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Columnists

When Chuck Norris got a Waterloo soldier to reenlist in Iraq

I just heard Chuck Norris passed away at age 86. There’s a group of Iowa National Guard soldiers who won’t forget him — and not just because they may have liked his movies and his hit TV series “Walker: Texas Ranger.” Twenty years ago, the TV and movie star and martial arts expert ...

A pair of somber anniversaries

Monday, March 23, was the 16th anniversary of the signing of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law. Roughly 50 million Americans have gained health insurance coverage either through the ACA marketplace or Medicaid expansion. Since 2013, the number of Americans uninsured decreased by nearly ...

Give Trump due credit

The cause of problems Americans face has hooves, long ears, and a paperback copy of Antifa’s handbook. But the engine behind U.S. victories answers to the name, President Donald Trump. Economy A March 14 Economist report noted “GDP grew at 0.7% per year in the fourth quarter.” ...

Public notices must remain in newspapers

There are some in the Iowa Legislature who periodically toy with the possibility of eliminating the requirement that local governments print public notices in newspapers. This is the wrong move today, tomorrow and for the future. Government transparency is more important than ever. In truth it ...

Sunshine Week reminds us transparency brings accountability

Sunshine Week is observed in March during the week of James Madison’s birthday. The nation’s fourth president is known as the “Father of the Constitution” and a “fierce intellect” who prized public access to information. A statesman and a scholar, Madison’s fervent defense of ...

Bringing light to Washington’s secret spending

Happy Sunshine Week, folks! It’s the time of the year when we celebrate more sunshine in our lives…and in our government. But while we may be getting a little more sunlight every day, Washington seems to be lost in the dark. The government demands to know exactly how much money you ...