, July 22, Marshalltown will step into the spotlight as we host RAGBRAI 53. With approximately 20,000 riders, support crews, and visitors expected to roll into town in a single day, this is more than just a bike ride—it is a great opportunity to showcase our community’s hospitality, our vibrant spirit, and everything Marshalltown has to offer. To make this event a success, we need your help. We are currently seeking housing volunteers to open their hearts (and their yards) to our guests. Providing housing is simpler than you might think. Many riders are simply looking ...

Hollywood can still make great movies

Columnists

“Project Hail Mary” is proof. Based upon the novel of the same name by author Andy Weir (who also wrote “The Martian”), the science fiction film released by Amazon MGM Studios has already grossed more than $600 million worldwide, on a $190 million budget. The film had the highest opening box office revenues so far this year, and the best opening for any Amazon film ever. In fact, “Project Hail Mary” has enjoyed so much success that its theatrical run has been extended before it goes to streaming. (When was the last time that happened?) This only goes to show that ...

District 53 Newsletter from Rep. Dean Fisher

Columnists

Week 15 of the session is complete, we have passed the 100 day mark. That means our pages and clerks are dismissed and the legislators are no longer receiving a per diem expense reimbursement for our travel and living expenses. And even more pressing, it’s getting into planting season, so the legislators that farm are anxious to get out of the Capitol and into the fields. We began the week with a subcommittee and public hearing on the Senate’s proposal for property tax reform, Senate File 2472. This was a chance to take feedback from the public on what parts of the bill they liked ...