Breaking News

Opinion

The Blom Bulletin

Columnists

Wrapping Up First Funnel Week While the first funnel week of the session comes to a close, the house has worked this week to get all the proposed legislation finalized and through, especially Senate File 2201, making an agreement on supplemental state aid for K-12 schools in the house. Commerce HSB 691: This bill, brought to the committee by Representative Charley Thomson, allows for landowners to receive compensation for damages done and continued yield losses due to pipelines of all types (natural gas, hazardous liquids, etc.). This bill also allows landowners to file land ...

A 10-year overnight success

Columnists

When a new community space opens, a ribbon is cut, or a long-envisioned project becomes a reality, it can often feel like an “overnight success.” I keep a sticky note taped to my computer screen that reads: “10-year overnight success.” It’s a daily reminder that meaningful and impactful community change doesn’t happen instantly — it happens steadily. What we celebrate in a single afternoon is often the result of years of conversations, planning sessions, fundraising, setbacks, persistence, and belief. It reflects ideas and dreams formed long before the public ever sees ...

Iowa Republicans turn their backs on nursing home residents

Columnists

It was disturbing, frustrating and sickening. But it was not surprising. And it’s happened six years in a row. Behind closed doors, secretively and quietly, Iowa’s Senate Republicans once again killed a bill that would improve, and possibly save, the lives of nursing home ...

Last to leave Marine

Your View

My friend John was “promoted to glory” on Feb. 15. My wife and I were just out in California and a group of us took time to have lunch with him. You wouldn’t know John if I just told you his full name but I will share that he was the “last to leave” during the Fall of Saigon on April 30,1975. Master Gunnery Sergeant John Valdez was the “Top” NCO for the Marine Security Battalion at the American Embassy. A tough but fair “Gunny” and combat veteran, he was in charge of the Leathernecks at the Embassy and Tan Sun Nhut Airbase. My boyhood friend and fellow Eagle Scout, ...

Casper the Friendly Lawn Ornament Donkey

Columnists

On the farm, pets tend to be of the wider variety than for urban folks. Pigs make good pets, as do chickens, horses, ducks, geese, cows, sheep, llamas, or anything alive on the farm. For Krista Jennings Hagge, southeast of Winfield, her pet was Casper the Friendly Lawn Ornament Donkey. On their anniversary, husband Jeff took Krista out for dinner and apologized for not having a present. But when they got home, lo-and-behold, there in the barn yard was, surprise, surprise, a pregnant donkey named Jenny. (Female donkeys are also known as Jennies.) Krista couldn’t have been more ...

Open letter to Sen. Grassley

Your View

In response to your contention that partisan Democrats have once again shut down portions of the government: The persons that voted against the passage of this last funding bill were the persons who showed integrity because they stood up for what was right. To do anything else would have made them complicit in terrorism and the unlawful detention of legal residents and American citizens. It is your duty as a member of Congress to work out compromises with your fellow legislators and get laws passed. But, once again, you have dug in your heels and failed to do this. Approximately 73% ...