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Opinion

Local news still matters

Our View

Yesterday, April 9, was the first national Local News Day, but here at the Times-Republican, every day is Local News Day. Our small but mighty team of journalists is present in Marshalltown and Marshall County every day doing what we do best — reporting on what’s happening in our communities, whether it’s our city and county governments, our schools or just a nice human interest feature on people who are making a difference. At the T-R, we still strive to be the most trusted source and the one our thousands of readers — and, at last count, over 22,000 Facebook followers — ...

Bible truth or tradition: According to the Bible, do we have an eternal soul, or are we living souls?

Columnists

About me: I am a truth seeker. How about you? I believe the Bible, in its original form, is the revealed Word and will of God. Somewhere I heard that the Bible was written so that a child could understand it. I wish I had read it more as a child—but it is never too late. AI is a wonderful tool if used properly, with quick access to a lot of research material. But we know AI can make mistakes. So can people. Sometimes, I question what I hear being taught in “church.” So don’t take my word for it (or anyone else’s, for that matter). Please check it out for yourself. People can ...

Big Tech’s ugly Data Centers finally meet the opposition

Columnists

It appears that folks living in the gently rolling farmland of southwestern Ohio don’t want a 2-million-square-foot data center plopped down the road from their front porches. What’s wrong with them? Are they snotty not-in-my-backyard liberals? Not quite. Wilmington, Ohio, is a very Republican region marked by modest incomes. Such demographics may have made the locals, and other rural Americans, look like an easy sale to the tech companies hunting for places to plop their massive data centers. Amazon Web Services, which is proposing this nine-building data center on about 500 ...

Adopt a plant-based diet this Earth Day

Your View

Earth Day highlights the urgent need for evidence-based solutions to the climate and ecological crises. But what most people don’t realize is the biggest impact we can make as individuals starts on our plates. Extensive research shows that animal agriculture is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, biodiversity loss, and freshwater depletion. In contrast, plant-based food systems require significantly fewer natural resources and generate lower emissions, making them a more efficient and sustainable way to feed a growing global population. Adopting ...

The Government may be spying on your phone — Congress must act

Columnists

Our smart phones reveal a lot about us. In order to function, they connect with communications networks and geolocation services, creating detailed maps of our daily lives. If you knew how to read them, you’d know someone’s favorite coffee shop, the person they’re dating, where they go to school or church, and more. Would you want the government to have this information at its fingertips? Most of us wouldn’t — but that’s what’s happening. FBI Director Kash Patel recently admitted that the agency is buying up our personal information — including movement and location ...

Celebrating Community College Month

Columnists

For 60 years, Iowa’s community colleges have quietly shaped the trajectory of our state, opening doors for students, strengthening local economies, and anchoring communities in times of both challenge and opportunity. As president of Iowa Valley Community College District, I have the privilege of seeing that impact every day and of reflecting on how far we have come. Iowa’s community college system was established in 1965, when the state reorganized a network of local junior colleges and vocational schools into a coordinated system designed to serve all Iowans. The vision was clear ...