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Democratic control of Government means redefining America

Per USA Today columnist Chris Brennan, the Rededicate 250 event, held on the National Mall to rededicate our country as One Nation Under God, violated both our national spirit and our Constitution. Per Brennan, the Christian character of the event, and the Protestant content, flies in the face of the national value of religious diversity. The bottom line on the religious diversity claims points to religion not being a national value at all. I am perplexed how this squares with the rights noted in our Declaration of Independence asserted under the authority of the “Laws of ...

There’s a buzz over an unusual constitutional standoff in Nebraska

Because of his intimidating style, the legendary 1950s baseball pitcher Sal Maglie was known as “The Barber.” His brush-back pitches came sooooo close batters felt as if they were getting a shave. Considering his nickname, it’s probably best that “The Barber” is no longer with us, lest he find himself in hot water if he made a cameo appearance at the College World Series in Omaha. In a seemingly unrelated note, the Orpheum Theater in Omaha might want to rethink any plan to reprise last October’s performances of the opera, “The Barber of Seville,” especially if it ...

Real-world learning: How AEA partnerships are bridging the gap from classroom to career

What if finding a place in the workforce wasn’t overwhelming, but an opportunity discovered while working on a flower arrangement? For students transitioning out of high school, the leap into the workforce can feel daunting. But in Iowa Falls, a partnership between Iowa Falls-Alden High School and Central Rivers Area Education Agency (CRAEA) is changing that, offering real-world experience one step at a time. The program utilizes a “continuum of opportunities,” as described by CRAEA Work Experience Coordinator Dawn McCleish, meaning no two paths look the same. Students build ...

The U.S. must end its illegal boat strikes

The U.S. military has been carrying out extrajudicial killings in the Caribbean and Pacific over the past nine months with impunity. On May 8, the U.S. military struck another boat in the eastern Pacific, killing two people and leaving one survivor. U.S. Southern Command claimed “the ...

This primary election, honor a veteran with your vote

Iowa has a deep history of military service. Hundreds of thousands of brave men and women have donned the uniform and fought for a stronger, brighter future for the American people. This includes fighting for our right to make our voices heard, participate in our democracy, and vote in U.S. elections. It started with the American Revolution — 40 veterans of the Revolution are buried in Iowa. From the Civil War through Vietnam, Korea, Desert Storm, and the War on Terrorism, hundreds of thousands of Iowans have answered the call. Late last year, Iowans received a stark reminder of ...

Year-round E15 is a win for Iowa farmers and American consumers

For too long, Iowa farmers, biofuel producers, fuel retailers, and the everyday working families have pushed Washington to pass common sense policy that expands consumer choice, supports rural America, and lowers prices at the pump. Now, after over a decade of gridlock, we are finally getting ...