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Marshalltown Ride Right Committee helps keep RAGBRAI safe and enjoyable for all

As the city of Marshalltown prepares for thousands of RAGBRAI cyclists coming to town on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, riders and citizens safety is the number one goal for our Marshalltown Ride Right Committee. Ride Right is the official bicycle safety program developed by RAGBRAI. The name carries a dual meaning: riders are encouraged to ride on the right side of the road and to ride correctly according to Iowa traffic laws and safe cycling practices. This group has been working behind the scenes to help ensure riders safety by riding the route, working with local officials for possible ...

Bible truth or tradition: The purpose of the Word of God (The Bible)

The US Open Golf Championship is being contested this weekend. Participants are competing according to the United States Golf Association official rule book. Believe me, no one wants to be disqualified for not playing according to the rules. So who makes the rules for life? Society? The government? Philosophy? Religion? I would venture to say that with few exceptions, each one of us decides for ourselves what we believe to be the rules for living our lives and it will be a combination of all of the above and based on our personal experience. My personal experience has led me ...

Magic medicine?

People are excited about peptides. The internet is filled with claims: Peptides raise your energy, boost metabolism, clear your skin, slow down aging, build more muscle, repair injuries ... I want some! But there's a problem: The FDA bans most of them. Why? Dr. Anita Gupta, an ...

Empty Nest: Screen Readers Anonymous

I read a lot of books, most of them on Kindle through my smart phone. I like the back lighting, and being able to hold the smart phone in one hand, and the one-touch English Oxford Dictionary. I also like always having a book with me, like when I'm getting my oil changed. The feature I enjoy the most, however, is the ability to pull up a book instantly, from the convenience of my recliner. Why spend time at Barnes & Noble, unless you like the smell of new books, or the library, unless you like the cute librarian? Over the last couple of years, with my bout with cancer, and my forced ...

Why Christians need the tradition of the church

One of the key challenges of the Reformation, when Protestants split from Roman Catholics 500 years ago, was around the relationship between Scripture and Tradition. Rome tended to devalue Scripture, reserving it for the experts who could read Latin, and put it on equal footing with the ...

Brass Tacks from Rural Iowa: A choice for our legacy

Iowa is heavily rooted in agriculture. It’s in our DNA. My husband and I farm on land that’s been in our family for four generations. But Iowans are seeing our farmland rapidly being bought up by multibillion-dollar corporations who want to exploit our land and natural resources, so ...