Opinion

East Marshall boys basketball

Your View March 30, 2026

I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the coverage your newspaper provided on the East Marshall boys basketball season. Your commitment to covering local community athletics and thoughtful storytelling means a great deal to our student athletes. The articles highlighted the successes of the season and motivated us to keep making our community proud. This team’s advancement to the Class IA Substate game started ten years ago when my fellow seniors Cody Weaver, Blake Neuroth, Dallas Miller, and Kaden Good started playing AAU basketball together in third grade here locally ...

Protecting American farmland for the next generation

Columnists March 30, 2026

In Iowa, we recognize that our rich soil is one of our most precious resources, making our farmland the envy of the world. In drafting the Farm Bill in the House Agriculture Committee, it was critical to make protecting our food supply, rural communities, and national security one of its ...

The Barker Bulletin: Week 11, the home stretch

Columnists March 30, 2026

This is the week after the 2nd legislative funnel deadline, which means that the picture is starting to become more clear about which bills are still alive. I continue to champion the Maternity Home / Strong Families Tax Credit, which continues to be eligible in the Ways & Means Committee. ...

From planning to pavement: Understanding Marshalltown’s street projects

Columnists March 28, 2026

If there’s one topic I hear about the most from residents, it’s streets – and for good reason. Streets are something we all use every day. When they’re in poor condition, you feel it every time you drive, bike, or walk through our community. Here’s where we are right now, what you ...

Are we safe anymore?

Columnists March 28, 2026

It’s time to ask some serious questions. As spring travel ramps up, a record 171 million Americans are expected to take to the skies. Airports will be crowded, security lines long, and for many travelers, a fundamental question will linger: Are we safe? That question extends far beyond the airport terminal. It surfaces at the southern border, in major American cities, and in the wake of tragedies like the killing of 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman in Chicago. Gorman, a student at Loyola University, was shot and killed while walking with friends along a pier in Rogers Park. According ...

The power of biliteracy for our Bobcats

Columnists March 27, 2026

What does it mean to graduate not only bilingual, but biliterate? In today’s world, that distinction opens doors and our Bobcat students are rising to meet the opportunity. The Iowa Seal of Biliteracy is an official recognition awarded to high school graduates who demonstrate proficiency in English and at least one additional language. Students earn the Seal by meeting rigorous criteria, including strong performance in English coursework and nationally recognized language proficiency assessments. It is a signal to colleges, employers, and the community that these graduates are ...